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Southwest Airlines Imposes Dress Code on Passenger
If you're flying the "family" airline Southwest, you'd best stick to your Sunday church-going clothes rather than your Saturday night clubbing duds. Kyla Ebbert found this rule out the hard way: she was asked to leave a flight before it departed because the flight attendants felt her attire was too revealing. Ebbert adjusted her outfit to meet the flight attendants' standards, and was allowed to stay on board. On her return flight, however, she wore the same outfit -- and not only did no one ask her to change, but one flight attendant actually complimented her on it.
Ebbert didn't disclose how much her outfit revealed, but she acknowledged that it was "sexy," consisting of a low-cut, tight shirt and a short skirt. Nothing was exposed that shouldn't have been, she claimed.
Southwest Airlines has no formal dress code, and it's obvious that Ebbert may sue. What do you think should happen?
Read the full article here.
Filed under: United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Karen Sep 9th 2007 10:31AM
Southwest has the right to set their own dress code. They are a private business. Smart business would have them publish this dress code ahead of time.
Either way, the girl was allowed to fly. She may sue - but for what? She says she was humiliated and embarassed. SO? You do not have the right NOT to be embarrassed.
Her clothes were not all that different than you see on the street every day. I suspect you could see up her short skirt when she sat down and that is what started the whole thing. She said she had her legs crossed and tray table down. However, the table should be up before take-off and she is way too tall to be able to sit with her legs crossed.
She has the right to NOT fly Southwest, but she should not be able to sue IMO.
Jackiemichele Jun 19th 2008 4:25PM
According to the article thought they had no formal dress code. If there is no formal dress code then what was the attendant enforcing? The right to be a bitch?
Smart businesses have it in writing because otherwise it's not policy. The fact that no said anything to her on the return flight let's me know that the first attendant was out of line.
jack Sep 9th 2007 6:52PM
I think it's time to set a national(international) uniform dress code for air travel. If everyone wore the same, regulated and certified clothing there will be no problems like this.
mark Sep 10th 2007 12:50AM
are you people for real? sue! she could have fallen under the federal "interference of a flight attendant" bullcrap law. It's time to stand up to this.
Universal dress code? nazi germany, anyone?
YVRunner Sep 10th 2007 6:09PM
I actually can't believe there are people on the same side as SW airlines. She should be able to wear whatever she wants without being discriminated against. Fashion sense is a matter of opinion and she was a paying customer.
Toya Feb 28th 2008 1:55PM
I have wentto several different websites and only MSN has the female on the today show, and noted that the news station had to blurr the crotch shot she gave the nation. Glad she was wearing underwear was she wearing one when she was flying to her Hooter's job interview which was were she was going, not a doctor's appointment.
Joyce Sep 11th 2007 6:50PM
Kyla Ebbert's clothing isn't exactly what I would choose to wear, but is common everywhere. Short, short skirts, halter tops revealing the stomach and it's jewelry.. all common. Wouldn't it have been easier for the flight attendants to give her a blanket to wrap around her waist instead of causing this huge hoopla?
Suzy Sep 11th 2007 7:12PM
Kyla wore the exact outfit on the Today Show so that everyone could see what she had on when the flight attendant asked her to change. At one point in the interview they had Kyla stand up. When she tried to sit back down the audience got a crotch shot revealing white panties. Southwest had every right to tell her that she needed to cover herself. Adults are not the only ones that fly and although no actual skin could be seen, no one needs to be subjected to Kyla's tighty-whiteys. Kyla's mother needs some parenting lessons after defending her daughter by saying that Kyla was dressed appropriately. WHAT KIND OF PARENT ARE YOU!? Good job Southwest. Keep it up!
Anne Sep 11th 2007 10:18PM
I applaud the Souothwest employees who had the guts to do what they did. I'm tired of seeing cleavage in the front and rear. This woman should have dressed appropriately; she should not have made it necessary for someone else to address her lack of discretion.
solea Sep 12th 2007 2:49AM
I think it is good that Southwest has standards. Although, I believe this is something they should state in advance to their patrons. It seems prudent that they should be more discreet when enforcing their code.
