Many travellers may not know there’s a hidden dress code for flying. According to flight attendant and YouTuber Barbara Bacilieri, also known as Barbie Bac, wearing certain outfits could even get you kicked off a plane. While dress codes differ between airlines, she says there are some general rules passengers should follow.
As per media report, in a May 6 interview with What’s The Jam, flight attendant and YouTuber Barbara Bacilieri revealed a surprising fact: “Airlines won’t always tell you this, but there’s a hidden dress code. Breaking it could mean being denied boarding, delayed at security, or even facing danger during an emergency.”
One key reason? “Heels can pop the evacuation slide,” she explained. During emergencies, flight attendants are trained to remove passengers’ shoes — especially high heels or thick boots — because they can puncture the inflatable slide, causing it to deflate or collapse and turning a quick escape into a disaster. Even metal accessories like jewellery or large belt buckles can pose the same risk.
She also advised against mini dresses, skirts, shorts and crop tops and said: “Sure, they might look cute on Instagram, but during an evacuation, they’re a recipe for burned thighs and scraped skin. Sliding down that inflatable ramp with your skin exposed – ouch. It’s not glamorous; it’s painful and dangerous… two women were removed from a flight recently for wearing crop tops. They had simply taken off their sweaters because they were hot. When they asked to see the official policy, they were kicked off the plane.”
And don’t even consider dressing up as a pilot or flight attendant on a flight. Barbara Bacilieri warned that “wearing a pilot or flight attendant costume might sound fun, but in an emergency, it could cause serious confusion.” She added that even religious attire, such as a nun’s habit or a priest’s collar, might attract unwanted attention or concern from airline staff and passengers.