The Best Clothes for Quick Trips, According to Flight Attendants

New York Times

6 hours ago

Lea McIntyre, who has been a flight attendant for six years, has packing down to a science. Lea McIntyre
While it may seem like flight attendants spend a lot of time sightseeing at exotic locales, a lot of the job involves quick turnarounds. Layovers often include hotel hang time, sleeping, a meal with coworkers, or a quick outing to shop or enjoy a nearby park.
Standard protocol for packing involves checking the weather at the destination then choosing a 'change of uniform' for each day, something comfortable that can also be worn in public.
Lauren Wolfe, a Denver-based flight attendant who has been on the job for four years, packs to survive living at a hotel, which means taking a workout ensemble for each day of her trip. She'll use it for lounging, a trail walk, and hitting the gym.
Wolfe likes Lululemon leggings (we like them, too) because they're trendy enough for multiple activities. 'I can go for a workout and then if I need to run over to the store, I … still feel like I'm put together,' she said.
These multifunctional travel workhorses are breathable, supportive, and fast-drying. Plus, they have pockets and come in three lengths. The medium-weight fabric feels cool and smooth, though the slightly brushed texture is prone to showing smudges and attracting lint.
Leanna Coy, a flight attendant based in Hartford, Connecticut, who has been on the job for over two years and completed 326 flights last year, loves Gymshark leggings. She always opts for a pair with pockets. She uses them to workout, lounge, or even sleep in, pairing them with a basic top like a simple crew neck or a long-line sports bra that can be worn as a shirt. Leggings, cropped shirts and sports bras, and sandals and sneakers in neutral colors were popular among the flight attendants I spoke with, including Destanie Armstrong (left) and Lauren Wolfe (right). Destanie Armstrong / Lauren Wolfe
Two flight attendants I spoke with frequently pack coordinating sweatsuits. Flight attendant Lea McIntyre, a flight attendant based in Washington, DC, who has been on the job for six years and has over 158,000 followers on TikTok, sticks to non-brand-name sweatsuits that are affordable enough that she doesn't mind leaving them in her suitcase between trips. Wolfe opts for brands like Aritzia.
Coordinating sweatsuits are a no-brainer to pack. These oversize sweatpants from Aritzia pair well with a matching sweatshirt for an easy, comfortable look.
A coordinating pullover sweatshirt is great for lounging around and having an extra layer on hand. You can also sleep in it. Two flight attendants I spoke with frequently packed coordinating sweatsuits, including McIntyre, shown here. Lea McIntyre
McFarlane always packs both pants and shorts on a trip — that's because he once left for a trip for sunny Hawaii and instead ended up in cold Japan.
He says his most versatile travel essential is a pair of stretchy, comfortable jeans; he likes the Ezy Ultra Stretch Jeans from Uniqlo. (We also recommend a stretchy pair of Uniqlo jeans in our guide to the best jeans for men.) 'I had a layover recently where I forgot to bring shirts, but I brought a pair of jeans,' he told me, 'and I just wore my uniform button-up shirt with the jeans and I was like, damn, this looks good!' Flight attendant Sean McFarlane packs versatile pieces he can mix and match, including jeans, neutral T-shirts, and white sneakers. Sean McFarlane
One flight attendant I spoke with swears by these affordable, stretchy jeans, which are made from breathable lyocell with a dash of spandex.
Usually, though, McFarlane remembers his shirts, typically packing a basic black V-neck, which is easy to dress up or down. (If you're looking for an inexpensive basic tee, we recommend the Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Tee in our guide to the best white T-shirts for men, which is also available as a black V-neck.) But he changes things up based on the destination and brings a button-up, tank, or sweater.
For crew hangs, Destanie Armstrong, who has been a flight attendant for three years and is based in Chicago, repurposes her flowy lounge pants by pairing them with a cute top. 'Versatility is definitely the theme,' she said. McIntyre likes bodycon dresses for going out because they pack small.
Most of the flight attendants I spoke with either wore oversize T-shirts or silky pajama sets from Target or T.J.Maxx to bed. 'The material rolls and folds so easily,' McIntyre told me. 'It doesn't take up a lot of space.'
Layers are another consideration. 'On the plane, it's cold,' Coy told me. On personal trips, she usually brings a cardigan, even in warmer weather. For work trips, McFarlane and Armstrong often opt for a crew-neck sweatshirt. 'They're cute for casual layover vibes,' Armstrong said. Plus, you can sleep in them. Flight attendant Leanna Coy stressed wearing neutral colors. She often packs a black puffer coat, leggings, and white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, shown here on the right. Leanna Coy
As for jackets, four of the five flight attendants I spoke with opt for a puffy coat in black because it packs down easily and goes with everything. McIntyre has a bubble jacket from Calvin Klein that 'smushes down to almost nothing,' while Coy uses a packable puffer, also from Calvin Klein, which is similar to this coat. (If you're willing to splurge, we recommend this puffy, packable jacket from Montbell in our guide to the best down jackets.)
