You go Southwest!!!
Her outfit is definitely not appropriate for a family airline. The crotch shot just proves that the skirt is too short! I'm sure that the other passengers were getting quite a show!!!

I will fly Southwest every time I can!

IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP FOR THE SO VERY FEW OF US WHO STILL BELIEVE IN MODESTY!!! Let her sue- she just wants money.

The easy answer is to sue the hell out of Southwest. Additionally, I would name the individual employee in the suit.

Really I have never flown Southwest and believe me there are so many other carrier why bother. These people are crazy and for the company to back this employee who is clearly a moron, it shows you what you are dealing with at the corporate level.

The solutions have the 96 million people who fly this low class airline stop, trust me when this happens they will certainly remember to treat the customer with respect.

If it had been me the story would have been about how a passenger was arrested for kicking a flying waiterÃ

I sold all of my LUV stock this morning. "LUV".....how ironic.

Look, Southwest Airlines... you royally screwed up on this one. In no way should you be in the business of deciding what is appropriate clothing for your paying customers. We pay and you fly the plane. If you can't get this basic sales relationship and you're place in it then we're going to have to penalize you by taking our business elsewhere.

If I had some Southwest Airlines stock I'm sure I'd have sold it today...

There were a lot of different ways to handle this situation. On an airplane like Southwest's there's very little harm she's going to flash anyone and were that really the main concern simply asking her politely to cover her lap with a blanket would've been more appropriate that taking her off the plane and humiliating her.

I am another customer you've lost over this. The absolute lack of appropriate treatment on the part of your CSR and the juvenille way you're trying to vindicate your company makes me sincerely hope that the government stops propping airlines with poor customer service and you can go under like you should.

I fly alot,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and I will NEVER fly southwest again................
Your idiot who gave that girl all that heartache over her clothes is A DOPE.
Gee whiz I can't believe that guy/gal who did this............FIRE HIM/HER

Ok now its started.. How about removing the Loud, Overweight,People that get on a restricted area and apparently have never used Deodrant??? Some of the flight attendants on SW in the past had a terrible body odor and gave the impression (Its All about Them ) Wake up SW your no angel by any means. Take into consideration all the times you people block the aisles.
Wonder if Greyhound has a dress code>

SW needs to hire competent, thinking supervisors. Who would want to fly with management that has their prioities mixed with personal issues? No thanks!!

Why is it anyone's business how someone dresses. We all have parts people! Every person who is not absolutly disgusted by SouthWest should move to Iran where they would be right at home.

Southwest, your treatment of Miss Kyla Ebbert leaves me disgusted. You need to apologize to Miss Ebbert, remunerate her for her stress and embarrassment, and apologize to your entire customer base and if you don't do it quick, I'm finding another airline to book with. Talk about offensive: that is exactly what you are. Used to be I thought you picked employees for being people persons; obviously things have changed! Now it's Witchhunt Airlines! If your passengers have to be careful about wearing clothes outside what one of your employees considers to be the norm, does this mean your customers also have to be careful what they say, how they sit, what they read? If I bring an FHM magazine on board, am I bait for being booted? Where do you draw the line? No shorts for men? Is there a line? Or is it up to the whim of each flight's crew?

In your customer Service Commitment you state.

Foremost we want you to know that it is never our wish to inconvenice our valued customer.

Have to say you failed with this situation SouthWest.

USS BLOG BOY.....finally, a familiar face on this blog!! I read the SWA blog daily, and typically it's all in good fun. Where did all these people come from? Ironically, I interviewed for a CSA job with SWA earlier this week. I feel that this whole situation has been blown WAY out of proportion, especially seeing that it happened over two months ago and is only now gaining national attention. Now more than ever, I'm hoping to be offered a position with this company as it obviously supports its employees even in difficult times. If I'm not lucky enough to become an employee, I'll still continue to fly this airline as they are simply the best in the business.

THANK YOU SWA for taking a stand against inappropriate dress!! We are 20 year veterans of flying SWA....and LOVE IT!! We took 4 of our grandchildren (ages 8, 10 and 12) on a cross-country flight on SWA last month. I would not have wanted them to have been exposed to this kind of dress. The SWA crew were absolutely the best...which is usually the case with SWA, all our flights were on time, two were early and all our luggage arrived intact. The courtesy and "family airline" atmosphere is what brings us back to SWA time and again. We applaud you and urge you to keep your standards high.

What's next? If a custumer is offened by a gay person will SW ask them to leave? What about a minority? My husband is much older than I; I am afraid to fly SW because I know people have a problem with us and I wouldn't want to get thrown off the plane. I typically complain about the tort system, but I hope she sues SW into bankruptcy. Those who think others should dress, think and live like they do represent the worst of society.

Yea, Southwest! :) She is dressed inappropriately. Perhaps next time, she'll (hopefully) dress in more appropriate clothes. Maybe she's learned her lesson.

I LUV SWA! :)

Come on people! Open your eyes and take another GOOD look.
This girl has on a skirt that is pulled down so low that the TOP of the skirt is probably 5 inches down below her belly button. Even at that, it looks like her ass will be sticking out should she bend over in any way. Even with her skirt pulled down as low as it can be, she still was unable to keep from flashing the national audience. (Yes, did you miss that? She FLASHED you!) Now remember... THIS is most probably the position of the skirt after she was confronted by the Southwest employee. She said "I pulled her skirt down as far as I possibly could." (That skirt can't be pulled down any lower or it will fall off her!) AND, she was then allowed to fly!
Southwest, I TOTALLY support you. If someone dresses like a streetwalker, it IS inappropriate. Southwest should reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. And, they SHOULD have refused to serve the streetwalker and expose their customers to such.
I applaud Southwest Airlines and the customer service rep. that had the guts to stand up and say this girl was inappropriate.

I can't believe I read all of the comments so far but I did and the gent and his comments below are by far the most intelligent post of the many on here: I fully agree with everything he said, especially #5 on his list.

I am so disappointed in Southwest, and Southwest's management, over this issue which has turned into a well publicized fiasco worldwide. Doesn't Southwest have enough other normal operational problems going on, like finding ways to increase their revenue and getting their flights out on time, than to allow some of their boneheaded employees to screw with the customers that they do have?

If other Southwest employees think that their "Keith" was right in this situation then they can fully expect us paying customers, if we ever fly Southwest again (I won't unless they are by far the cheapest on the route), to treat them like crap like Southwest treated this customer. My always courteous, cooperative and polite behavior towards them, despite some attitudes by some of them, in the past is now extinct.

Hugh J.
PO'd FLL and PBI customer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best post on here so far:

Notice that 99% of posters here that actually support SWAÃ

This is an isolated and BIZARRE incident. I think it reflects on the flight attendant making a stupid move. However it does not reflect on Southwest the airline in general. I think 99.9% of the flight attendants would not have done this. Southwest in my opinion is still the leader of America's airlines and I will continue flying them for all the great things they offer.

Sorry SWA, you blew it big time in allowing this moron to remain employed. She was dressed like the majority of young attractive college kids. You could see nothing untoward. I and my employees have flown SWA for years on both business and pleasure. No more. You've lost my business. And guess what? I dress in a suit and carry a briefcase.

I was surprised yet appreciative Southwest rebuked this young woman for the way she was dressed. After all, are there not laws about indecent exposure? By the way she was dressed I would assume she was for hire and as of now I know that is against the law!! Thanks Southwest!! I only pray other public places will follow your leadership!!!!

It is appalling to our freedom that Southwest has chosen to become the moral police of the skies. If this woman could walk through the airport terminal and everywhere else dressed like that, there is absolutely no reason to complain about it on the plane.

And to those people who mention "flashing", there is NO WAY anyone can flash anyone in airplane seats. The only thing in front of her is the back of the next row's seats.

I want to see Southwest pull off smelly people, people with disgusting feet that take their shoes off, women with disgusting perfume, fat people who disturb the person next to them, tall people who lean back too far...get the picture....

It is unbelievable that you would have the audacity to take a young woman off the plane because some fool objected....if an employee made the decision, he or she should be fired on the spot. Southwest should apologize immediately..i hope the woman sues..she will win big.....

The correct course of action if a flyer complained was do not look or get off and find another plane.....

Incredibly stupid....I hope your pilots are smarter...

Customer comes first, customer service, these are becoming lost in todays world.

Maybe Southwest would like to require their customers to wear uniforms. Then nobody would have to guess how one of your employees is going to react. I, for one, have tired of the heavy handed tactics by the airlines. I already refuse to fly one airline for having left me and others out on the tarmac in the hot sun for several hours, now I will refuse to fly your airline, until you have the decency to apologize. I don't want anybody fired, just an apology to this individual and some counseling for the flight attendants.

You guys blew it bigtime on this one! If you had any sense of damage control you would apologize to her and fire Keith. As it is I hope she sues you and collects bigtime. I know if I were on the jury, a number with six or more zeros would be appropriate. Maybe then you would get the message.

