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Southwest Airlines Community

Wrapping Up the Skirt Issue

cbarrett1
Explorer A
 Rumor has it that this blog has been kind of busy with comments lately.  Seriously, I know that many of you have posted some pretty passionate comments on the subject of Kyla Ebberts and "traveling attire" in general, and we have been listening.  I thank each of you for sharing your thoughts, and I want you to know that we haven't been skirting the issue. This situation involved a judgment call for sure.  These situations are subjective, and not everyone holds the same opinions.  We serve more than 96 million Customers a year; and every now and then, we'll have a situation that takes on a life of its own.  This was the case here. We always want to apologize if we offend any of our Customers, and we also support our Employees abilities to make decisions.  We are apologizing to Kyla, in typical Southwest style, and I hope you will click here to read about it. Many, many of you on both sides of this issue have asked about a dress code.  We do have a dress code for our Employees who use their travel benefits, but we do not have a dress code for our paying Customers.  Our job is not to be the fashion police; our job is to take care of our Customers and ensure they have a safe flight.  We are proud of our past that included hot pants and we are proud of our future, and I want all of you to be part of that future.
258 Comments
Michele111
Explorer C
Just wanted to say, keep up the good work! After reading alot of the comments and alot of the people saying they will not fly SW again, I doubt it!! Your airline offers GREAT FARES and is a JOY to fly!! I don't think they are that convicted to this issue that they really would give up flying your airline, and if they are, so much better for us other fliers to get better seats!!
P_K_JONES
Explorer C
I think anonymous has kyla pegged (almost). according to kayla's website she is a 23 year old college student who listed her occupation as "retired". my first question is....how can you retire at 23 before you even finish college? my "guess" is she has left her job at HOOTERS for something (she thinks) that will give her income without having to work for it and has found a low life attorney willing to file a frivolous lawsuite (that will clog the already overloaded judicial system-not to mention give him plenty of media coveage to draw in more skanks to lure and sue innocent victims) simply because he is apparently not smart enough to attract a real client with a valid reason for a real attorneys services. Then comes the second question.....as I understand kyla is a frequent flyer on SOUTHWEST AIRLINES and has logged over 100 flights over the past year. SO......how does a RETIRED college student have the money to spend that much time in the air? again I'm "guessing", but with all that's come to light about little miss Hooter-Victim-porn queen, I think her real occupation has been taking place in the air where as mentioned earlier there are plenty of above average high saleried men who are more than happy to throw a little cash around for a little X-RATED entertainment once the plane has landed. In the air-what a great place for business contacts. kyla my unsolicited advise to you is.......get a real job and get a life!!!!
Shelly2
Explorer C
Wow, there are some amazing comments from both sides of the issue. I'm throwing my comments on the side of the employee who attempted to educate this person on her very inappropriate attire. God bless him or her. I don't know about Kyla Ebbert's upbringing, but frankly I didn't need anyone telling me that when out in public, you don't display yourself like a freak show. I was very heartened to read that someone was trying to improve public perceptions of what is or is not acceptable. Yes, we have the freedom to dress as we want to. But the problem is, society is bursting with pathetic, attention-starved individuals who keep pushing the envelope and getting away with it. Women who dress like her and boys walking around with their pants hanging around their hips as opposed to around their waist and we have to be subjected to that? And the rest of us have to just shake our head in bemusement because "it's none of your business to tell me how to dress", "you're not the boss of me", "there's no fashion gestapo", and so on and so forth. Why on God's green earth would you not like to wear a nice skirt (or pants) and blouse or in the case of men, a polo shirt and dockers? What's really sad is this bimbo probably won't even learn from this and apparently wasn't so badly embarrassed and humiliated that she didn't go parading herself on national TV. I fail to understand why anyone would want to exhibit themselves in something I wouldn't put on my dog. It's ridiculous. So I'm glad your employee stepped up and attempted to do something and hope that there was no reprimand. And I also hate that you felt that an apology was in order. I like the fact that someone at your organization tried to make a stand for the betterment of everyone's traveling conditions at the risk of hurting one person's feelings. Maybe the next time she flies, she'll think twice about what she walks out of the house wearing. Oh, wait ... no, she won't. She already got away with it and got her 15 minutes of fame.
