Southwest Tells A Second Woman To Cover Up
Since when did Southwest Airlines become the fashion police? CNN is reporting that a second woman has come forward to say that Southwest Airlines told her to cover up because her dress was too revealing.
This coming from the "LUV" airline that used to force its flight attendants to wear hot pants and boots that Britney Spears would wear to a funeral.
What the hell, Southwest? From CNN:
Setara Qassim said a flight attendant confronted her during the trip from Tucson, Arizona, to Burbank, California, and asked whether she had a sweater to go over her green halter-style dress.Southwest, every time you think you need to tell a woman to cover up, look at some old photos of your flight attendants instead.Qassim, 21, told KNBC-TV in Los Angeles she was forced to wrap a blanket around herself for the rest of the flight. She complained that if Southwest wants passengers to dress a certain way, it should publish a dress code.
Second woman says Southwest made her cover up [CNN] (Thanks, Anne!)
(Photo:NPR)
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Comments:
Absent a photo of this woman, we can't really judge on whether Southwest's decision was unfair or whether she's just another case of "I didn't wear underpants under my miniskirt and now I'm humiliated! I'm so humiliated that I'm going to wear the same outfit on a national talk show! Look at me! Look at me!"
That said, Consumerist, who cares what Southwest's uniforms looked like thirty years ago? I doubt they were that different from those of other airlines', and the company has long since changed their policies. It's not really relevant.
I wonder if this is the same SW flight crew as the last incident.
Anyone else notice it seems to always be Tucson involved? Maybe someone should tell "Keith" to STFU about people's outfits?
@Razzler:
Can you possibly miss the point by a few more miles?
The customer's point is valid. If Southwest has expectations of how its customers should dress, it should publish them.
The matter of their stewardess uniforms of the past is relevant because it demonstrates that they are hypocrites.
@ElizabethD: Southwest actually has a policy forcing overweight people to buy 2 seats. So they wouldn't really be offending anyone next to them.
I think it's just their way of saying "You didn't have a problem with it before, but all of a sudden you have a problem with it now?
I don't care if Southwest tells passengers to cover themselves. I dress to fly like I dress to work on an ordinary business-casual day -- nice blouse, comfortable pants plus shoes I can walk in. I don't say anything, but I'm really sick of people who show up in public dressed as unwashed slobs and people with body parts on public display. Even if the body parts in question are of artistic merit, flying is kinda like business, one should think of others and use a little more discretion (and antiperspirant).
As for the policy of making oversized persons by two seats -- bully for them! I wish American had that policy one time when I was literally squashed between two 300+ lb. people. The flight attendants actually invited me to sit with them because I literally had about six inches and was having to sit sideways. I had to go back to my assigned seat only when the plane was about to land -- I can't imagine what that flight (3+ hours) would have been like otherwise.
@kc2idf: "matter of their stewardess uniforms of the past is relevant because it demonstrates that they are hypocrites." That's just dumb. What they did 30 years ago relative to dress has no bearing on today, period, end of story. I for one am happy someone's standing up to the 'dumbing down' of our society. Perhaps if a few more people were told to coverUp/turnOffTheCellFone/turnDownTheStereo etc the world would be a more pleasant place.
@Keter: You could have asked to be given another seat... every flight I've ever been on has said that if you need a different seat, just ask.
I hardly expect people to dress business casual to fly on a BUDGET AIRLINE with all of their skin covered up IN THE DESERT IN THE SUMMER.
I'm so glad you all dress business casual all the time out of concern for others. I didn't think a little skin bothered people this much, the Amish weren't allowed to fly last time I checked.
@KETER:
Flying is not like business. Maybe it was 30 years ago before they started treating airline passengers like greyhound bus passengers. If they are going to cram me in between two fatties (like your example) I would prefer to be wearing a comfortable t-shirt and sneakers than my suit.
