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Are you too pretty to fly?
I believe that we have just crossed the line from irritating to incredulous in the Southwest Airlines fashion police scandal. As I'm sure everyone is now aware, last year, Kyla Ebberts raised a huge ruckus with Southwest when they asked her to change out of the skimpy clothing that she was wearing on a flight. She was perfectly warranted in her argument, mind you; as numerous images prove, she wasn't wearing anything more than a tight shirt and a really short skirt.
Now it seems like it's getting out of hand. In the most recent chapter of Skirtgate, two teens flying between Tampa and Los Angeles are crying foul because they were escorted off the plane by security officers (at the destination). Apparently they were causing a disruption on the plane because they couldn't get water when they wanted it and were knocking on the lavatory door while someone was inside.
Gallery: Kyla Ebbert in Pictures
Their side of the story is that the flight attendants were rude and discriminatory to them, saying,
"I think they were just discriminating against because we were young decent-looking girls. I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us. [The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger."
Or maybe you were just being spoiled brats.
Details at Tampa Bay's 10 are still fuzzy, but I have a feeling I know how this is going to turn out.
***Update! Paula Berg from Southwest comments on the debacle! Read her comments here.***
***Another Update! Southwest's official video reply can be seen here.***
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 10)
Marie Feb 24th 2008 10:55PM
There is nothing wrong with asking for water but they were clearly spoiled little brats.
Patricia Paredes Feb 24th 2008 11:00PM
The same thing happened to me. I asked for water on a flight and the sky waitress never brought it to me -- the male passenger to my left looked over at me and said "I bet she doesn't bring you your water."
Well I was so thirsty that I ended up going to the cabin to get a diet coke . . . apparently this was bothersome to the women who didn't bring me my water or any liquid for that matter and the security police confronted me after my flight landed in Austin asking, "is there a problem?" I said, "yes there was a problem . . . I was not served any water on the flight." SO this same attendant who failed to bring me water also made sure I was harrassed -- all a wonderful way to remember a Southwest Airlines flight. Bottom line is this -- the women who work for Southwest are NOT NICE but rather, catty, mean spirited and have major attitudes. Herb Kellerher should be aware of this -- I am sure that he is not -- a real shame.
Anonymous Feb 24th 2008 11:00PM
They were definitely being spoiled brats. And that Kyla girl...she's not even pretty...look at her close up again, bags under her eyes and wrinkles ALREADY!!! Looks like she needs to lay off the booze or drugs...and of course she's obviously got a mom who lets her do whatever she wants. I never dressed that like and still don't and I'm only 23. The only person that needs to see what I've got is my husband...I'm not asking to get raped by wearing hardly nothing. It's all a bunch of BS and they need to grow up. What is wrong with mothers these days? Did they all take lessons from Brittany Spears' mom???
LS Feb 24th 2008 11:05PM
Girls, you look "cute" and your skirt was "okay" but, your butt needs some serious work and the three of you from behind, well it's sad. Older women are not "insecure" generally, but, even if they are they should NEVER treat anyone any different than the next person. If they do, it's on them and they LOOK like the fools, you girls are cute, but that's it. Unless you were being real BRATS, they should have treated you the same as they treated all the other passengers. But, you shouldn't dress so reveling, it's not becoming and since you think your all that and then some, you don't need to do you? I wouldn't discriminate against anyone unless THEY TREAT ME BADLY, IF THEY DO, THEY GET NO SERVICE, OR ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME. I don't care what their age, gender, or race is, that's the bottom line, if they are rude, I can be rude. Live and LEARN...
Anonymous Feb 24th 2008 11:04PM
They were definitely being spoiled brats. And that Kyla girl...she's not even pretty...look at her close up again, bags under her eyes and wrinkles ALREADY!!! Looks like she needs to lay off the booze or drugs...and of course she's obviously got a mom who lets her do whatever she wants. I never dressed that like and still don't and I'm only 23. The only person that needs to see what I've got is my husband...I'm not asking to get raped by wearing hardly nothing. It's all a bunch of BS and they need to grow up. What is wrong with mothers these days? Did they all take lessons from Brittany Spears' mom???
