regardless of what we may think of this girls outfit southwest airlines DOES NOT HAVE A DRESS CODE and therefore the flight attendent has no right to enforce one. I for one will remember this the next time I make travel plans.

This is what Southwest should have used as their public statement. How about this Southwest? "We here at Southwest are committed to ensuring that all passengers are comfortable flying with us. However, in this capacity it is very difficult to keep everyone happy. In our effort to address a concern raised by one of our passengers, we did the best we could to address the issue fairly. We sincerely apologize for any embarrassment our personnel might have caused in the handling of this issue and intend to review our policies to further assist our personnel in making fair decisions based upon widely accepted standards and not solely on the opinion of a single passenger." Recommendation - hire better public relations people This statement might have saved you in the Civil suit but now you are vulnerable.

If you had a dress code posted, it would be one thing, but the girl was not wearing anything illegal - just distasteful (and that is just this viewer's opinion).

How can you justify the enforcement of a standard that was not previously posted and purely subjective?

I thought you were an airline, not the fashion police. You are as bad as the airline that booted off the mother who was breastfeeding. Just one more reason I don't fly anymore.

I am certain a Customer from that flight brought her attire to the attention of the ground crew that day. It is not uncommon to ask a Customer to change shirts when the shirt says something offensive. If an outfit or shirt draw that much attention then it is the responsiblity of the employee to resolve it. That nut got on the flight looking like a tramp and I assure you if she were interviewing for a nursing home job she would have covered up. My question is did she get the Hooters job? If so I will dine elsewhere.

Exactly when did it become a crime to wear a miniskirt when flying?? and exactly what "Concerns" did someone have? Are we now gulity before anything bad actually happens? The employee who lectured the young lady was wayyyyyyyyyyy out of line!!!!! In my book that is HARRASSMENT!!!! and LAWSUIT and BIG $$$$ for trhe young lady. I hope ALL women ask their husbands, boyfriends , dads, sons etc to boycott your airline. It would be great !!!! I will tell my family or friends to never fly with you because of this particular incident. I will also ask my Congressman to see if you are getting any Federal monies. If so, I think that should stop as well. If you can't serve all taxpayers, no tax dollars for you. If I were USAIR I would be offering everyone who has a ticket with you a free exchange ticket with them - called the NO HASSLE PROMOTION. You want to serve the morally correct, have at it. Hope it brings you to bankruptcy! Most of us who fly worry about the big picture like will the landing gear come down! not who is wearing shorts or miniskirts!! And to those of you who are reading this and agree that you don't want someone else to impose their convictions on you, you can make a difference CHOOSE NOT TO FLY Southwest! No matter how they sugar coat it , this is still HARRASSMENT of women !

THANK YOU SOUTHWEST AIRLINES I am so tired of see to much of a persons body under garments in public. As for Kayla and her mother they are part of the immoral movement that is destroying the USA. If you must dress that way please stay off the planes.

I must comment, because in a written media article, the girl in question said that she "adjusted her top, so that less of her stomach showed" before getting back on the plane. Go back and take a look at her skirt- it's all of about 6 to 8 inches, top to bottom, barely enough to cover her necessary parts, and then when you realize that she also had her t-shirt hiked up nearly to her sweater- that's about a foot or so of naked torso, all out there for the world to see. come on people!!! Is this really okay with everybody??? Is modesty really so outmoded that there are no standards at all? For her to go onto national TV, as she did, with her outfit "altered" from the way it was when the flight attendant initially spoke with her is outright deception. If she's not embarrassed of her apparel, she should be ashamed for her lying.

Thanks to all of you who have posted thoughtful comments on all sides. To those of you talking about the Taliban, etc, I hope you have shared your anger with NBC who felt it necessary to cover up the same outfit--without permission. It boggles the mind to equate how putting restrictions on an outfit unsuitable for network television equates with the Taliban.

I went to a little work to find a website where this was handled appropriately and hats off to Southwest for dealing with this in a public forum style.

However, I'm siding with the Airlines.....my personal feeling is that the airlines are telling this young woman what her mother should have told her when she was 12 or 13.....yep, she's dressing like others her age, which is a tragic statement about how some feel it is OK to show up in public. Call me old-fashioned and conservative, but there's a line of good taste, our society has plunged over it and people are afraid to say "that's inappropriate". In fact,I've known college girls who make a distinction between "real clothes" and "slut clothes".....I just hope she wasn't going to a job interview!

