Southwest Airlines Thinks Your Outfit Is Inappropriate
According to the Union-Tribune, Southwest airlines objected to an outfit worn by a 23 year-old Hooters waitress.
Southwest went so far as to ask the woman the leave the airplane. So what was she wearing?
A "white denim miniskirt, high-heel sandals, and a turquoise summer sweater over a tank top over a bra."
My god! Alert the TSA and the local police! We can see leg!
She had a doctor's appointment that afternoon in Tucson, where temperatures had topped 106 all week. She arrived at Lindbergh Field wearing a white denim miniskirt, high-heel sandals, and a turquoise summer sweater over a tank top over a bra.We really can't see anything obscene about this girl's outfit (pictured above). Maybe we're missing something, but this is America and if a girl wants to board an airplane wearing a mini skirt, a bikini top and a football helmet, she should be able to. Who cares?After the plane filled, and the flight attendants began their safety spiel, Ebbert was asked to step off the plane by a customer service supervisor, identified by the airline only as "Keith."
They walked out onto the jet bridge, where Keith told Ebbert her clothing was inappropriate and asked her to change. She explained she was flying to Tucson for only a few hours and had brought no luggage.
"I asked him what part of my outfit was offensive," she said. "The shirt? The skirt? And he said, 'The whole thing.' "Keith asked her to go home, change and take a later flight. She refused, citing her appointment. The plane was ready to leave, so Keith relented. He had her pull up her tank top a bit, pull down her skirt a bit, and return to her seat.
Ebbert says several flight attendants overheard the conversation and, after an embarrassing walk down the aisle, she took her seat and spread a blanket over her lap
Southwest declined to comment on the story, but did say that they didn't have a dress code and that one could wear a bikini top if one wanted, so we're assuming that "Keith" went rogue.
Southwest fashion police set no-fly zone [Union-Tribune] (Thanks, Aurora!)
(Photo:CRISSY PASCUAL / Union-Tribune)
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Comments:
I don't understand what her being a waitress has to do with the story. That just happens to be her profession, but has nothing to do with her clothing. I could understand if she was wearing something with an expletive, but this is just garbage. Some older lady with a teenage son probably complained.
...wtf?
Why... why would you even bother someone about their clothes?
You're not a fancy restaurant.
It sounds like some parent or something made some noise. I see nothing wrong with that outfit and can look out my window at work and see much more revealing stuff all day long.
Someone must have been jealous and complained!
This from the airline that put its first stewardesses in hot pants. Hmm.
He was probaby hoping she'd pout and ask in a breathy voice if there was anything she could do to make sure she didn't miss her flight. *cue porn music*
Showing all that cleavage and leg, she'd distract the male pilots, causing them to crash the plane. This happened in the 1950s, right?
I would have had more respect for Keith if he had said, "Your outfit is inappropriate for Southwest Airlines, but if you want, I could book a flight for you on Moustache Air."
She paid for a ticket, let her fly. Some frumpy woman or some stodgy man likely complained because they believe they have a right to freedom from offense, or some such BS.
Well... I wonder how they knew she worked at Hooters. If so, maybe someone was profiling? It wouldn't surprise me.
US-based airlines make me sick.
What about that shirt from T-ShirtHell.com that got some guy kicked off a plane? I say who gives a damn... if you don't like it, don't look at me. I'll wear what I please, "polite society" be damned.
Her profession is just excess flub for this article. Her being a Hooter's waitress should have no impact at all!
In any case, I've seen more displays of skin on other airlines..i guess Southwest is now a conservative!
If SW uses standard procedures like other airlines, I would imagine that she would be sitting the whole flight? So no one other than the person directly next to her would even notice a short skirt and low neckline.
In the picture she looks nicely dressed to me. I am more offended by the pajama/flip flop wearing people. Put some clothes on people, this isn't your bedroom!
/get off my lawn.
not likely. the chance of a straight male, non-pilot, working in the airline industry are slim to none.
I'm surprised he didn't ask her where she bought the outfit. Maybe a jealousy thing that she looked better in a mini-skirt than he did.
@kenposan: If the flight is more than 2 hrs, or I have a connecting flight, I wear sweatpants + t-shirt and bring a hoodie - why be uncomfortable when you're sitting next to a bunch of strangers? Why would that bother you? Miniskirt + tank-top wouldn't look good on me, I'm a dude.
The only thing I can possibly imagine being an issue is if she was going Commando. If that was the case, I imagine that would have made it into the story.
I see nothing wrong with that outfit, especially flying into Tucson-Freaking-Arizona in the middle of summer.
So beyond stupid it gave me a headache. I don't care if she's a nudist. She was dressed and nothing was falling out. 106 degrees! Maybe someone should tell Keith that some of us have to spend time outside.
Need to remind the guy what Southwest's own flight attendants wearing not too very long ago...
