9+ Surprising Things You Should Never Wear on a Flight to Europe

Wondering what to wear on a flight across the Atlantic Ocean? Your resident travel expert has rounded up the things I'd *never* wear on a long flight to Europe, and what you should wear on that first leg of your European adventure instead.

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Wondering what to wear on a long haul flight to Europe?

Planning for your first European vacation is exciting, addictive, and occasionally overwhelming. You're trying to do and see all the historic sites, stay in the best hotels within budget and of course within walking distance of...everything, oh and never eat in a tourist trap restaurant. And you're doing all this planning with really no experience to fall back on, if you're never actually been 'across the pond!'


And planning for that dream Europe trip is so time-consuming, in addition to planning the trip itself, that people often put off deciding what to wear on the Transatlantic flight until the minute they're walking out the door. I'd encourage you to plan your airplane outfit well in advance (congrats, you're already following my directions!)


Long-haul flights can be intimidating. Whether it's your first or your tenth, you know you'll be trapped in a little metal tube in the sky with a few hundred strangers for an undefined period of time. But, never fear, with the right preparation I can have you avoiding all of the classic travel pitfalls and finding the exact right outfit for your transatlantic flight.


Air travel, especially international travel, has changed a lot in recent years, but many of the classic travel truths still hold true.

So let's dive right in - the 9 things you should never wear on a flight to Europe.

​And while you're here, please take some time to explore the many, free travel resources I've created over many trips to Europe. I'm here to help! And it's all free.

• The Ultimate Guide to Packing for 10 Days in Europe
• What to Wear in Europe: 20+ Tips Every First Time Tourist Needs
• 8+ Embarrassing Things You Should Never Wear in Europe​

Travel Schedule of a Typical American's Trip to Europe

Many first time travelers underestimate the amount of time they will be in-transit getting to Europe. I thought I'd walk you through a typical travel day/night/morning trip to Europe, so you can get a sense of how you'll want to be dressed. We come from Indianapolis, which has limited direct flights to Europe, so obviously some lucky people  coming from New York and bigger markets will be fortunate enough not to deal with a connection on the U.S. end. When possible, we do our connection in the U.S., so that when we get off the overnight flight, we don't have another connection to deal with in Europe.

2 PM: Leave house for airport
4:30 PM First Flight
8:30 PM Overnight Flight to Europe
(boarding, etc. takes a very long time)
Fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Eat dinner, be served drinks, etc.
6 AM Local time: Arrive in Europe
Customs, border protection, get bags, get to local transportation
9/10 AM Local time: Arrive at hotel
10-11 AM Local Time
Wander around the city doing some tourism until your room is ready

9+ Surprising Things You Should Never Wear on a Flight to Europe
​(and what to wear instead!)

Flip Flops/Sandals

First things first. There is no reason on earth that you should ever wear flip flops on a long flight. First of all, depending on your level of airport security pre-clearance (I have TSA Precheck, which I highly recommend), you may need to remove your shoes in airport security and walk through in your socks. If you don't have socks on...you'll be barefoot. Ew. Second, the floor of the airplane gets surprisingly cold during long haul flights. Trust me, if you wear open-toed shoes, your feed will be *freezing* all night. And, third, you want to arrive in your destination looking nice. Even if you are going to be spending a lot of time at the beach, cheap beach flip flops, for example, are not worn across cultures. Europeans never wear them and you will stand out.


So what shoes *should* you wear on a flight to Europe? Comfortable shoes are the most important element of packing fora trip to Europe. On the plane, I would wear the bulkiest shoes you're going to take on your trip, to save space in your suitcase. If you're bringing boots or booties, I'd wear those. If not, I'd wear low-profile sneakers. They're comfortable for a long trip, and you can easily wear them to start your trip off 'on the right foot' when you arrive! Leave the high heels at home.


While slip-on shoes may be appealing, I would try to opt for socks, if possible, both for security and because of the chilly floor issue at high altitudes at night.

FAQ: Do I need to wear compression socks on a long haul flight to Europe?

That depends! There are various medical issues that can cause swelling at high altitudes. If you have a predisposition for blood clots or deep vein thrombosis, then absolutely consult with your doctor before your flight about investing in a pair of compression socks to encourage blood flow. If you aren't aware of any conditions that predispose you to swelling or clotting, then it's up to you. I've never worn compression socks on an international flight and haven't ever experienced swelling, personally.

​Consult your doctor if you're concerned.

Tight Jeans

Leave the skinny jeans at home! Not only are they out of style, but tight jeans are the last thing you want to sit around in during your travel day, night, and morning, which could be more than 12 hours. Opt for looser fitting pants in breathable fabrics, with a relaxed waistband. Joggers are a good choice. If you have comfortable leggings, they'll probably be ok, but be sure you have a shirt long enough to cover your booty. We'll discuss this in more detail later, but Europeans don't wear leggings-as-pants like Americans.