Brian Lusk,
You, as the Manager of Communications for SWA, continue to amaze me. Your attitude shows you are a self righteous individual who just doesn't give a damn about the general public's opinion. Remember, the people who have written here are or could be future customers. If you did not want to hear what the people said, you should not have even opened it up for discussion. Your last comment at 2:45 pm on September 9, 2007, proves you have zero professionalism. NBC and TODAY and whether people who posted an entry on this blog is none of your business and since they are not party to the original issue, leave them out of your discussions. If people feel like they want to exercise their right to complain to NBC, they will. And they will do so not to the PR department but to the Chairman and CEO of GE. jeff Immelt does take the time to listen to people's complaints. Where is Gary Kelly on this issue? Please do not deflect SWA's responsibility and your lack of professionalism to NBC. SWA has created the problem. I hope your boss, Garry Kelly, hears from the people about your behavior. I now can see where SWA gets it's ill mannered communications program.

This issue represents a clash of cultures. There is the small toen culture of mutual respect for one another which is rapidly eroding in this country. Just as rapidly, the self-obsessed culture grows. Southwest at one time, prescribed revealing uniforms for their flight attendants. This was also an age where sexual discrimitation and females were exploited for being female. While the culture has grown more self-obsessed and individualistic, the corporate culture including Southwest evolved to become more conservative.

On a number of occaisions I have asked people to not smoke or coduct their personal cellualr telephone conversdations near me because I find it rude and an invasion of space. Most of these individuals are put off. Nonetheless, I am entitled to my peace of mind just as much as person committing the violation.

It appears to me that the SWA flight attendant felt the same. He or she was most likely acting in the best interest of a number of people who expressed offense at the outfit.

Self-expression is appropriate and justified. However, revealing attire when worn in an inappropriate setting is justification for question.

This young woman should NOT have been wearing such attire on the airplane, in my opinion. As with every airline, there is a contract of carriage that limits your rights in exchange for air travel. I would imagine that these terms and conditions are in writing and could have been reviewed by the young woman prior to air travel.

However, the median educational level of a waitress at Hooters usually precludes comprehension of the material in the aforementioned contract.

I applaud Southwest for standing up for the common good versus the rights of individuals.

Look, so a flight attendant made a judgement call that may or may not have been the right one. People need to be able to do their jobs, and make decisions. Empowerment is so very important, but people will make decisions that not everyone agrees about. Look at how poorly run most of the airline industry is. For those of you who say you'll never fly Southwest again... I give you two flights on another airline, you'll be back...

I cannot believe that Southwest allowed an employee to cause a young AMERICAN citizen such blatant humiliation, then goes so far as to not even apologize! I hope she sues the HOTPANTS off of you! I implore anyone who decides to support this airline in the future by purchasing a ticket on one of their flights, to board the plane wearing skimpy little hot pants like the ones their own flight attendants used to wear in order to get more business........I also suggest that a large group of breastfeeding mothers board the plane, and start nursing their babies publically..............the lawsuits that follow after your own humiliation could potentially pay for your sweet little babie's college tuitions! In my opinion, southwest airlines has acted in an incredibly rude, and hypocritcal manner, and should issue a HUGE cash settlement as well as a public apology to this young lady, her family, and all who were offended by their actions.

thank you southwest. i used to travel a lot and it was comical to see what we called the "airport tramps" . Everyone else is dressed in normal clothes, usually comfortable clothing, shorts, jeans, or some in business clothing for trips. Then there's the women who just need a little more attention than others, so they walk around half dressed and it is ridiculous. Poor girls don't have enough confidence in themselves that they have to go looking for it on their flight lol. Kudos to Southwest for stepping up & taking a stand. I wish more companies would do the same. As for her being embarrassed as she said, she should have been more embarrassed hours earlier leaving her house looking like a tramp

Thank you for not apologizing. Thank you for taking the responsibility for your own business and not allowing people to board your planes less than half dressed. SW has the right to refuse service. Its like someone coming into your home/store with their crack showing. You can ask them to leave. If you do, you'll need to give them their money back (which is just fine if you don't want them there). Thank you for taking a stand.

I second the other comments regarding the fact that it was her "CROTCH" showing now something like a wrist, calf or even belly button.

