Flight attendant shares why you should 'never' wear a dress on long-haul flight

A former Emirates flight attendant is sharing her tips for surviving along-haul flight, including why wearing a dress is a big no-no.

If you want to “feel as refreshed as possible when you arrive at your destination” then there are a few tricks that you should keep in mind, she said.

Iryna runs the YouTube channel, , where she shares travel advice and tips as a former Emirates flight attendant. She has operated “more than 550 flights” - equivalent to 159 days on board an aircraft - so she knows exactly how to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey.

In one of her YouTube videos, Iryna shares what type of clothes travellers should wear onboard an aircraft and why “your comfortable clothes are your flight uniform”. Kicking off her explanation, she explains why dresses like the mini-length one she wears in her video are not ideal for long-haul flights.

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“This dress is not ideal to wear on a long flight because I’m probably going to get cold,” says Iryna. She also points out another key consideration that should deter you from wearing a dress, even if you’re headed to a humid destination.

“Long flights could lead to bloating and swelling, especially on your legs, because you’re sitting for a long period of time,” she explains. “Your blood circulation doesn’t work well at this part of your body so you need to wear clothes that are not too tight and quite comfortable.”

She suggests wearingathletic clothing and t-shirts for maximum comfort, as well as bringing extra layers so you can adjust to the cabin temperature, which is nearly always cold.

According to Iryna, most airlines set the internal cabin temperature between 22 and 24 C because if it's too high “there is a high chance you can start feeling unwell”. She also mentions that being too hot on board can lead to fainting.

While it may seem like an inconvenience to pack extra layers just for your flight, the cold temperature might actually be good for you. At least according to Jay Robert, an international cabin crew member and the creator of A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge.

Speaking to UniLad Tech in 2024, Robert explained first that flight attendants have limited capacity to adjust the plane’s thermostat through their cabin control system. Rather it is the plane’s pilots that are in charge of the main thermostat and any significant changes to temperature are their call.

Robert says passengers are more likely to faint if temperatures exceed 75°F (24C). Colder air helps counteract the effects of the cabin's dry, pressurised environment, which can contribute to dehydration and dizziness.

According to Robert, warmer cabins “smell funkier” because heat energises odour-causing molecules, resulting in bad smells building up quicker. Thus, a cooler plane is likely to be a better smelling one.