When they treat me like a professional, I will dress the part (i.e. when I fly business class). And if you think everyone in coach is sloppily dressed, then pay your extra cash to be surrounded by your fello0w 'bussiness' associates in the higher classes.
Looks like Keith strikes again! Haranguing one woman is one thing, but a 2nd is borderline jealousy. ;)
I think this happened last July or something, so its not really a new occurrence.
Yeah, wear what you want until SW specifies a dress code.
And some of you prudes needs an orgasm S.T.A.T.!
@kc2idf:
Could you possibly be more rude for no reason? Lighten up.
Airplanes are not public transportation, no matter how much you want them to be. The fact is, Southwest doesn't need to have a "dress code". Like any private company, it reserves the right to refuse service - says so right on the back of your ticket. An inappropriately dressed person would fall well within this right.
My point was that we have no idea how prudent this action was without a picture of the woman's outfit. What I do know is that halter dresses do not always provide adequate coverage and support for larger-breasted women - speaking as one myself - and there's a possibility that this woman was exposing a bit more of herself than she intended. And while I might be a FASCIST REPUBLICAN AMERICAN TALIBAN for saying so, I feel that that situation would warrant asking the gal to cover up a little more.
But then again, we really don't know.
And no, it's not really relevant that Southwest's flight attendants wore ridiculously sexist and objectifying outfits thirty years ago. Believe it or not, things change, that's not their policy anymore, and it hasn't been for a long time.
The real issue here is that SW doesn't have a dress code. The chick could've been wearing a freakin' bathing suit and flip flops, the fact is that there is no known dress code, therefore you can choose to wear what you want (well until you hit public indecency, which last I heard was when ya went nakie). Like I said on the other post, I can completely understand it if she was sitting in the aisle seat, spread eagle, with no underwear, but people, if shes just sitting in a normal seat, with her knees facing the seat in front of her, whats the problem? A little thigh never hurt anyone. Same goes with her chest area. As long as she's not bending over with her boobs flying around, whats the problem? With no dress code on file, SW is completely out of line forcing these folks to change or wear a freakin' BLANKET on a flight to hot hot Arizona, no less.
@urban_ninjya: Unless, of course, there are 3-seat rows?
So a fatty takes 2 seats but I still have to sit next to them!
Still, big improvement. Heh, maybe they should go in cargo like the animals...
@axiomatic: This fat chick gets them regularly (as does my boyfriend), which is more than I can say for the smelly pieces of skin that think they're too good to sit next to me.
I wouldn't kick her off a flight for that - it's a cute dress - but I can see the reasoning. It's a short, low-cut, backless party dress that doesn't allow the use of a bra, and she's big-busted gal. We all know how strong the air-conditioning is on airplanes. Perhaps the twins were getting a little excited, if you know what I mean.
But some of you really don't get it: Southwest is not required to publish a dress code. They're a private company and they are within their rights to deny service to a customer who they feel isn't abiding by community standards of dress; they're a family airline. It may piss you off, but they're not breaking any rules.
@Ickypoopy: Wow. If I had been on that flight I would have *complained* when they made her wear more clothing.
@speedwell: kudos for admitting you're a fatty!
kudos for getting orgasims!
kudos for insulting skinny people (people of skin)!
p.s. it's not that people think they are too good to sit next to you. it's that there's NO SPACE to sit next to you. large people tend to overflow into others' personal space.
Very interesting, but I was commenting on the hypothetical man's girth as potential eyesore, not as intrusion on other passengers' personal space.
I think it is pretty stupid to ask someone to cover up unless it is really that horrible to look at. Maybe we should tell 300lbs people to cover up their folds of flab or the double chins or people that have skin being too loose because of age?
The only good thing I see out of this is that they didn't boot her ass off by providing her with a blanket. A blanket isn't really that bad, and it could be a hint that it was a bit cold inside, but really that's nothing compared to what you see in the urban areas.
