Great idea for summer, especially, because sneakers are probably the shoes you're bringing that would take up the most space in luggage.

I wouldn't consider wearing anything other than sweats and sneaks! Planes are already uncomfortable enough!

Ugh- my mother also made us dress up for plane trips/traveling and those are painful memories of blisters and trying not to wrinkle my dresses when I was 10yrs old! Now I'm totally a comfy jeans wearing Sperry Top-Sider traveler and I have a much more enjoyable flight and don't have to run to the gate in heels. (Yes I kept dressing up for traveling well into my undergrad years but got smart after grad school haha)

Oh my, how I WISH I could dress down when I fly but, my mom works for an airline and fam/friends have to dress up business casual. Whatevs, I only have to pay taxes... saving money trumps comfort anyday!

Planes are already uncomfortable enough, but really some people look like they haven't showered for days!

It depends on where I'm traveling--you wouldn't catch me dead in a European airport in anything with laces. It's heels for traveling abroad, cute flats for domestic. I'm not an especially vain or stylish person, but I have certain rules, one of which is no sneakers unless I'm working out.

you wouldn't catch me dead in an airport with heels on. walking barefoot through security on that dirty floor? no thanks.

I never got on a plane until I was in college and when I had to be at the airport at like 5 am, I definitely wore something comfy! I don't think I'd ever dress up to fly unless I had to be somewhere important when I landed. I like to walk around the concourse during my layovers, so sneakers are a MUST!

I always travel in Born sandals.
1) They are easy to slip on and off trough security
2) They are easy to slip off on the plane to put socks on and don't take up valuable leg room under the seat
3) They are comfy so I can walk the airport during my connection. I keep moving the whole time, trying to stretch my legs as much as possible.

Even if you are traveling to a cold climate, you can keep a pair of boots packed near the surface so you can change once you get your luggage.

But sandals doesn't mean looking like a slob. Esp. not Born sandals with tailored pants or a long skirt.

I like comfy but don't get people who wear the sweats equivalent of pjs in public.

I never understand the women I see at the airport in heels. So unnecessary and impractical (and often really trashy looking!)

i fly alot, and always wear a pair of comfy jeans, shirt, and flip flops (with socks in cold climate). easy slide off in the airport and i'm from south texas... we can run in flip flops, not a problem.

My parents always had us dressed in comfy clothes (not PJS though) when we were little. Now I stick to comfy (still no PJS allowed-they are for bed only!). Heels would seriously limit my walking around and make me crabby, probably. Although, I don't generally fly anywhere that I have to look super nice for landing, so I would probably have a different attitude if I flew for work or something. So, I guess it depends!

I actually like when people dress a bit on the "nicer" side. Even going out to dinner these days, I remember growing up people got dressed up to go out to eat but it's so commonplace now and casual that it's just not done as much (unless it's an ultra fancy restaurant and/or special occasion). That being said, I usually wear either a long skirt or comfy travel pants (comfy material that doesn't wrinkle) and shoes that are easy to slip off since you have to take them off to go through security.

I always wear flip flops. But I almost always wear flip flops anyway. I hate shoes. But I usually wear jeans and a tank, nothing too crazy, just comfy and simple. Sometimes I bring a big scarf in case it gets chilly.

I always wear flip flops. But I almost always wear flip flops anyway. I hate shoes. But I usually wear jeans and a tank, nothing too crazy, just comfy and simple. Sometimes I bring a big scarf in case it gets chilly.

I usually wear sneakers anyway since they take up soo much space in my luggage!

usually jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt (in case its cold on the plane), and slip-on tennies or crocs. comfort is the key. i usually don't wear my sneakers, i hate having to deal with taking off and retying them after going thru security.

I used to always wear sweats and sneakers to fly, but now I'm so embarrassed when flying to or within Europe looking like that - I don't go for heels, but it has to be a pair of dressy flats and a pashmina, or else you stand out like a sore thumb.

There are ways to look nice but still be comfortable. Wear a pair of simple pants with stretch in them instead of sweats or a skirt and a pair of ballet flats, they are just as comfortable as sneaker but you can also slip out of them on the plane.
There is a way to dress in between looking like you are going to the gym and Victoria Beckham in 9in heels.

I wear something i can slip on and off easily because i hate having to take my shoes off through security.

StPat Jack - can you explain?

I ask because I had a friend who's dad was a pilot and we had to dress up too when we were using their discounted flights. But is that a rule? or just protocol?

I agree about dressing more casually and never understood the women and men who are dressed up unless they were coming from work or a business trip, but then again my idea of dressing casually isnt sweat pants and sneakers, its a loose skirt and flats.

I do kind of think that the women in tight pants and stilettos look funny dragging their luggage on wheels and teetering dangerously down the hall.

My hubby and I both invested in sneakers primarily for travel. I have a pair of Pumas made of white linen. They dress up easily, come off with a velcro flap, and stow really small in my luggage if I don't wear them at my destination city.

Most of my traveling is for work, so I have to dress up at least a little bit -- you never know what will happen to your luggage! I wear heels a lot anyway, so they don't bother me at the airport -- and I know I'm going to be sitting down on the plane anyway. My favorite shoes to wear for travel are knee-high boots. The heels on mine are chunky, so they're easy to walk in, but I still have an element of style. Not great at the security line but better than laces.

Anyway, after all that biz travel, I don't like to get too casual when I fly. Knit pants are comfy but I feel like a slob after an hour or so, when they get all stretched-out. And I rarely wear sneakers except to work out. So the best I can do is twill pants and flip-flops or ballet flats.

I always dress up. I can't stand when people wear sweats. Have some class and at least put on some dress trousers--those are just as comfy.

i have this habit of always having my hair and make up done but wearing a cute jogging suit or my personal fave Polo yoga pants and a polo fitted cotton tee. i find the flight much more plesant in compfy clothes.

I usually dress nicely but comfortably when I fly. I wear Chucks and jeans or flats and jeans with a nice top. I do always make sure that I have a little bit of make up on and my hair done decently, and to be fair it has gotten me a fair few free upgrades. Thats as good a reason as any for me.

I just can not get comfortable with wearing flip flops anywhere outside of the pool area or beach. They can be a nightmare on your feet and even worse for cleanliness.

I mean, what's with the concern over taking off you shoes at security? It's for 3 minutes of your several hour long trip.

Whew - that being said - anything but cut-offs or pjs that make you comfortable on your trip and acceptable for your destination and you are golden!

I always go for comfort/ease of going through security and warmth. I'm always cold on planes, so I always bring something to layer with. I always wear flats when traveling, the vary in level of dress. I typically go for, fitness casual I think the term or something in stores. I'm flying Friday and will probably wear my mary jane keds, but I'm going from Texas to Michigan. Destination plays a large role in what I wear, and layovers. If I have layovers, I wear shoes that are okay for running.

Be careful wearing anything open-toed in an airport. Last year I was wearing sandals, and sliced my toe open on a metal lid on the floor at the terminal (it was during boarding, so you couldn't see the floor well through the mass of people). I had to find an emergency doctor to piece me back together and spent the rest of the business trip limping.
Wear sneakers.
You should see my hot scar.

for the response to dressing nice by requirement...

i know that once i flew on a "buddy pass," this is when you get a discounted flight off an airline employee and they have strict dress code requirements and would not let me fly in a tank. it had to be a collared shirt etc.