I agree, if you're comfortable in dress clothes you shouldn't even notice wearing the tie.


I'm old fashioned. I like the tie, blazer, and (gasp!) even the hat in the winter. I think it makes us look professional and stand out.

In 121 world is it SOP to remove or loosen the tie once the door is closed?

Good god not the hat. I burned mine the moment it arrived.

On topic though I don’t really notice my tie much and when I do it’s mostly in the summer, still wouldn’t mind not having it though.

The argument that you need to be wearing a suit/button up/tie combination in order to look professional is a bit outdated in my opinion. You can find professionals in all fields that are moving away from that old standard.

Hell I am pretty sure Southwest pilots get a zip up coat now if they want it instead of the old, tired and dated suit jacket we get. I have yet to see anyone look “good” in our jacket. The person usually looks like they haven’t had it tailored or washed since the moment they received it. The sweaters look far more modern, clean, sharp and professional in my opinion.

Most loosen it, a few remove it. I don't care what you do once the door is closed, but I feel we should always look professional when facing the public.

I never understood blazers in July. I see it all the time and just don’t get it. Comfort > Image. Anyone that wears a blazer in the winter doesn’t understand summers in the south. The stank after a 10 hour day...good god.

I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Like it’s a surprise that airlines have uniforms. The tie? Ok, I can kind of see the point of not liking it, but again. It’s no surprise. It’s been part of the uniform before any of us was born.
Believe or not there is a safety reason for having a uniform. In an emergency people will look for a crew member, especially the captain. They won’t be looking for someone in a NorthFace jacket, they will be looking for someone with 4 or 3 stripes. Pax, FAs, and emergency personnel. I remember a captain who had to do an emergency evacuation (gear collapse on roll out), telling me that as soon as he stepped off the plane pax started congregating to him. The second thing that happened was the head of the emergency response walked up to him and asked for the number of souls on board. He didn’t have to shout out “Where’s the captain???” And a tip. The captain grabbed the paperwork before evacuating, so he pulled out the load manifest and read off the pax count. He’s a smart dude but admitted to having a brain cramp.

Not sure anyone said to do away with a uniform that designated who the pilots are but rather that as times change so do the way we dress.

This is more of a thought discussion.

You do realize captains probably only spend a few minutes a day outside?

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply I like to wear a blazer in the summer. Yuck, it's way too hot for that. :)

Yes. I get some. Someone mentioned SWA going with fleece jackets. But they are still required to wear their pilot identification items (name tag and eplilates), on the jacket.
Also, some have advocated for a “business casual” look. So... who is the crew memeber and who is the pax in this case?