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Southwest Airlines Offers "Skimpy" Airfare in Nod to Miniskirt Publicity
First, a Southwest employee insults Kyla Ebbert by asking her to change her revealing outfit or disembark the plane. Now, Southwest has turned the critical media coverage of this impromptu dress code violation into a marketing campaign for its flights.
Chief Executive Gary Kelly claims that they're "trying to be lighthearted about all this." Southwest has already apologized to Ebbert, but after another woman spoke out about similar treatment and Ebbert went on 'The Today Show' and 'The Dr. Phil Show' to tell her story, Southwest not only issued another apology (and two free round-trip tickets) to Ebbert, but also announced a 10-day fare sale in honor of miniskirts.
Does this mean that buttock-baring minis will be okay on future Southwest flights? Kelly doesn't elaborate on a Southwest dress code, but does acknowledge Southwest's less-conservative past as a company that touted itself as "the love airline" and dressed its stewardesses in hot pants.
More Southwest Airlines controversy:
- No More Pre-Boarding For Families on Southwest Airlines -- Is this a mistake?
- Southwest Airlines Approves New Boarding Method -- Did they get rid of open seating?
- Suing Over the Southwest Dresscode Controversy -- Should this be allowed?
- Check out this cool trick: How to print your Southwest boarding pass without a printer!
[via msnbc.com]
Filed under: Business, Food and Drink, North America, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Willy Sep 17th 2007 7:41AM
I think the whole thing was a marketing ploy to begin with! This merely confirms my suspicions.
Mike Sep 17th 2007 2:39PM
As the third victim of Southwest's campaign of harassment (http://www.vagabondish.com/third-southwest-airlines-fashion-victim), I assure you this is no marketing ploy.
Jane Sep 18th 2007 10:18PM
I think there is more to the story.
smarteepantz Sep 20th 2007 2:28PM
Seeing as both flights originated from Tucson, I wonder if it was a particular flight attendent who harassed the young women...er, took offense to the young women's dress...
mfdn2 Sep 20th 2007 2:19PM
SOUTHWEST IS AHEAD IF THE REST
IAmInchesAway Sep 20th 2007 2:22PM
LOL...ok I'm actually happy with this one, its about time people lightened up!
rose Sep 20th 2007 3:11PM
I think having only your underpants or thong (Which is nothing) next to the actual upholstery of the plane seat is too risky, You'd be sitting too close to where the former sitter sat... where he/she farted, spilled food or drink, changed a diaper, even peed i want more material next to my butt. If you did wear a thong your crotch would be actually touching all the above gross items of being human.it is very doubtful all the seats are steam cleaned and deodorized between flights.. Right !
DFY Sep 20th 2007 3:27PM
leave that woman alone!!!! the way she dress was
fine!!!! :) all you hater's out there!!!:)
betty Sep 20th 2007 5:34PM
I think there are a lot of stewardesses who are getting way you of hand. I was drawing on a flight and had one keep asking me what I was drawing. I told her nothing and she totally spazzed out and a male flight attendant had to tell her to calm down.
There are some really neurotic mentally unbalanced ladies out there.
They need to get off their power trips and also get some manners. These women think they can do whatever they want like throw a lady off of a plane with a small child. They need to do their jobs- not push people around.
h.lawrence Sep 20th 2007 4:20PM
IF THEY WANT TO FLAUNT IT, WHY NOT ENJOY THE SHOW!!
tim hall Sep 20th 2007 4:22PM
god i love the pair of legs above in this article! Im gonna be thinkin bout um all day and all night until i go to bed and i would be willing to bet as i lay on my back in bed its gonna look like my bed covers are actually a tent if ya catch my meaning!!!!!
Victor Arias Sep 20th 2007 5:14PM
I was listening a comercial over the radio that southwest will change your flight at no extra cost and when I tried to change my wife flight I was told that it will an extra cost so I decided not to change the flight, just to hear again the comercial that southwest will not charge for changing the flight. I was surprised that the add is still announcing these changes and when you call to southwest the person who answe the phone does not know anything about it.
LEIGH Sep 20th 2007 4:41PM
Kyla should get something for this "marketing campaign"!! She was the one that gave them the idea & the one that suffered embarassment for being told to leave!!!! Go for it Kyla!!!
Mindy Sep 20th 2007 4:54PM
Rose, it's not so much the thong wearer that has to be concerned about whose butt was last on the seat. It's the person AFTER the thong-wearer that needs to worry.
FRANK Sep 21st 2007 9:26PM
WHY THE HELL DON'T THEY "IMPROVE ON SERVICE AND NO DELAYS".....WHO CARES IF THEY WEAR MINI, MAXI OR PANTS!!!
WHAT A WASTE OF SPACE TO EVEN REPORT ABOUT IT!
bob florida Sep 20th 2007 5:38PM
what airline does OJ fly????
Mary Sep 20th 2007 6:14PM
It really pisses me off when people are telling us flight attendants to do our job and stop pushing people around. Or that we are on a power trip. If you would let us do our job, we wouldn't have to "push you around". Just comply, comply and comply with our instructions, stop talking back to us and stop treating us like servants. WE all have jobs to do. We are ALL servants. You don't talk back to your boss. We are your boss on that flight, remember that! Our power trip comes in when we do get to kick you off the plane for acting like an ass. Flight attendants are have to save your ass, not kiss it.
tom Sep 20th 2007 6:47PM
i heard son the radio over the weekend that the reason these ladies, or at least one of them, was asked to leave was not because she had a short skirt on. But instead it was because she no..nada....nothing...panties on....and was flashing (whether on purpose or by accident) the other passengers.
Harry Sep 20th 2007 7:06PM
If these women would put on underware, there wouldnt be a problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Howard Sep 20th 2007 7:12PM
I wonder when we men can wear mini skirts on flights too. Or, for that matter, at all?