Why Chinese People Wear Multiple Layers Of Clothes Before Boarding Domestic Flights

Young adults in China bypass the baggage charges of the airlines by wearing all their clothes instead of packing them, which amuses people on social media on the mainland. Amid a boom in the travel industry after the pandemic, low-cost airlines in China have experienced a sharp rise in profits. Spring Airlines, for example, reported a profit of more than two billion yuan (Rs 23,34,20,60,000) in 2023. They owe their success to strict cost-cutting measures such as the renunciation of free meals, narrower seats and strict restrictions on hand luggage- as a rule, a small 16-inch suitcase with a maximum weight of 7 kg is allowed. Given these restrictions, creative young mainland travellers have used social media to share their ingenious fashion tips for low-cost airlines.

To avoid additional baggage charges, they have turned to changing wardrobes by wearing several layers of clothing in a mix of styles and thus creating unique looks. In one case, a person put on six garments from autumn and winter on top of each other, from vests to shirts to thick jackets.

Another traveller adorned herself with eight traditional Hanfu clothes during her flight to Australia and was described as “rich and poor at the same time” because she had many high-quality outfits, but still wanted to save on luggage charges. Some people have tried creative ways to pack, such as filling U-shaped pillows with clothes, which then also serve as comfortable pillows on the plane.

To master the challenge of transporting electronics, a fishing vest is a popular solution because it has many pockets where documents, cables and power banks can be stored. The vest can accommodate a range of skincare and cosmetics, while the back pocket offers plenty of space for two books and an iPad. In larger sizes, even a 16-inch laptop can be accommodated. The garment was called the “ultimate trump card” on the Internet. “This must not be communicated to the boss, otherwise we will lose the excuse ‘my computer is not there’ to avoid overtime on a trip,” joked one person.