@Razzler
Although they are not required to publish one, they probably still should if they are so offended by certain fashion garments. The fact is, no style of fashion is offensive to everyone, we're a diversified country with many "standards" and some people who are just simply apathetic. However, SW Airlines still gives a damn; so, they could at least help their customers by warning them what could get them kicked off the flight.
She made it passed TSA and THAT should be the end of it, she paid and they accepted the $$ = contract is made,let those TSA jerks decide who and who is not dressed "right" and let the airline worry about, oh I don't know, how about flying the plane and getting in on time and let the "head up their ass" [and "everyone else's ass" as well] crowd worry somewhere else about who is and who is not showing a little skin.
Sorry passed = past
@Razzler: And neither is having a photo of what she was wearing relevant. If it was legal in public, then Southwest should mind their own business.
@Razzler: Last I heard, they were regulated by the FAA. Its not their decision as to what I can't bring own and rather or not I can smoke.
@mconfoy: But then again, most airline flight attendants will make you put your seat backs up when the row behind you is empty even though there is no reason to.
@mconfoy:
The FAA does not regulate company policies that don't concern civil aviation. I have no idea what your point is.
@Razzler:
Could you possibly be more rude for no reason? Lighten up.
You are right. I should choose my words more carefully. My apologies.
My point was that we have no idea how prudent this action was without a picture of the woman's outfit.
This is true.
In the previous case, it is my belief that they were plainly wrong. In this case, while we don't know, we do know the history doesn't look good.
And no, it's not really relevant that Southwest's flight attendants wore ridiculously sexist and objectifying outfits thirty years ago.
I don't think we will see eye to eye here. They once required it for their employees, now they prohibit it for their passengers? I'm sorry, I just can't agree that this is not relevant.
@mconfoy: I've got to disagree. There are two questions here: 1) Is what they did legal, and 2)Is what they did a savvy business decision?
I think what they did is totally legal, especially based on the fine print of the contract you agree to when you purchase the ticket.
I don't think it was a smart business move. You don't want negative press about your airline, especially press about treating your customers like crap. Most airlines already treat us like crap...you don't want to be known as the one that goes the extra mile to have extra bad service.
Whether or not you agree about the business decision probably depends on who you are. I tend to think that our society's fear of flesh is a bit silly. But some more conservative folk may say that this was a smart business decision because it shows what a family friendly airline Southwest is.
Having a picture of her outfit does very little for the situation. One might see her outfit as entirely appropriate, while another may find it terribly offensive. That's the problem with letting the flight attendants make the decision. If the flight attendant that day happens to be a bible-beating zealot, they might feel that the fact you can see her legs is inappropriate. Some people even find a woman wearing pants to be inappropriate. So while I think her outfit was more than acceptable, thats not the point. The point is Southwest should be expected to have an objective dress code, or none at all. Really, the dress code would have to be so specific, it would be ridiculous. In my opinion, if the other passengers were offended, they shouldn't look at her. Maybe next they will start to require mothers to tape their loud, inconsiderate children's mouths shut while on the airplane, because it bothers some people. I'm all for private companies being able to regulate as they please, but they need to make these policies public so people can take those into account when making travel plans.
still amazed that these girls are getting treated like crap while dudes are watching porn on their labtops while seated next to young women who complain and are told "there is nothing i can do" by the stewerdess. wtf.
I'm in aggreeance with the other folks who've said "flying is not like business"... well, because it's just not.
There's a mix of types of people on each plane who are all there for different reasons. While I'd certainly agree that people need to wear something "better" than their pink fluffy-bunny PJ's and a pair of slippers, I also say dressing up - or business casual - is simply not the answer either. I've seen everyone from African people in classic African garb, to skateboarder kids in torn clothing and ratty shoes, to men and women in full suits, to Soldiers in uniform, to people I could only identify as "Hippies"... so what's really "appropriate"? I wear jeans and t-shirts with my slip-on cowboy boots... does that make me a scumbag because I'm not in a suit? If so, I don't give a damn.