FAQ: Can I wear blue jeans in Europe?

Yes! Europeans wear jeans. Just ensure that your denim is not overly distressed. European tend toward well-tailored jeans in modern silhouettes. As long as they aren't the jeans you mow the lawn in, you'll be just fine.

Skimpy/Distressed/Bike/ and/or
Denim Shorts

Sticking to the pants trend (don't forget: the Brits call underwear "pants," so use this term with care!), even in summer's warmer weather, I wouldn't wear short, short, short, shorts on a long haul flight.

​It gets cold on the plane at night over the Atlantic Ocean, and those little airplane blankets don't do much to warm up bare legs. And, finally, Europeans don't wear shorts like Americans, so you may feel very exposed upon arrival.

For long travel days, the best pants are loose and breathable, with that relaxed waistband.

looking for a classy travel set for summer?

A Skimpy Shirt
​(without a sweater)

Take my word for it- you do not want to be crammed up against the outer reaches of the plane, in the window seat, freezing in a crop top or a tank top, with your exposed arms covered in goose bumps. International, overnight flights are long and chilly. A shortsleeved t-shirt is fine, if you packing a cozy cardigan, or practical wrap.

Pajamas

While it may be tempting to take the "comfortable clothes" idea as far as possible and just wear your pajamas to the airport, and I know people do it, please don't. You are in public, going on an exciting adventure, and you have to wear those clothes when you arrive at your hotel. If you room isn't ready, you may need to spend several hours exploring your European destination before you have time to change. Please don't wander around Rome in your flannel pajama pants.
​I beg you.

Head-to-Toe Athleisure Wear

On the theme of needing to be ready for your trip when you land, *full* athleisure is probably not the best idea either. You can absolutely wear joggers, leggings, a (nice, clean) sweatshirt, or a windbreaker, but *do not* wear a yoga bra as a shirt or anything middriff revealing. As we discussed, Europeans don't wear athleisure like Americans, do you will stand out like a sore thumb upon arrival.

A Winter Coat

While I'll always advocate for extra layers, both on a flight to Europe and once you arrive in your European destination, for the flight itself, I would avoid bringing your winter coat.

Depending on where you're visiting and when, you might not need your winter coat at all.

​But if you are bringing it, put it in your checked bag. A winter coat is too bulky to accommodate anywhere in the increasingly cramped flight conditions of modern flying, and chances that you'll truly need it in the States or your destination immediately are very slim. If it's the cooler months, I'd opt for a light jacket on the flight itself, which you can easily take off and store in your purse or under the seat.

Full Make-Up

Moving on from clothes, I thought we'd discuss make-up for a bit before we wrap up. As you can see from the schedule we discussed above, you are in for a long travel day. As I've made clear with my strictures on wearing pajamas and my entire blog dedicated to 'what to wear in Europe,' I am very conscious about wanting to look nice on vacation. But on a long haul, overnight flight to Europe, glamorous make up probably isn't the name of the game, especially eye make-up. You'll want to try to sleep on the flight and it will get smudged and fall into your eyes.
On a flight to Europe, the only make-up I generally wear is:

• Primer
• Tinted moisturizer
• Blush
• Eye brow pencil/filler
• Chapstick

If we're staying at a particularly nice hotel, I have put mascara in my purse before, to just try to spruce up slightly before arrival, but they're used to seeing bedraggled Americans getting off of planes!

A Teeny, Tiny Bag

I have lots of thoughts on the best purses for a trip to Europe. For the *trip itself* you'll want a small, lightweight, crossbody purse that zips fully. More thoughts on this in The Ultimate Guide to Packing 10 Days in Europe.

For the flight 'across the pond,' however, I always bring a lightweight tote. I put my actual travel purse into it, as a wallet. This way, I can put water bottles, books, my wrap, headphones, etc all into the tote, under my seat, where I have easy access during the long hours of the flight.

Thanks for Stopping By!

Thank you so much for coming by my beloved travel blog to think about what to wear on an international flight.

A long plane ride can be daunting, but I hope I've given you some ideas of the best clothes to make you as comfortable (and classy!) as possible.

​While you're here, I hope you'll consider checking out the many other free resources I've created over the years to help you at all stages of your Europe travel process. Bon voyage!

• {2025} The Ultimate Guide to Packing for 10 Days in Europe
• What to Wear in Europe: 20+ Tips Every First Time Tourist Needs
• 8+ Embarrassing Things You Should Never Wear in Europe

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