Travelers increasingly don pajamas at airports in protest against Sean Duffy's etiquette campaign

More travelers are showing up to airports in pajamas as a form of protest against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffys recent etiquette campaign. The Trump administration introduced an initiative aimed at "bringing back civility and sophistication to air travel," titled "The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You."

During a pre-Thanksgiving press briefing, Duffy suggested that passengers "dress a little better." He added, "Whether its a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which maybe encourages us to maybe behave all a little better. Lets try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport."

Some travelers, however, interpreted his comments as a challenge. Democratic activist Johnny Palmadessa shared a video wearing pajama pants at the airport while Duffys advice played in the background. He wrote that he was "triggering" the transportation secretary with his choice of attire. Palmadessa argued that the administration should prioritize affordability so that Americans can comfortably dress well.

On social media, other passengers joined in. One TikTok creator posted a video in a casual sweatsuit at the airport, lip-syncing to Duffys remarks about avoiding pajamas. "Well now I absolutely must wear my pajamas to the airport!" she captioned the clip. Another TikToker filmed herself in matching pajamas and slippers while walking with her luggage, writing, "Me on the way to the airport after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told us to dress with some respect."

The Transportation Department, when unveiling its civility campaign in November, cited data showing that air travel has become increasingly disorderly. According to the agency, since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration has recorded a 400 percent increase in passenger outbursts, totaling nearly 14,000 incidents over the past four years.

Author: Grace Ellison