Pajamas: Approved for Travel?

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I worked a red-eye flight to New York City in which a particular passenger appeared to be at home, in her bed.

She was dressed in cartoon-like pajama pants, an oversized t-shirt, obviously (very obviously) wasn’t wearing “support,” an oversized sweater for when she became cold, and most off all: no shoes.

She was seated in a middle seat which I’ll agree isn’t the most comfortable seat on a plane, but she was able to release her inhibitions and dress as if she as at home, sleeping in her own bed.

Seeing travelers fly in their pajamas is becoming more and more common and not just on red-eye flights. They come on dressed like they’re ready to crawl into bed and don’t seem to mind that they’re in public. I understand that some airlines actually offer their passengers pajamas on longer flights, which I think is fine. If the airline provides them, I say, wear them. But I want to know why people think it’s okay to dress like this while traveling.

Part of me thinks it has something to do with security, at least thats the excuse I’m trying to use. I think, maybe, just maybe, it’s easier to pass through security in fabrics which you know won’t set off the metal detectors. And maybe, waiting in line while wearing your PJs is just more comfortable than waiting in line in jeans? But then again, do you wait in line at Starbucks in your PJs? Wait.. don’t answer that.

So, I put the question out there on Twitter & Facebook, asking you all of traveling in PJs is okay or not, or just okay on redeyes. Here’s some of the responses:

Twitter:

BarbaraDougher 5:40am:  @upupandagay never okay!!!!

brajit 5:42am: @upupandagay Take the time to shower and get dressed…and men, do NOT wear a tank top! I don’t want to be near your hairy armpit!

ofrevolt 5:45am: @upupandagay Ugh, one of my pet peeves! Never okay, even on red-eyes! So awful. It is about manners – pajamas are for bed – not planes, not shopping, not outside your own house at all!

flyingwithfish 5:54am: @upupandagay I would never pack my own PJs, but I think PJs, or something PJesque, like sweat pants & a tshirt, on long haul is fine

FlygirlWS 6:43am: @upupandagay never ever ok. Unless you are under the age of 7.

user47 8:24am:  @upupandagay Wear whatever you want. This guy knows what I’m talking about. Pic via @Heather_Poole http://twitpic.com/4v4d92

Facebook:

Peri Ropke Duncan NEVER!

Nancy Stanley At the risk of sounding like an old fart, pajamas need NEVER be worn in public. Seriously. I’m all for comfort when I travel, but I think we can safely draw a line at sleepwear.

Graceanne Brown There are plenty of classy, yet comfy, options for travel. For women- leggings and dress that covers your bum.

Shawn-Kathleen Howard Absolutely not!!!!

So, it seems to be that the general answer is no. Pajamas should not be worn on the plane or while traveling.

Do you agree?


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  • http://mhaithaca.livejournal.com/ MHA

    I think if there are airlines passing out pajamas on long-haul flights, the ship has sailed. It’s too late to claim PJs aren’t OK for air travel. Frankly, I can’t see why you would care what people are wearing as long as (unlike user47′s link) they are reasonably covered.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Arnie-Lewis-Tharp/529896406 Arnie Lewis Tharp

    Absolutely not. Never. Pajamas are for indoors. Not outdoors nor public. Having said that, perhaps there should be a marketed brand of traveling jammies…..I mean, it happens anyway. Maybe some travel/airline/aircraft ones with cute little pics on them.

  • http://divalentdaddy.com Kenny

    If I’m taking a red-eye, I will dress my four year old twins in their PJs as an encouragement for them to sleep. (Ok. I’m also a safety freak and since most child PJs are fire resistant, it seems like a good idea in the unlikely event that there’s a ‘problem’ aboard the aircraft.)

    However, for adults? No, no, no. Tacky. Tacky. Tacky.

  • http://divalentdaddy.com Kenny

    By the way, no shoes? Gross. I would never, ever, ever walk into an airplane lav without shoes on. Hell, I wish I’d remember to pack booties to cover my shoes before walking into an airplane lav. Also, if you have to evacuate the plane and you don’t have shoes – stupid, stupid, stupid. Just remember what happened to Bruce Willis’ character in Die Hard when he had to run around without shoes.

    • http://upupandagay.com Bobby Laurie

      Kenny, people walk into the lavs ALL THE TIME with no shoes. It’s the strangest thing. 

  • Geralyn Laurie

    Seeing people on an airplane in their pajammies is like shopping at Walmart and seeing people who appear to have just crawled out of bed. It’s gross.  For the sake of humanity, wear some clothes and be presentable in public.  I can only imagine the day when Walmart has it’s own airline, complete with passengers in jammies, rollers, and fuzzy slippers.  GAG! 

    • http://upupandagay.com Bobby Laurie

       I agree.. People should be presentable in public. Even dressed super casual is better than PJs!

  • Cedarglen

    Disgusting.  On the bright side, this is probably the SAME woman, the one who REALLY NEEDS that support… who takes daylight flights in short, shorts, tank top and flip flops, smells bad and wants the arm rest UP, so she can Ooooooze into my seat.  In a First Class compartment with airline-provided jammies, cool.  In the SLC space at the rear, please do not do it!  -CG. 

  • http://www.thesegoldwings.com Jet

     As I always say about our 737s,
    This is an 80 million dollar aircraft. Show some respect and dress appropriately.

  • Jo

    I used to be aghast at this type of attire in public but you know, I’m really starting to soften on it. Airline travel is not what it used to be. With all due respect to your chosen profession, in the last several years, it has become almost unbearable. I don’t think I have to give you the litany of reasons why, you know. I say as long as you’re clean, wear whatever you want if it makes you comfortable. I saw a man grocery shopping early Sunday morning wearing his pj’s and I found it more humorous than distasteful. Personally, I have resorted to wearing long yoga pants on long-ish flights, something I never in a million years thought I would do. I feel so horribly grubby by the time I land, it’s like I want to wear the most craptastic thing I own, fashion be damned.