The Clothes Flight Attendants Pack for Short Trips

If there is any flight attendant secret, it is this: Be a minimalist, except when it comes to underwear.

“Are you even human if you don’t bring, like, a million pairs of underwear?” joked Wolfe, who packs two pairs per travel day. “Overpacking underwear allows you to feel fresher longer,” said McFarlane, who packs three pairs for a one-night layover. “You never know when you can get stuck an extra day,” Coy told me. Armstrong, who once got waylaid in Miami for two weeks due to a medical issue, echoed the sentiment.

Most of the flight attendants I spoke with bought inexpensive, bulk packs of “work underwear,” so they could keep a bunch in their suitcase ready to go, or so they could identify them quickly while packing. (Incidentally, the top pick in our guide to the best women’s underwear is an affordable pack from Hanes.)

McFarlane tends to wear briefs for mobility and comfort. (If you prefer boxer briefs, we’re fans of this affordable option.) McIntyre swears by no-show panties, which are made of thin, lightweight material. “I put them in a bag and they’re just balled up in there,” she admitted. “You can smush them down to practically nothing.” She and Wolfe both like underwear from Target’s Auden line.

The flight attendants we spoke to recommend packing extra underwear, and they opt for affordable, thin, lightweight underwear that’s easy to stock up on and easy to pack.

Wolfe also brings a Skims Scoop Bralette, which she says is as easy to pack as it is to wear. (Our guide to the best bras has bralette picks for a variety of bust sizes.) Other flight attendants bring bras that do double duty, such as long-line sports bras that can be worn as tops or crop tops with built-in bras.

Don’t forget your swimsuit! Bikinis don’t take up much space, though swim trunks can. That’s why McFarlane chooses swim shorts that do double-duty as everyday shorts, like the Lululemon Swim Shorts 5″ Linerless.

Versatility is key for flight attendants. To save on space, one flight attendant I spoke with packed a pair of swim shorts that easily passed for everyday shorts.

For personal trips, not all attendants stick to minimalism. For leisure travel, McIntyre takes two outfits per day, though she still manages to fit it all in a carry-on. Coy was the only flight attendant I spoke with who braved checking a bag on personal trips. “I’d rather be comfortable,” she said. Plus, “They make you check your carry-on half the time anyway.”

But Armstrong told me that her job has simplified her packing, including for personal travel. Before, she said, “I would have these extravagant outfit plans that would take up so much space in my suitcase.” Now, she knows how to dress up basics with jewelry, hair, and makeup.

Besides, looking cute is no longer her top priority. “I feel like I’m just trying to be more present in the moment,” she said. Isn’t that what travel is all about?

This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.