I made a huge mistake and said that if Southwest Airlines, aka Witchhunt Airlines, doesn't apologize quick, I'm finding another carrier. Well, Miss Ebbert's flight was back in July! And the result of a review by a Southwest corporate office: a reply to Miss Ebbert's mother insinuating that her daughter's dress was *lewd* (Southwest: to paraphrase Senator Lloyd Bentsen, I know lewd; lewd was my friend; Miss Ebbert's dress was no lewd dress). As of now Southwest will be my LAST airline of choice. But there's a silver lining to every cloud. The straitlaced, the stodgy, and the simple can have Southwest; you know where the bubbly, bonny, and bright will be: anywhere else!

Thank you, Southwest, for standing up for decency. Ms. Ebert dresses the way she does to attract attention. Just because the attention she got this time was "negative," too bad. (Even her mother has been quoted to say her daughter sresses "provocatively") . Well, she provoked someone, all right!
I'm certain she flashed her privates to everyone when she sat down. That skirt is way too short. Thank you for sticking up for modesty and family values.
She may have been "humiliated," but seriously, does she consider the humiliation she causes in others who have get eyefuls of her personal "assets?"

This is a no win for SWA, but watching the video and seeing Kyla cross her legs and her underwear or some tights showing is a little revealing. Kinda stimulating, but appropriate, I not so sure. I feel sorry for SWA, but I think they were addressing a customer complaint, a justifiable one.

Well, thanks for adding to my list of airlines I refuse to fly. I admit the longer the Bush administration is in office I am less and less able to stomach watching or reading the news, so I may have missed Congress finally repealing what is left of the Bill of Rights. But the last time I checked, the young woman in question was fully within her rights to wear the clothing she did, regardless of whether many of us consider it in poor taste (as I do). If Southwest Airlines is going to support its employees forcing their own personal morals on their customers in an arbitrary manner, then I will not be one of those customers, since there is no telling what some random Southwest employee may choose to lecture me about on my next flight. If Southwest wants to be the airline of the religious right, then they should at least publish and uniformly enforce their policies so those of us who do not wish to be subjected to them can avoid them.

For those of you who support Southwest's behavior in this matter, watch your back because tomorrow someone may be infringing upon your rights in the name of "common decency".

There are many comments left on this page putting Southwest down, however, I would just like to point out the fact that it doesn't mean anything. Anyone who has studied customer service and such knows that negative feedback is easier to obtain than is positive because left than 5% of those who feel positive ever really leave the feedback. Especially on blogs! I just wanted to make that clear.

BRAVO Southwest! Her skirt was too short. If when you stand up you have to PULL your skirt down then it probably is a good sign that it is too short. Watching her on the show, I thought I saw too much when she sat down. Her butt looked like it was going to fall out at any moment. A women might smooth out a skirt when she stands up but if she literally has to yank on the bottom of the skirt to make it come down...well dear I think it is too short. As a mother I wouldn't want my child to see that, nor would I want to sit through a flight as everyone stared at her. I do believe though that if a company is going to tell customers what they can and can't wear then you must be consistent, they must be equal to men and women, and they better have some type of guidelines written. If not then that company may have problems justifying a situation such as what happened with this "girl".

I watched the Today show interview. Hooray for Southwest! Thank you for standing up for the rest of the passengers on that flight. Stop flying with Southwest? Not me! I applaud the way you operate your airlines. This young lady and her mother can try to find another airlines out there that will cater to their behavior. I just flew Southwest from San Diego this month and I would have cheered for the CSR if that had happened on my flight. Don't the folks that own the airlines get to call the shots? It was obvious that the family was looking for dollars and they hoped crying on the TV would help their case.

The decision by SWA on this matter was absolutely ridiculous. The woman was wearing perfectly acceptable clothing, ESPECIALLY for a destination in AZ. Your own representative said that a bikini top was acceptable. I am not sure why she was singled out, if it was a passenger complaint or a problem by the male representative, but it was totally out of line. Since there was nothing wrong with her attire, I could only assume that you were discriminating against her because she was an attractive woman. In that case, I will not be booking future flights on SWA.

I've been a loyal Southwest customer for a lot of years. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way that girl's dressed. Furthermore, as someone who's flown on your flights into Vegas plenty of times, I routinely see women dressed far less modestly than her. No one seems to object to them (nor, for that matter, do I) but if this girl's skirt was a problem plenty of the ones I've seen should have provoked a crisis. Your people were wrong on this, and you're compounding the PR problem by not apologizing and pledging to handle such situations differently in the future. Frankly, I'm disappointed because I normally think quite highly of your company. Hopefully you'll see your error soon and acknowledge it.

I find it funny that Southwest is trying to take some moral high ground when they aren't even capable of treating people, and PAYING CUSTOMERS, decently.

The woman's clothing was none of Southwest's business. It was an arbitrary decision. I've had to endure some really annoying people sitting next to me on flights, but I never thought I was so important that I could get them kicked off of their flight. Other passengers paid to be on the flight just like I did.

I don't have to like them or approve of their clothing. I don't have to like their screaming children, but I would never demand that they get kicked off of a flight because they irritate my sensibilities.

I can't believe Southwest has not issued an apology.

If she sues, she will win, and she should.

Her outfit is the standard style for the times. Why is now an employee making policy decisions on the fly, based on his/her moral beliefs, in the absence of a dress code? A dress code that restricts attire beyond the acceptable social level?

Southwest has not apologized to her, or its customers, which makes me believe that this type of employee behavior is acceptable to Management. It is shocking that a Company like Southwest would allow its employees' moral choices affect how its customers are treated.

I KNOW I will never use your airline again. I hope you have to pay $100,000,000 in damages to her. Your actions were not proper. I can not believe this happened in the USA. Sad conduct on the airline part.

Here's the thing, opinions are opinions and everyone has them. As and airline however you have NO RIGHT to tell your customers how to dress or to take them off of a plane and lecture them or publicly humiliate them.
I don't think that I can ever fly with this airline again.
Even if someone else had a problem with what the girl was wearing it was their choice to tell her, not a representative of the airline who should have stayed neutral. They were both paying customers. It doesn't matter if she showed up in a bikini and heels, she has the right to dress however she chooses. If you don't like it then you don't have to look. And you ALWAYS remember that while it may not be the choice that you would make, you certainly enjoy having the right to choose.
At this point I would rather pay a higher price to avoid flying with an airline who has no respect for women, for their customers, or for themselves.
I hope that this costs SWA a ton of money. I hope that they do the right thing and apologize. But in the mean time I will be encouraging my friends, my family, my business associates and everyone else in my life to take a stand and fly with an airline who knows that respecting their customers comes first.
I can't believe how disapointed I am with SWA.

As a stock holder in southwest I am displeased that the company has taken it upon itself to start dictating what is or is not ok to wear. She already has parents and don't need any more. The young lady was not indecent, her clothing was keeping with current trends for that age group. Her clothes were not illegal. She paid her ticket price like any other air traveler which should be all Southwest needed to concern itself with.
If things continue as they are Southwest will be one stock holder less!!

What your flight attendant did was wrong and should not be tolerated. sw should be ashamed. Any child allowed to watch tv would see alot more than that.

Good one southwest! You just lost about half of your business. I hope the girl you kicked off the plane sues the crap out of you!

HEY!!! Here's an idea.......

Fellas,

Just show up wearing a sock. Just one. Where you place it is up to you. I mean, it does cover everything right? Since everyone is bashing Southwest for being the "fashion police, that should conform to your standards, right? You can wear that on the street and not get stopped right? Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Ladies,

A thong and pasties would be appropriate attire. After all, you ARE covered. Heaven forbid that someone should infringe on your right to express yourself. You'd want your teenage son to look at that and have your daughter dress like that as well, right?

See how ridiculous that sounds when you put it that way?

Jedi Blog Master

Hope you get your asses sued off. This was totally out of line. I can guarantee that your airlines has been put on my no fly list.

Guess there will be no mile high club on SWA?
GO UNITED!!!!!!!!

After this dress code thing, I will no longer continue to be a repeat customer on any southwest flight again, since someone may decide to discriminate against me and have me change. Unbelievable....is all I can say. I am going to take my business to American Airlines or United and pay more but not have to worry if I may be booted off a flight for how I am dressed. Now who even complained about it anyway...Was it a passenger or maybe some frumpy jealous flight attendant. Other airlines should benefit from this idiot who complained. I know that I WILL GO ELSEWHERE WITH MY BUSINESS.

After this dress code thing, I will no longer continue to be a repeat customer on any southwest flight again, since someone may decide to discriminate against me and have me change. Unbelievable....is all I can say. I am going to take my business to American Airlines or United and pay more but not have to worry if I may be booted off a flight for how I am dressed. Now who even complained about it anyway...Was it a passenger or maybe some frumpy jealous flight attendant. Other airlines should benefit from this idiot who complained. I know that I WILL GO ELSEWHERE WITH MY BUSINESS. Thanks.

