The Flying Public Is Getting Surly. Don’t Let It Ruin Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is my new hero. Duffy is promoting a “civility” campaign that urges passengers to be polite and dress up rather than wear sweatpants and slippers when they fly. If everyone dresses better, everyone will behave better, Duffy offered.
It’s an idea that could bring smiles to the friendly skies around the Thanksgiving holiday.
During a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday, Duffy was wearing a suit and red tie. This was an outfit that answered the question: What would President Donald Trump wear?
The good news: Duffy did not propose a business-attire dress code that would be enforced on board.
Duffy ticked through the litany of air travel woes — long lines, brawls at baggage claim, flight delays and cancellations often due to bad weather — that have resulted in an uptick in incivility. (RELATED: When Public Service Really Matters)
According to the Department of Transportation, there has been a 400 percent increase in outbursts on planes since 2019. Clearly, the flying public has been getting surly.
One in five flight attendants report experiencing physical incidents on the job.
There’s no law Congress can pass to make people behave more courteously, Duffy acknowledged, but maybe dressing up will encourage fliers to act more adult.
Duffy offered commonsense advice, which he noted most people already observe.
Don’t take your shoes off.
If you’re watching a movie, wear headphones.
Say please and thank you.
Because lines will be longer, “Come a little early.”
Passengers who give themselves more time are more likely to arrive at their destinations with a good attitude, Duffy added.
Confession time: I love to fly. I love going places. I love coming home.
I love people watching in airports. I love to see what people are wearing.
In the terminal, I eavesdrop shamelessly. It’s one of my favorite things about travel.
Sadly, too much of the chatter in airports these days is about how awful flying is, how ir...