And I agree with this statement: "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. ItÃ

Thanks for doing the appropriate thing Southwest. In today's culture the if it feels good to me mentality often overrides the sensibilities of others who try to instill with morals. Several points to be made:
- It's public transportation on a budget. For all those business people that said, no more business from me? I doubt you're a business person, and to equate proper attire to the girl's too skimpy outfit deems you more of a closet ogler than a professional. If you're willing to go pay more money from other airlines, then I would also question your business acumen.
- Those who say what would you do about all the visions of girls on the beach in skimpier clothing? I'd do what I do now, I won't take my kids there. There. Problem solved. You know what? It was my choice.
- The problem with comparing this to IRAQ or the Taliban or ISLAM is that those countries BEAT or IMPRISON people. That's not the same as requesting someone wear appropriate attire and board another flight, or cover up with a blanket.
- In this age of Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears flashing we apparently have lost our moral compass, and rather than be appalled, many are looking for the next titillating thing. Go find it elsewhere. Not on an airline.

In the end, all of the single college males, and college sorority girls that are posting offense to this, don't forget that It's extremely profitable to cater to families. My family of 5 has to buy 10 tickets for a round trip flight. You and you're boyfriend or girlfriend have to buy 4. That's a differential of 6 extra tickets that I'm paying for.

It's not just moral sense, it's good business sense.

The following text is from the Corporate Governance section of the Investor Relation portion of the Southwest website:

Corporate Governance Issues
In the wake of well-publicized corporate scandals, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange have issued multiple new regulations, requiring the implementation of policies and procedures in the corporate governance area.

Since beginning business in 1971, Southwest has thrived on a Culture which encourages an entrepreneurial SPIRIT in its Employees, and has emphasized personal responsibility, initiative, and the use of independent, good judgment. The Golden Rule is one of our core values, and we have had a Ã

Kudos to Southwest! I expect to have to lecture my children to turn their heads at the beach-- but not on an airplane. Modesty standards have reached an all time low. Thank-you Southwest Airlines. I will always choose you first when I fly.

>>> It boggles the mind to equate how putting restrictions on an outfit unsuitable for network television equates with the Taliban.

Posted by: Brian Lusk - Manager of Customer Communication and Corporate Editor | September 9, 2007 at 2:45 pm

>>>Read your history lessons, Mr. Lusk. This is exactly how it all
begins. One small step. Be very afraid. What goes around, comes around and it might
be your turn next to be the one discriminated against. Perhaps "mind
boggled" persons will not be allowed to fly??
Goodbye SWALosers ~~

I find several things interesting about the general tone of the comments thus far.

FirstÃ

Any by the way ...

Those of you sad, troubled people who have seen fit to attack Brian Lusk ... all he did was provide a link to an article by someone who was actually on the Today Show set during the telecast, and who apparently has no ax to grind one way or another, AND provide a forum for you to spew your venom.

Those of you who have appointed yourselves as the protectors of poor Ms. Ebbert's rights ... what about the rights of Mr. Lusk and of the people who happen to disagree with you.

Of ... I forgot ... for your ilk, only people who agree with you deserve rights and consideration.

It is you who should be ashamed ... not for having an opinion, but for being unable to state your opinion without trampling on the very principles you allege to be defending.

I have to fly occassionally but have never flown Southwest. I will make it a point to try and do so now. I have seen pictures, news stories and interviews concerning Ms. Ebert and she strikes me as a very attractive young woman that enjoys attention. She may even think that all of this is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Judging by some of the comments it seems that some people believe that as long as A person is not violent they can get on A plane in any condition they want. Being naked would not be out of the question. I hope that these folks will re-examine their thinking and I hope Ms. Ebert enjoys her fifteen minutes of fame.

