Transportation secretary says flyers should 'dress up.' Here's what people wore to the Philly airport 50 years ago

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has sparked controversy by suggesting that improving air travel would be as simple as dressing up for one's flights. The former congressman posited that civility and "class" were the solutions to the reported 400% increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019. In an attempt to illustrate his point, the Transportation Department released a public service announcement (PSA) featuring vintage footage of travelers from the 1950s through the 1970s.

The PSA's accompanying music, Frank Sinatra's classic "Come Fly With Me," took a dark turn as it transitioned to more recent clips of flyers lounging on planes in their bare feet. The Secretary stated that people should dress with some respect, saying "I think — again, I call this — just maybe dressing with some respect, you know, whether it's a pair of jeans and a decent shirt." His suggestion is to encourage people to dress up, which he believes will, in turn, lead them to behave better.

However, many have criticized the Secretary for downplaying more significant factors behind increased air travel disruptions. The frequent cancellations of flights, shortage of air traffic controllers, and loss of consumer protections are seen as larger hurdles that need to be addressed rather than just dressing up.

To provide context, researchers at Temple University combed through their special collections for images of people on the tarmac and terminals of Philadelphia International Airport from the 1950s through the 1970s. The photographs show more heels, ties, and skirts but also some sneakers and bell bottoms, suggesting that airport fashion was diverse during this period.

The study provides valuable insight into how people dressed when traveling in the past, providing a stark contrast to modern-day air travel.

I mean, come on, Sean Duffy thinks dressing up for flights is gonna solve all our problems? It's like he expects us to just magically transform into 1950s style icons and behave better too . The real issue here is the lack of resources and staffing for air traffic control, not some superficial sartorial advice. I'm all for looking polished and put-together, but let's focus on addressing the systemic problems that are really disrupting our travel experiences . And can we talk about how outdated this PSA feels? "Come Fly With Me" is a classic, but it doesn't exactly scream "modern air travel". Let's get with the times and tackle some real solutions rather than relying on a simplistic, retro-futuristic approach

lol I gotta say Sean Duffy is just trying to bring back class on planes but honestly it's like he thinks we're all going to start dressing up for the sake of being polite? Newsflash dude: people still gonna be rowdy no matter what they wear . And yeah, I agree, those 1950s fashion pics are actually kinda cool, looks like people were more chill about dressing down ... shouldn't we focus on actual solutions to these flight issues instead of just telling people to dress up?

just saw that Transportation Sec Sean Duffy thinks dressing up for flights will magically fix all the problems with air travel... like 400% increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019? I mean, come on! It's not about what we wear, it's about staff shortages, flight cancellations, and consumer protections that are the real issues here . And those vintage pics of people from the 50s-70s showing some diversity in their airport fashion? Yeah, let's keep that context in mind when we're trying to solve these problems

I'm still thinking about those old pics from Philly Airport ️, it's crazy how fashion was so... not as casual back then . I mean, who wears sneakers with a suit? my grandma used to wear those high heels all the time and she'd always have that fancy perfume . speaking of which, what's your fave travel scent?

omg what is wrong with sean duffy? like, really? think he's gonna solve all our flight drama problems by telling us to "dress up"? newsflash: fashion doesn't equal good behavior and honestly it just sounds super pretentious. i mean, who needs a pair of jeans & decent shirt to deal with cranky fliers? what about actually addressing the real issues like flight cancellations & air traffic control staffing shortages? that's some real problem-solving right there...

I'm like totally against this idea , no way Sean Duffy can just blame it on our fashion choices lol . I mean, he thinks dressing up is gonna make us all super civilized? Like, what about when we're tired, or stressed, or just wanna chill on the plane? That's not class, that's basic human stuff .

And btw, those vintage pics of people in heels and ties are actually pretty cool , they look like they're having so much fun. And sneakers were totally a thing back then too . So, can we just relax about this whole "dressing up" thing? I think the real problem is the lack of air traffic controllers and stuff... that's what's causing all those cancellations, not our fashion sense .

This whole thing is so annoying! I mean, come on Sean Duffy, really? You're trying to solve the problem of all these outbursts on planes by telling people to dress up? It's not that simple! Have you even looked at the data on flight cancellations and air traffic controller shortages? Those are some serious issues right there. And what about the fact that passengers have fewer options for compensation when things go wrong? You can't just ignore all those systemic problems and expect people to behave better if they're wearing a nice outfit.

And let's be real, fashion has always been diverse, even back in the 50s and 60s. I mean, sure, some people wore heels and ties, but others were rocking bell bottoms and sneakers. It's not like dressing up is going to solve everything. People are stressed, tired, or just having a bad day, and that's when they're more likely to blow their top.

I think the real problem here is that Duffy is oversimplifying this issue and trying to pin it on individual behavior rather than taking a more comprehensive approach. We need solutions that address the root causes of these problems, not just a PR stunt about people dressing up.

omg what is up with this Sean Duffy dude he thinks dressing nice on a plane will magically fix all these annoying flight outbursts? lol nope its so much more complicated than that like have you seen the lines at security lately? and dont even get me started on those air traffic controller shortages anyway just saw this crazy PSA from the 50s-70s with Frank Sinatra and it was actually kinda funny

I'm not sure I agree with Sean Duffy's approach to solving the issue of in-flight outbursts . While dressing up might make some passengers feel more civil and respectful, it doesn't address the underlying problems that are causing these disruptions in the first place .

