Passenger fashion runways

The US transport secretary wants passengers to dress with respect. Simon Calder went to Heathrow to see if people are

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“Are you dressing with respect?” That is the question posed by Sean Duffy, the US transportation secretary. This week, he launched a new “civility campaign” for airline passengers. “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You” is the name of the campaign.

While few people mistake me for a fashion icon these days, I donned a slightly jaded navy Hugo Boss jacket and pale blue, mid-market Next shirt and set off for Heathrow to assess the dress standards of the travelling public. I chose Terminal 3 arrivals: inbound flights from Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong and Los Angeles provided a wide range of origins and, I imagined, an equally broad spectrum of dress. Though, to be fair, no one is going to look their best after a 10-hour flight.

The fashion choices emerging from customs through the arrivals were narrow: more often than not, a loose top, leggings and trainers for women; for men, a fleece or hoodie, jeans and trainers. In some cases, people appeared to care more about the appearance of their luggage than themselves - I saw a lot of Louis Vuitton in mint condition.