I do think it is time that we showed more respect in what we choose to wear in public and teach our children the same. Kyla's mother commented that her daughter didn't dress any different than other college girls her age. That may be so, but does that make what girls are commonly wearing right? I have young boys and of course they don't mind seeing girls dressed like they do, but what they see are young girls advertising sex. It is distracting for the boys and demeaning to the girls. I would hope that mothers and fathers would want people to respect their daughters.
We live in a free country and I believe we should strive to keep it that way. Although, it seems that we as a people at times take too many liberties, ones that fringe on disrespect to other Americans, ones that show other nations that we are a nation of wrong priorities, poor taste and disrespectful manners. I believe there is a healthy balance to everything and being objective can help us determine what that balance is. It may be time to bring mutual respect into the public code of our nation. Maybe if we put more emphasis on showing respect to others, it would in effect diminish some of the moral, ethical and criminal problems we have in America.
Skip Sep 12th 2007 10:01AM
Poor little Kayla. Mean old Southwest Airline wouldn't let her do her Brittney Spears impersonation. She wants an apology? Where is our apology from her parents for raising a spoiled little brat. Get a clue Kayla, what you wear at Hooter's, may not be appropriate anywhere else. Yes, you have your rights - the right to fly on another airline, the right to drive instead of fly. Southwest has the right and the responsibility to cover up your $20 hooker outfit.
gil Sep 12th 2007 11:29AM
Are you guys serious! Go down to your local high school and the mall take a look at what everyone is wearing. I’m so sick of you old fashioned, white collar, stuck-up, republicans preaching your conservative thoughts. You have the right to speak your backwards thoughts so she has the right express her thoughts in fashion. Just because some of you woman out there don’t have the body to dress as she does and some of you old men out there are so conservative that you don’t wear shorts and sport beer bellies, doesn’t mean you get to dictate who wears what. Okay maybe someone got a shot of some panties; well at least she was wearing them. Why some of you so offended by seeing underwear and skin? You guys would have a fit at the beach, all those naked bodies lying around, sin…sin…sin. My guess is some of the complaints come from passengers from the middle of the country that still where knee high tube sox with their sandals and wear t-shirts when they swim.
If there was a dress code, they should have posted it. The body is beautiful so suck it up and deal with your jealousies. Maybe some of you should move to the Middle-East and sport that style, show nothing but your eyes.
You all are a bunch of SKIN-NAZIS....No one should be treated this way. The next time I see you guys at the beach I will be sure to express my views on your Speedos (which should be banned), your socks and sandals, and embarrass you in front of a few hundred people.
And Ms. Suzy with this comment below…
“Kyla's mother needs some parenting lessons after defending her daughter by saying that Kyla was dressed appropriately. WHAT KIND OF PARENT ARE YOU!? Good job Southwest. Keep it up!”
Judgmental people are usually people with low self esteem and confidence. I don’t fault you for this it’s the way your parents brought you up. Maybe you should show some undies and some skin once in a while.
Southwest…..why don’t you all go sing a song to someone who cares……….
Patrick Jul 6th 2009 3:50PM
You kidding? She was expressing herself with her clothing? The only thing she was expressing was how she wanted everyone to see her goods.
I honestly don't care if someone on a plane is dressed like that, but I know some parents do. It's not like she was wearing a yarmulke or had a shirt that showed her disdain for current politics; she was showing everyone her underwear.
Dial Sep 12th 2007 11:47AM
Southwest, while your at it , please do a SMELL check. some of your cattle have never heard of soap.
lizzy Sep 12th 2007 12:06PM
I think this whole thing is ridiculous. I saw her on the Ellen show and she looked completely normal. Who is to say how someone can dress. She was a paying customer. Maybe some of the ignorant people taking sides with the airline should step onto my university's campus. You can see what people are wearing. Her shirt was fine and the only reason that it is controversial is because she has the boobs that any girl would be jealous of. The skirt was short, but not even close to a "$20 hooker outfit." I think she has a good sense of style and young women should be able to wear what they want especially when it is no less revealing than what you see walking down the street any given day. She was embarrassed and it is unfair and I believe that she has the right to be angry at the airline. A lawsuit may be a bit much, but a refund and the ticket and a formal apology would be acceptable.
