The State of Air Travel: A Call to Civility
The US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, has sparked a debate about the deteriorating situation in air travel – how we dress at airports. In a word: bad. Far too many people arrive on flights like traveling vagrants, wearing stained pajama pants and dragging their pillows and blankets around Terminal 2.
A National Disgrace
It’s a national disgrace. Passengers regularly dress sloppily and comfortably, with their shirts barely containing their insides and their shorts revealing more than they cover. This is a far cry from the days when air travel was a posh mode of transportation, and people dressed up for the occasion.
A Call to Civility
Duffy has announced a "Civility Campaign" to usher in a new "golden age of travel." He wants to start a national conversation about how we can all bring civility and class back to air travel. This includes being polite to fellow passengers, helping pregnant women, thanking staff, and refraining from turning the cabin into a fight night.
Dress with Respect
Duffy urges us to "dress with respect." He says, "You know, whether it’s a pair of jeans or a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas when we get to the airport." This is a simple yet effective way to improve the collective standard of our country’s air travel.
A Time for Change
It’s pathetic that anyone needs to be reminded that there should be a difference between how you dress in your bedroom and how you appear in public. But it’s good to bring this issue into the public eye with a serious appeal to civility. We used to have personal standards, and it’s time to restore them.
A Look to the Past
In the past, passengers dressed in their finest clothing when flying. This was a time when clothing was durable, and silhouettes were classic and trend-proof. Before we even dreamed of something called athleisure, people took pride in their appearance, and it showed in the way they dressed for air travel.
A Happy Medium
Duffy doesn’t want to force us back into tailored suits and elegant dresses. He just wants us to stop being such pigs. There’s a happy medium between a blazer and tie and a shabby tracksuit. When you look good, you feel good, and when you’re feeling good, you’re less inclined to get into a fight with the person in 12E.
The Power of Dressing Well
This axiom also applies outside TSA territory. Sweeping TikTok now is the adorable quarter-zip movement, in which young black men swap saggy jeans and tracksuits for tailored trousers and a neat, pressed quarter-zip top. The result is a polished look that transforms their confidence and the way they see the world.
A Game Changer
As a culture, we’ve taken casual Friday and ridden it off a fashion cliff straight into the gutter. It’s time to step back – and restore some personal pride. By dressing with respect and taking pride in our appearance, we can improve the state of air travel and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
