Should there be a dress code in First Class on Airplanes?

[TotallyOz]

LOL I read the story about the man getting denied First Class because of his track suit. I had to laugh. I have been in First Class for years with my tie dyed hippie t-shirt (my favorite for travel), Birkenstocks, and $2.50 Thai Cargo Shorts. When I read this story I wondered if I were next in line for an ousting.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=620001025.blog&poe=HFMostPopularUPDATE

(10:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 5): United is out with its side of the story. (Scroll down for the original post.) Airline spokesman Robin Urbanski told me in an e-mail Thursday evening that the airline does not have a policy that would prevent a customer from sitting in first class for dressing too casually. Instead, the gate agent apparently thought the customer in a track suit was an airline employee. If that would have been the case, an employee would have been subject to a dress code.

"We are working with our sub-contractor that was helping us with this flight to investigate what happened and ensure something like this does not happen again," Urbanski said in the e-mail. "This was an unfortunate miscommunication with the gate agent who speaks English as a second language and was simultaneously assisting another customer when he believed Mr. Alvarez to be an airline employee in which a dress code policy is required."

ORIGINAL POST (8:35 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov.5): An executive with Best Buy claims a United Airlines gate agent refused to allow him to take a first-class seat because he was wearing a track suit, reports FOX 5 News of Washington. Armando Alvarez, a corporate executive with electronics retailer Best Buy, says he used miles to upgrade to first class on his Monday flight from Washington Dulles to Connecticut (presumably Hartford).

Alvarez says that once his upgrade cleared, he walked to the counter near the gate to get his new seat assignment. That's when he says the gate agent told him that his track suit was too casual for him to sit in first class. (See a picture and video of the suit on FOX 5’s website).

"I was humiliated," Alvarez is quoted as saying to FOX 5 reporter Will Thomas following the incident. "I was embarrassed and when some of the passengers were boarding behind me they said, 'Hey, what just happened?' And I said the agent just said I wasn't properly dressed to go in first class today. And they said, 'Was he kidding?' I said obviously not because I'm boarding and not getting in first class."

OTHER PASSENGER NEWS: Southwest kicks mom, cranky kid off flight

FOX 5 updates the story with a response from United. On its website, the TV station writes a United "spokesperson says they've identified the gate agent and he is a contract employee who works for Air Wisconsin. The spokesperson says the employee was interviewed and security footage from the terminal is being reviewed as officials for both airlines investigate the incident. United says there is no passenger dress code, but they cited two rules. Ticketed passengers can not be barefoot and must be clothed."

[Guest EXPAT]

First Class is hardly what it used to be. It's basically coach with a bigger seat if truth be told. I remember (vaguely) when traveling in first class people wore suits, dresses etc. Because it used to be a big deal.

I usually only travel first class now and you see all kinds in first class that's for sure.

[RA1]

UA definitely has a dress code for employees or their guests. It is stricter in first than coach. Basically it is coat, tie and decent shoes, no jeans. On long trips like international trips it is pretty easy to tell the paying customers from the employees. They very well may wear very expensive clothes but usually not a coat and tie for a 12 hour trip. My friend, the employee, and I ditched our coats and ties as soon as the door closed.

Once, while in NZ, I managed to fall while climbing a mountain and broke a bone in my ankle. Being in a foreign country, I basically tried to shrug it off and hobble around, not knowing I had a broken bone. When it was time to depart, my friend strongly encouraged me to put on some decent shoes just long enough to get on board. I don't now remember what I actually did but when my friend and our host in NZ found out I had a broken bone, they were very embarrassed.

At first I thought this was just a supercilious twit mistakenly trying to enforce a dress code on paying customers but I see now he was a contract or part time employee. Still, we could do with less officiousness, don't you think?

Best regards,

RA1

[Guest StuCotts]

I've never been given a problem because of my usual casual flying togs: jodhpurs, riding boots, Harris tweed, an ascot, one of my less-showy cigarette holders. No smoking allowed, but I do like the rakish figure I cut when I grip the holder in my teeth and flash my profile.

[lookin]

I've never been given a problem because of my usual casual flying togs: jodhpurs, riding boots, Harris tweed, an ascot, one of my less-showy cigarette holders. No smoking allowed, but I do like the rakish figure I cut when I grip the holder in my teeth and flash my profile.

And the turbulence-resistant pince-nez surely?

[Guest StuCotts]

And the turbulence-resistant pince-nez surely?

Your spies must be everywhere!

[MsGuy]

It was the wheelchair that gave you away.

[BigK]

I don't think there should be a dress code, but I like it when people dress nicely for flying. Many passengers don't dress for flying. It seems like the standard dress these days is pajamas.

[AdamSmith]

Your spies must be everywhere!

No, only where they need to be.

... I know one escort who sometimes travels in a t-shirt and long silk jockey shorts. Nothing else! Except socks and shoes. Those shorts as the only layer between a substantial John Thomas and the inspection doings visibly intimidate some TSA types. Hilarious.

[Guest StuCotts]

... I know one escort who sometimes travels in a t-shirt and long silk jockey shorts. Nothing else!

For it is truly written: It pays to advertise.

Any intel on how much impulse-purchase business he does in airports?

[RA1]

I still remember getting on an AA DC-10 completely full with 199 passengers. This was summer time and it was when air-ground phones had just come onto airliners. Everyone brought on enough carry-on baggage to stay for a month and space of any kind was at a premium. This yahoo was running around with the sky phone in his hand with no shirt on, making a complete nusiance of himself. If I had had a tranquilizer dart gun, I would have shot him. The cabin crew did nothing. They were very busy trying to take care of the rest of us and this "person" was constantly moving, making sure to annoy the widest possible number, I suppose. The mention of the escort advertising his wares brought this to mind for some reason.

Best regards,

RA1

[lookin]

If I had had a tranquilizer dart gun, I would have shot him.

Before 9/11, I rarely traveled without one. They're particularly effective with squalling infants as the tiny dart disappears into the folds of their diapers and doesn't get noticed until the next change, usually after touchdown. I once got twins three rows back by pretending to sneeze while getting a pillow from the overhead compartment.

[RA1]

Lookin-

I would travel with you anywhere. You have a good attitude and, obviously, the wherewithall to accomplish the necessary "refinements" that make travel so rewarding.

Best regards,

RA1