I see nothing wrong with that outfit and I see much worse things when I go to the mall. I see children wearing similar outfits nowadays and no one gives a boo about all the children that are walking around in high heeled sandals and shorts so short that they are riding up. The clothes fit her body type so there is nothing wrong with what she is wearing. I take more offense at the people who wear clothes that leave several rolls of blubber hanging out of them to the point where it looks very very indecent. If you have the body to wear the clothes by all means go ahead!
I'd go rogue in a second!
She can force her way into my cockpit anyday....
man i cant wait to fly southwest home from chicago on the 11th wearing my incredibly offensive homemade NVR FRGT shirt!!!
Ugly folks are next then Downs kids.
@gibsonic: I thought they typically followed the male hairstylist theory myself.
I know it's technically "profiling" but to me it doesn't matter when I'm correct in my assumptions. "Oh girl, is that skirt a Versace?!"
Oh, and people outside their homes in pajamas just disgusts me; those are indoor clothes.
So ... was the appointment in question a gyno visit? Because while it's certainly ridiculous to ask the poor woman to get off the plane - on such a brief flight, who would notice or care? - that is still a VERY short skirt, and I really hope she was wearing underwear.
I remember the days when, if you wanted to fly First Class (no business back then), gentlemen were expected to wear jackets. Of course, the end of that era is exactly what gave airlines like Southwest the market they have today.
The guy is either one of those Conservative Christians or a Mormon. He's probably fighting a boner and worried about going to hell because of it.
I think Keith was just jealous that someone was looking more "fabulous" than he was.
I wonder what would've happened if she was wearing a burkha ?!?!
I wouldn't mind sitting on the tarmac for 6 hours if i was sitting next to her. They should make that outfit the uniform for the stewardesses. it'll probably make the flight and the wait more pleasant
Ooh, can we also complain about fat guys with their guts hanging over their belt? Can we make them go and change, too?
Her outfit isn't that bad, especially for the climate she's been in.
I think his idea of hitting on someone is to exercise his godly power as customer service manager. Some men get off on humiliating women.
If she had made a fuss, then the steward could have sicced the TSA on her. Or called for an air marshal. You can't even raise your voice on planes anymore.
Which may be good, or may be bad. It sounds like this guy was just messing with this lady. Air Fashion Police...
She looks perfectly fine. Her skirt is a bit short, but as long as she isn't waving her legs in the air flashing vagina, whatevs. Now, can someone do something about the large gentlemant with plumber butt crack who always sits next to me on flights?
They could have sat her next to me - I wouldn't have complained, promise.
Maybe I've become desensitized to this stuff, or maybe I'm just a 23 year old guy, but this doesn't bug me as much as some of the other things I've seen. I find a 12 year old wearing something similar much more offensive than this.
Sounds like SouthWest owes this woman a huge apology and a few vouchers. Talk about public humiliation.
I week's pay says "Keith" is a, ah...religion enthusiast.
@acambras: 'The only thing I can possibly imagine being an issue is if she was going Commando. If that was the case, I imagine that would have made it into the story.'
Note the description of her clothing: "A 'white denim miniskirt, high-heel sandals, and a turquoise summer sweater over a tank top over a bra.' "
The fact that they list a bra but not panties makes it seem like she must have been going commando. My guess is while in the boarding area she inadvertently pulled a 'Basic Instinct' which was caught by either "Keith" or another passenger who brought it to Keith's attention.
@acambras: That's what I'm thinking... but seriously, even then. A flash of vag never killed anyone.
@Cy Guy:
I'm starting to think that's what really was going on - Keith simply couldn't think of a non-awkward way to tell an attractive woman that her vagoo is visible. It would probably be a sanitary/health issue, as well.
Perhaps she shot poor Keith down earlier, and he sought vengeance?
Stupid story - has anyone here seen any photos of Pam Anderson in an airport? Maybe Pam doesn't fly Southwest.
If Southwest cared so much, their planes wouldn't smell like piss and BO.
Apparently she had "Keith" pretty hot and bothered, he had to question whether he was gay or not...
Is she showing her nipples? Is she showing her ass? Is she showing her snatch?
Okay then, let her on.
@flackette: The mental image of her flapping her legs around (and yelling "Wooo-ooo" of course) during take-off made me almost spit 7-up on the computer. Thanks, I needed a good laugh today.
Keith has the same outfit....
we just don't know enough to pass proper judgment. Perhaps her goods were showing? Maybe the flight was full of nuns, preists, devout muslims, and kids?
Southwest is a family airline now....
Personally? Let her fly nekkid.
I'll buy a ticket.
Doesn't hooters own their own airline? She could have made some extra bucks!
Her skirt is no shorter than anything they wore on Ally McBeal. This is effin ridiculous. She's not falling out of her top or anything. For the privilege of getting stuffed into an economy seat and paying $300 for it, I now have to put up with fashion consulting from my grandma?
![[media.npr.org]](http://media.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2006/aug/airlineattendants/orange450.jpg){kind=link}
wait... didn't they want us to fly in pyjamas and flipflops since you can't hide weapons in those? Maybe she was wearing too many clothes!