Dana

To whom it may concern,

Unbelievable. This is what comes to mind when I heard this story and read all sides. The correct thing to do is to immediately fire the employee and compensate the customer. Since there is no stated policy of what is considered proper dress and behavior, anyone can be treated disrespecfully by some bonehead employee who obviously had a bad day.

You can actually handle issues like this in a respectful, correct fashion. I don't need any clown who is having a bad day all of the sudden arbitrarily makes a decency and morality decision, based upon scant evidence and no official policy humiliating me or my family.

I find it inconceivable that Southwest continues to defend this indefensible behavior. Stop being ridiculous and do what is right. Fire the employee immediately and make it right with the passenger.

I personally want to THANK Southwest Airlines for upholding to a family friendly flight environment. I saw what Kyla Ebbert was wearing and have to say it looked very slutty. Yes, it was better than Brittany and a few other celebs but maybe we need to rethink what is appropriate and not let them guide the rules for us.
I also took a look at the Fox4news poll...and I stand with the 62% out of 1476 votes carrying the stance that she didn't need to choose such attire for the public.
I am proud to support Southwest Airlines now and will continue in the future. I believe the airline to be a wonderful way to travel. A family member of mine worked for Southwest for a number of years and loved the service and atmosphere. She appreciated also how Southwest treated their employees.

WAY TO GO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!

Really, what a waste of time and resources! I used to have a very favorable opinion of SWA, but no longer. They used to be the airline with a sense of humor?? WTF? Ever watch "AIrline"? They routinely deny boarding to persons they "in their opinion" appear to have had too much alcohol. Maybe that's a good thing, but before I fly, I'm nervous, and have a few drinks. That doesn't make me unruly, it makes me able to get on the plane...but there are those who get out of hand with too much booze.
However, this girl wasn't drunk, and her outfit isn't anything we don't see on a daily basis!
Get over yourselves, and concentrate on real threats like Islamic terrorists and checking the cargo that could blow up the plane!!

Great Job Southwest! I cannot tell you how pleased I am with your decision to ask the young exhibitionist to cover up a little. It is so sad that the poor SW employee was put in the position to have to say something. Not all of the public is out to get a peep show when we hop on a flight, if we were all did Hooters airline would have faired better.
Thank again for stepping up, I hope this causes you to put it in writing for those whom actually have no decency, or a parent to teach them some, it might help to have some guidelines.

HELLO People she was not kicked off, bumped off, escorted off the flight she was asked to cover up a little! SHE is the one that asked for the blanket, her choice.
If she was so embarrassed by the few people whom figured out what was going on why is she on EVERY news program???? Because SW called them? I think not!! It's because she wants SWA to buy her a new wardrobe, that's why! (I hope they get her a longer skirt.)
She is just desperate for attention and wants her 15 minutes of fame, next week she will be clubbing with Paris!

Dear Southwest,

My comments are addressed specifically to you. No one else.

Please remember that for every "customer" that claims they will "never fly you again" there will be one that will begin to fly with you because you had the decency and courage to do what every corporate culture needs--enforce a standard. You did the right thing and you can expect almost no one on these types of blogs to support you. But that's OK. You don't work to please them. You work to please your shareholders.

And your shareholders are very, very pleased with you tonight. Please take my word for it.

We appreciate the fact that you are not vehemently defending yourself publicly for that would be unnecessarily silly. A defense of decency and standards is not needed among decent people.

Congratulations for taking a step to protect my children...and my airline.

According to Google's cached data, this lady's MySpace page listed Hugh Heffner (sic) at the front of the list of people she'd like to meet !!!!!

Milking this event for all the publicity possible would almost certainly improve her chances of realizing that dream and more. Therefore one would be wise to reserve judgment rather than treat her account of events as gospel without hearing what the front-line employees have to say.

Southwest, it's time to tell us what your front-line employees know. This lady has IMHO waived any reasonable claim to privacy to the extent that her story incorrectly maligns Southwest.

I'm just a customer, but IMHO failing to defend your front-line employees robustly in the court of public opinion is a disservice to ALL of your fine employees. You claim to put employees first. Now is the time to show that you mean it.

The treatment of the customer by SW is unacceptable, abusive and degrading; her outfit was, albeit liberal, but certainly not inappropriate to warrant this humiliation. Since when do the airlines and single conservative customer determine the dress code? AS evident by the reactions here, SW clearly overstepped the appropriate boundaries and insulted their customer. This is outrageous.

I've been a loyal Southwest customer for over 15years and it's time to change airlines. For the most part the collection of nerds....er.... I mean flight attendents and their cornball jokes are easy to tune out. The problems started about 3 or 4 flights ago and has continued on each flight since; the flight attendents are counting the number of drinks that I have and they make a point of commenting on after my second drink by saying something like "you've had two already" . Now the airline has the gall to single out a young lady for the way she is dressed and remove her from the plane. I hope she sucessfully sues southwest out of business.

I am often offended by the slogans and pictures on t-shirts of male passengers but have yet to witness anything of this degree happening to them. what is the difference in this situation? i think she was treated very unfairly. I am also tired of seeing passengers "sagging" their pants so low that their underwear hangs out. Again, i have yet to see them asked to change their attire. I don't agree with the actions southwest took. I don't find her outfit offensive at all.

Shame on Southwest. You owe this girl, your customer, an appology. Everything was covered. She need not appologize to anyone for having an attractive figure. Yes, I do believe there should be some criteria that give you the right to refuse service.....such as health and safety considerations. But if you find it acceptable to consider this girl offensive, then we are all subject to similar criticism and discrimination. Perhaps if you focused on what really matters, you might have a better on-time record.

You blew it. She's gonna sue and you deserve it. I for one will NOT fly on your airline until you offer her an apology. The statement your company released is self serving, and falls just short of insulting.

You've already lost in the court of public opinion.

Apologize NOW... before you do any more damage to your company!!!

This is all news to me. I was not aware. When did Southwest start flying out of Tehran?

Thanks Southwest Airlines for keeping your planes family friendly. When my mother had a restaurant she always enforced a dress and behaviour code. I still laugh about the time she hung a shirt over the back of a chair to hide a large motorcyclist posterior which showed when he sat down. She welcomed anyone as long as they behaved.

Let's use a little common sense here.

I seriously doubt the FA was the one who talked to the woman, or even made the final decision to talk to her. That would be the responsibility of the Customer Service Agent or Supervisor.

FAs and CSAs see lots of cleavage and short skirts, so there had to have been something "different" about this case to make it worthy of any attention at all.

What could have been different about this situation ... come on now ... you already know deep-down what it is, and most of you are ignoring it because it does not fit your bias in the situation.

My choice? Any airline except SWA. I choose what to wear not SWA.

First, I want to commend Southwest for posting about this situation and letting all of us post our comments, good and bad. I don't know a lot of companies who would allow this kind of dialog on an official company blog.

Second, do I think the flight attendant went too far? Yes. I've seen people wearing much worse on flights. But that's the problem with rules about "approrpriate" dress. It can be way too subjective and interpreted hundreds of different ways, which causes problems with consistency of policy. I wouldn't have had a problem with the outfit, but maybe my mother would have.

Third, was her treatment horrible enough for me to say I'll never fly Southwest again? Certainly not. They get me from point A to point B pretty much on time and at a great fare, especially if I've snagged a DING! fare.

And I have to question what Miss Ebbert's untimate goal is. I mean, why did she feel the need to go on the Today Show -- with a lawyer? Is this really such an egregious error on Southwest's part that deserves legal action? I think not. She's had her 15 minutes of fame -- it's time to move on.

bad airline

I cannot believe the NAZI tactics your employees use...they have power so they ABUSE it! I will never fly Southwest again!

I was outraged to read about SouthwestÃ

How humiliating for that young woman. And to be lectured to on top of it, unforgiveable. I hope to God you have the good sense to fire at least the arrogant nit-wit that felt it necessary to deliver that last indignity.
I'm going pray tonight that I find myself on that jury so that your apology can be delivered in VERY expensive terms.

I agree with the rest of the world-- this CSR's actions were unjustified. I would recommend that Southwest be very careful about who they hire in the future.

Good for Southwest Airlines for taking a stand. It's obvious the pictures the media is of Kyla "now" are after she re-dressed herself. Her skirt is the kind that one can "adjust the length" and the pictures are after she covered her cleavage. This is a public decency matter and no other paying customers should have to be embarressed by this woman revealing her private parts - or even giving a sneak peak. She should know better and it's her fault for not using good decision in the first place.

Good for you Southwest Airlines!!!

I hope you get sued. This is ridiculous. She was covering everything necessary. Thanks Southwest, now you have definitely made up my mind to not fly your airline ever again.......There are greater concerns in this world, that someone dressed with a short skirt.
I believe she is owed an apology and the holier than thou person that made the decision to give her a sermon on proper attire, should be FIRED. How dare they judge someone other than themselves....