I READ THE ARTICLE AND I'M SORRY BUT I DIDN'T SEE WHERE THE GIRL WAS KICKED OFF. TO ME IT LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS ASKED TO CHANGE HER CLOTHING WHICH SHE DID AND THEN CONTINUED ON THE FLIGHT. IF THIS ISN'T THE WAY IT HAPPENED LET ME KNOW. IF THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOME OF THE COMMENTS ARE WAY OUT OF LINE. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE MAKING RIDUCLOUS COMMENTS. YOU MUST NOT FLY OFTEN SO SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH A LITTLE MODESTY AND DIGNITY? SOCIETY NOW BELIEVES IT IS OKAY TO DO WHAT EVER THEY FEEL LIKE DOING WITH NO REGARD TO HOW IT EFFECTS OTHERS OR THEMSELVES. AND HOW (SUE )HAPPY ARE THESE PEOPLE. I'M NOT CONVINCED SOME OF THE THINGS PEOPLE (SUE) FOR THEY DIDN'T DO ON PURPOSE SO THEY COULD (SUE). AND DON'T WE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN HAVE ARE NEWS BE ABOUT WHAT A GIRL WORE ON A FLIGHT? GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seems to me this is a privately owned company, so you are within your rights to make a request to a passenger. Obviously, there were concerns from OTHER passengers that were voiced. If we're going to talk about "rights," they have them, too.? I am personally tired of the continual assaults upon our family's values and beliefs from every direction, and no, I am not physically able to filter it all as a parent. I appreciate the fact that someone out there actually listened to and did something about what most of us out here are thinking and saying.

Thank you, Southwest! I applaud you for asking this young lady to cover up. I clearly saw her underwear on the Today Show, and I presume that was the complaint on the airline. This was more than a case of I" don't like how she is dressed or how he smells." It is indecent to allow the public to see the crotch of your panties!

Thanks for your stand on this issue. I support the action you chose to take. It is to bad that a society has to be so blind to common sense.

I have been a big Southwest fan for years and now I'm an even bigger Southwest fan! Way to go guys for standing up for a little decency and defending family values. I think that girl should feel a little embarrased for not covering up. You guys are always friendly, fun, not prudish at all but will say something politely if the line is crossed.

Love you even more, my loyality just keeps going up!

Forget the outfit, that is not the issue. The real questions is "how was the situation handled?" I'm surprised I haven't seen any discussion on of that.

I'd have to assume that the SWA staff is trained how to handle awkward and challenging situations with customers. Had the steward quietly asked the passenger to the front of the plane and explained the problem out of earshot of other passengers this situation may not have escalated. If it was indeed handled poorly, if the confrontation was public, and if the passenger was truly lectured, then I think it is an example of training that was not properly followed or training that was no tproperly provided. The girl was going to feel a little humiliated, even if she was addressed with respect and understanding, but she would have likely dealt with it and moved on. What upsets people is when they are treated roughly, without respect and compassion.

That is the nut of the issue, and that is what I'd actually be interested in hearing about. The debate about dress code is old and tired, and it is one that will never go away, and no one will ever win or lose the argument.

Come on! I'm sure we haven't heard the WHOLE story. Typical of the majority to jump the gun and believe everything the press & the "victim" says!

Her story said she was asked to go to the jetway after the flight attendants had started their "safety spiel" (her words exactly). If that's the case, the flight attendants start their safety demo after the plane has pushed back and is taxing on the tarmac. Total flaw in her story!

She also said she had her tray table down and was just reading a magazine. Who knows, did the flight attendant ask her to put her tray table up and that pissed her off? I've actually seen this happen....people get upset when the crew asks them to do something.

Was she putting her bag up in the overhead bin and her butt was hanging out all over the place? If so, maybe somebody sitting there with their kids asked the flight attendant to say something to this girl.

There are so many reasons why this (possibly) happened. And we ALL should realize the press & the "victim" are only going to let the public know partial details.

I'd like to hear from someone that was actually on this flight.

WOW!!

The assigned seating post has been dethroned!

It is amazingly ridiculous that a post about whether Miss Ebbert has the right to flash her gross anatomy to all within eyeshot (a complete non-issue, the irrational indignation of most responders notwithstanding) has generated more responses than something that is actually material to the operation of and Customer experience on Southwest.

THANK YOU, Southwest! I'll choose YOU for my next flight.

As a father of a 24 year-old daughter who flies occasionally, I am disappointed in Southwest Airlines' handling of Kyla Ebbert. I just saw the outfit she wore on your airline. Although the dress is short, I don't find it offensive (and this coming from a father). For an airline that has prided itself in being user friendly, I think you blew it this time. A sincere apology and maybe even a settlement may be in order. This is ridiculous. This isn't the Middle East. Women shouldn't have to cover up their legs if they don't want to.

What's indecent is what the LAW says, not what SOUTHWEST AIRLINES says. SW Airlines is a PUBLIC carrier, they are supposed to transport the public who stay within the law. Southwest, this was just wrong. You should apologize.

