Airline travel is certainly not what it used to be and probably considerably less enjoyable too, although safety has improved since the golden age of flying. What used to be a luxury experience that everyone dressed up for, has now become a high-density mass-transit system where passengers often wear inappropriate clothing without even thinking about it.

With smaller seats, less onboard service, and cheaper, more readily available flights, we have to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of flying today. There may be more options to fly than ever before, but turnaround times are short. During the pandemic, cleaning and hygiene required intensive disinfection of aircraft, which caused longer turnarounds and delays.

Post-pandemic, however, we are back to short turnarounds. In this article, we will look at the reasons why flight attendants say that you should not wear shorts or short skirts on your next flight.

A Matter Of Hygiene?

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One experienced flight attendant told The Independent about the number of things she’d seen on airplane seats and said that all passengers should wear pants for hygiene reasons. Another mentioned that babies’ diapers are often changed on seats. One cited that there were probably various bodily fluids, vomit, and random liquids in the seat area that are better not thought about but obviously seen during flights.

Aircraft have short turnaround times, many under 30 minutes, and a light clean takes place with a small crew of cleaning staff. This is focused on the galley and lavatories and trash removal and not on the main passenger cabin. The larger legacy airlines may have a slightly longer turnaround time of 45 minutes, which allows for the dressing of seatbelts and the tray tables being wiped clean. At some airlines, it is up to the flight attendants to do a quick sweep of the cabin to pick up any trash.

When the aircraft is on the ground overnight, this allows for an overnight clean with more attention to the cabin. At certain times, a deep clean takes place with specialized equipment often being used, and this includes the passenger cabin. Singapore Airlines says it performs deep cleans every month, British Airways says every 500 flight hours, according to another article by Simple Flying. American Airlines says it performs ‘ultra’ deep cleaning every 45 days, as noted at One Mile At A Time.

The Temperature Onboard

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Of course, aircraft are known for either being too hot on the ground or too cold in the air, and air conditioning can be somewhat aggressive. Before takeoff, engines are off or idling. Aircraft rely on the Auxiliary Power Unit or external ground carts. In high heat, these systems struggle, and closing doors cuts off ventilation while passenger body heat builds up fast, according to the New York Times.

Of course, once in the air, it often becomes too cold. Air is bled from the jet engines at very high pressure and intense heat. Air conditioning units, called packs, use outside freezing air and expansion turbines to drop that hot air down to near-freezing temperatures before mixing it back with warm air, according to a video by Sky Alpha A2.

This is when passengers wearing shorts or short skirts request that flight attendants bring them blankets, if the airline supplies them. Most seasoned flight attendants will know that passengers from typical holiday destinations will be wearing shorts and T-shirts or vests, and wearing the same as they would on the beach or at a local café.

This often seems inappropriate, but we understand that you wouldn’t want to wear a full suit when departing a hot country. The funny thing is, when returning to a country like the wet and windy England, passengers complain about the weather, but shouldn’t they have dressed for their home country and not like they are still on holiday?

Personal Space

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If hygiene and feeling the cold aren’t the worst factors in wearing shorts or short garments on a flight, you could also consider personal space. After all, everyone seated in economy is likely to be in a confined space in close relation to other passengers. People will often choose their seat based on personal preference, with some preferring the window seat for the views outside and some preferring the aisle for easy access to the lavatories and to stretch their legs.

One commenter on Reddit said that he was sitting in the middle seat on a flight and he was wearing shorts. Unfortunately, both passengers on either side of him were also wearing shorts, one male and one female. He felt uncomfortable because he didn’t want his legs to come in contact with either the male’s or the female’s legs, so he kept his legs tightly together the whole flight so he didn’t cause anyone any offense.

Other commenters suggested that as long as everyone stays within the boundaries of their seat, then it’s fine and accidental contact is not offensive. Some mentioned the hygiene element and said that they moved to wearing pants instead. Others said they would be uncomfortable in this situation even if fully clothed and questioned personal safety when sleeping. Of course, there are other safety concerns about why passengers shouldn’t wear shorts.

In Case Of Emergency

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Of course, no one wants to think about an emergency, but it is wise to do so, with more evacuations occurring in recent years. You might like to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts made from natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool to protect your skin from friction burns and fire during an emergency evacuation. Polyester and nylon clothing such as gym wear, if met with fire, can stick to the skin, making it a hazard.

Sturdy shoes like sneakers or closed-toe flats should be worn, not flip-flops or high heels. Flip-flops, mules, or slip-on shoes will just fall off in an evacuation, and high heels can puncture the slide. Proper shoes will protect feet from jagged and hot metal edges. It is vital to keep shoes on during takeoff and landing, which are the most critical times.

It goes without saying that all baggage should be left behind should an evacuation occur. Taking baggage slows down and impedes the evacuation, where every second counts and aircraft should be evacuated in 90 seconds. It can also damage the slide and hurt you or someone else in egress. As an alternative, essential items such as money, keys, phones, and passports can be placed in a small plastic bag or wallet and carried in a pocket on the person.

What Can We Do?

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Of course, wearing trousers or long garments will protect your skin from any bacteria present in an airplane seat or any substances that may linger from previous flights. They will also stop you from sticking to a leather or plastic seat. That aside, more importantly, if you have to evacuate an aircraft, they will protect you from friction burns and other injuries that could occur when leaving the slide, as well as protecting your dignity.

One of the biggest faux pas that flight attendants see passengers do all the time is walking in the cabin with bare feet or socks and, worse still, using the lavatory likewise. Passengers should always wear shoes in the lavatory as the liquid on the floor is not water. The only alternative is to bring disposable slippers (like those found in hotels) to wear during the flight and dispose of them at the end of the flight.

Staying in your own space is just common sense, and middle seat courtesy applies, in that those seated there can have both armrests.

Disinfectant wipes can be used to clean the seatbelt and tray table, but cannot really be effectively used to clean the seat. It is also recommended that passengers bring a thin blanket or scarf for an extra level of protection between you and the seat. Airline blankets also are not always cleaned after every flight and may be recycled.

Key Takeaways

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Although shorts and short skirts may be comfortable for some, there are many reasons why they should not be worn, as noticed by flight attendants who observe passenger behavior every day. Of course, wearing long garments will protect your skin from any nasties both on the aircraft and at the airport.

Aircraft seats are used by hundreds of passengers every day, and you just can’t be sure how often they have been sufficiently cleaned. With more evacuations occurring, it is better to be aware of your own personal safety and wear appropriate clothing. Aircraft need to be evacuated in under 90 seconds with only half of the exits in operation.

This is because, in a post-crash fire, a flashover can occur at the two-minute mark. You want to be able to descend down the slide as safely as possible with arms crossed and holding opposite shoulders. This reduces the chance of friction burns and coming off the slide too fast: you need to be able to run away from the aircraft as quickly as possible.

Flight attendants know their aircraft inside out and fly constantly and see the strangest things onboard. If they say its unhygenic and unsafe to wear shorts or short skirts, then maybe passengers should take note. In late 2025 and also 2026, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked travelers to dress with respect when traveling and asked them to bring civility back to airports.