US officials want to bring back the "Golden Age of Travel" — and that starts with ditching pajamas at the airport

America may have gotten a little too comfortable when it comes to air travel. That’s the view of some US officials who want the public to bring back some “courtesy and class" — just as we approach the weekend part of what’s expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years.

Last week, the US Department of Transportation rolled out a civility campaign called "The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You," a nationwide push to restore old-school travel etiquette. In an interview with Fox Business, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged travelers to not wear pajamas and slippers at airports, saying “people dress up like they’re going to bed when they fly.”

Some travelers seem to be embracing the advice, from fashion-forward flyers to older passengers who favor the past norms of air travel, when looking polished was simply part of flying. But a sharp backlash followed online, with many arguing that stressful flying conditions — cramped seats, reduced amenities, chronic delays, and staffing shortages — were much bigger problems than outfits.

Indeed, airlines worldwide are shrinking legroom and narrowing seats — some as little as 16-17 inches wide — and with that tightening paired with a post-pandemic comfort-core lifestyle, it's no surprise that travelers everywhere are prioritizing ease over elegance.

Google Trends data shows searches for "airport pajamas," "airport slippers," and "flight pajamas" rising in both the US and globally in recent years. And if attitudes across the pond are any indication, the pajama debate might be less about manners and more about a generational divide.

A YouGov poll published just this week found that 30% think wearing pajamas on a flight is acceptable, driven largely by young adults (71% of 18- to 24-year-olds). But a majority (60%) still disapprove — a response that skews older, some of whom might remember the “Golden Age" the DoT wants to revive.