As the holiday travel season kicks into high gear, the U.S. Department of Transportation is taking a bold step to address what many see as a steady decline in civility among air travelers. On November 25, 2025, the department officially launched a nationwide civility campaign, aptly named "The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You," aiming to restore a sense of courtesy, respect, and, yes, even style to America’s airports and airplanes.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the face of the new initiative, minced no words in a recent press conference. He urged the flying public to put away their pajamas and slippers and to "dress with some respect" when traveling. According to NewsRadio 560 KPQ, Duffy lamented what he called "a degradation in civility" and called on travelers to “say please and thank you to our pilots and to our flight attendants.” His message was clear: a little more polish and politeness could go a long way toward making the skies friendlier for everyone.
But why now? The numbers tell a troubling story. Since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recorded a staggering 400% increase in in-flight disturbances. The Department of Transportation reports that since 2021 alone, there have been 13,800 incidents involving unruly passengers. In 2021, nearly 20% of flight attendants reported experiencing a physical incident with a passenger. Even as the pandemic’s most heated disputes—often over mask mandates—have faded, reports of disruptive behavior remain well above pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the FAA still logged nearly 2,000 incidents, according to NPR.
The campaign, announced in a press release the week before Thanksgiving, comes at a particularly critical time. The FAA expects the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday to be the busiest in 15 years, with Tuesday, November 25, projected as the peak travel day. AAA estimates that 6 million people will take to the skies in the U.S. for Thanksgiving this year, making the need for a little extra patience and courtesy more pressing than ever.
To drive the message home, the Department of Transportation released a minute-and-a-half video that cleverly contrasts the golden age of travel—complete with Frank Sinatra’s "Come Fly With Me"—with today’s reality: shots of bare feet swiping on in-flight monitors and clips of brawls breaking out at 30,000 feet. Secretary Duffy appears in the video, posing five questions for travelers to consider before their next flight. Among them: Are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect? Are you saying thank you to your flight attendants and pilots?
"The campaign is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel," the press release reads. "This won’t just make the travel experience better for the flying public—it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants, and pilots."
So, what exactly is behind this surge in unruly behavior? Some experts suggest that the way people present themselves—right down to what they wear—can have a significant impact on their behavior. Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach and a former flight attendant, told Fox News Digital, "The way we dress influences how we feel, how we behave and even how others respond to us. When we take the time to dress with intention, we naturally carry ourselves with more confidence and self-respect."
Whitmore’s perspective may sound old-fashioned, but it’s resonating with officials who are desperate to turn the tide. The new civility campaign doesn’t just focus on attire, though. Duffy and the Department of Transportation are also urging travelers to extend basic courtesies—like helping fellow passengers stow their bags in the overhead bins, or simply offering a kind word to the weary flight crew. "That can be as simple as helping fellow passengers who are struggling to put their bags in the overhead bins as a common courtesy and civility," Duffy explained, as reported by NewsRadio 560 KPQ.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Duffy and Whitmore both acknowledge that young children and babies are likely to be more comfortable in their favorite pajamas—no need to enforce a strict dress code on toddlers. But as any parent knows, traveling with little ones presents its own set of challenges. The campaign gently reminds all travelers to pack their patience, noise-canceling headphones, and a little extra grace for parents doing their best to keep the peace at 35,000 feet.
The Department of Transportation’s campaign is not just about nostalgia for a more glamorous era of air travel. The stakes are real. The sharp rise in unruly passenger incidents has made the job of flight attendants and pilots more difficult and, at times, dangerous. The FAA and unions representing airline workers have repeatedly sounded the alarm about the risks posed by aggressive, sometimes violent, behavior on board. The new campaign aims to make travel safer not just for passengers, but also for the people who keep the planes in the air.
Interestingly, the campaign’s timing is strategic. With millions of Americans expected to fly for Thanksgiving, the Department of Transportation is hoping to harness the spirit of the season—gratitude, patience, and goodwill—to reset the tone of air travel. The hope is that a national conversation, sparked by a clever video and some pointed questions, can remind travelers that they play a role in shaping the flying experience for everyone on board.
But will a civility campaign really make a difference? History shows that public awareness efforts can have an impact, especially when they tap into a broader cultural conversation. The campaign’s emphasis on dressing with intention, showing gratitude, and helping others isn’t just about etiquette—it’s about creating an environment where everyone, from passengers to crew, feels respected and safe.
The Department of Transportation isn’t alone in its call for change. Airlines, unions, and travel experts have all weighed in, echoing the need for a return to basic manners and mutual respect. As Jacqueline Whitmore put it, "When we take the time to dress with intention, we naturally carry ourselves with more confidence and self-respect." It’s a simple idea, but one that could help transform the travel experience—one flight at a time.
As the holiday rush continues and airports fill with travelers, the message from Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation is clear: a little courtesy, a touch of class, and a dash of patience could be the ticket to a smoother, safer journey for all. Maybe, just maybe, the golden age of travel isn’t behind us after all—it could be waiting at the gate, ready to board.
