Advice on Interview trip (red eye flight)

[ACal]

So I'm flying red eye from CA to NY. The flight lands at 5:30 AM and the interview is at 8:00AM, and then I'm flying back that same day at 6:00 PM. I was wondering whats the best way to pack/dress?
I was originally planning to wear my dress pants and shirt on the flight there and back. So no need to pack clothes or carry luggage. But I was worried that sitting for 6 hours would wrinkle my shirt too much? But I mean a lot of people fly in suits right?

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[Fivo]

Buy this for your suit and just wear your dress shoes on the plane

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P8JBPC/

It's small enough to carry on with you and large enough to hold your suit so that it won't wrinkle.

 

[nysw]

So I'm flying red eye from CA to NY. The flight lands at 5:30 AM and the interview is at 8:00AM, and then I'm flying back that same day at 6:00 PM. I was wondering whats the best way to pack/dress?
I was originally planning to wear my dress pants and shirt on the flight there and back. So no need to pack clothes or carry luggage. But I was worried that sitting for 6 hours would wrinkle my shirt too much? But I mean a lot of people fly in suits right?

Personally, I would wear comfortable clothes on the plane, and pack your suit & shirt in a garment bag. Change at the airport, then head to your interview. The airplane and the school will have a place for you to store your things.
Sitting in one place in a suit and worrying about wrinkling it isn't worth the hassle, especially on a day where your schedule is already tight and stressful.
Good luck!

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Unless you can sleep on a plane, then plan on being pretty tired for the interviews. Unless you're that guy who's outgoing 24 hrs a day, no matter how fatigued you are, I would strongly advise a good night's sleep in a bed w/o the baby tantrums, snoring, and jet engine noises in the background.

But it could work.

 

[ACal]

Buy this for your suit and just wear your dress shoes on the plane

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P8JBPC/

It's small enough to carry on with you and large enough to hold your suit so that it won't wrinkle.

Have you had any experience with this product? Is there a reason to use this over a regular suit bag?

 

[NickNaylor]

Have you had any experience with this product? Is there a reason to use this over a regular suit bag?

A suit bag is pretty much a suit bag. The one that was linked to looks like decent quality and is way cheaper than the bag I paid for (which was a Samsonite bag). I would avoid getting something that is obviously trash (i.e., $10 or less), but beyond that you're basically paying for the brand name.

 

[red7]

A suit bag is pretty much a suit bag. The one that was linked to looks like decent quality and is way cheaper than the bag I paid for (which was a Samsonite bag). I would avoid getting something that is obviously trash (i.e., $10 or less), but beyond that you're basically paying for the brand name.

Sorry if I'm repeating a question, but if you just bring it on the plane with you and ask the flight attendant to hang it for you, is it really necessary to have a suit bag?

Also - OP, have you taken red-eye flights before? I'm sure a lot of people are fine with them, but I took one once and the next day was just terrible. I had zero focus at work because I was so tired. If it was possible for me to avoid a red-eye, I would - especially for an interview.

 

[Omppu27]

Buy this for your suit and just wear your dress shoes on the plane

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P8JBPC/

It's small enough to carry on with you and large enough to hold your suit so that it won't wrinkle.

I like the advice on the bag, but i don't think you need to wear the dress shoes on the plane. You could put the suit in the bag and then the dress shoes in like a string bag or something ( http://www.totallysport.co.uk/images/products/small/nike_gymsack.gif ).

Also, if you don't have one yourself, see if your mom/dad/sibling has a membership for one of those airline lounges. That would probably be a good place to touch up before leaving the airport.

 

[Ashley1989]

I've taken red eye flights many times before and have had no problem getting sleep because i pre plan.

Make sure you bring a very large water bottle you can fill up in the airport, staying hydrated is key to feeling good after a red eye (those little cups of fluids they give you every couple of hours isn't going to cut it). Then bring ear plugs, throw on a pair of over the ear noise reduction headphone over that (if you have some, if not ear plugs alone will work) bring a light blanket, get the best sleep mask you can find, and bring a neck pillow. Then when you take off, take a sleeping pill and presto! You get a fairly decent night sleep. I would suggest trying out the sleeping pills before to make sure there are no weird side effects, and I would highly recommend packing your suit in a carry on and wearing something comfortable. Trying to get some rest before an interview should be your top priority even if that means packing your suit and sleeping with ear plugs and an eye mask. 🙂

Oh, and target has this GREAT sleeping mask in their spa section, it's about $8 and has an eye pillow on the bottom to block out any light that would come in from underneath.

 

[CsHead]

I don't know about you, but my go to dress shoes are also extremely comfy... In regards to clothes... wrinkle-free shirts are the new thing and are pretty snazzy. I would recommend coat in the garment bag and wear everything else... travel extremely light this way.

 

[NickNaylor]

Sorry if I'm repeating a question, but if you just bring it on the plane with you and ask the flight attendant to hang it for you, is it really necessary to have a suit bag?

Also - OP, have you taken red-eye flights before? I'm sure a lot of people are fine with them, but I took one once and the next day was just terrible. I had zero focus at work because I was so tired. If it was possible for me to avoid a red-eye, I would - especially for an interview.

No, however I wouldn't expect to always be able to do that depending upon the flight attendant you ask. Some flight personnel can be real *******s, so unless you're flying first class I would just get a garment bag to be on the safe side. As long as you pack it well, your suit will stay remarkably unwrinkled.

 

[ACal]

I don't know about you, but my go to dress shoes are also extremely comfy... In regards to clothes... wrinkle-free shirts are the new thing and are pretty snazzy. I would recommend coat in the garment bag and wear everything else... travel extremely light this way.

That was my original plan. Have you tried it before on a long flight?

 

[red7]

No, however I wouldn't expect to always be able to do that depending upon the flight attendant you ask. Some flight personnel can be real *******s, so unless you're flying first class I would just get a garment bag to be on the safe side. As long as you pack it well, your suit will stay remarkably unwrinkled.

Good point, thanks NickNaylor

 

[CsHead]

That was my original plan. Have you tried it before on a long flight?

No. I'm not baller enough (hell I drive to anything that's cheaper (even with wear & tear factored in) if the trip is sub 15hrs). It would be my first go to as so little time in local... I would not bring any dead weight. What's the point?

 

[darkjedi]

I usually left my suit jacket on almost the entire day, except for maybe during the lunch. My shirt tended to be wrinkled even from being packed. No one will notice if you have your suit on, as long as most of the front of your shirt hasn't been messed up, which it shouldn't be unless you've been sleeping on it.