I personally see nothing wrong with her outfit. SWA needs to pay more attention to lost luggage instead of girls mini-skirts. I will be switching to AA for all my future business and personal flights. As will all my employees. SWA should take notice, the people commenting on here are a very small percentage. Imagine how much business you are losing over your stance on this matter.

I think, maybe, if I had started to listen to that personal lecture on morality from that self-righteous flight attendant I would have slapped her silly, if I was female, or punched him in the face, hard, if male, as I am. It probably would have got me arrested on an assault charge, and I think it would have been worth it. Of course, I will never, unless I have absolutely no choice at all, fly Southwest ever again. I saw the pic of the young lady - she was stylishly dressed for a summer day. Her clothing was legal on the street at the point of departure and at the point of landing. Where, how, on what basis do you or your employees suddenly become morals police and fashion critics? I heard on TV show a lawyer say that he thought Southwest was way out-of-line and wrong, but gave it as his legal opinion a lawsuit would not succeed. That really is too bad. The only thing that will make a real impact is to successfully sue Southwest, and the employee personally, and the "old lady", whomever it was, who complained - again personal lawsuit. I cannot understand why she can't sue for humiliation and so on. I hope Southwest loses millions in lost customers. What is more, if you are such an all-fired "family values" airline, whatever the heck that actually means, then say so - label yourselves as such, and tell all customers they must pass a "proper attire, dress code" inspection before boarding. The employee thing is more difficult. On the one hand, he or she should be fired. On the other hand, wrong as wrong can be, I can see why you might want to stand behind the employee. I hope it costs you, heavily, to do so.

What is proper attire for Southwest Airlines, a burka? Are we now to have the "morality police" doing the rounds?

I have no idea what the employees at Southwest were thinking... What is next? Southwest issuing each of the passengers a uniform?

Southwest should fire the employee or employees responsible for making such a ridiculous decision... That might be an appropriate response. Obviously those employees cannot be trusted to be thinking clearly.

Many shorter skirts may reveal a "croch shot" if one is sitting on a chair with a camera aimed at around knee level! She was in a plane seat, for heaven's sake! To get a crotch shot one would need to bend over and walk toward her on the aisle with eyes around 3-4 feet over the floor, assuming she was in an aisle seat!
Good heavens! If the clothing is street legal, then the airline, as such, can have and should have no comment. I hope she sues them for their back teeth!

Saw her on the today show.... the outfit was extremely inappropriate and she knows it. I also watched the video online as she flashed the audience. For some reason I'm reminded of Sharon Stone but for the life of me I don't know why.

Keep up the good work.

I stand behind the decision of the Customer Service Rep. and behind that of Southwest Airlines. At first I didn't think anything about her skirt, but after seeing a couple different pictures of it and reading some of the articles it is clear she had a skirt on that was not appropriate for the situation. If it were me (Customer Service Rep.), I would have most likely done the same thing. It's an "executive decision" that had to be made and they did, in my opinion, the correct thing for the business and for the other customers on that flight.

i fly frequently and see outfits of varying types...p.j. bottoms and tiny tank tops,sport bras and short shorts, bras showing under see-through blouses....my philosophy is `don't look if it bothers you'...you should fly in what makes you comfortable (except total nudity of course

Kudos to you, Southwest. You are my favorite airline, and you always will be. Recently, I had to sit on a flight (not yours) and be subjected to crotch shots of two passengers who appeared to be imitating Paris Hilton. Every time they stood up or bent over, we were all given a free show of their g-strings. Sorry, but that isn't something I want to see on a two-hour flight over and over. This girl was wearing an outfit that was INTENDED to show off her underwear and breasts. Now, of course, she works at Hooters who promotes that attire, but then why not fly THEIR airline if she intends to dress that way? I am so sick of people passing judgment on companies that require some sense of respect. If this woman had a screaming child who couldn't be calmed, I am sure the decision would have been different because it couldn't be helped. Sorry, but if you dress like you want the world to see your underwear, you'll get just that. I love your airline, and I am so happy that you take this stance! I am sure more people will fly your airline than leave it because you have standards.

Thank you!

This treatment of one of your customers was deplorable. Plain and simple. Have you digressed to such prudishness that a woman can not show her legs on an airline flight? What's next a bhurka or full cover up for any young and beautiful female, because of so called "family values"? You know there is not a child on that flight that would have even noticed that outfit.

I thought for sure this was some sort of joke, when I read the news story. SWA should be ashamed of what their employee did and that employee should be reprimanded at the very least. I will not fly your airline again and I will not reccomend it to anyone. I live in one of your big markets but I'll gladly fly united, wear the length of my skirt is not tied to the value of my business.

At first, my reaction was shock and outrage against S.W.....however, looking at the photo of her sitting down and knowing that her skirt IS in fact pulled DOWN, per her words, perhaps the steward was not too hasty. If my child saw this woman with her skirt pulled UP higher than what her photo shows (which is pretty darn high) and which likely showed her underwear along with her very tight top (with out the sweater covering her) I think I would feel compelled to search for the right words to explain to my child about seeing this. I've changed my mind and challenge everyone to simply take another glance at this photo.

Thanks

The situation with the short skirt is an example of an employee or group of employees that for reasons of jealousy or just plain ignorance, crossed the line between airline standards and airline dictatorship. This move showed a lack of discernment and judgement. I travel very often and see all kinds of ill mannered people not to mention drunkards, and people with abhorrent hygiene. Is anything said to these people? Ok I can attest that I have seen an airline remove a drunk for obvious reasons, but a young girl with a short skirt? What threat did she pose to the airline, other than looking more appealing than the flight staff? Isn't the airline supposed to protect their passengers from the danger of terrorist or criminal activity? This is absolutely outrageous and just another example of a group of people who have taken their "power" a little too seriously. The American Government should step in here slap Southwest. They violated this woman's rights and caused her undue stress. Isn't the United States wonderful? Anyone can carry a pistol, but a young girl can't wear a mini-skirt onto a plane? Maybe we should ammend the constitution to include the right to bear short mini-skirts?

I am offended by SW's treatment of the passenger. There was no reason to embarrass and humiliate her. The person offended should have been offered the opportunity to change to another flight. I no longer "LUV "SW, they were in the wrong and should offer public apologies and reparations.

Since my last posting I've learned that SWA states on their ticket (contrary to what they said in TV interview) that they reserve the right to refuse any flight to anyone including based upon a person's dress (or undress). They then legally did have a right to put her off the airplane. Since they didn't, I don't know the status of something that might appear to be harassment. Also, there was a complaint by fellow passenger(s) before the incident.
As far as tolerance goes, in the 50 some years I've been a Christian, this nation has become more evil every decade. I believe that this nation will fall in judgment just like Rome did.

Please use this instead of my first post I made an error in my Hooters comment.

Thanks

Great Job SWA!!! Just please donÃ

I do think both men and women should address appropriately in public.
The young woman ultimalely was allowed to travel.

Bill

Great work Southwest for standing up for the morals that most of the country has dismissed!!! The attention seeking girl's skirt was too short. It was so disgusting to see her on the Today Show to pretend that there wasn't anything wrong with the outfit. She and her mother knew it was inappropriate. The Today Show knew it was inappropriate because they had to blur out the crotch area when she sat down! Who really cares if there is a Paris want to be!

Brian, you don't get it. she wasn't "asked to cover up" as you say. She was told she couldn't fly unless she changed her clothes. With the level of disempowerment that American passengers have undergone in the last five years, being told you 'can't fly' is a touchpoint only made worse when they've being called out for subjective moral reasons.

Your response on this blog is the most insensitive use of a corporate blog I've seen to date, and coming from the Manager of Customer Communications it shows me that Southwest is steadily losing its way. what had been a sincere positive attitude of caring about the customer and about the profession is quickly becoming a caricature of itself. I've been seeing Southwest employees 'acting cheerful' and 'putting on a face' because that's the company's image and that's their employee's role.

You know as well as I do that the situation could have been handled much better by working with the passenger to express the problem in more specific, actionable terms than 'you're dressed inappropriately' and that Keith the airline agent should have been working from the presumption that the passenger's time was just as valuable as another passenger's sensibilities.

Keith made a mistake by not thinking of a blanket sooner and should have only suggested (and not required) that the passenger take a later flight until all other avenues had been exhausted, but your actions in justifying Southwest's position by using your corporate blog to humiliate this passenger is inexcusable.

I've been an active Southwest customer for 15 years and at this point all I can say is that I'm glad that Virgin America is serving SFO, LAS and LAX, because it gives me an alternate airline filled with people who are sincerely eager to cater to their customers.

Kevin Fox

Thank you, Southwest, for the way you handled this - nice to see a corporation not be "Fearful" of stepping on a toe. We all know indecent exposure when we see it. If this girl was so embarrassed - why all the TV gigs?