Kris_Pacey
Explorer C
I think SWA needs to take this further. 1. Station a fashion panel at each gate to judge everyone before boarding? you must get 2 votes to board. 2. Put weigh scales and body fat testers at each gate. Exceed the norm and you're out. 3. Put a "human" box like they have to measure carry on luggage for people to squeeze into. If they don't fit, they ride in the baggage compartment underneath. 4. Odor police for those goobers in the wife beater shirts stinking up the joint, touching my arm with their hairy knuckles? Institute al this and I will fly SWA Seriously, SWA, your flight attendant blew this one and so did you for approving his/her actions and issuing a bogus apology. There are much more professional methods of handling these situations. Your "recovery" team needs to be fired. Keith was just jealous because she looked better in that skirt than he does. I would wager the only people complaining are the obese haus fraus who take up half my seat and only dream of being able to wear clothes like Miss Ebbert. They should be booted off.
P_K_JONES
Explorer C
Just a little bit of trivia for those of you care. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES has a CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE which is a legal document and one of the items in this legal document states that SOUTHWEST has a right to "refuse to transport". most of you seem to think kyla was kicked off the plane - not so she willingly covered up with a blanket and took her outbound and return flight.
David28
Explorer C
Southwest says it wants to apologize if it offends any customers, but for some reason the company is having trouble doing so in a sincere manner. Southwest's apology is undermined by the conditional wording of "if we offend." There is no "if" here; Southwest did offend. Whether the offense taken by some customers is reasonable is subject to dispute, but there is no question that some customers were alienated, and humor is therefore an inappropriate response. Southwest is also equivocating by saying it also supports its employees' abilities to make decisions. That may be good practice in general, but in this case, a decision needs to be made. Was the flight attendant acting appropriately when he asked the passenger to change clothing? I don't know, but Southwest owes its customers a thorough investigation and a clearly stated finding. The result: This issue is far from resolved. I have no opinion on the passenger's attire. I wasn't there and cannot judge the situation fairly. Neverthless, I know an insincere, half-hearted apology when I see one, and Southwest's mishandling of the negative publicity surrounding this issue shows the limits of its corporate culture.
Patricia1
Explorer C
Although I am happy that you finally owned up to your mistake, your apology rings a little bit hollow. The real class act in all this is Virgin America, who represents a much more gracious attitude. I will fly them whenever I can....
Sam12
Explorer C
I think this is all ridiculous, I don't know where your employee is from but I must assume he is a religious fanatic type person. I am from Florida and that type of clothing is seen everywhere.I have boarded your flights seeing people wearing nothing more than short shorts, tube tops and flip flops and no one said anything.I was living in Dallas when your airline was regional and the definitely skimpy outfits of your flight attendants and the sometimes double entendre ads.My daughter has flown many many times on your airline and frankly was not wearing much more than the woman this happened to. I think if you choose to cater to the religious fanatics you should immediately institute a dress code. As Herb knows you will LOSE any lawsuit if she files one and you have no leg to stand on. Southwest has lost sight of the once fun airline it was and is quickly becoming another stodgy old carrier.With all the recent changes you will soon become just another American with mediocre service and rude, uncaring personnel.
Chris11
Explorer C
I blame this incident on an over zealous employee, and SWA for not training employee Keith about such cases. The young lady was properly dressed for public travel. The bad thing about all this, and the really important thing, was that SWA didn't correct the error until it hit the media and they looked like idiots. Keith should know that some of us are not gay and appreciate a beautiful girl.
tiffany_lewis
Explorer C
You need to work on polishing your own flight attendants and check their shorts . I could see everything on one of your flight attendants the other day when i was flying southwest.I now fly united. tiffany lewis
Anonymous681
Explorer B
it's amazing to me, how many of you out there would stand up for kyla and put down southwest air,without knowing all the facts. first of all , another passenger complained which prompted a swa employee to address the issue. that makes lots of sense. then she was taken to the jet way, away from other passengers, so she lied that it was in front of others. she also lied that she paid 251.00 for the round trip, when she actually used a free ticket. kyla's myspace was very provacative and her email address is very risque too. so sounds to me like kyla is maybe tired of hooters and any other gig she has displaying herself. so she decides what an opportunity to get her 15 mins of fame and now maybe sue southwest airlines for profit. that day she did dr.phil. well i think he hammered well and she didnt like it one but. because the truth hurts and this media attention for her has gone on ,way too long!!!!