I like a short skirt as well as the next guy . I don't want to be seen looking at a skirt so short that exposes her indecently . In all of her description of everything - I repeat everything she wore that day ; she never mentioned panties . She made several references as to her 'complete' outfitr. Her myspace,blog,and interview , listed other underwear ( a bra ) , never panties . I've got a feeling that decorum prevented SWA from pushing the point.

Brian McBride wrote...

This young woman should NOT have been wearing such attire on the airplane, in my opinion. As with every airline, there is a contract of carriage that limits your rights in exchange for air travel. I would imagine that these terms and conditions are in writing and could have been reviewed by the young woman prior to air travel.

However, the median educational level of a waitress at Hooters usually precludes comprehension of the material in the aforementioned contract.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Really Mr. McBride? You're going to call Hooters waitresses stupid? You obviously think of yourself as supremely intelligent, so why couldn't you stop to think that making broad generalizations about a group of people is about the LEAST intelligent thing to do? So Hooters waitresses are stupid? What other generalizations about a specific group of people would you like to make? Would you like to generalize about African Americans, Jews, or any other group that has been historically maligned by closed minded people like you? Here is an assertion and generalized statement that I can make about Hooters waitresses: they work hard and earn thier money in a legal way just like waitresses at any other restaurant, or any other person with a job for that matter. Please, don't assume things about people's intelligence by the way they dress or where they work.

I fly your airline (1-4 times per month) because of your single aircraft business model and your on-time performance. On most flights I wish your flight attendants would just shut up and let me enjoy some peace and quiet.

Flying is stressful enough - the corny jokes and stupid songs and smart alec and many times too personal comments just add pressure to an already hectic day. This story just burns me. Leave your customers alone - other airlines meet your fares, don't make us stand in ABC lines and don't fly out of outdated terminals with horrendous concessions and facilities.

Apologize to your customer. Your employee went over the line and needs a course in diplomacy.

Oh, and the "club seating" has been gone for years, so seriously, think about it. Who the heck was going to see her underwear with the generous 8 inches of leg room between rows? This was personal, and not about other customer's comfort or abut decency.

Thank you, Kim Seale for once again being the voice of reason.

The actions of this Southwest employee were completely offensive and I can't believe that Southwest is attempting to defend them. Shame on you. I will never fly Southwest again.

SWA is in the service business and they do a hell of a job. Can you imagine trying to keep that many people happy in a short amount of time in your job?
All they were doing was trying to appease the customers who were concerned about the Hooter girls outfit being too revealing. The girl should have been more conscientous in her choice of outfits (she flashed her panties when sittting down on the Today show). I'm guessing that this isn't the first time she has offended others with her outfit. Its just that on a plane, others can't leave.

I suppose SWA has the "right" to fly those individuals they feel fit their idea of an appropriately dressed passenger. It is also the right of the consuming public to choose it's airline based on the company's professional behavior or lack thereof. In this case, what was this employee thinking?! I hope you all are thinking damage control in a big way because you have a PR nightmare on your hands!

I am not a big fan of Fox TV. Their politics and agenda seem to be just right of Mussolini, but I have to say I admired them when they were bombarded with mail about how bad a show "Married With Children" was by half-witted people like Terry Racolta. Then they had to face the withdrawal of advertising by large companies like Proctor and Gamble when Ms. Racolta started a letter writing campaign saying that if these companies continued to sponsor the show, she and all her blithering idiot friends would not buy their products. Instead of taking the path of least resistance and pulling the show, Fox said: "We think it's a good show and we are going to keep it on and if you don't want to watch it, you have a remote control. In addition if these companies don't want to advertize, we'll find others."

Racolta was trying to get Fox to do what she should be doing and that is guiding her children's viewing, but because she was lazy or too preoccupied with her own activities to monitor them, she wanted everyone to do without, so she could, essentially, ignore her responsibility to raise her children correctly. This is self-centredness in the extreme.

We have now sunk into a quagmire of petty people getting their way because they whine louder than anyone else. It is common for insecure women to despise who they consider to be attractive, but we should not have to suffer for their insecurities. Watch a football game. To stop women trying to have it banned (ostensibly for the violence on the screen, but really because they don't want their husbands comparing them to the cheer-leaders on the field), the NFL allows little to no shots of the cheer-leaders! How weak have we become? Secure women, women who know their worth and value, could not care less what their husbands or potential lovers watch on TV.