Too Bad, Southwest. You blew it.
You used to be a fun airline and now you are a dumb airline. What will happen to your stock now? If Kyla had been wearing a G-string and Pasties, you would have had a leg to stand on but as one commentator said she was "street legal". You have no policy and you have no case! Glad I don't own your stock!

If everyone would step back and let the emotions cool, the situation would be hysterical. Everyone is concerned about clothing but why aren't the pilots and the stewardesses/stewards having breathalyzer tests and narcotic blood tests done prior to take-off? Do clothing make a safe flight or healthy functional staff?!

Get real people! Life is more precious than emotional trauma because of some "perceived" affront.

Well, we've certainly found a new controversy to focus on now, haven't we? Clearly the actions by one or two of Southwest's Employees in this situation were horribly inappropriate. There is no question that those involved should be summarily fired.

Moreover, I don't think a simple termination is sufficient to address the severity of their lapse in judgment. There is no good reason that I can imagine that should limit Southwest's management to just kicking these folks out the door. Being a firm believer that the punishment should fit the crime, I say that the person(s) who made this egregious error should be stripped down to a minimal amount of clothing, securely locked into a set of public stocks and then flogged mercilessly by anyone who wants to drive by and get in some exercise for their arm that only gets a workout when it is busy pointing out blame and faults in others.

But, since those one or two Employees serve in a global sense as representatives of the entire Company, then under the theory of "the buck stops here", I think all 34,000 Employees should be ridiculed in public stocks and every citizen of the United States, and definitely every person who has ever flown on Southwest, thought about flying on Southwest, heard of Southwest or even eaten any peanuts anywhere, should have the chance to pick up the whip of physical assault to go along with the intense verbal assaults already being voiced above.

However, if you think of it, even THAT is not enough retribution for the horrendous evil that has been perpetrated here. Obviously, EVERY Southwest Employee should then be fired as well, each of the half-of-a-thousand planes should be given away, and the corporate headquarters and all physical facilities and equipment should be given away or destroyed until any and all reminders of what "used to be a great company" are obliterated from our collective memories.

Does THAT make you happy?

Stop and think about the vindictiveness of the hundreds of responses above. One or two or even a handful out of 34,000 people did something that YOU think is wrong, and your reaction is off the Richter scale! I won't even count how many folks above said in one way or another, "I'll NEVER fly your airline again!" and how many accusations have been hurled that include racial, religious and intellectual slurs and insults.

Whether you agree or disagree with the basics of this story, consider a few things for a minute. First, how many of you enraged but now disenfranchised Customers know ALL of the facts of this situation? In my experience, many times only first-hand observers really know what happened. Second, how many of you trust the news media to report this story fully and fairly? Anyone who believes the media can be counted on to be wholly unbiased, especially following the built-up inner rage from the last year's worth of major abuses of passengers by airlines, is probably also sitting outside with Linus all night waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise from the pumpkin patch. Third, when weighed against inconveniencing passengers for as long as some people spend at their jobs each day, with eight hour delays stuck inside a plane, how is it that the quantity and spitefulness of reactions to this story is so proportionately out of balance?

It seems to me that, right or wrong, some Southwest Employees made a decision involving this one Customer. You can agree or disagree with that decision, but let me ask this -- how many of you who have a job have EVER made a mistake at work? Have you ever done something that might not have been the most prudent course of action? And if you've answered yes to those two questions, how ready would you have been at the time to have hundreds of people line up to call you vile names, insult your intelligence and threaten that they will never do business with your company again?

I've said this before and I'll say it again, the 34,000 Employees at Southwest are human, and I'm not aware of any human who is perfect and has never made a mistake. In my opinion, the reactions above would be similar to me having heard of a McDonald's employee in, let's say Miami, refuse to serve a Big Mac to someone in their store, and then me declaring, "well, I will NEVER AGAIN eat at ANY McDonald's in the world!!" Even if I had been the potential Big Mac connoisseur who was turned away, it would still be so grossly out of whack for me to castigate the entire company and its workforce!

Get a perspective, people! Good or bad, the decision was made, and if you feel so personally violated and offended that you will NEVER AGAIN patronize the low-fare leader who has a proven track record of spectacular treatment of its Customers, then you are proverbally cutting off your own nose to spite your face. I hope that your sensibilities are equally affronted by outrageous profit-taking by the big oil companies and that you will henceforth refuse to buy gasoline. I hope that the next call by a referee that you disagree with during the next football game you watch will provoke you to stop watching football. Oh, and the next time you see something on a television show that bothers you, I do hope you will allow your outrage to manifest itself to a point of declaring that you'll never again watch a TV show on that network.

Could we all just collectively stop, catch our breath and then go make a mountain out of a more important molehill?

Kim
External Blog Boy, who supports front-line Employees who are faced with difficult situations every day and who try to make the right choices :)

I'm pleased with Southwest's handling of this situation. Not many companies have the guts to stand up to women that dress inappropriately.

This was a cry for attention on this woman's part, and now she's not happy with the attention she got!

Thank you Southwest for making her cover up! You have another customer for life now.

The bottomline is this SWA has the right to refuse service to certain situations you pay for the ticket to get from point A to point B you don't own the aircraft. Look at stores that display NO shirt, NO shoes, NO service or restaurants/bars that say They have the right to refuse service! What if someone boarded the aircraft with an racy t-shirt with slogans or cuss words on it? I applaud Southwest its their airplane and authority to maintain the comfort of all customers! Just because you buy a ticket does not mean you own the airline! What if I went into Hooters where this young lady worked wearing something that drawed attention to me and away from the Hooters girls? KEEP IT UP SWA to me your the best airline in the USA!

THANK YOU SOUTHWEST! IT WAS COURAGEOUS TO STAND UP TO THE INDECENTLY CLAD WOMAN ON YOUR PLANE. THE TIGHT QUARTERS OF AN AIRPLANE REQUIRE ALL OF US TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OUR FELLOW PASSENGERS. THIS WOMAN OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T CARE WHO SHE OFFENDED WITH HER OUTFIT AND WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN ATTRACTING ATTENTION. WELL, SHE GOT BOTH, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE. SOME OF US SEE THIS FORM OF DRESS AS AN "IN YOUR FACE" CHALLENGE. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT SOMEONE TOOK THE CHALLENGE AND CALLED HER ON IT.

WE HAVE FLOWN A COLLECTIVE 17 TIMES WITH YOU THIS YEAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WAY TO GO SWA!!

I was originally upset at southwest when i heard what they had done, but then I saw the woman and her mother WITH THEIR LAWYER on the Today Show with Matt Lauer. I think it is important to remember two things. People Don't wear outfits like that if the don't want to be noticed!!!! she got the wrong attention... boo hoo for her. Second, as other posters have said if you watch the Today show you can see this woman in her outfit FLASH THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE when she sits down. So she cannot say that the skirt was not too short.
I think that the southwest people handled things correctly if someone brings a problem to their attention then they talk to the customer. Makes sense to me.
All these people who are complaining about southwest would be just as upset and throwing a fit if there was a news story about a passenger who complained about someone dressed this way, but the southwest employees didnt do anything. This is so Silly

I am from Canada. I recognize Americain attitude as usual, Southwest Airlines refuse to let in Kyla Ebberts??? .She should consider a legal action againts Southwest for the humiliation and discrimination... If it was Madonna I bet U one million $$$$ the compagny would let her in the aircraft without any comments. Also, Americans are he biggest porn consumer of the world on internet. So you are double-talk.You r againts the country 's with hijad (islam) and againts short skurts. Usa is a freedom country? It s really a joke. Canada is the best country of the world...

People have posted comments such as "I find it preposterous and a denial of 1st amendment rights." In my readings of the Consitution, I must have missed the part about one's right to dress in a skirt so short one can see what (if anything) she has on under it... The First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Perhaps some of these posters though it is "freedom of the DRESS," not "freedom of the PRESS"?

If anyone has seen "Airline," they would know that Southwest has spoken to passengers about things such as personal odor (and found them something else to wear so they could take the flight).

And the comments that this girl is beautiful? Really??? Even if she was, what does that have to do with the fact that other passengers have the right to an expectation of a flight without witnessing another's passenger's underwear or less than underwear? Or an expectation of not having to be the person who sat in her seat on the next flight without knowing they were sitting where her bare skin was? (and looking at her cached MySpace page and the friends there, I am wondering where her bare skin might have been)

And I doubt we can really portray Southwest as sexist or "misogynist". If a man tried to walk on the plane wearing the same outfit, especially with the skirt hiked up as high as we all know it really was, I'm thinking he would have been pulled aside as well. If males and females would receive the exact same treatment in the exact same circumstance, then the use of terms such as "sexist" or "misogynistIC" are inaccurate and inappropriate.

If this happened to "PrincessKyla" two months ago, why is this just now being brought to the forefront?

