Picture this: You arrive for your Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) flight early. You manage to avoid packing excessive amounts of liquids in your carry-on baggage. You remember your ID, you wait until your seat is called, you stow your bags properly. You're even prepared to turn off your electronic devices and stow your tray table and put your seat in its upright and locked position when ... you're asked to leave the plane because you're showing a little too much leg.Haha! What is this, 1951? Nope. It's 2007, and a few months ago waitress Kyla Ebbert (who works at Hooters, where scantily-clad is a good thing) was escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight from San Diego to Tucson because her outfit -- a miniskirt, tank top, and cropped sweater -- was too revealing (I don't see any cleavage and she was wearing a bra). She put up a fuss and was eventually let back on the plane after a lecture on her dress, or lack thereof.
Update: After apologizing to Ebbert, Southwest Airlines held a fare sale in honor of miniskirts -- it was fabulously popular with customers, but Kyla wasn't so pleased. To spite them -- or perhaps to take advantage of her 15 minutes of fame before it went away, leaving her still-penniless -- Kyla agreed to pose nude for Playboy.
Southwest Airlines has a history of questionable fashion judgment -- see here:
I'm all for appropriate clothing, but personally saw nothing in Ebbert's outfit that was cringe-worthy. And if it was?
Since when did proper attire become yet another qualification as an airline customer? It seems that airlines are their own worst enemies these days, kicking passengers off for uproarious sins such as breastfeeding, being the parents of overtired toddlers, or (gasp) wearing a skirt. What happened to "the customer is always right"?
In the airline business, sometimes, the customer is only right if it's convenient for the flight attendant. And that's only going to spell "losses" or, at the very least, "negative brand equity." Maybe Southwest (and many of its competitors) should invest in free yoga classes for its employees. Take a deep breath...
Update: Southwest Airlines apologized to Kyla Ebbert and then, in a PR-saving tongue-in-cheek stunt, offered "skimpy" airfare, a ten-day sale in honor of miniskirts. The sale ends September 28.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 32)
9-06-2007 @ 12:39AM
Audrey said...
This is so crazy, what is up with Southwest, have they ever seen the people who fly from So. Cal to Vegas and from Vegas to wherever. I saw the picture of this lady and did not find it offensive, here is SD we see way shoter than that every day!!!!!!!!!!!
9-05-2007 @ 11:15PM
John Holman said...
Too funny. When I first moved to Dallas SW was the hot pants airline.
9-06-2007 @ 12:37AM
PaulChristenson said...
I smell harassment lawsuit...Do US Corporations have classes to teach the employees to act this stupidly or are they practicing creative incompetence all by themselves...
9-06-2007 @ 2:56AM
Whistleblower said...
Who are these morons working at Southwest?!? It's high time somebody slaps a few lawsuits on their faces to put them back in their proper places.
9-06-2007 @ 3:06AM
DrJarstad said...
Refreshing! I say it's about time someone stands up for decency and appropriateness. Well done Southwest! - Dr. J Seattle
9-06-2007 @ 3:23AM
MIKE said...
Herb Kelleher, put down that bottle of Wild Turkey and get back in their and straightn out this outfit before they screw up any more. The employees use to LUV working for LUV! But no longer I am afraid. Just look at the stock price! When Colleen is gone, maybe they will recover!
9-06-2007 @ 6:42AM
Hobopoet said...
Well I jus thing we shuld have all them wimmen out their waring them long dresses like what them wimmen in Araq were our presdent a reel genus has a reel good war going ofer their
9-06-2007 @ 7:23AM
Albert Kennedy said...
This would be laughable if it weren't so stupid and dangerous. The Keith guy should be fired by COB tomorrow. What makes this so laughable in my mind is I remember when Southwest dressed it's female flight attendents in "HotPants," "Nancy Sinatra walking boots"and tight sweaters and gave away bottles of scotch and burbon. Ahhhhhh the good old days.
9-06-2007 @ 7:27AM
Ed in Maryland said...
Anybody notice the one item of clothing the young lady forgot to wear that morning?
Anybody notice she stated she sat down and put a blanket over her lap?
She lists everything she wore, right down to her bra.
Curious she doesn't mention panties.
