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The evolution of style and decency in flying

Saturday April 22 2017
flying

Most airlines do not have a dress code for their paying passengers. PHOTO| FILE

There was a time in the not so far history of commercial flying when an opportunity to take to the skies meant dressing up for the occasion.

Everything about taking a flight was geared towards an occasion, from the exquisite dress code observed by passengers, the flawlessly groomed crew, to the properly laid out dining experience — which was several courses, by the way.

Caviar, lobster, champagne and cigars formed part of the inflight menu, and there was proper cutlery, glassware and chinaware for onboard service.

And who wouldn’t want to dress up for such a fine dining experience?

Dubbed the “Golden Age of Flying,” there was also an unwritten minimum standard of dress, conduct and decorum for passengers.
Flyers actually queued up for photos to be taken of them before boarding the aircraft.

Over the years, while flying has become safer than a short drive to the mall, numerous changes have transformed the onboard experience.

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Today, the aeroplane has been built for greater efficiency, therefore flights are longer, and more seats have been added to the cabin.

However, the traveller’s sense of grooming, personal hygiene and decorum have taken a nose dive.

The transformation can be equated to a mass-produced product. Flying has become affordable for many.

The sense of style and flair with which passengers travelled has been eroded as fashion and etiquette have been transformed since the 1960s.

Now it is almost as if there is a competition for the “worst dressed” or most “indecently dressed” passengers.
Most airlines do not have a dress code for their paying passengers.

For non-revenue passengers such as staff and their dependants, there is a strict dress code and code of conduct to be adhered to whether travelling on duty or otherwise.

Failure of non-revenue passengers to adhere to an airline’s dress code and code of conduct can lead not only to denied boarding but also a ban from travelling on the airline all together.
The dress code becomes even more pronounced where staff or their dependants travelling on non-revenue tickets expect to be seated in business or first class.  

In some cases, the dress code extends to business class lounge access where they insist on smart casual wear.

The fact that there is no dress code for paying passengers is no carte blanche for travellers to breach the boundaries of decency.

Sometimes airlines will use veiled statements like, “While there is no formal dress code in any cabin, we do appreciate that appropriate clothing for travel is worn.”

Some dressing goes against decency laws and accepted norms or is not respectful of the local customs and culture.

For instance, clothing with offensive language and symbols may not be accepted for boarding if it is likely to offend other passengers.

In addition, bad body odour and smelly feet can be uncomfortable for other travellers in this era of lengthy flights.

Here’s to bringing back style and decency in flying.

Michael Otieno is an aviation consultant based in Nairobi. Twitter: @pmykee143, Email: [email protected].

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