Margaret5
Explorer C
I feel that it was more to the story then presented and how do we know she didn't dress that way to get attention. She wore the same outfit on the today show and I feel she showed no class.
Kim_Pfefer
Explorer C
I was extremely disappointed when I read you will no longer allow families with small children to pre-board. In fact my husband and I had just purchased our Christmas traveling tickets with Southwest Airlines for no other reason than the ability to board ahead of time. In my opinion the pre-boarding policy worked out for both families as well as people not traveling with children. This is because not only did the service decrease the extremely stressful experience of traveling with small children for the parents, but it also allowed people who are not traveling with children to decide whether they would like to sit near those families. For me personally, this was a life saver. Before I had children there was no way I wanted to sit near one on a flight. Now that I have a nine month old baby, I am very concerned for that unlucky person who gets stuck sitting next to us. Under Southwest's old policy, I was assured that the person sitting next to us was more likely than not, someone who liked children. This was our experience the last time we flew with SW and had led us to continue flying with SW. However, I highly doubt we will ever fly SW again with the new policy. The prices are the same as any other airline and the present boarding policy is far worse than other airlines. At least with an assigned seat you don't have to wait in lines and you have a guarantee of sitting with your family!! Please reconsider your decision of no longer allowing families to pre-board. I think SW had a niche in offering a service that no other airline offered. I also believed that by removing this service, SW will feel the squeeze when families turn elsewhere in favor of easier seating options, lower fares, or other services, when they would have chosen SW simply for the convenience of pre-boarding with children. Kim Pfefer
Anne_Dillon
Explorer C
I am a frequent flyer of SWA. My children also fly every month from pbi to alb to visit their father. I would much rather have them sit next to a beauty like Kyla, than a fat disgusting passenger that has body odor. I have had many unenjoyable flights on SWA, due to the fat person sitting next to me, or teh half dead passenger that is coughing up a lung...what I wouldn't have done for a seat next to Kyla. I'd rather look at a tight shapley body than folds and folds of fat. We live in America, we are paying good money to fly, if people can't handle having their children see a woman in a mini skirt than perhaps they should leave the kids at home in a bubble. This is the real world, wake up...it's not disney world all of the time. You are bound to run in to scantly dressed woman at the supermarket, the mall, etc...so what makes a plane any different. I am now a JETBLUE passenger and so are my children, nobody tells me what I can wear, the service is impeccable, and the flights are far more enjoyable.
Yvonne2
Explorer C
That is the snarkiest "apology" I've ever seen in my life. And "mini skirt" prices? Give me a break. You are no longer my favorite airline.
Ian_Dahl
Explorer C
COME ON PEOPLE THERE IS FAR MORE PRESSING THINGS TO DEAL WITH IN THIS DAY AND AGE! ( I.E. Iraq, soliders dying, terrorism,) LETS REALLY STEP BACK AND REALIZE HOW LAME THIS ISSUE IS!
