Contrast in attire between flight crews and passengers could not be greater

After travelling through six airports, in North America and Europe, the first week of April, one thing caught my attention. The footwear and more generally clothing of my fellow passengers. Almost universally running shoes or as the British call them “trainers” or a version thereof. It was quite remarkable how running shoes have almost become the universal norm of attire at least for travelers. Besides shoes the top form of garment is athletic wear especially on women and jeans on men. And don’t forget sweats and the universal hoodies especially on younger passengers. As for me, a shoe in between formal and trainer - kind of like what waitstaff wear - and creased “formal looking” yet casual lightweight and wicking golf pants. It’s also a visual phenomenon the clash between the typical airline passenger and airline flight crews. Pilots still look like they always have, in crisp suits, hats, white shirts and ties. A similar look, minus caps, for male flight attendants. And female flight attendants look like they eternally have – skirts or tailored slacks, heels and blouses and tunics with often stylized hats. It seems that in the airline business the iconic traditional crew look remains, continuing I suppose the mystique of air travel. Long may it continue! As for the passengers…

Having travelled on three different airlines crossing the Atlantic over the past year I must say Air Canada, for all the derision it takes, is still the best. Its long haul flights to Europe still offer free wine and beer and a superb seatback entertainment system with myriad movies, TV and music choices. This contrasts with my Azores Airlines flight last week that had no seatback system, no free booze and a smaller portion dinner tray. Same for SAS (Scandinavian). Yes, it had seatback entertainment but not with the breadth of programming offered by AC. The dinner was okay but again no free booze.

Arriving in Montreal’s Trudeau airport last week I was surprised to still see separate Customs lines for people using the ArriveCAN app (image). They were mostly empty of course for this pandemic-era app that often didn’t work (I was almost stuck in Athens back in 2021) and scandal-plagued cost and how it was awarded contractually.

Two minor missteps: At the Ponta Delgada airport in the Azores, trying to find a fountain to fill up my water bottle and told there was one beside security I moseyed over until I heard a stern “Sir!” as in "you-are-not-supposed-to-here!" And then on the flight from Mallorca to Lisbon I was told to remove my jacket that was draped over the back of my seat exposed to the passenger behind me. I had done so upon boarding with an empty seat behind but should have known better.

- Ron Stang, Windsor Ontario Canada, a frequent traveller