A decade ago, “first class” often meant small, effortless service touches you didn’t have to request—like a flight attendant offering to hang up your jacket when you boarded in a suit. Today, even on upgrades and paid premium tickets, that basic gesture is getting harder to count on: you may have to chase a crewmember, wait while your jacket sits on your lap, and then remember to ask for it back on the way out. The decline isn’t about one airline—it’s a snapshot of how U.S. premium cabins have become less premium in the ways that actually matter.
This is truly a first world problem, but hanging jackets was one of the nice things about getting upgraded while traveling for work and wearing a suit.
- I can still get a jacket hung up, usually. But it means flagging down a crewmember and asking. And they’re usually annoyed, snapping back that they’ll come get it when they have time.
- But if you wait until they have time, you won’t get their attention, plus you’re sitting there waiting with your jacket in your lap like an idiot for a long time.
- And sometimes the response is, “sorry sir, the closet is full.”
That’s most often on American, for me, but here’s a flyer complaining about several United flights where they didn’t offer to hang his jacket.
In business and first class.. the crew would offer to hang a suit jacket… in the four united flights I have taken this month, not a single one has offered. And if you go to try and hang it up yourself you will find it it full of crew hand luggage. I have also taken four Qatar flights this month. All of them offered to hang it up.
Of course, back when there were still real closets on planes, management took away tags for flight attendants to write down seat numbers in order to track whose jackets were whose. Crew still tried to get the service done sometimes, even without the tools, using paper napkins shoved through the hangar with seat numbers handwritten on them.
And when they do take your jacket, they often do not remember to return it. You need to ask for it as you deplane. And that means remembering! I need to be vigilant as it is to remember to take my carry-on with me when I have one, because I often travel with just a laptop bag. One more thing to keep top of mind and not screw up!
Airlines have less space in closets than they used to as they squeeze all space possible to add seats.
It was nice flying Delta where I was proactively asked for my jacket to hang up, and it wasn’t just returned it was presented to me folded over as a gesture. That was impressive and felt first class. That’s certainly not every Delta flight attendant, but a testament to that crewmember.
Many foreign airlines will not just hang your jacket in business, or your clothes if you’re changing into pajamas, but may even have a coathanger at your seat. You’ll notice this in Air France business class:
Some people excuse United flight attendants for providing poor service by pointing out that they haven’t had a raise in five years. The value of their wages has been eroded by inflation since then. They overwhelmingly rejected the new contract their union negotiated for them.
I’d point out, though, that American Airlines inflight service did not improve when their flight attendants got a new union contract with big raises a year and a half ago. I still see cabin crew wearing their ‘W.A.R.’ paraphanelia (‘We Are Ready’ to strike).
Ultimately, I think the lack of offers to hang jackets is just part and parcel of an overall decline in U.S. airline service culture, and U.S. service culture more generally. It’s simply tough to provide a premium experience.
yeah they still do for the passengers
Oh, so another union-bashing hit-piece masked with pearl-clutching over jackets? That’s pretty low, Gary. I rarely ask, but nearly all airlines with actual First will provide, if needed.
Just what do you want for your $37 upgrade?
Just a matter of time before tipping culture extends to FAs? If countries were animals, the US has had an amazing evolutionary track.
Last week on UAL in Polaris, I was asked if I wanted my sports coat hung up, great service.
Most of the time I offer to hang it myself as I’m boarding but that said it’s annoying. I chalk it up to the fact that post pandemic fewer folks fly with a blazer rather then degradation of service- FA’s are simply out of the habit.
Good Times… when US pax WORE suit jackets, pants, shoes, socks…!!!
Fly Emirates, Etihad or Qatar.
This is one of those things that they stopped doing during Covid that they just got used to not doing and hoped nobody noticed
The decline in US service culture continues apace, and is very noticible to one visiting the US less frequently.
Yet the expectation for tips has gone up from 10% to 25% in many instances. And that applies to bills which are presented with taxes and service charges built in. already!
No thanks; I’ll continue to enjoy Europe and Asia where you are not ripped off at every turn.
Compared to 10-15 years ago.
Hang your coat, ma’am? Nope.
Pre-departure coffee as I like it. Nope.
Blanket. Nope.
I could go on…
gary has jackets, ben has individual air nozzles, matt has his irrational hatred of dogs on planes
everyone has a hangup
I have found, as mentioned in your article that the closets, and sometimes the overhead bins in first class are usually full with crew luggage. I once went to store my carry on in the overhead bin only to find the overhead bin full of crew luggage, I know this because the luggage had the distinctive “crew” tag on the luggage. When I politely asked one of the flight attendants to move the luggage so I could place my carry on in the bin, the response was, “my luggage contains items which I may need for an inflight emergency”. I then made a comment that emergency equipment should be stored in a specific area. The flight attendant then commented that if I did not take my seat I would be removed from the flight. This was UA. I have seen crew board aircraft with three and four pieces of luggage!
After most of the year of failure… I have seen AA step up their game to be more service orientated… It would appear that PFB’s are making a come back in 1st.