"IÃ

I have considered myself one of SWA's biggest fans and most likely I will consider to do so even though I believe SWA has made a thunderous public relations mess out of this. Check out the Southwest ad posted on youtube called "Southwest Airlines commercial circa 1972" from the 1970's and you tell me who made the bigger skirt faux pas. Sure, you may say times have changed but SWA themselves posts this exact same video on their own website. What hipocrisy! Come on SWA, you have apologized for less and this will only get worse if you keep skirting the issue.

Such hysteria over a woman feeling embarrassed. If only she felt equally embarrassed to wear clothing that required the Today show's producers to pixilate her nether-regions because she flashed the audience. Sorry if I don't rise to her defense as a ringing endorsement of equality and freedom. And small wonder our courts are clogged, when the first reaction of so many people is to sue because a private company, which you may choose to patronize or not, makes decisions that you don't like. Toughen up, honey, you wanted a reaction to your clothing and you got it.

As a photojournlist who travels thousands of miles a year (Im a Continental frequent flyer) I would NEVER fly Southwest for the despicably arbitrary dress code they hand out when coming in contact with a customer who just wanted to get from point A to point B. Ms. Ebbert didnt seem like much of a threat unless you were seriously worried about male passengers hearts racing (and probably some of the women) on board. What kind of pathetic moron would cast any kind of judgement on another like that? Whats next Southwest? No one allowed to board wearing Steve Madden shoes because they had SEC fraud charges against them? Maybe you should have a questionnaire you fill out when you buy your ticket on how you feel politically, are you pro-life? OK, you can fly with us... George Orwell would love you guys, keep up the good work!

Why stop at one-hour flights? For some of the people who left comments here in favor of Southwest's witch hunt, it seems what they would really like to see are clothing cops posted at every corner: in your favorite restaurant, at the mall, in your neighborhood.

I'll never fly South West again. Period. Bfore long you will have bath pools on each plane for those you seem to adair too !!! Your bankrupted in more ways than one.

Kim Wells,
It is no secret that this is a moderated blog. The reasons are outlined in our User's Guide up above on the right. The only reason a small number of comments haven't been posted. We haven't manipulated the comments, and I ask you to ask yourself how many companies would post this many negative comments in an effort to foster an open dialogue. Frankly, it's disappointing to know that you and some others find it impossible to believe that people may hold other opinions.
Brian

I am infuriated with this passenger and actually even more with her mother. How ridiculous to use the "Well, EVERYONE else this age dresses this way" excuse. Of course, the proper response would have been simply to proffer a blanket to this uneducated person and leave it at that; as an earliet commentor properly pointed out, better manners could have been used by both parties. I hope Southwest Airlines was listening to that young woman in that interview: She said all she wants is an apology - GIVE HER ONE BUT NOT A RED CENT. Oh, and have it on NBC too, so that the flight attendant gets some credit for being a brave man in a crazy world. I for one appreciate him and flight attendants in general who care for passengers safety at all levels while we are in their care.

What it boils down to is this, if Southwest has a dress code they need to provide it to there potential customers so they can make an informed decision as to there travel plans. Since they claim not to have a dress code, the incident should never have happened.
Had they made a simple apology to the young lady for the way she was treated, it would have been dropped.
I know Southwest has low fares but to think thatÃ

Women should have more self respect then to wear something that is going to show their crotch or the crack of their behind! I do not want to see it and no I am not jealous. Somethings are considered indecent and if I saw someones underwear or crotch because their skirt was to short that would be indecent to me. Honestly do you really think this girl didn't dress up a little for television?? I would love to hear from a passenger on the plane.
I will always fly SWA! It is ashame they have to ask a adult to "cover up" because they do not know how to dress decent!
Keep up the great job SWA! I think you took alot of heat from this that was NOT necessary!
WOMEN it is called self respect!

Very disapointed about Southwest on this one. I've been a loyal customer for years and "converted" many others to fly Southwest. Guess we will all have to watch how we "dress up" for Southwest.

Women in Burkas make me nervous. Do I have a right to express this fear to a Southwest Flight Attendant and have them removed.?

Why was the male flight attendant so fearful of a female that was covered up more than what you would see on any college campus or beach or city street? A sexual problem on the part of the FA, we don't know.

I've sat next to passengers on Southwest (and other Airlines) that had severe odor problems, I did not not complain for fear of embarrasing the passenger and myself. Perhaps your FA's need to learn some tolerance????

I'm from San Diego and I've always found Southwest to be a "fun" airline in the same manner that PSA used to be. And I've missed Airline since it was cancelled by A&E. I enjoyed watching some of the stupid things that people tried to get away with while flying...it made Southwest employees seem "real" to me.

While I will continue to fly Southwest, I am profoundly disappointed in how Southwest is handling this matter. While I acknowledge that the skirt was a little short for my taste, I see no logic in a Southwest asking this person to leave the airplane. While she may have flashes the TV audience, nobody has compared her to Britney Spears and it is a lot more difficult to flesh fellow passengers while sitting in the cramped seating of a 737.

I would like to know what prompted the decision and whether it was in response to a customer complaint or by the crew.

Family Airline?

With a special page devoted to gay and lesbian travel???? Where is your heterosexual page???

really dumb thing to do, guys, but I do like the fact you give the workers the power to, well, really goof up at times. People will make mistakes, but it they are trusted to make decisions, most of the time the decisions will be right or at least workable. I myself am much more concerned about getting timely information concerning flight delays and the like than with what my fellow passengers are wearing. When I am sitting at a gate at the time the plane is supposed to be leaving, and we're not boarding, and we've not been told why, THEN I'm concerned.

I have flown on SWA many, many times and have seen people dressed in all manner of getups. To my knowledge, SWA has never before been accused of victimizing anybody because of their attire. This leads me to believe, based on past behavior, that SWA probably did not suddenly become fashion police. i think it would behoove supposedly intelligent people to stop and ask for the full story before diving right into mob mentality.

This is what I wrote to CNN about their reporting of this non-news story:
The story about the former Hooters waitress and Southwest Airlines is the worst example of bona fide journalism your network has ever produced. I have a lot of questions about this piece, which gets repeated over and over.
1. When were the pictures of the young lady taken? Before the complaint about her attire, or more likely, after she'd told her story to somebody and had "adjusted" her clothing?
2. Who took those pictures?
3. What is the news value of this "story?"
4. Has it occurred to you that the news agencies are being used in an attempt to extort a great deal of money from SWA?
5. Has it occurred to any of you that her skirt might have been riding up as she walked and that there usually are children in airports?
6. Has it occurred to any of you that before the demur poses of the pictures you show the public, her tank top was actually down to the level of the "sweater" that was over it, which was pretty low?
7. Are you a news agency or a high school clique?

You should be embarrassed to air this piece of nonsense.

I and my family fly Southwest. A lot. And I will continue to fly them due to the low cost and reliable service. However, I think Southwest was way wrong here - and they compounded the error by not offering a written apology, which has lead to this national P.R. mess.

Bottom line: The Southwest employee who dragged her up to the front of the plane blew it, and then you blew it again by failing to apologize to her in your letter. You have no stated "dress code" and in today's society this PAYING CUSTOMER was not out of line. She obviously walked through the entire terminal and no police, TSA or any other airport authority stopped her for "public indecency". Dragging her up to the front of the plane "exposed" her outfit way more than if your employee had simply acted in a low-key, quiet manner to de-fuse whatever complaint existed right where Kyla (or the offended person) were sitting. In fact, on the return trip Kayla was COMPLIMENTED by one of YOUR EMPLOYEES !! How hypocritical can you get ?

Since when is it your job to be the arbitrary (remember...no dress code) "morality police" ?? If you are an alleged "family airline", maybe the drink coupons should be dropped too, so kids will not see customers getting drunk on your airplanes. You should have apologized to her and this would not be in the national spotlight. Nice job, Southwest "Manager of Customer Communication"

I think SA has screwed this up. If SA is indeed a family airline, then stop serving alcohol or unhealthy junk food. Hmmm...was is SA that asked a mother to get of the plane because of her what kid was saying? Maybe it's a trend for Stewards. The Air Police!
What this girl was wearing is typical for someone her age. This reminds me of the miniskirts back in the 60's. Back then, a lot of people used to say the same thing. Probably a lot of the complaints today wore the fashion of the day in the 60's (and 70's, 80's and 90'), especially the miniskirts, tube tops and bra less! Pastor Keith should back off until SA develops what I suspect will be coming soon, a dress code.
I do not like sitting next to a passenger who smells of smoke or perfume because they basically stink. I'm thinking maybe I can ask Keith & Co. to ask those passengers to go clean themselves up so their odour is not so offensive. Not. When I board a plane, I know to expect the unexpected, so I just go with the flow and just enjoy the flight. In just a couple of hours or so, it'll all be history anyway.
Let's worry about other, more important things, like did the mechanic really tighten all of the bolts, is the captain drunk, did my luggage make the same flight, or why does it take longer to taxi for take off than actually fly to our destination?

