What to Wear on a Plane, According to Our Editors

A tank and jeans is basically my uniform, especially on a travel day. These ribbed, neutral ones from Banana Republic go with everything—perfect for the end of a trip when you’re running low on bottoms—but they’re so rub-against-your-cheek soft you’ll grab for one every time you’re heading to the airport. I used to reach for a cotton tee, but honestly, if you’re flying long-haul, the tank wins for when the A/C fluctuates, or you land in a place with a totally different climate (so much breezier!).  —Megan Spurrell, senior editor

No matter how hot it might be outside, I always find myself packing a pair of sweatpants in my personal item for the flight. As a recommendation from a friend in high school who spent most of her life skating on ice, Roots was the end all be all for sweatsuit sets—and I couldn’t agree more. The soft cotton material adds a layer of warmth as well as a slight plushness to the uncomfortable airplane seat. —Paris Wilson, commerce producer

The core of my travel strategy, especially when it comes to packing and choosing outfits, is to automate as much as humanly possible. (Because I already have a shelf in my closet with a pre-packed Dopp kit, cords and chargers, packing cubes, and other travel gear, I rarely forget anything for a trip.) Lunya's Restore Travel Kit was a no-brainer for me: With a set of leggings, tank top, long-sleeve T-shirt, socks, and eye mask, it gives you a perfectly pulled-together-but-comfortable plane outfit; keep a blazer and a change of shoes when you land and you'll walk off with a proper day look. —Corina Quinn, former Traveler editor

As a millennial, the words “low-rise jeans” can be deeply triggering, but this pair from New York City–based brand Still Here has convinced me to make an exception to my high-waist only rule. They sit low on your hips, yes, but in a way that feels surprisingly natural. Maybe because there’s no waistband, which is what officially takes this pure cotton denim from purely cool to genuinely comfortable. I’ve always been an advocate of looking put together no matter how long the flight (no Uggs and sweats here), but it’s only because I’ve found pieces that deceive how easy they are to sleep in. These wide-leg jeans are the epitome of that—plus, they’ve got a photogenic silhouette that makes me turn to throughout the rest of my trip. —M.S.

I swear by Skims for comfortable loungewear and the Cotton Rib tank might just be my all-time favorite piece from the brand (seriously I own it in every color). While I like to bundle up in a hoodie during the flight, I’m always hot when I first get on the plane so I like to wear a tank top underneath. Skims’s cotton rib material is so soft and stretchy—I wear these tanks on the flight, during the day, and even as pajamas when I’m packing light. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

Lululemon's Align leggings are buttery soft and the ones I always reach for when I'm traveling. They somehow get more comfortable the more you wear them, and the high waistband stays in place without feeling restricting. These are universally beloved for lighter workouts, but I think the black color is ideal for a flight, where you want to be comfortable but also want to be able to go from the plane straight to sightseeing when necessary. —Stephanie Wu, former Traveler editor

Especially on a long flight, I’m looking for comfort over everything—and this ultra-soft, fairly stretchy, supportive-enough cotton bra from Arq is supremely comfortable. It comes in a ton of colors and sizes (ranging from XS to 4X), feels like a sports bra without any of the tight compression, and means I’m not dealing with harsh or poking underwire mid-flight. I’m also a big fan of Arq’s cropped tank, if you want something more full coverage to layer under your plane uniform. —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor

If I'm not wearing leggings on a flight, I'm probably in this pair of joggers. They're made of a sporty, sweat-wicking material that's stretchy and smooth against my skin, and have that all-important elastic waistband with a drawstring, tapered ankle, and pockets. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

I used to shudder at the idea of ‘travel’ clothing (it always brought to mind clunky passport concealing pockets and old-school travel belts). That was until a family member bought me a pair of Eddie Bauer Travex pants, which I now call my plane pants. The line is made of stretch fabric that’s lightweight and moisture wicking, so they feel like super-breathable pajamas, but look totally sleek and come in a surprising array of styles. My first pair were super basic joggers, but I also now have a cool wide-leg pair that you’d never guess are from the same place my dad used to buy all our outdoor gear—and have all the hidden zippered pockets you could ever need. —Shannon McMahon, destinations editor

Sweatshirts are, by nature, comfortable, but there's something about this Knix quarter zip hoodie that just takes it to another level. The material is so soft and smooth—the cotton, modal, and spandex blend makes the fabric lightweight and thinner than a fleece sweatshirt, and the loose, boxy fit is just what I want while sitting for hours at a time. I also like that you can zip it all the way up for more coverage, or unzip to have the collar drape open. —M.F.