Tamra
Explorer A
It's kind of funny how people take things so serious. People saying they will never fly us again.....because of all of this. It's very sad to think of losing a Customer over this but COME ON! As Ian said, there truly are more important things. I don't feel SWA needs to stir the pot, nor does SWA owe anyone any kind of explanation about the facts. It was a judgement call. I was not there. Maybe it was wrong, maybe it was right. But is it really worthy of all of this attention? I don't think so. I have had people upset me before...out to eat, buying a car, whatever....do I expect the President of the company to call me and apologize? NO WAY. And neither should anyone else who lives on planet Earth. Do I expect an apology when one is due? Yes I do. As always, there are people out there who will try to exploit any kind of situation to gain something from it. I'm not saying that in this case, because frankly it's hardly worth my time to type here much less read elsewhere about it. But I do get offended when people talk bad about my Company...We all have made mistakes. And no matter how it was handled, someone would complain. Someone would say we did too much, someone would say we did too little. This woman stated all she wanted was an apology. She got that. Oh, but you are a large company, so now i'm going to sue you too. So what I said that I wanted wasn't really the whole truth. Now you are going to pay me. Let's all get a life. Whether I was an Employee or not, this whole thing is a joke and waste of time and internet space if you ask me. And people consumed by this need to move on. We are a company over 30,000. I suppose the head of this company must be able to constantly watch over all of us huh? Nevermind run a major airline. Let's focus on the important things in life. Not some woman who's clothing was felt it was too revealing. And honestly, what business is it of anyones if you were not there, not a part of this? I don't understand. Why care?
Soup_Dragon
Explorer C
Tamra's comments show why only PR staff should be able to post and comment on corporate blogs. When all employees have access to the blog, their attempts to defend their employer almost always make things worse.
dougieo
Explorer C
Your flight attendants need to learn that they don't live in the middle east, they live in America with it's varied tastes and multi cultured people. Men and women through out our country's history have died on the battle field so that we might be a free people and allow many points of view, even if the other person's point of view does not agree with yours. Shame on you for allowing your flight attendants to dictate and force upon people their own internal sets of standards and morals. That doesn't belong in America, that belongs with dictatorships. I have a suggestion: Make your attendants dress in berkas. That should suit them just fine. They all look frumpy as it is. Don't push your moral standards down everyone else's throats. If you have to do that, join the Taliban. That's the way they think too. "Don't Tread on Me!"
Chris11
Explorer C
Most of the comments here, on both sides of the Kyra question, are valid. It's not important in the big picture with Iraq, etc. But it's fun I guess to take your mind off the serious issues; that's why its popular. A far more important issue is SWA change of policy against families and others who need to board first. That's a issue that will cause me to fly another airline, and I fly often. Are you listening SWA??
Bethany_L
Explorer C
Paul T. referred to Southwest's policy of "employees first, customers second." I'm glad to know about that policy. I spend my money where the customer comes first. That policy explains a lot of things. At least the consumers now know where they stand, and how unimportant they are, to this company.
Bethany_L
Explorer C
A lot of the comments on this site by SWA employees make it clear to me that the company lacks training. The employees completely disrespect customers. Most companies appreciate and value their customers. Southwest employees reprimand their customers and treat them with hostility. They keep talking about their right to refuse service. Guess what, customers have the right to refuse buying tickets from your airline. How can you forget that? How can you forget that the customer comes first and pays for the tickets that pay your salaries? I've never seen anything like it. The employee responses, more than anything, have assured that I will never fly Southwest again.
blusk
Aviator C
Natalie, By placing Employees first, it doesn't mean we don't care about our Customers. Nothing is farther from the truth. We place our Employees first because we do care about our Customers. If Employees are unhappy and mistreated, who do you think bears the brunt of that attitude? It is Customers. Our thinking is that happy, motivated Employees provide the best service to Customers, and for over 36 years, that has proven to be true. Does that mean that a few Employees may take this as carte blanche to be rude? Well, with 33,000 Employees, it does. But with my experience working for and flying on other airlines, I think our approach is best. Brian
Amanda
Explorer C
There should be no apology for asking customers to dress appropriately. I'm sorry to say, but the manners that used to be taught years ago have been missed by at least two generations. People should not wear anything in public place, that includes a plane, that they wouldn't wear to dinner at my grandmothers house.
James_Siart
Explorer C
I just read that another Southwest Flight Attendant took issue with a T-Shirt a man was wearing on a flight out of Florida. Please address this with your employees. Its disturbing enough the steps we passengers do to please TSA Security...now I have to worry about some Southwest Flight Attendant. What's next the janitor and him taking issue with how I discard my newspaper?