This case is just more of the same non-sense. What in the name of all that's holy, in the "Land of the Free," if that moniker can even be used rationally anymore, can possibly justify taking that woman off the airplane and then making her cover her legs with a blanket for the trip? Has SWA gone mad? Does no-one remember the 1960s and early 1970s when the miniskirt was all the rage? Panties were almost always visible and so what? The dressed were shorter than this woman's skirt and after a while a glimpse of panty was not the depraved thing it is now, because one saw it all the time! It was commonplace and accepted, except by a few religious nuts, like the Dutch Reform Church in South Africa which blamed the drought on the miniskirt, claiming God was upset by it! Is that the thinking now? Or is it the personal insecurity and low self-esteem of a few voiciferous American women who don't have the time, discipline or inclination to diet or look after themselves and they don't want to be compared to attractive females. Are we to be governed by the low self-esteem of a small insecure clutch of women?

My sister was visited by her Germaine Greer/Gloria Steinem influenced friend who, though not a Catholic, had joined the "Catholic Women's Movement Against Porn" in Ohio. On that visit, she saw a penthouse in the living room and asked why my sister let her husband read such things? My sister replied that her husband is an adult, so "letting him" read this, or anything else was not up to her to determine; he was free to read what he liked, also, why shouldn't he read these magazines. Her response was very revealing. She said: "I wouldn't let Bill read them, I wouldn't want him comparing me to these 18 and 19 year old bodies?"

That was the real reason she joined the Catholic WMAP, not for moral reasons. I remember her when she was young and attractive and she was quite open minded about her body and sexuality. This new "Morality" grew in direct relation to time and gravity's affect on her breasts, so this was just simple hypocrisy.

Folks, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee before the mediocre take over.

SW Airlines, grow a backbone. Tell the insecure flight attendant or whatever she is, to calm down and get on a fitness regimen if she wants to have nice legs too. If she doesn't feel so inclined, then she must accept the fact that there will be occasions when she will see women who are more attractive than she is. That's life - deal with it.

Thank you Southwest. I am soooo tired of seeing girls dressed out there like they are ready to hit the streets to make a living. I see nothing wrong with appropriate attire as in stomachs and butt cheeks covered up. I mean come on what about my rights not to have to look at this live soft porn. I believe everyone's right to dress as they want is a given but "dressed" is the operative word here and from the description on the news this young woman was clearly trying to get attention with as little "dress" as possible. She needs some self asteem counseling and her Mother needs lessons in how to act like one. Shame on the Mom for allowing this girl to grow up with so few values and such disrespect for the world at large. I would rather hear the views of the passengers on that plane then to listen to Ms Ebert's whinning.

I find this story very disturbing. There was nothing wrong with her outfit. I am a 100% sure it was an insecure, overweight, unattractive female that complained. I am really annoyed by some of the comments for the Holier-Than-Thou women. I am sure they are overweight, miserable, and wish they had nice bodies.
My associates and I have decided we will no longer travel with Southwest Airlines. We are all very attractive with nice bodies. We donÃ

Kudos to Southwest!!! My family and I have the right to not have to see someone's "hooters" and everything else revealed in such an outfit. Save it for the club. Eating establishments, stores, and other businesses have signs that say, "we reserve the right of admission," "no shoes, no shirt, no business." Many places have dress codes for dining etc. Why isnt' anyone pitching a fit about that? It's accepted. It's their business and they have the right to say whom they want to serve.Why is it, Southwest does not have that right as well. Planes are tight places. What about others rights

In the land of the freeeeee....... ???????

Well done Southwest. Thank you for doing what a lot of us would like to do. I appreciate some people have the need to flaunt themselves but why should the rest of us have to put up with it????
Keep up the good work!

If the woman had been so embarrased by the attention, I don't think she would have taken the return flight in the same outfit. Had I been in her shoes, I would have bought a tshirt of some kind in the gift shop to wear over my outfit.

This is a tough call for the airline when you have other passengers on the airplane complaining to the Flight Attendant
because they are offended. They have to consider everyones feelings. It's their job to ask the person to cover up.

For mothers that breast feed, they always offer a blanket for the mother to cover up and the mothers seem to appreciate it.

Bravo Southwest! I respect not only the handling of this situation, but the fact that you followed through despite the potential negative fallout against your company. More people support you in this than you will ever know!