Terry Sep 12th 2007 12:56PM
I agree with the Southwest flight attendant. Southwest Airlines is not a government agency but a for profit business. They have the right to offer or refuse service to anyone they choose. If Kayla wants to dress like a hooker she can certainly drive to her destination without being asked to "cover up". I give two thumbs up to Southwest Airlines for taking a stand against inappropriate dress. When Kayla's family finally makes the decision to take this to court (you know they will) I hope the judge throws this out and tells them all to get a life!
4lisa2 Sep 12th 2007 2:02PM
So, what I need to know is which seat was Kayla sitting in? It must have been on the aisle. According to my homemade renactment, tighty-whiteys are possibly only visible from seats across the aisle and craning the neck into passing boarding traffic. Or by a passenger possibly putting luggage below a seat. Otherwise one would have to be blatantly staring down at her crotch. However by catty female standards - oh my gawd, she had to accesorize with a bold colored sweater to accentuate what little she had at the shoulders. Now the other girl really knew how to manage her assets. However as my husband points out, she would definetly be refered to as the "bomb", and yipes, you would be kicked off the plane.
Terry Sep 12th 2007 3:21PM
Note to Gil -
When someone goes to the beach or pool that person expects to see skin. When someone goes to a strip club that person expects to see skin and lots of it. When someone gets on a plane that person does not expect to see skin or underclothing. They expect a good flight with passengers who have consideration of others and are dressed so as to not cause embarrasment to themselves or others.
Southwest has every right to refuse service just as this girl has the right to dress how she wants without breaking laws. But if the way she dresses doesn't match with the way Southwest does business, that doesn't give her the right to hold Southwest accountable for refusing her service.
And just what does this have to do with being a Democrat or a Republican? I would dare say that this girl's parents are Republicans. I know a lot of people that profess to be of either political party and this incident disgusts them regardless of their stated affiliation.
kc Sep 12th 2007 7:53PM
I think Southwest has a right to refuse service but they also have an obligation to their customers to set the right expectations in advance. The girl has every right to be angry and I hope she gets the apology she deserves! I have seen a lot more offensive things on an airplane..... Southwest should offer the appology because thats good service!!!
Dave Sep 12th 2007 9:41PM
HAHAHA!!!
It's funny but painfully obvious that someone on the actual flight was upset, probably a wife who noticed her husband checking out the girl!! And instead of controlling her husband... lashed out at the girl who was prettier and younger and better built than her!
Women have the right to wear whatever they want as long as they are not breaking laws! Or do we want to be more like Muslim countries? Do we want all women treated as lesser people and told how to dress and where they can go? Do we want them all to wear burqas? (Burqa: the full body dress worn in Islamic traditions) Do we want religious police enforcing our laws?
Seriously i wish people would travel the world, visit Saudi Arabia, Iraq or Iran and see how this same thought process would remove EVERY FREEDOM we hold dear!!
This Christian right over-the-top holier-than-thou thinking will do nothing but make us relinquish more of our fundamental rights!
The airline should apologize to her and settle the matter asap.
By they way, the "right to refuse service to anyone" crap that business' love to quote is the one right THEY DON'T HAVE!! It is a throwback from segregation and "white only" establishments! If you are open to the public you DO NOT have the right to refuse service unless the customer violates a LEGAL law or company policy!
An there was/is no policy at the airline for subjective and biased decisions made by fight attendants about what THEY feel is inappropriate. What's next; will people of Jewish fail not be able to wear scull caps? Will we all have to shave our beards so we don't look like terrorists?
PLEASE stop this insanity! Read more, travel more, understand the world A LOT MORE, then maybe we will stop letting religious zealots dictate how we all should live!