I've seen the picture of what she was wearing and it looks to me to be a quite tasteful dress. Remember, if it's not your style, that doesn't make her wrong. SW is apparently losing their minds and drifting off either to the far-far-right or that "guy" Keith is everywhere now & very jealous of this beautiful woman's outfit.
And I'm sorry; cleavage is NOT inappropriate on an airplane... if it seriously bugs you, you should be asking yourself why in the world a part of a woman's anatomy that you'll never be forced to look at is bugging you so much. People who are ugly inside want other people to suffer right along with them.
hot
@JMH: I'm with you... I'd ask what she "did wrong" and why they felt in necessary to "single her out" like that.
I want the person who went and told her she needed to wear some form of blanket for the whole flight to explain if she was some sort of "threat" in her green, mostly backless dress.
People seem to be applying far too many preconceived notions about "well, what if her boobs popped out" or "oh my, her back is exposed". Don't hate, people.
(As far as I'm concerned I'd be seen with her in that outfit anywhere)
@Razzler: "Perhaps the twins were getting a little excited, if you know what I mean."
Oh, please, pokey nipples aren't indecent. If you don't like it, don't look. I'm not puttin' my A cups in giant padded bras on the off chance they might over-poke if I'm just wearing a simple thin bra.
Are you also offended by men with pokey nipples? Because I see pokey man nipple a LOT through their thin business shirts. You can even see the color change where the areolae are through men's white shirts. Or are only girly nipples offensive to you?
Airlines are private companies, but they're what's known as "common carriers," which limits their ability to refuse service. That does frequently include limitations on the ability to impose dress codes, since dress codes are easily used as tools of racism, sexism, or ageism to exclude "undesirable" groups from your establishment. But if no dress code is mentioned at the time the contract is made, anything that's not public indecency is presumed allowable.
Fembots!
Jesus, this is stupid. Whose standards of appropriateness are we going to end up following here? The Amish?
I'm pretty conservative in how I dress, and I watched the video and I didn't see anything wrong with either outfit. The only problem I have is that the girl in the second case (green dress) didn't have a bra on and that's not something thats inappropriate per se, it's just that I'm pretty sure a bra would make the dress look 10 times better on her. I actually think its a very cute dress and the length of it isn't too short. The first case, her skirt was very short, but she was appropriately dressed otherwise.
I don't think the flight attendants should have singled either one of them out. Like others have said, if they attempt to control one behavior, what about others such as like people watching porn, like Protest said.
In my experience (though I have never flown with SW) neither of them would ever be let into business class. My family and I traveled business class one time and my mother told me I was required to wear a nice shirt and black pants or a skirt. I did so and we were seated just fine. When I fly now, I fly coach (doesn't bother me a bit) and I try to dress comfortably. For these two girls, their dress is comfortable. For me, it wouldn't be. It's a personal style, I don't think SW should dictate it for these two people and not establish a dress code for everyone to follow. I've seen much worse on a plane.
I'd hit it.
Honestly, while I think that her outfit was probably okay and this may not be the soundest business practice for them, Southwest has the right to refuse and/or require whatever they want. They should have a policy available but it's not your right to fly on their planes.
If you think it's unfair, vote with your dollars.
I would volunteer to cover her offensive lady parts for the duration of the flight. I wouldn't mind one bit.
"Oh, please, pokey nipples aren't indecent. If you don't like it, don't look. I'm not puttin' my A cups in blar blar blar..."
*shrug* Cool down, honeybunch. I wasn't saying I was offended, I was just putting it forth as a possible reason the chick was told to cover up the gals with a blanket.
Wonder if they will give a blanket to a 300-pound guy wearing a tight polyester polo shirt over his gut, too. Equal-opportunity cover-up!
And maybe cover the woman wearing the fuschia muumuu... and a sack to put over the head of that teen with the orange mohawk and multiple eyebrow piercings.
The list of "offensively clad" passengers may be close to endless.