For instance, have you seen how busy airports can get lately? People are just stressed and frustrated because their flights keep getting cancelled or delayed . And let's not forget about the lack of consumer protections – sometimes airlines just don't care about their customers' well-being .

I think we need more practical solutions than just dressing up . How about improving air traffic control systems, hiring more staff, and implementing more robust customer service standards? That would really help alleviate some of the stress and tension on flights .

Ugh, Sean Duffy thinks he can just dress up for a flight and suddenly everyone will be all civility and class Newsflash, dude: dressing up doesn't magically solve problems like cancellations or understaffed air traffic control . It's not about the clothes, it's about actual solutions to these issues. And btw, who says sneakers are a bad thing? Can we just get some real changes instead of nostalgic navel-gazing?

omg i think sean Duffy is kinda genius , he's trying to say that if we dress up, we'll act more refined & respectful on planes ️! it's not just about dressing nicely, it's also about the vibe you give off . people need to remember they're still representing themselves, even when they're stuck in a cramped seat for 5 hours . plus, those old pics from the 50s-70s are hilarious ! who knew bell bottoms were a thing on planes? . but seriously, we do need to work on being more considerate & respectful of others around us . maybe if everyone tried to be a little more chill & put-together, our flights would be way less dramatic .

OMG, can you believe Sean Duffy thinks dressing up is the answer ️? Like, I get it, we need some civility on planes, but come on! The whole thing just feels like a PR stunt . And what's with the PSA featuring old footage of people looking fancy? It's cute, but not exactly convincing. I mean, back in the day they were still wearing heels and stuff, so who knows if that was always the norm . Can't we focus on fixing the real issues with air travel, like getting more air traffic controllers and improving consumer protections? That would be way more helpful .

omg can you believe Sean Duffy thinks dressing up is gonna solve all our flight drama? I mean, I love Frank Sinatra as much as the next guy, but come on! 400% increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019? That's like saying we just need to wear better socks and suddenly our problems are solved . The real issue is getting more air traffic controllers and fixing those flight cancellations . I mean, I've seen some crazy outfits on Tarmac back in the day, like who thought bell bottoms were a good idea? Anyway, I guess it's all about perspective... or should I say, perspective and a pair of decent pants .

I'm telling you, this is all about control... They're trying to make us dress up and act like some fancy folk, while actually there's more going on under the surface. Think about it, what if the real reason for these "outbursts" is actually just people getting tired of flying? Or what if the lack of air traffic controllers is a result of budget cuts from the government? I mean, we know they've been hiding something behind this Transportation Secretary's fancy words... The 400% increase in in-flight outbursts could be more than just a coincidence. They're trying to distract us with fluff like dressing up and Frank Sinatra songs while ignoring the real issues at hand. And that PSA music transition? Total manipulation, if you ask me!

omg can u believe this?! Sean Duffy really thinks we just need to "dress up" to behave better on planes lol what about all the other issues that are causing these outbursts? like have you seen the state of airports lately? it's chaos! and yeah, those old pics from the 50s-70s are actually kinda cool, i love how people dressed back then but let's not forget we live in a different time now

I think Sean Duffy's approach is misguided, don't you? Focusing solely on dressing up as the solution to air travel disruptions oversimplifies the complex issues at play . It's not just about personal attire, but also about addressing systemic problems like staffing shortages and infrastructure constraints . A more comprehensive approach would involve upgrading air traffic control systems, increasing staffing levels, and implementing consumer protections . The 400% increase in in-flight outbursts between 2019 and now is a red flag that requires nuanced solutions . Duffy's PSA was an amusing throwback to the past, but let's not romanticize a bygone era of air travel fashion . We need to get back to addressing the pressing issues that affect our skies today .

I think it's kinda weird that Sean Duffy thinks dressing up is gonna solve all our air travel problems . Like, have you seen the prices of flights lately? People can't afford to dress up just to get on a plane . It's not about showing respect for the flight attendants or other passengers, it's about having decent amenities and staff who can handle any issues that come up. Air traffic control shortages and cancellations are major issues that need to be addressed, not just our fashion sense . Plus, what about all the different cultures and styles of dress around the world? Let's not forget that people from different backgrounds have a right to express themselves through their clothing .

I gotta say , I'm so done with this whole "dress up" thing . Like, come on Secretary Duffy, you can't just gloss over all the other issues that are causing these outbursts . Have you seen the state of airports lately? Congested, stressed-out flyers everywhere . And don't even get me started on the flight cancellations and lack of air traffic control . That's some serious problems right there .

And what's with the vintage footage? I mean, it was cute at first, but then you start to see all the people in sneakers and bell bottoms . Like, no one dresses like that anymore . It's not like we're living in some kind of fashion museum here .

The real question is, what's next? Are we gonna be told to bring our own blankets and snacks because we can't trust the airlines to provide them? . I think the researchers at Temple University hit the nail on the head with their study . It's all about context and understanding how things have changed over time . Let's focus on solving those real problems instead of just dressing up for our flights .

omg u gotta check out dis ! so sean duffy is tryna solve the issue of ppl actin out on planes by tellin us 2 dress up lol like, i get it, we wanna feel fancy but comin at it from that angle? meanwhile, people are all like "duh, the real problem is flights cancellin, air traffic control bein scarce, and consumer protection bein whack" and im just over here thinkin "bruh, sean, ur tryna solve a complex issue with a simple wardrobe hack" but hey, who knows, maybe dressin up will actually work... or maybe not?