Also - just some food for thought, for the commenters supporting the customer service rep's handling of the situation, praising them for having "morals" and "standards" -- those are very subjective things. I have morals and standards, but they're probably quite different from yours. I guarantee you won't be happy if I hold you to them, and I hope you keep in mind your rubber-stamp approval of such behavior when someone treats you unfairly.

There was no cleavage, no panties showing. The girl has nice looking legs, so what was wrong. I work in a grocery store in the bible belt and I see women dressed more provocative than that. The the attendant needs to be suspended and should write a public apology to the young lady. I can tell by the reading the blogs that you will lose a lot more customers than you gain. The people I saw write good things were your infrequent travelers, not business people. If i was to reprimand one of my customers for what they were wearing I'd get fired!!!!!!!
You are in a customer service business, so make sure you teach your employees to respect the people they serve and not publicly condemn them. I hope the young lady sues you for everything and wins. You do not deserve to be in business!!

This incident gives you a new slogan for your airline:

Southwest: The Airline of the American Taliban.

You are neither arbiters of taste, nor morality. You are not a church. You are an airline.

What this incident has done is to emphasize the rift in American society that is caused by those who would return to America's puritanical roots and impose their beliefs and behaviors on everyone else, and those who actually live and espouse the founding values of this great nation as expressed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

We send our young men and women to die overseas so that people there can (supposedly) have some choice in the way they live and express their beliefs. There is no place here for those who would impose their own versions of morality on the rest of us. Your flight attendant is no better than those we are fighting in the middle east. For shame.

The steward or stewardess, oh excuse me........waitstaff, that thought it was their place to make a fashion police " arrest " probably need to get a life!!! I can't remember the last time I flew any airline where the " help " was actually any help. When did the airline industry and the FAA decide it was time to give addled brain women and men the authority to make our lives a living hell everytime we travel? I believe in everthing the TSA has had to do to make air travel safe for everyone, but this reaches the point of absurdity!!!!

Terrible damage control, SW. Instead of using this blog as a way of apologizing and saying, "Yeah, we screwed up," you use it to try and defend your mistake by saying, "Hey! Look! Someone else agrees with us!"

I've always thought that this blog was a perfect example of what a corporate blog should be. This post shows me that it's just about corporate spin after all.

I am not educated enough about the law, corporate policy, ticket disclaimers, and the like, to comment on the legality of this episode. I will, however, say that I will never, ever, ever fly Southwest or patronize any company under the same corporate umbrella.

This was a blunder of epic proportions. When you think it becomes your responsibility (or even right, I'm not sure what you think and won't opine) to regulate attire, that is the day that I choose to fly elsewhere. I have flown almost 200,000 miles on your airline in less than two years. This may seem disproportionate (again, I don't know), because of the number of cities you fly between, but it just so happens that my business travel fits with your existing routes.

Now I will spend that money elsewhere. It might be wise for you to consider how many fans you have won with this decision. I belittle no one, and don't intend that here, but if the occasional mother of three or Christian that nearly advocated beheading balances out the loss in fairs you are suffering I would be very surprised. (You can do the math, but I think the loss of my business alone is easily more than 20 times all of the positive comments thus far.)

And to those who have commented in support of this action, think hard about what you are saying. While I disagree, I won't argue about how you feel about someone you consider scantily (or even inappropriately, you choose your adjective) dressed. The question is, should an airline prevent you from flying because of your choice of clothing? Who makes these decisions? What if someone doesn't like the way you are dressed? It's easy to sit back in your chair and think, "that will never happen, because I don't dress THAT way." But you're missing the point. How do you know that someone else won't feel that way? What if a zealous fundamentalist were making decisions that day? For you pious commenters, consider this. There are religions with great numbers in their ranks that disapprove of seeing legs below the knee or arms below the elbow. That means you can't wear LONG shorts. There are religions in which women are not allowed to show anything but eyes and hands. What if that person were on the judgement button the day you fly?

Don't you see what a slippery slope this is? You have to stop and think and realize that you may not like something... you may HATE something... but do you want judgements being made against you based enirely on whim, and even someone else's opinion of morality? I repeat, you may consider yourself to be the most moral person you know, but there is another in this world who disagrees.

I would not have felt compelled to continue writing, beyond helping Mr. Lusk gauge the impact of this incident by reporting the loss of my business, if I wasn't so surprised and disappointed that anyone at all feels that Southwest did the correct thing. This is not based on dissenting opinion, as Mr. Lusk was correct to point out in the reply to Kim Wells above. I would have been completely fine with posts that vehemently scorned the passenger's choice of dress, but recognized that arbitrary decisions like this are incorrect.

Southwest, please publish examples of what we are, and are not, allowed to wear on your airline. Maybe you will reach the morally outraged and cotton lobbyists and carve out a nice little niche for yourself. Perhaps we can then enjoy flights on other airlines with a reduced fear of sitting next to another passenger who feels it is correct to bar travel because they "don't like" something about a customer.

A can of worms has been opened by this FA and if SWA is truly looking out for shareholders they will reprimand this employee and move on. If they continue to support this FA's bad judgement, they are looking at a fiasco much larger than Jetblues passenger/hostage debacle last winter which cost JB 100's of millions of dollars. BAD WEATHER GOES AWAY BAD DRESSERS NEVER WILL!

Ms. Barret fasten your seat belt, the management position at SWA will be facing some turbulence.

Thank you, Southwest, for taking a stand.

I applaud the actions of the Southwest employee who handled the situation.

As a mother, I am extremely grateful that your company took this issue seriously.

I am also the wife of a pilot who would tell you that, besides the immodesty of the outfit, this young woman was not appropriately addressed for an emergency evac.

People do not understand that an airline's standards of customer conduct are for safety. This was not a safety issue, but it is a reminder that airlines can and should draw the line many times. While you must provide customer satisfaction, customer safety and that of the crew is more important.

Southwest will be my first choice the next time I fly.

It is BEYOND ridiculous to compare this incident to what the Taliban does. There were no public floggings, and it wasn't her ANKLE that was showing, it was her CROTCH. Let's show a little intellectual rigor here and note the vast distinctions.

I say bravo, Southwest. I was your loyal customer before, but I really am now. This was a common sense decision, handled very well. I would expect that if a man boarded your plane with his genitals exposed that you would ask him to do the same thing. It's common decency, folks, not a matter of fashion or taste.

What next ? SW airlines is now the morality police? Sorry guys I won't fly you again back to Delta.

southwest ..
"straighten up and fly right"
apologize and make amends and quickly
from a longtime southwest fan
tracy packnett

Honestly who really decides who will become a flight attendent? Maybe they need to read the Company Mission Statement again. There is nothing in it about passengers dress code or code of conduct. However, there is a portion in it about customer satifaction with the airlines performance. Or maybe it's just that the fight attendant felt threatend by the passengers attire. Either way it's none of his business. Maybe some passengers get tired of gay men flight attendants or maybe that's pushing the issue a little too far. Never-the-less I will ensure never to book another flight at Sothwest Airlines and I will ensure that my employees flights will all be booked somewhere else also, reguardless of how much it cost. Actions not Words.

I am extremely disappointed with Southwest Airlines re the recent clothing issue. My family are regular Southwest customers, so consequently we have seen onboard many outfits much, much worse than this young woman's short skirt. Southwest just opened a new route to SFO which is attracting the nearby SFSU students. This should be interesting. . .

Donna - SRC - some of us have morals and steadfast beliefs which will not be wavered by a $20 airfare difference. There is in fact no circumstance where I will ever fly Southwest again - ever, unless a public apology and renumeration to Ms. Ebbert is forthcoming - as I expect it shortly will be.

If not - Ciao Southwest. Plenty of other choices - plenty.

Are you folks serious?

I'm done with Southwest Airlines until Ms. Ebbert receives the public appology she's due. Hell, I'm lying. I'm never coming back to an airline
where I might be tossed or publically embarassed at the whim of some whining little twit.

I am a frequent Southwest business flier and I have three words for you ... See ya' Southwest. It simply boggles my mind that Southwest Airlines will
toss a little sex into their advertising, promote drinking on your flights and
then can't find he fortitude to stand up to your own employee for his self-righteous out in left field misadventure.

You all need to get out into the world travel in. Then you might discover Ms. Ebberts attire was/is mild in comparison to that which we ALL see and ACCEPT in our everyday of twenty-first century existance.

How long are the PR folks going to wait before going public with Ms. Ebberts appology? Get a clue people ... you screwed up big time on this one.

Bye.

Southwest was wrong. The woman's skirt was short but nowhere near obscene. Do you want to have a dress code for your passengers? No problem, but state the parameters explicitly, post them on your web site, and put a warning on the tickets and reservation sites, so that people can choose whether to fly with you or not. It's a free country for you and for us. But if you don't have a dress code, you can't do what you did. You should have definitely let her board the flight, then, maybe, repeat maybe, have someone discreetly ask her if she would please cover her legs a bit, but that it would be entirely up to her.