Cygnus
Adventurer C
Natalie, How many establishments/businesses/airlines have you been to that SAY they put the customer first . . . but don't? It's as much a cliche as "our friendly, knowledgeable staff." If you'd read the book Nuts! by Kevin Freiberg, you would already have known that Southwest puts its employees first and customers second. I like that. Happy employees will naturally treat the customers better. Are there incidents when this isn't so? Certainly, but I bet not nearly as much as on the Dinosaur Airlines that allegedly put customers first! The shame of this whole skirt episode is that both Colleen Barrett and Gary Kelly forgot their own philosophy when they reversed course and left their flight attendant high and dry, and I hope they've finished cleaning those eggs off their faces. And I hope "Keith" has found meaningful employment elsewhere, because "Employees First" obviously doesn't apply to him.
Cygnus
Adventurer C
P.S. I'm not a Southwest employee, just a happy customer.
Jon9
Explorer C
Once again, SWA does it. Southwest prohibits "lewd, obscene or patently offensive" clothing. But three hours after inquiries Thursday by the St. Petersburg Times, a spokesman said the airline made a mistake and would apologize to Winiecki. "It was inappropriate for our employee to approach Joe," said spokesman Chris Mainz. "We don't have a dress code. Only in extreme situations would we want to address this to our customers." http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/05/Business/Clothes_call_dings_So.shtml And as for you, Brian Lusk, you're "Dan Fleschner" comments several months ago show your true feelings about how you like being a "fashion police". But thankfully, Colleen told you to stuff it.
Brian3
Explorer C
I initially applauded SW for taking a stance and having standards which seem to have all but disappeared in recent years. I am only sorry that instead of standing in principal you then decided to give in an issue apology and pursue dumb marketing campaigns. You blew a significant opportunity with a big and underserved segment of the market (people who dont appreciate profanity and psuedo-nudity in the seat next to them).
Henrik
Explorer C
Southwest is a joke. Being a Texas based airline, it comes as no surprise that Southwest treats their customers as cattle. However, the fact that they now want to impose grandma's dresscode upon the same cattle, is nothing short of humorous. I suspect that the comment about coming "from hot pants to hot flashes" is more accurate than they care to acknowledge. Perhaps when the entire staff is pushing retirement they also start becoming fashion facists? Anyway, one mistake might be forgiven and forgotten but when several incidents start revealing a pattern of customer abuse (cattle abuse?) perhaps it's time the company shakes up it's procedures, staff and guidelines?
Jim_Hagemann
Explorer C
I just read the story titled "Southwest sorry again for policing passenger apparel" in todayÃ
Roger_Andrews
Explorer C
This is actually about the t-shirt incident, but I didn't see that as a topic for comment, so am using the closest one I can find. No apology to the passenger should be given. He chose to wear a shirt that he knew would be offensive to some, and decided that his sense of humor trumped commonly accepted norms of public behavior. This isn't a free speech issue, This is about whether someone has the right to subject others to discomfort solely for his own enjoyment. The answer to that is no. This is always a sensitive issue, and trying to set specific rules for acceptable behavior is a futile exercise. However, at some point the line between humor (or "fashion") and offensive behavior is clear, as it was in this case. If you have a responsibility to provide an appropriate atmosphere for your passengers, as I believe you do, your employees must have the latitude to exercise judgment in such matters. Yes, they have to be careful and they have to be tactful, but they must act when action is needed. Your employee made the right call.
Randy7
Explorer C
Where have the feminists gone now since a male passenger got crucified by Southwest? I've read several atriticles and seen many comments by hardcore feminists stating this wouldn't happen to a male passenger when the Kyle Ebbert story broke last month. I can hear the crickets chirping since Southwest is targeting a man over his shirt on the latest clothing flap.