Rod Feb 24th 2008 11:03PM
I think the key word in this story is "apparently," as in, "Apparently they were causing a disruption...." It's difficult to know what to think about the situation when the article doesn't bother to get the facts before rushing to print (and to judgment). Not that this stopped very many people from going even further in jumping to their own conclusions, of course.
jean Feb 24th 2008 11:06PM
Looks like they just wanted to get exposure on the internet, and they got it. Maybe they think they can replace Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton on that show ...what was it?....something about simple....
kerry Feb 24th 2008 11:09PM
This only upsets me... not because the girls got removed but because they feel that older people are jealous of younger people... a load of B.S. ! I am 20, young and beautiful, but I respect myself and other (particularly those older). I want to talk to these girls when they are 30 and wrinkled with skin cancer from all of their fake baking!!!
Tony Feb 24th 2008 11:16PM
The comments they made are the clue. Todays youth are so short sighted. They may be atractive, but just wait a few years. When the day comes that they remove the bra and have three navels. Pay back is a , well we all know.
Mary Feb 24th 2008 11:25PM
''EXCUSES.,EXCUSES''smarty lil gals'
alissa Feb 24th 2008 11:15PM
They probably got kicked off for being obnoxious. The only ones who said they were "pretty" were themselves.
Darin Feb 24th 2008 11:16PM
It's not about good looking it's about sluttyness and bad adittudes... and those kids with there underwear hanging out there jeans with the baggie pants should be allowed to go any where.. I know its a free world but we are looking self respect and morals to allow kids or adults to wear some of this crap.. When I was a kid you dressed up for church now they wear anything and its not about freedom its about lost respect for yourself,others and GOD...
Sandi Feb 24th 2008 11:17PM
Do you think maybe they had something/someone else to take care of on that flight. Flight attendants are not waitresses or baby sitters. There are 150 other customers on that plane YOU are not the only one needing something little girl. Get a grip on reality the world does not revolve around and your petty needs. YOU can wait like the rest of us do. Grow up for hell sakes
bondjamesbond Feb 24th 2008 11:20PM
A lot of People don't know how to behave nowdays, I'll bet they were acting like Kindergartners and that's why they were kicked off the plane.
Merry Feb 24th 2008 11:31PM
Flight attendents are usually hard working and perhaps these young "ladies" asked at an inopportune time and did not get immediate service. As for pounding on the bathroom door, that is just rude and obnoxious. The only time that would remotely be all right is if a person has either a young child or explosive diareah.
Coleen1027 Feb 24th 2008 11:34PM
Um...Don't think Asian Airlines is flying between TAMPA and LOS ANGELES!!! HELLO!!! Also, this girls are young and pretty yes. They are also not that yourng nor that pretty. They are rude, over priveleged, brats.
Happy Feb 24th 2008 11:47PM
These two girls are reacting as most young girl's their age would. They should be ashamed of themselves. Knocking at a bathroom door while being occupied is very tacky. They show no CLASS what's so ever. Why would the flight attendance be jealous of two immature kids? These two have a lot of growing up to do. They were luckly they weren't arrested, to show more embarrasment to themselves. Next girls, you should have your parents accompany you on your next trip..at least till your mature enough to fly by your self....
flygrl 2 Feb 24th 2008 11:39PM
I find it really shocking that these girls and there supporters can't seem to remember that it was only a few years ago that there was a disruption brought about on 2 major airlines where many lost their lives. The flight attendants were only doing their jobs by keeping there eye's and ears open and not being complacent. I can just imagine what would have happened if the flight attendants had ignored the disruption of the shoe bomber.These girls need to keep in mind that this type of behavior is not excepted ,those flight attendants could care less if they thought that they were old and grumpy ,they just want to make it back home in one piece to there families.
MARTY Mar 3rd 2008 8:50PM
HERE THEY ARE THESE TWO VERY IGNORANT KIDS..YES KIDS! IF YOU ARE GOING TO ACT LIKE A SPOIL BRAT..YOU AREA KID..SO GROW UP. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOME ATTENTION AND THEY GOT IT. THEY PROBABLY GOT ALL THE FIXINS-PLASTIC-HERE IN TAMPA AND THEY HEADED TO LOS ANGELES TO GET FAMOUS. SO THEY MAKE A FUSS ON THE AIRPLANE AND THEY ARE GETTING FREE PUBLICITY..OHHHH THE MEDIA. THEY ARE THE ONES MAKING A MOVIE STAR OUT OF OBAMA.
Caitlin Feb 24th 2008 11:57PM
What is that supposed to mean? "THEY WERE PROBABLY EDUCATED IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH TEACH "FEEL GOOD" COURSES RATHER THAN RIGOROUS ACADEMIC COURSES" ? I'm an American girl, going to an American highschool, in rigorous academic courses, such as AP Calculus and AP English Language. We don't have "feel good" courses.
Anyways, the girls were just being spoiled, as if it's never happened before.