I've sent a snail-mail letter, suffice to say that Southwest has crossed the boundaries of ownership right.

Hmm, anyone remember the hot pant uniform? "Coffee, tea, or Boot(y) view?"

I'm a moderate conservative, wife, mom, grandmother, DAR member, college student, ethicist. The young woman looked fine and while the TV audience may have seen a flash dance, an airline passenger would have to do some fancy contortions for the same flash.

Family airline? Which family? Not ours.

Extorted the young woman with watch a movie or don't fly? Perhaps Homeland Security should be notified for possible ties to terrorist fundamentalist religious groups.

And no, our family will not fly Southwest again unless and until a full public apology is made in major newspapers and television news conference. When you done wrong, you need to admit it, take responsibility for your actions.

Yes, I'm feeling upset and outraged at the paternalistic, authoritarian, just plain mean-spirited action by Southwest.

Very sincerely, Cherri Brown

Honestly, some of the comments are what appall me! If a man were to give everyone a "crotch shot" as this girl did, he'd be arrested and have to register as a sex offender!
And come ON with the taliban crap. Nobody clubbed her for uncovering her face! And we all know that her outfit had been adjusted by the time she got to the Today show-and was still inappropriate!
Thank you, Southwest, for making this girl cover up!

I highly doubt that all of these people who have said they will never fly SWA again will actually stick with their spouting. This young woman is having an absolute hay day with all the attention and now a possible law suit?? She's thrilled!! I thought that her outfit was tasteless. Just because "all 23 year olds dress like that" doesn't make it right. Teaching modesty to our children today is a daunting task. I support what SWA asked of the woman.

I am astounded and disgusted. Only a clear public apology to Kyla Ebbert will make me change my mind about the respectability of your airline. Until then, I am not going to fly on your planes.

Southwest airlines isnÃ

Dear Mark,

You're a retard - You're equating a girl who crotch flashed the live TV audience of The Today Show with the Taliban? Hyperbole much, or are you just stupid?

Shame on Southwest...since when does an airlin dictate what one wears. The girl had all he vitals covered and if she was ofending someone that person should have been told NOT TO LOOK..just like if a certain TV show offends you--dont watch it., dont listen to that offensive radio--simple!!!
If that was my child I would be helping hr find an attorney. I for one will NEVER fly Southwest when given an option.... I think an apology and free air fare for life would have been approriate..how are your employees lecture a 23 yr old woman about her attire...shame on your company...

I hope you go out of business , your airline disgusts me and youll never even see a mirage of my business again! maybe you should move your business to the middle east where the women are used to this type of treatment and wear full bodied attire, sounds like your perfect customer base

Folks! This lady was NEVER kicked off the plane! Just told to raise her top, lower her skirt. Get the story straight first before you jump in! I believe that there is WAY more to this story that is being told, as I hear some rumors through the grapevine........ SWA is a place of business and they do have the right to boarding denial if they think it's in the best interest of the company. I've seen people with "F you" t-shirts being told to either cover it up or not fly.

Simply outrages, I will definitely never fly with Southwest again.
I've seen a lot worse in many of your flight a no-one has ever complained.

Your reputation has gone down immensively.

Sharon Bain......you asked very pertinant questions. In the interviews and pictures, her shirt is so obviously "non revealing" that one is sure that can't be how she was wearing it on the flight. Southwest has always been very accomodating to all passengers. The other passengers on the flight have rights too, and if any ONE of them was offended by this girls appearance, then the attendant was required to act on it. And YES, if a complaint is made about someone's odor, that passenger is also contacted by an attendant, and either changed seating or asked to take the next flight, after cleaning up (frequently at Southwest expense). I am a frequent flyer of Southwest Airlines, and have seen many questionable passengers. Some of these had complaints made about them and were removed from the flight, and others were not. As passengers, we have the right to make our opinions known, and if they are valid, then action is taken.

Kyra is a very attractive girl, and she is gaining world wide recognition. I am sure this incident is being exploited not just for the possible law suit (why did it take 2 months?), but possibly for a carreer? Do you think it possible that television is paying attention, and she will be seen in other venues?

Come on people, Southwest acted responsibly. Had the attendant chose to ignore the complaining passenger, and the story was told, you would be fighting for the other side. Many of you bloggers just like to side with the "little guy" against big industry. Grow up. With life comes responsibility, and Southwest lived up to theirs.

Wait a minute, this incident took place on her trip to Tucson. If she was that upset, you'd think she would have cancelled her flight back to San Diego on Southwest, especially wearing the same skimmpy outfit that caused her embarrassment in the first place. She knowingly took a second chance at embarrassment to herself.

I think this little girl can't handle life in a grown-up, responsible world.

Southwest Airlines did the right thing. I applaud their professionalism. We can assume that the temperature in the airplane and the airport did not necessitate a passenger becoming nearly naked. It is obvious that the woman was using sexual suggestion as a means of getting attention. Sex or the visual suggestion of sex is inappropriate in public. She should have been arrested and prosecuted for indecent exposure. Plain and simple. Again, Southwest Airlines did exactly what I would expect them to do.

Congratulations for taking a standing up for those of us who believe that modesty is still a virtue. I fully realize that there are many women who believe that they have a divine right to flaunt as much of their nakedness as possible. But, their shamelessness is in essence an attempt to demand attention for themselves at the expense of others. It reveals both a personal insecurity and a social arrogance that deserves to be both rebuked and restrained. Thank you Southwest Airlines for your willingness to draw a line somewhere. The feelings of the modest are just at important as those of hussies and I thank you for showing us consideration in this circumstance. Please do it again.

I applaud Southwest for doing the right thing here. I don't think it's easy asking a customer to dress more appropriately, but it's the right thing to do. Children don't need to be exposed to women dressed like hookers- there's enough of this on television. She knows she will attract attention dressing like this and that's what she wanted. Otherwise, why would she dress like this? If she wore shorts, there would not have been any complaints. I think some of the people complaining here probably never flew Southwest before and probably never planned on doing so. I will continue to fly Southwest as long as they continue to take stands such as this.

Like I needed another reason NOT to fly Southwest. I hate Southwest and its cattle-call boarding process. I am always willing to pay more money just so I don't have to fly your crummy airline. And now this. What is so obsurb about all of this is that she flew back to San Diego in the same outfit and nothing happened. Apparently one of the flight attendants even complimented her.

I am offended by passengers with poor hygiene or people who think it's okay to take off their stinky shoes than what this young lady wore. Not only does Southwest need to make a public apology by top level executives on national television, but "Keith" should be reprimended and fired for how he handled the situation. Just another example that Southwest suck.

I am stationed on the USS NIMITZ and right now we are deployed overseas. The reason for this e-mail is because I wanted to talk to you about Southwest Airlines. I have been reading all of the negative press about them in regards to that young lady who was forced to change because of her clothes. If you go to blogsouthwest.com you can read all of the negative comments about the situation. I wanted to take the time to share what Southwest Airlines has done for me. Last summer I missed by connecting flight back to San Diego. I was told by the airline that I would make my connecting flight only to miss it. No big deal. I wrote in and explained the situation. I received a letter from their President thanking me for my service to our country. She went out of her way when she really didnÃ

I don't know about you, but I have no desire to see other people's UNDERWEAR. It's crude, tasteless, and I respect Southwest Airlines as a company asking her to cover up her crotch for the other passengers. Why do people think it's okay to dress like this, but heaven forbid a woman breastfeed in public? Because obviously, sex is okay but nature is disgusting.

Did you see her on the Today show? Did you see her underwear that they had to blur out when she sat down? Good grief, people!

SW I personally would appreciate a dress code when flying. Please ban all metal belt buckles, heavy metal jewelery, and lace up boots. These things slow down the lines at security. After all air travel is all about speed and efficiency! I would have felt very safe flying next to this girl, she's certainly not hiding a knife, gun, nail file or bomb makings in that outfit!

It is not the job of corporations to police their clients who's only crime is their attire. She wasn't naked. Is your organization run by prudes? You have created a real sense of BIG BROTHER that most people will find alarming. I will certainly think twice about using SOUTHWEST in the future.

Well I am "patently" offended by the wearing of turbins and burkas on an airplane post 9-11 and my offense is almost certainly shared, right or wrong, by the majority of Americans flying even today. Frankly most Americans tolerate it while they silently grit their teeth. Personally I am offended by offended people in general. Keep your judgmental bias to yourself and shut up. We all need to become rapidly intolerant of the intolerant minority and take our country back from the overly opinionated with big mouths. Tolerance is a multi-lane highway. It goes all ways. Southwest needs to feel the pain from this embarrassment to the silent and reasonable of us out there. We are the majority.