Marcia2
Explorer C
I'm not a Southwest employee nor customer because I live in the Southeast and only am able to fly about once a year to another area of the Eastern coast. I will say this though, I applaud Southwest Airlines and their employee's stances on lewd, crude and rude customers who think they can dress as skanks and annoy AT LEAST HALF of the other passengers. My hats off to Southwest and its employees for bringing to the attention those who don't have any decency or manners to know how to dress and behave in public. Perhaps if more airline personnel were to do this, mine and my children's once per year flights would be more enjoyable. Believe me, while the original skank to complain was Kyla Ebbert, I've seen even worse than her in airports and boarding planes. Now, Kyla according to me was dressed imappropriately, but again I've seen not only worse than her in public transport, but also in grocery and other stores, the workplace and on the street.
Cygnus
Adventurer C
Hey, on Dick Branson's airlines, ridiculously short skirts and offensive T-shirts aren't objectionable; they're MANDATORY! Go be offensive on his planes, but leave us on SWA alone.
jana
Explorer C
Ok Southwest, first you have the disgracefull "skirt" incident and now you make a guy change his shirt because you thought it was too "sexual" for your taste. I have been a loyal SouthWest flyer for over 10 years now and you have just lost a customer. Delta...here I come and you can thank the self rightous clothing police at SW for my business. At least I know I can fly Delta and I won't have to check with the "skirt-shirt" police to make sure I'm dressed ok. Southwest should give both of these people free flights for life but you've lost thier bussiness already. You appologized to the induviduals but that's not enough. You must assure all of your customers that they can fly and not have to strip in front of a plane full of people just to make some over paid waitress doesn't get offended. You guys have taken yourselves way too seriously but I guess you'll have to now that other airlines will get all the business you've lost...like mine.
Will_Cummings
Explorer C
Southwest Airlines has the right and responsibility to define and demand appropriate appropriate attire for its customers. The constitutional right to Free Speech is not at stake. Indeed, the concept of free speech is debased when it is equivocated with mere crass behavior. Customers who fly have a right to expect their fellow passengers to be appropriately attired just as patrons of a restaurant can reasonably expect their fellow diners to be compelled to wear shoes and shirts. It is extremely unfortunate that Southwest Airlines feels the need to apologize for a reasonable and entirely defensible policy. Southwest Airlines, stand fast I say!
MichaelGuinan
Explorer C
The angle that we donÃ
Randy7
Explorer C
Kyla's myspace page can be found here. The cached link above is not working. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=1411029
Sidney_Bales
Explorer C
Again Southwest has appologised for expecting a certain decorum from their passengers. This time about a tacky t-shirt. Yes the man has his freedom of speech, but he can also expect to have people disagree with him. As a private business, Southwest CAN demand certain standards from it's customers. Word will get around, and they will make sure they wear the proper clothes. I would make Southwest my first choice if I knew the customers were not allowed to wear obscene clothing.
Andrew5
Explorer C
So, the first question is: Why is any outfit offensive? The answer usually given is "it exposes nipples/breasts/vaginas/penises/whatever too much". The next question is "OK, so why is that offensive?" The answer becomes "Well, those things shouldn't be shown in public // Those parts are private // Children shouldn't be seeing those things at their age" OK, so why shouldn't they be shown? Why shouldn't children see them? Can you back that up with any evidence that it's going to hurt children? I haven't, and am unlikely to see any convincing evidence that there is any objective, pragmatic reason to avoid public nudity, except for appeals to religion. And enforcement of a dress code for that reason amounts to enforcing religious law. So, some people are offended by nudity, big whoop! I am offended by christian symbolism, as I find it to be a barbaric religion, with a lot to answer for. That doesn't mean that people should ban its display on jewellery and the like. The solution comes in two parts: 1. Ignore it. 2. Look the other way, if you can't handle it. The sooner we realise the arbitrariness of society's standards of sexuality and such, the better off we are.
Not applicable
[...] the Nuts About Southwest blog the post about that mini skirt flap got 235 comments. One commenter had this to [...]
Debopam_Chakrab
Explorer C
Well, Southwest has done it again. In Tampa Southwest Airlines Fashion Police warned a passenger for wearing a tee shirt that was printed "Master Baiter" in front. I am simply apalled. I thought this would happen only Iran or other fundamelist islamic countries!
