Trump wants Americans to stop doing this.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is sounding the alarm about something many Americans have noticed for years: declining manners and rising chaos in America’s airports. As holiday travel ramps up, Duffy is pushing for a major reset in how the country approaches air travel — starting with how people dress and behave before they even board the plane.
Speaking at Newark Airport, Duffy described a “sharp decline in civility” and announced a national Civility Campaign aimed at restoring order, respect, and traditional American values to public travel. Many would say it’s long overdue.
Duffy Calls for Respect: “Leave the Pajamas at Home”
Duffy told travelers to treat pilots, flight attendants, and fellow passengers with the respect they deserve — and that starts with basic appearance.
“Even a pair of jeans and a clean shirt shows appreciation for the experience,” Duffy said. “Let’s avoid slippers and pajamas at the airport. When we dress better, we act better.”
He also encouraged passengers to help each other with overhead luggage and simple courtesies that used to be normal.
Travel Behavior Has Changed — And Not for the Better
According to Federal Aviation Administration data, in-flight disturbances have increased by 400% since 2019, with everything from loud profanity to physical confrontations.
Flight attendants say the problem is real: nearly one in five experienced a physical incident in 2021, and 2024 numbers are still far worse than before the pandemic.
Air travel has become stressful, tense, and unpredictable — a major shift from the comfortable, respectful environment older Americans remember.
Etiquette Experts: Pajamas in Airports Show a Larger Cultural Decline
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, founder of the Protocol School of Texas, told Fox News Digital that pajamas simply don’t belong in public.
“Pajamas should be worn in private — not at the airport,” she said. “Comfort matters, but public respect matters more.”
She noted that travelers can still choose comfortable clothing without dressing like they just rolled out of bed.
Former flight attendant Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, agreed. She explained that how people dress affects how they feel and behave — something psychologists confirm through the concept known as enclothed cognition.
“When we dress with intention, we act with intention,” she said. “It’s about self-respect and respect for others.”
Celebrity Culture Helped Drive the Pajama Trend
The explosion of airport paparazzi photos over the years pushed celebrities to wear loungewear in public.
Ed Sheeran was photographed in pajama pants at LAX, and Rihanna has stepped out in silk sleepwear — blurring the line between personal comfort and public presentation.
Experts say Americans absorbed those habits without realizing the cultural cost.
Dressing Well Isn’t About Class — It’s About Courtesy
Both Gottsman and Whitmore emphasize that this issue has nothing to do with social status or wealth. It’s about restoring the basic respect that used to define American travel.
Whitmore said she’d welcome a return to the golden age of travel, when passengers dressed neatly, behaved courteously, and looked forward to flying rather than dreading it.
“Dressing well isn’t about impressing strangers,” she said. “It’s about showing respect for the experience and for the people around you.”
A Return to Manners Could Fix More Than Travel
With holiday crowds growing and tensions rising, Duffy hopes Americans will embrace this renewed focus on civility.
Better dress, better manners, and better behavior could make the entire travel system safer and smoother — and restore a sense of normalcy many feel has been lost.
