For countless travellers, selecting the ideal outfit for a flight is a crucial part of the journey. Now, budget airline Ryanair has issued a surprising plea to passengers, urging them to avoid one specific clothing item, leaving many flyers bewildered.
Ryanair's Social Media Appeal
Ryanair took to TikTok to share a video featuring a plane with its distinctive logo descending over turquoise waters, appearing to land at Corfu airport. The clip was set to celebratory music, followed by the familiar post-flight announcement: "Thank you for flying Ryanair."
Superimposed text on the video delivered the core message: "It's 2026, let's stop travelling in jeans," with a polite "please" added in the caption. This straightforward request has ignited a significant debate among the airline's customer base.
Passenger Confusion and Backlash
The statement prompted immediate confusion, with viewers quickly questioning the rationale behind avoiding jeans during air travel. One perplexed commenter asked, "What is wrong with jeans please explain," to which Ryanair enigmatically replied, "what's right with them?"
Not all passengers were receptive to the advice. Some defended their choice to wear jeans, particularly on shorter flights. One viewer retorted, "no it’s an hour let me live," sharing an image of themselves wearing jeans aboard a Ryanair flight. Another practical traveller noted they would continue wearing jeans because the garment wouldn't fit in their carry-on luggage, and they wished to avoid the airline's notorious fees for checked baggage.
The Comfort Argument Gains Support
Conversely, many travellers agreed wholeheartedly with Ryanair's stance. Critics of denim argue that jeans are far from the most comfortable option for prolonged sitting during flights. One supporter commented, "So real. I’ll never get it," while another declared, "Agreed. It needs to be banned. Comfies only!"
The preference for alternative attire was clear, with suggestions like "always wear leggings" emerging as popular alternatives. The debate even took a humorous turn, with one viewer jesting they would instead "fly in my 18th century historically accurate outfit."
The Broader Context of In-Flight Comfort
This clothing debate touches on a universal challenge of air travel: maintaining comfort during flights. Passengers often find themselves confined to tight seats for hours with limited space to stretch, a situation particularly pronounced on budget airlines like Ryanair where legroom and seat size may be reduced to keep fares low.
For those opting for economical travel, these comfort sacrifices make the choice of clothing even more significant. While first-class passengers may enjoy spacious seating, budget flyers must rely more heavily on their outfit selection to enhance their in-flight experience. Ryanair's intervention highlights how airlines are increasingly engaging with passengers on aspects of travel beyond just pricing and schedules.
Whether this social media plea will change passenger habits remains uncertain, but it has undoubtedly sparked a widespread conversation about what constitutes appropriate and comfortable travel attire for the modern flyer.