Cygnus
Adventurer C
Andrew, I guess my religion must bother you more than your atheism bothers me. Debopam, your analogy falls flat. In this country, you're asked to change your shirt. In a Muslim theocracy, your hand is chopped off. *If* you're lucky. Which would you prefer? Sidney, well said.
Randy7
Explorer C
It appears poor Kyla is finally over the trauma and embarrassment caused by Southwest as you can tell from the following article and photo. I wonder if she still wants to sue Southwest, or was this all just for attention? http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_7146001 http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site181/2007/1011/20071011_084018_virgin5_GALLERY.jpg
Not applicable
[...] resources, it makes a lot of sense. She also earned everyone’s respect by admitting with the recent miniskirt controversy, they didn’t handle it as well as they could have. Her self-criticism was that they [...]
Delta_Rules
Explorer C
Of all of the western nations, I can think of only one "modern" country where something as absurd as this could happen... Yes, good old double-standard America. (Although, if America should be considered as modern is somewhat questionable.) This is something you would except from countries such as e.g. Iran. When did it become "OK" for an airline to start stopping people based on the clothes they wear? Modern democracy can not be something you condone in general, I imagine. If you ask me - you do not deserve to have customers.
Randy7
Explorer C
Who didn't see this one coming. Kyla Ebbert posing for Playboy. It's obvious this whole scam she is pulling about being traumatized by Southwest was nothing but PR to get her name in the news. All you people supporting her are being duped. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jSxOefmTRHZjam2EDG9-BN5x5x-QD8SUHO9O1 http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/southwest-ebbert/kyla-ebbert-01.html
Ben_Roberts
Explorer C
Just a few comments, coming from a regular frequent Southwest flier. 1. The public hasn't been presented with all of the facts of the case. It is believed that on the Southwest flight Kyla was actually wearing a slightly modified version of the clothing she wore later on the Today show. 2. Good or bad press for a company is often positive. A business wants free advertising. The vast majority of customers flying Southwest or any airline will dress in a manner unlikely to provoke others to the point of comment. This incident of Southwest removing a passenger due to attire does not directly affect those people. 3. Of the previous comments on the blog from individuals who will no longer be choosing Southwest as their airline, I am actually grateful as a fellow passenger. If this sort of situation leads you to such an emotional response that sends you to Delta, then that simply means I have very little chance of sitting next to you on future flights. I'd much prefer to sit next to a woman in a short skirt than the type of person that over-reacts in such a way. 4. The US, as we know, is a culture of suing and legal recourse. Everyone is looking to make some money in the easiest way possible. Everyone is a victim. An individual is not accountable for their actions. This behavior is normal, although often over the top. Fortunately Kyla was able to raise enough publicity herself to become noticed by Playboy, no doubt achieving a life's dream. Should instead she be thanking Southwest for helping raise her profile...? 5. Kyla was quoted as being 'traumatized' by the Southwest event. To quote The American Heritage Dictionary: "Trauma - An emotional wound or shock that creates substantial, lasting damage to the psychological development of a person, often leading to neurosis." I believe Kyla's myspace page and her Playboy shoot may provide adequate indication as to her personality/psychological state both before and after the case with Southwest. I'd personally like to thank Southwest for the years of trouble free, and even pleasant flying I've had the fortune of undertaking. When I need to get to A to B, it does the job. The most unpleasant part of flying is typically the other inconsiderate and ignorant passengers. They exist on all airlines, but headphones usually sort that issue out.
Bill4
Explorer C
Aparently you still don't get it. I have seen the photos of what she was wearing and not yet seen an explanation of WHY someone took it on themselves to make up rules on the spot. This was not attire that would get a second look from most people. Maybe you should compare it with some of your past uniforms. www.businesstravellogue.com/accommodation/southwest-airlines-dress-code.html If you have a Muslim employee, can they kick off any woman without a head covering? Once you have taken people's money, changing the rules doesn't work. If you say you don't have a dress code, then you have to accept anything that will not get people arrested. If you want a dress code, just state it. Then you are covered. Then to add additional insult to this you create a sleazy ad campaign built around double entendres.