There are some high-fliers who can pull off an aeroplane ensemble with aplomb: Michelle Obama waving from the steps of Air Force One in a tie-dye print dress by Zero + Maria Cornejo; Victoria Beckham fast-tracking her way through Beijing airport in a sleeveless yellow coat; Gwyneth Paltrow cutting a dash in Donna Karan leggings, with pashmina and jacket at the ready.

For the rest of us, going on long-haul flights means facing the associated dilemmas of: 1) how to stay warm or cool under temperamental in-flight air conditioning; 2) how to dress for maximum comfort on a flight while avoiding disapproving glares at check-in; and 3) how to go from flight check-in to hotel check-in without bed head.

The arrival of the A380 superjumbo (British Airways’ first landed at Heathrow this month) has only compounded the problem. Featuring designated social areas – business lounges and stand-up bars – it may usher in a new, even more complicated, era of airline glamour. It was no coincidence that during his recent pre-spring 2014 collection for Lanvin, Alber Elbaz posed the question, “What do you wear when you might get upgraded from economy to business class?” and answered it with a camel-coloured ensemble of slouchy, no-crease trousers, loose tops and a lightweight trench. He’s not the only designer to have considered the issue. Here are some tips from designers who criss-cross international datelines regularly on how to fly in style.