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Warren Fires Back At Transportation Secretary's 'Dress Up' Advice: Maybe Passengers Would Be Happier If Airlines Had To Compensate Them

MarketDash Editorial Team
17 days ago
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the Trump administration for rolling back airline compensation rules while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggests passengers should dress better to improve the flying experience.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is taking aim at the Trump administration after Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy offered some unusual advice for improving air travel: passengers should stop dressing like they're going to bed.

The Pajamas Problem, According To Duffy

In a video shared by FactPost on Thursday, Duffy shared his theory on what's wrong with modern flying. "People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly," he said, adding that as the busy travel season approaches, passengers should "help people out, be in a good mood, dress up."

In a separate Fox News interview clip, Duffy doubled down on the fashion-focused approach. "Sometimes you just have to ask people… let's go back to an era where we didn't wear our pajamas to the airport. We actually might dress up a little bit."

Warren Says The Problem Isn't What Passengers Are Wearing

Warren wasn't buying the sartorial solution. She fired back on X, pointing out that the administration recently rolled back rules that actually protected consumers.

"I bet fliers would be in a better mood if the Trump administration didn't just rip away rules that make airlines compensate people for canceled and delayed flights," Warren wrote.

Her response highlights a tension between superficial advice about passenger behavior and substantive policy changes that removed compensation requirements for travelers stuck dealing with flight disruptions.

Meanwhile, Flights Are Actually Getting Canceled

The debate over dress codes comes at an awkward time. Earlier this month, President Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work as a government shutdown triggered massive flight disruptions across the country.

The numbers tell a rough story. With the shutdown nearing 41 days, nearly 1.2 million travelers faced problems. The FAA reported severe staffing shortages at major airports nationwide. On Monday alone, more than 2,250 flights were canceled and over 8,100 were delayed.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said controller shortages forced the airline to ground more than 220 flights in a single day, mostly affecting smaller routes.

The situation could get worse. The Trump administration warned that up to 20% of flights may need to be cut if the shutdown continues. The Federal Aviation Administration is already enforcing initial reductions as absenteeism rises and safety concerns mount.

So yes, maybe everyone would have a better flying experience if passengers wore blazers instead of sweatpants. But it's hard to dress up for a flight that doesn't exist.

Back to News

Warren Fires Back At Transportation Secretary's 'Dress Up' Advice: Maybe Passengers Would Be Happier If Airlines Had To Compensate Them

MarketDash Editorial Team
17 days ago
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the Trump administration for rolling back airline compensation rules while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggests passengers should dress better to improve the flying experience.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is taking aim at the Trump administration after Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy offered some unusual advice for improving air travel: passengers should stop dressing like they're going to bed.

The Pajamas Problem, According To Duffy

In a video shared by FactPost on Thursday, Duffy shared his theory on what's wrong with modern flying. "People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly," he said, adding that as the busy travel season approaches, passengers should "help people out, be in a good mood, dress up."

In a separate Fox News interview clip, Duffy doubled down on the fashion-focused approach. "Sometimes you just have to ask people… let's go back to an era where we didn't wear our pajamas to the airport. We actually might dress up a little bit."

Warren Says The Problem Isn't What Passengers Are Wearing

Warren wasn't buying the sartorial solution. She fired back on X, pointing out that the administration recently rolled back rules that actually protected consumers.

"I bet fliers would be in a better mood if the Trump administration didn't just rip away rules that make airlines compensate people for canceled and delayed flights," Warren wrote.

Her response highlights a tension between superficial advice about passenger behavior and substantive policy changes that removed compensation requirements for travelers stuck dealing with flight disruptions.

Meanwhile, Flights Are Actually Getting Canceled

The debate over dress codes comes at an awkward time. Earlier this month, President Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work as a government shutdown triggered massive flight disruptions across the country.

The numbers tell a rough story. With the shutdown nearing 41 days, nearly 1.2 million travelers faced problems. The FAA reported severe staffing shortages at major airports nationwide. On Monday alone, more than 2,250 flights were canceled and over 8,100 were delayed.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said controller shortages forced the airline to ground more than 220 flights in a single day, mostly affecting smaller routes.

The situation could get worse. The Trump administration warned that up to 20% of flights may need to be cut if the shutdown continues. The Federal Aviation Administration is already enforcing initial reductions as absenteeism rises and safety concerns mount.

So yes, maybe everyone would have a better flying experience if passengers wore blazers instead of sweatpants. But it's hard to dress up for a flight that doesn't exist.