Flying demands thoughtful packing—sorting essentials, securing luggage, and staying under weight limits. But one key detail often overlooked? Your outfit. While celebrities step off long-haul flights looking polished, most opt for comfort in jeans, leggings, or sweats. Both work, but airport security has preferences. Kimberly Pruitt, a former security officer at Los Angeles International Airport with five years of experience, shared essential advice with Metro on clothes to skip.
Avoid maxi skirts or dresses that fully cover the legs. "The agent will have to verify that you are not hiding anything underneath," Pruitt explains, often leading to a pat-down. For hairstyles, skip metal hair pins or clips. "I assure you there are more pins than you think that are setting off the portal metal detector alarm," she notes. "If you really want to tie your hair up but don't want to be searched, then I recommend doing your hair after the detector has passed." Men, leave Bermuda shorts in your suitcase—those pockets trap forgotten keys or lighters. "When the instruction is given to remove everything that is in the pockets, there is always a lighter or a set of keys that the person has forgotten in one of them," Pruitt adds. Stick to simple jeans and a T-shirt for a hassle-free start to your trip.