Hmmmmmm, can't imagine what was so innapropriate.
9-06-2007 @ 7:44AM
chuck said...
All these lawsuits everyone is talking about...Southwest, 99.99% of the time, will settle out of court (QUICKLY, and for a lot of $$) so that this type of press will go away! You lawyers out there...check WestLaw and see for yourselves.
Keith (the Customer Service Supervisor) was probably doing exactly what the flight attendants asked him to do. Some of these crewmembers can get a little needy!
9-06-2007 @ 9:18AM
antgne said...
I think this story is ridiculous! Maybe that new business...BURKAS R US...will really have a chance. LOL.
9-06-2007 @ 1:46PM
Charles B. Sullivan said...
Bravo! I can't say enough how proud I am of that flight attendant and all involved, for standing up for morals-even if it is unpopular! So what if that is "how everybody dresses" that doesn't make it alright. It is very difficult to raise daughters in a society that doesn't care about decency anymore and the bar is constantly placed lower and lower. Our sensitivity to this matter is in danger. Young women are being taught ( by the actions of others) that, the only way to get attention is to be more shocking and revealing than those around you. I say " GREAT JOB SOUTHWEST".
P.S. The "hotpants" of the 70's are modest, compared to today's.
9-06-2007 @ 11:09AM
taylor said...
I was a flight attendant for a major airline for many years and I feel that SW went way overboard. I would think in the enviorment we are in today that they have much important things to worry about besides how someone is dressed as long as they have shoes ,shirt and pants on and are clean and don't smell like a horse....As for the way people dress I feel there no standards anymore for customer service employees with most airlines..they look like hell..over wieght, sloopy and an attitude to go with the look.
9-07-2007 @ 1:32PM
tiffany said...
good for you southwest!!! there are way to many sluts out there... yes all you who wear mini skirts...short shorts...short shrits...low cut shirts are all SLUTS... guess what i have a nice body but i dont go and show it off
9-06-2007 @ 11:46AM
Paula said...
I can only wonder exactly who was offended by this young lady's attire. Another woman who felt inferior? A jealous wife? A jealous flight attendent. I think this was very humiliating to this young lady and from what I can see of the picture, she was not dressed inappropriately. And to the man who made the comment that since she didn't mention panties, she must not have had any on!! It seems she only covered herself if the blanket in an attempt to gain a little comfort herself. I've been to airports all over the country and I've seen hundreds of young ladies dressed the same way.
9-07-2007 @ 7:35AM
Carol said...
I see nothing wrong with her outfit, unless she was showing her crotch. But, I wonder if this had been an overweight woman wearing the same outfit, if they would not have been more harsh?
9-06-2007 @ 11:58AM
Frangelica said...
I find this entire episode very interesting since viewing the "Sunday Morning" show which showed Southwest's history and happy employees. Wasn't it standard in the 70's when they first starting running the airline that the flight attendants wore hotpants???
Lighten up.
9-06-2007 @ 11:52AM
frequent flier said...
There is nothing wrong with what that young lady is wearing. I think SWA owes this woman two things (1) a huge, public apology and (2) free flights on their airline the rest of her life.
9-06-2007 @ 11:52AM
Cheri said...
The issue nthey had with the outfit might've been more apparent if she was standing in the photo. There's lots of lifting and hoisting that goes on in plane rides. Additionally, there may be some squeezing by other passengers if you share and seat go to the bathroom and I'm not really wanting to see someone's rear exposure. I certainly hope she was not minus underwear, because that's just too silly and rude if she was. One more thing. It's probably good to set standards because all who see her allowed to wear that outfit will not have her proportions. And, while some might not object to seeing her in this outfit, believe me they will not want to see all types of shapes and sizes flaunting the same style...
9-06-2007 @ 11:58AM
steph5809 said...
I like how in the original article that Southwest said it had the right to remove people for offensive clothing to "ensure the comfort of children and “adults with heightened sensitivities.”. Quite frankly, children could care less what she was wearing, and adults with heightened sensitivities need to realize that this is what people wear. If they don't like it, maybe they should stay home. I find nothing offensive about her clothing, she has the body to pull it off and I see people walking around everyday in less. And for the record, her outfit for the flight covers more than her work outfit would...