Don't feel gross about wearing shorts on an airplane — you're going to want to be comfortable in case things go sideways
- People have debated whether or not it's acceptable to wear shorts on an airplane.
- But with hot temperatures and tarmac disasters, you might as well be comfortable.
You shouldn't fret too much about wearing pants or shorts on an airplane — instead, do whatever is going to make you the most comfortable, because you never know when you could be stuck on the tarmac or subject to some other disaster.
A recent thread on the Delta subreddit dissected the pants vs. shorts debate, Insider reported on Wednesday, with some arguing for the comfort of shorts when traveling to and from warm climates, and others raising hygiene concerns about touching an airline seat with your bare skin.
The debate, which has been parodied in series like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," comes at a time when nightmare flight scenarios seem to be peaking. Delta Air Lines confirmed to Insider that first responders had treated at least one passenger on an Atlanta-bound flight out of Las Vegas after passengers were stuck on a plane with no air conditioning for four hours in triple-digit Las Vegas heat.
Airline travel is already a dehumanizing experience: as Insider reported in 2017, seats have shrunk over the years and high prices have driven some passengers to try "skiplagging" to find cheaper prices. Reports of unruly passengers are on the rise.
On a recent Reddit thread, one user said that he never wore shorts because "many skin infections happen as a result of contact between skin and dirty seats. I've seen and heard about some pretty gnarly ones."
But when it comes to hygiene, some of the dirtiest airline surfaces are the ones that your hands touch, not your legs. A 2018 CBC Marketplace study took samples from 18 flights and found that the headrest and seat pocket were the dirtiest surfaces on planes. And a 2015 TravelMath study cited by Time and Forbes, in which a microbiologist took samples from five airports and four fights, found that tray tables, toilet flush buttons, and air vents were among the dirtier surfaces on a flight.
Ultimately, your choice of in-flight clothing comes down to personal preference. But it's worth being prepared — and packing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to wipe down your seating area — either way.