For the seasoned traveler, certain tips and tricks make your journey at the airport loads easier. Wearing easy slip-on shoes, for example, makes for a smoother TSA experience. (Just make sure to wear socks so your bare feet aren’t touching the floor!) One money-saving tip, for instance, is bringing your own reusable bottle so you don’t have to pay exorbitant costs for a Dasani at the kiosk.
Most commonly, though, globetrotters tend to dress very comfortably—which makes sense. You don’t want to be wearing jeans and heels while walking around an airport, lugging bags, or sitting in a plane seat for hours on end. One United Airlines worker, though, says you might want to think twice about wearing sweatpants when flying.
In a viral TikTok, Alondra Travis (@loniiiiiiiii), a customer service supervisor for United, issues a PSA to passengers who prefer to prioritize comfort over looks.
“As somebody in the aviation field, I just want to let y’all know: Your airport ‘fit matters,” Travis begins, before revealing why.
Why Should You Care About Your Airport Outfit?
According to Travis, you should care about what you wear for a couple of reasons. For one, Travis says you “never” know who you’re going to come across.
“I always say I might meet my husband here,” Travis shares. “Ladies, put your best fit on. Men, put your best fit on.”
The United Airlines worker clarifies that this doesn’t only apply to potential romantic relationships.
“Your next boss could be found in an airport,” she says. “Your next business partner… Sky is the limit when it comes to the airport.”
Travis reiterates her point while closing out the video: “Dress your best, coming and going.”
Did Viewers Agree?
With Travis’s video earning over 3.2 million views, it’s safe to say her message struck a chord with TikTokers. The comments section was divided, with one half preferring to be comfortable no matter what, while the other vowed to try out her advice.
“Comfy BUT matching, stylish, put together – everytime,” one user wrote. Another joked, “I dress nice cuz even though I’m married I might meet my husband there.”
One viewer reminded others that airports “are the biggest intersections in the world.”
However, meeting your future partner or business prospect wasn’t the only positive side effect of looking fly while flying. According to some comments, it could directly affect your flying experience, too.
“As a Flight Attendant… Your unexpected upgrade depends on it,” one person wrote. Another viewer confirmed this, stating, “I was upgraded to business class for free and I WAS dressed nice!”
Does Dressing Better Get You Free Flight Upgrades?
There seem to be differing reports on this advice. According to some flight attendants Who What Wear spoke with, it indeed matters. They recommended wearing “elevated basics” like wrinkle-free clothes, trousers, a cardigan, and some leather shoes. This helps your chances of getting that free upgrade. In a Business Insider article from 2018, however, the founder of an air miles blog disagreed.
Rob Burgess told BI that since most people check in online nowadays, your outfit rarely matters.
“It’s not like it was 10-15 years ago,” he said. “Now the airline has probably already decided where you’re going to be sitting before you’ve even left the house.”
In a Reddit post on the r/Delta subreddit, users agreed that clothing doesn’t matter in today’s air travel.
“When I used to fly to Europe on buddy passes in the late 90’s, dressing up actually made a difference.. today? No way haha,” one said.
@loniiiiiiiii Don’t say I haven’t helped yall with anything !! #airportfit #airportoutfit #fitchecks #frequentflyer #10k #fyp #fy
BroBible reached out to Davis via TikTok direct message and to United Airlines via email.