Southwest Customer Dress Codes
“Get Off This Plane!”
When I first read about the woman being denied access to a seat on a Southwest Airlines flight, I really wanted to see that outfit. The (male) flight attendant told her that she was dressed too inappropriately to board the flight.
Having now seen this photograph of her in that “skimpy” outfit, my thought was that Southwest had better not even think of trying to operate in Hawaii.
I’m all for employee dress codes and uniforms to be sure that all employees represent the firm in the way it wants, but when it comes to the customer, I think those rights end. I cannot help but think that this was the “personal opinion” of the flight attendant, and not the policy of the airline.
The truly shocking thing was the lack of an apology from Southwest. I have a few Southwest flights scheduled this month in Texas. I hope the service will be better than their judgment and diplomacy.
For a close up look at this outrageous outfit, click on the photo and then click on your back button to return to the blog.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:13 am
I have a feeling that the reason the airline made a big deal about the young woman’s outfit is because of a previous incident. Perhaps someone with a similar short skirt on accidentally “flashed”, offended, distracted or disgusted someone else and there was a complaint or snide remark made.
One time I wore a skirt that was three or four times longer than hers, but I was told that whenever my legs crossed or uncrossed someone sitting across from me could see up my skirt, and he was offended.
It is not possible to reach in an overhead bin or bend over and not have a “big reveal”; some may not appreciate the view. “The entire universe is comprised of others”. She wasn’t in a nightclub but in public, and perhaps the flight crew felt, again based on previous incidents that enough was enough. The flesh eating bacteria is everywhere, it isn’t even safe to have that much bare skin on public seats. Perhaps if she had tights on under her skirt…
November 6th, 2007 at 2:24 am
One more thing: Based on my own hip hugging, mini-skirt wearing experience, that skirt can and perhaps did, rise up on her hips and get even shorter exposing her business and perhaps the view was so shocking the personnel reacted in a knee jerk, must nip this in the bud way. I guess no matter how lovely and fit a person is, propriety is still in the forefront of some individuals, and they call the shots. Learn and grow, there is a time and a place for everything.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:58 am
When the story first came out, my first thought was “good thing I don’t fly Southwest”. I was also suprised that there was no apology.
As for companies trying to establish dress codes for their customers, I figure they don’t really want my money or patronage, so I avoid them.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Hey Runaway;
Your comment:
“It is not possible to reach in an overhead bin or bend over and not have a “big reveal”; some may not appreciate the view” reminds me of the story about the elderly woman that called the police complaining that a man in the building next door was parading around nude with his windows open.
When the police arrived to take a look the officer said, “Yes, I see him, but you can only see from his waist up”. The woman retorted, “Stand on the bed; stand on the bed!”
November 6th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Very funny! On an airplane, many can see things going on in an aisle because the quarters are tight. Some women tie a long sleep t-shirt around their hips to provide camouflage or a curtain of privacy. It is all about mutual respect. The fashion of the band-aid skirt is over, now the pregnancy pleats are in. Such is life…
November 24th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Why anyone would fly Horizon Airlines is a good questions. Unless you want your flight cancelled.