For me, getting dressed for a flight is often a struggle between opting for comfort with leggings and sweatpants or choosing "hard pants" if I need to look presentable upon arrival. But with the Turn It Up pant from Aday, I've found the perfect middle ground. Made from an 100 percent vegan blend of nylon and elastane that's both breathable and stretchy, these pants are seriously comfortable. My favorite part is probably the high waistband that's both elastic and flattering, but I also love the front pleats, tapered leg, and—crucial for traveling and packing—wrinkle resistance. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've worn these pants nearly everyday in lockdown and have yet to be sick of them. As a bonus, they come in four colors and are consciously produced in Aday's factory that's powered by 50 percent renewable energy. —Jessica Puckett, transportation editor

I love this cozy Essential Hoodie; it's clear it was made with travelers in mind. It comes with a built-in eye-mask, perfect for getting some sleep on a long flight, and a hidden pocket to tuck your phone into. It’s just the right amount of oversized and is buttery soft—you’ll feel like you’re wearing a blanket. —M.K.

It’s seen as taboo to wear pajamas to the airport, but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone mention slippers. The Ugg Tasman has all the comfort of a slipper with a thick EVA sole made to be worn inside or outside. They're easy to slip on if you're rushing out the door and easy to slip off in the TSA line. —P.W.

Whether I'm lugging my suitcase through the NYC subway or covering some serious ground browsing airport stores post-security, I often find myself on my feet for a large chunk of travel days. So, when I'm reaching for a travel shoe, 99 percent of the time you'll find me rocking my oh-so-comfy Skechers Ultra Flex 2.0 sneakers. Is it the most stylish look? Fine, no. But the memory foam insole is heaven and the shoes are so light on my feet that I feel like a baby gazelle. Plus, they're pre-laced and slip-on, making the TSA line a total breeze. —Lara Kramer, global associate director of audience development

These feel more like slippers than shoes, and function more like slippers when it comes to rolling through security. The fact that I can throw them in the washing machine after a trip means I can wear them on the plane without socks, making them all the more comfortable. —Noah Kaufman, former Traveler editor

When I know that I'm landing with a full itinerary waiting on me I gravitate towards my Stan Smiths.  They can make any outfit look sleek and help me to feel a little more put together. They have a permanent place in my airport wardrobe because no matter where I am, they are always comfortable and easy to clean. —P.W.

Years ago, Mara Hoffman told me in an interview that she always wears compression socks. The way they increase circulation is supposed to help with jet lag, puffiness, and just feeling better after a long journey. I’ve been secretly sliding Bombas on before every 5-hour-plus flight since. The black and white are subtle enough, and though you have to fight a bit to get them on, they really compress—I swear they’ve helped me arrive feeling fresher than I used to. — M.S.

My mom always travels with a pashmina, and so naturally I've gotten into the habit of bringing some sort of blanket scarf along too. It can be tough to find the right balance: Some of my warmest ones are also rather bulky, so much so that I dread toting them around for the rest of the trip. This Mongolian cashmere wrap from Qunce is my current favorite in-between. It's long enough to wrap around my neck or drape over my lap or shoulders as a blanket but doesn't take up my entire tote bag or backpack. —M.F.

This Metro Sling is an airport essential. Having a hands-free bag makes carrying my luggage and moving through security a breeze; it gives me easy access to my phone, AirPods, passport, lip balm, and any other small essentials I have on me. Thanks to the adjustable strap, I can wear it around my waist or across the chest or back. —M.K.

I love to bring fuzzy socks on airplanes, especially on red-eyes where I'm trying to get as comfortable as possible in order to sleep for a few hours. Ugg makes my favorite pair: They are incredibly soft and cozy, and don't shed fabric in the way some other pairs I've purchased do. Depending on the climate I'm coming from, I'll either wear them under my shoes to the airport, or throw them in my bag and pull them on over my ankle socks once I get on the plane.  —M.F.