What to Wear on a Long-Haul Flight
How to tackle uncomfortable seats, air con, and the sweaty security line.
Do you remember when flying was glamorous? No, me neither. I love to travel but let’s face it, busy airports, having to take almost everything off to go through security, and being crammed into a small seat for 12+ hours leaves a lot to be desired.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot around the world and in a few days, I embark on another trip: South Africa, for my cousin’s wedding. As well as thinking about the clothes I’m going to pack (there’ll be a bumper post about this when I’m back), I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear on the journey itself.
We’re flying at night from London and landing in the morning, where it will (well, should) be considerably warmer, so navigating that shift from cold to hot is something to think about. As is the inevitable blast of cold air con on the plane itself, and the fact I like to get through security as painlessly as possible - so no fiddly shoes or anything that will set the beeps off. I also want to feel comfortable as I sit in that seat and watch hours of films on a tiny screen, and still feel good in what I’m wearing as we arrive at our destination.
I want to wear pieces I’ll likely wear again when I’m away too. I always take Another Day from byMATTER with me away on trips to freshen up those travel pieces. It’s a bio-active fabric freshener that contains probiotics that neutralise odour-causing bacteria (rather than merely masking them like other fabric fresheners), so I can make use of those travel pieces rather than relegating them to the bottom of the suitcase.
This is what I’ve settled on…
The lightweight knit
This Bassike knit is a very light wool and cashmere mix. I wore it a lot during evenings and cooler days last summer and I know it will give me enough warmth while I’m still in the UK - and on the flight when the air con is at its fiercest. I also like that it’s not super thick and bulky. I won’t overheat in the airport (why are they always so hot??) and if I take it off once we land, it won’t take up much space in my hand luggage either.
Side note: I took this jumper out of the cupboard a few weeks ago only to find it had been munched on by a hungry moth. I sent it off to The Seam who repaired every hole and it now looks as good as new. They’re UK-based but I believe they take international orders too - a great option if you have an item of clothing, shoes or an accessory that needs repairing.
More knitwear…
The T-shirt
Last week I wrote about how the white T-shirt is a must in any wardrobe, and here it is in action. This tee is relatively slim fitting so it sits under my light jumper with ease, no bulking or bunching in sight. It also manages to be thick enough that it’s not see-through (although I would recommend a skin-toned bra). I can take my jumper off and be happy with what I’m wearing on the flight, as well as when I land, and it will make a good tee for the beach whilst I’m there.
More T-shirts…
The comfy trousers
I’m not really a joggers (or ‘sweatpants’) type of person. I have a pair in my drawer that were a remnant from the pandemic-era lockdowns but other than that, I don’t really wear them out and about. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have an issue with them, and I think some people look great in them, but they always feel a bit like school PE kit on me. I do like the premise though: soft, cosy fabrics and an elasticated waistband is my idea of comfy trousers heaven. And that’s exactly what these linen ‘Mabel’ trousers are from Beyond Nine. You’ve probably seen me mention them before, and that’s because I wear them a LOT. I know I can sit on that 12-hour flight and be comfortable, and no doubt I’ll wear them while I’m away too.
More trousers…
The trainers
Are you a shoe-on or shoe-off kind of person on a long-haul flight? I’m fully in camp shoe-off and take the earliest opportunity when it feels appropriate to slip ‘em off. So I need a pair that I can take off, and just as easily put back on. I need a shoe that is comfortable and that I can walk various lengths of airports in, and one that’s light so it won’t bulk up my suitcase during the rest of my travels. I also want a pair that’s light enough to wear in the heat once we get there, and my canvas pumps from Studio Nicholson do the trick.
More trainers…
The big tote
I always like to take the biggest bag I can get away with as my hand luggage. It needs space for the jumper once I take that off, it needs to fit multiple water bottles (#stayhydrated), and it needs to fit a book, eye mask, moisturiser, hand sanitiser, neck pillow… etc. etc. I recently received this canvas tote from Tenter and whenever I use it, I feel like Mary Poppins for the modern age. I’ve used it a lot out and about - I can pop my yoga mat in it AND have space for various groceries if I need to go to the shop after a class. I’ll also use it as my beach bag when I’m away, so there’s no need to pack another one.
More totes…
Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I like the idea of a tote as your carry on! In the recent years I’ve mostly taken a backpack as my carry on but might search for a great tote now!
Yes, love multipurpose items! And probably so easy to stuff under the seat in front of you on the plane if necessary