So I travel First Class most of the time to about 95% of the time in the air. I usually fly Delta about 97% of the time. There is a reason for this. I generally wear a jacket in the winter time and I would say Delta is probably the best at asking to hang my jacket. I’ve notice when when flying the Tegion airlines this doe happen.
I’m not sure how you expect the FAs to have time to hang up their jackets. They have enough on their plate rushing to check their social media on their personal phones.
I would +1 your post. I’ve been flying frequently for more than four decades, frequently up front. The offer to hang up your jacket and the automatic return at the end of the flight was a standard part of first and business class service, and now it’s a rarity. For several years I would ask to have my coat hung up, but now I don’t even bother. It’s a rare pleasure when they offer.
Broadly speaking, with some exceptions, the American service industry is the quintessence of esse quam videri. American service providers would rather seem like they are providing luxury than actually deliver.
Another way this country is going down the tubes,
Get out while you still can.
@All Due Respect — As usual, I like your takes on here and elsewhere. May I clarify: Did you mean quintessence (as in, a perfect example), or the opposite? Because, I thought ‘esse quam videri’ is ‘to be, rather than to seem,’ meaning genuine action, over mere appearance or reputation. So, I would agree that some American service providers are more fluff than substance, but that’s not just an American thing. For instance, much of French luxury consumer products are all ‘hype.’ Like, no one *needs* a Hermès Birkin; and, it’s really just a bag. The New Yorker’s tote bag can do the same.
As for ‘getting out,’ I must respectfully disagree; those who can, must push back, in any way, in all ways. If we lose all those that can, it will be even more challenging from outside.
@All Due Respect
Please tell us what garden spot you reside in. I’m trying to figure out why millions will enter the United States from all over the world, yet no one leaves, except Rosie. Good riddance by the way.
There are still people in first that wear suits? Dressing down seems to be the trend. Boarding in pajamas is not unusual.
@Coffee Please — Please remind us how 2A is supposed to protect us from tyranny… and also, ‘just comply.’
Sorry, meant to say… tHe ViCtImS wErE tHe AgEnTs… /s
The number of people I see in first wearing a suit jacket either men or women is nearly zero. The business traveler is spending more time in the back at least on domestic flights as free upgrades go away. Not to mention they’re not flying enough to make top tier status. Near 100% onsite has gone to 40%. Given no blanket and pillows on most domestic first flights your jacket has become your blanket.
I personally own not one jacket. Granted I live in Miami and when traveling to cold weather destinations simply wear a hoodie, which is my domestic first blanket.
There is a reason I have abandoned American Airlines for Air France……………… and it’s not just about getting my jackets hung up.
@1990
I have a concealed weapon permit, do you? I actually don’t carry but have a firearm designed for concealed carry. There is a protocol involved when you carry and it sounds as if this individual did not follow. You must carry your permit and identification with you when you carry and must identify yourself to officers if asked. We know he didn’t have identification with him. Did he have his permit. Probably not as well. What was his intent on bringing a weapon to a “so called peaceful demonstration”? Why the two additional magazines? Evidently his parents were concerned about him as he made some remarks about going to the gathering. Finally I have to ask why is it that the professional protesters are defending and protecting criminal illegals? Where were these professional agitators when Obama was rounding them up? Is orange hate that severe?
@coffee Please
1) The guy was not waving the gun, he had a camera. I was unaware that not carrying a permit (if that statement is even true, as the rest of your statements aren’t) is grounds for being shot.
2) He could have carried a gun for any reason. Is that grounds for being short? Some so called 2A supporters are really selective in outrage.
also, Obama did not send heavily armed men into US cities to round up people. Is orange worship so severe as to make supporters lie?
@erg
Another case in point over Orange hate. Tesla, embraced by the tree huggers, climate change folks, and generally left leaning peeps suddenly change their tune when they discover Musk is a friend of Trump’s. Unleash the professional mob on Tesla dealerships and Telsla cars.
Do not be surprised when DL starts changing you $10 for hanging your jacket.
@Coffee Please…
WTF does Tesla/Elon have to do with the guy getting killed in MN? Changing the subject that drastically says a lot about how you think your argument holds up under any scrutiny.
Orange hate = weak, feeble minds desperately clinging to their Lenin protest signs with one word epithets, because they are wholly incapable of articulating whole sentences or engaging in intellectual debate. The political left in 2026 is defined by Feelings over Logic, Emotion over Reason, and Tantrums over Maturity.
Northwest used to always hang your winter overcoat in FC. Even post 9/11. And I had my jacket hung a few times on US Airways in the 2012-2014 years. I never asked.
When I started flying enough for upgrades again back in 2018, I noticed that there wasn’t really a closet anymore.
It is one small thing, but it certainly shows the devaluation of domestic FC.
Hanging jackets it really depends on the crew. In four flights I’ve taken in the last two months on United’s domestic first, twice they have asked me if they can hang my jacket and twice I have had to flag them down.
@Coffee Please — What part of “shall not be infringed” do you not understand? *wink*