The removal of airline passengers over crop tops spotlights a debate on dress code enforcement aboard aircrafts.
But was the story as simple as the two women suggested?
At a Glance
- Two women were removed from Spirit Airlines for wearing crop tops.
- The incident sparked discussions about biases in airline dress code policies.
- Critics are concerned about the balance between personal rights and corporate regulations.
- The airline is investigating the situation and has contacted the affected passengers.
The Incident Details
Two travelers, Tara Kehidi and Teresa Araujo were removed from a Spirit Airlines flight for wearing crop tops after initially donning sweaters, which they removed due to a malfunctioning air conditioning system. The conflict arose when a male flight attendant approached them, instructing them to cover up. Upon questioning about the dress code policy, they were unable to see any formal guidelines detailing the restrictions on in-flight attire.
This incident took place on a flight from Los Angeles bound for New Orleans. Spirit Airlines cited its “Contract of Carriage,” which includes guidelines for clothing standards, as justification for their removal. This policy reportedly permits refusing boarding to passengers deemed “inadequately clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive.”
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Passenger and Public Reactions
Another passenger, Carla Hager, also in a crop top, joined in support of the women standing up to what they considered sexist enforcement. She removed her sweater to make her point about inconsistencies in the application of Spirit Airline’s dress code policy and as a result, was also removed from the flight along with her toddler. Kehidi and Araujo ultimately rebooked their journey, incurring additional expenses with Delta Airlines, as they were left without a refund from Spirit Airlines.
“I said ‘well, if your body is inappropriate, then so is mine because I also have a crop top under my sweater,'” the woman said.
Kehidi and Araujo, who were celebrating Kehidi’s 30th birthday, are considering legal action against Spirit Airlines, drawing increased attention and criticism toward Spirit’s enforcement policies and history of similar incidents.
Were these two young women asking for all this attention? It almost seems like it…