Wolfe said that in her first years of working as a flight attendant, she wore heels. 'You can't function like a normal human,' she said. Switching over to loafers was eye-opening. 'I'm just so much more comfortable and mobile.'
While her beloved loafers are mostly for work, every flight attendant I spoke with was all about comfort for both work and casual shoes. (Flight attendant hack: Make dressy shoes more comfortable with insoles. Wolfe uses a pair from Superfeet, which is one of our top picks.)
Most packed two pairs of footwear for their layovers: sneakers and, especially in the summer, sandals. McFarlane, though, opts to pack free throwaway hotel slippers instead of sandals, but perhaps to the same end: 'You don't really want to be barefoot in your hotel room,' he said.
Everyone I spoke with packed sneakers in neutral shades like black, white, or tan. Three of the flight attendants wear New Balance lifestyle sneakers, like the New Balance 740 and 530 models. Wolfe, who also has a black pair of On Cloud sneakers, says they're more practical than the other 'fashion statement' sneakers she owns.
Coy packs white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, which are also one of our picks in our guide to the best white sneakers. We're in agreement: They hit that sweet spot of comfort and style.
Comfortable neutral-color sneakers are an off-hours go-to for flight attendants. A pick in our guide to white sneakers, these tried-and-true leather shoes have a storied history. They're heavier than most sneakers, but they're also comfortable and make a statement. $115 from Urban Outfitters
For Armstrong, in chilly Chicago, Dr. Martens Jadon Boot Platforms are her non-sneaker ride-or-dies. 'They can be dressed up, they can be dressed down, they're comfortable, they last a long time.' And hers are still going strong after five years. They do take up precious suitcase space, so she wears them on the flight if the trip allows.
A pair of black boots can dress up or down and are great for cold-weather trips. This pair has lasted one flight attendant five years. But, they're heavy and take awhile to break in.
The flight attendants I spoke with travel with a range of sandals from inexpensive Old Navy flip-flops to fashion slide sandals. Wolfe's go-to for trips are thong sandals from Teva because they're comfortable and really thin, which makes them easy to fit in a suitcase. We also recommend several sandals in our guide to the best sandals, including the Teva Original Universal Slim Sandals.
We love this slim-strap version of the classic rugged Teva, which has EVA cushioning, arch support, Velcro straps, and treaded soles but is more stylish and packable (if less robust) than the original.
If there is any flight attendant secret, it is this: Be a minimalist, except when it comes to underwear.
'Are you even human if you don't bring, like, a million pairs of underwear?' joked Wolfe, who packs two pairs per travel day. 'Overpacking underwear allows you to feel fresher longer,' said McFarlane, who packs three pairs for a one-night layover. 'You never know when you can get stuck an extra day,' Coy told me. Armstrong, who once got waylaid in Miami for two weeks due to a medical issue, echoed the sentiment.
Most of the flight attendants I spoke with bought inexpensive, bulk packs of 'work underwear,' so they could keep a bunch in their suitcase ready to go, or so they could identify them quickly while packing. (Incidentally, the top pick in our guide to the best women's underwear is an affordable pack from Hanes.)
McFarlane tends to wear briefs for mobility and comfort. (If you prefer boxer briefs, we're fans of this affordable option.) McIntyre swears by no-show panties, which are made of thin, lightweight material. 'I put them in a bag and they're just balled up in there,' she admitted. 'You can smush them down to practically nothing.' She and Wolfe both like underwear from Target's Auden line.
The flight attendants we spoke to recommend packing extra underwear, and they opt for affordable, thin, lightweight underwear that's easy to stock up on and easy to pack.
Wolfe also brings a Skims Scoop Bralette, which she says is as easy to pack as it is to wear. (Our guide to the best bras has bralette picks for a variety of bust sizes.) Other flight attendants bring bras that do double duty, such as long-line sports bras that can be worn as tops or crop tops with built-in bras.
Don't forget your swimsuit! Bikinis don't take up much space, though swim trunks can. That's why McFarlane chooses swim shorts that do double-duty as everyday shorts, like the Lululemon Swim Shorts 5" Linerless.
Versatility is key for flight attendants. To save on space, one flight attendant I spoke with packed a pair of swim shorts that easily passed for everyday shorts.
For personal trips, not all attendants stick to minimalism. For leisure travel, McIntyre takes two outfits per day, though she still manages to fit it all in a carry-on. Coy was the only flight attendant I spoke with who braved checking a bag on personal trips. 'I'd rather be comfortable,' she said. Plus, 'They make you check your carry-on half the time anyway.'
But Armstrong told me that her job has simplified her packing, including for personal travel. Before, she said, 'I would have these extravagant outfit plans that would take up so much space in my suitcase.' Now, she knows how to dress up basics with jewelry, hair, and makeup.
Besides, looking cute is no longer her top priority. 'I feel like I'm just trying to be more present in the moment,' she said. Isn't that what travel is all about?
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
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