Good for you SW airlines! Yes, we as Americans have the right to dress the way we please, and yes SW did have FA dressed in skimpy shorts in the 70's all that is true. The problem lies in the fact that in a skirt the size of a band aid- there had to be private bits on display- either with or without underwear. If she was really that embarrassed (which I doubt) then why dress in such a way ? Seems that nudity is becoming the norm these days! Showing your crotch is no longer considered illegal but just what young pretty women do! She was not the only one who has rights? How about all the men women and Children who just wanted a pleasant Family friendly flight?

Thank Goodness some one has some common sense, Why in the world are people like Paris, Brittany, Lindsey and this Kyla Not being arrested for showing their Crotch in public?

Are we so far from a moral standard that this is ok behavior and dress? Where does it end? Should folks be allowed to just forget clothes all together?

Why even mention where she works? What does that even have to do with it? I also noticed that in the photos she has here shirt pulled up and down over her hips... Come on people are you so gullible as to really believe that she was TRYING to cover up? If anyone wanted to see the peep show she was giving ... they could have stopped for some wings off the plane!

I applaud the Southwest employee who had the common sense and decency to ask a passenger to clothe herself properly. Male or female, public attire should have a shred of modesty. There should not have to be a dress code on a particular airline, rather our population should have a shred of pride and decency instilled by parents, schools and the media. Let's all go back to using common sense about what we wear in public. What you wear in Hooters or on the beach is not appropriate attire for travel on public transportation? Or didn't your mother ever teach you that?

Given I have many choices when it comes to choosing an airline to fly with, after the grossly unfair treatment Kyla Ebbert received from Southwest, your airline will be a last resort for me.

In response to the Southwest Airlines fashion policing incident. Although I find the young womens skirt borderline inappropriate, I find it much more inappropriate that anything was said to her. For one there is no law in this country regarding "class"; second, if anything WAS to be said to her it certainly should NOT have been done in the manner it was executed.

It is obvious that there were underlying motives with the individual who took it upon themselves to be the class police of the world. It is much more likely that this individual allowed their jealously at their own inability to wear revealing clothing to take an opportunity to simply humiliate publicly this young lady. I wonder, did doing this improve this persons self image? I would guess they woke up this morning looking and feeling exactly the same as they did the day before.

I feel sorry that this happened to the young girl, however it SHOULD be a lesson to people who regularly dress in this manner. When you seek attention via your dress your also going to receive some attention you may not want. Dressing revealing is NOT a right to that others are obligated to simply accept. You cannot, for example dress in this manner then become annoyed when a male that you do not find attractive looks at you. YOU are seeking the attention, you cannot then demand that you only get attention from the only the sources you want to attract. You must take what you get.

I see nothing wrong with dressing as you like but there ARE appropriate times to wear a skirt like this and boarding an airline is not one of them. Just to be clear the skirt is the ONLY thing remotely inappropriate about her clothing choice.

But, once again, there are no laws in this country regarding "class". But I certainly feel that Southwest airlines owes this young girl an apology. If your going to be the class police of the world you damn well better have class yourself.

Southwest, I have read the news articles online, I have seen the unedited airing of the Today show interview, and I have to say that I thank you for the actions taken by your employees, I presume at the request of other paying customers. In the interview on the Today show, Miss EbertÃ

Thank you Southwest! Many applaud you for taking your customers complaints seriously and asking this woman to cover up. She was dressed inappropriately and from the Today show video obviously was exposing more than just her legs to other passengers. Thank you for upholding a standard of decency.

Southwest Airlines only has the right to dictate dress code if its passengers are fully informed of said code prior to purchasing a ticket.

The treatment of Ms. Ebbert, however "inappropriately" she was dressed, is inexcusable.

I hope she sues. Sues big. One more dilapidated airline that has stopped treating passengers like people out of the skies!

Until Southwest apologizes, BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT.

And P.S., I am:
a. A woman
b. A conservative dresser
c. Exceedingly well-behaved on flights
d. Disgusted with SW.

I find it interesting that all of the people that agreed with the treatment of that young lady are women. I agree with Sarah, that the women who are commending this action are most likely insecure, overweight, and unattractive. I don't understand the comments about seeing her underwear. There is no way to see up her skirt. There is barley enough room to stretch your legs. These women really need to deal with what is bothering them. I believe it's not her outfit, it's the fact that she is beautiful, blond with a nice body and breast!

My family and I will never, ever travel with Southwest again! I wouldn't want my daughter to ever be exposed to that type of treatment.

I saw the skirt that the passenger wore, and it is too revealing! I was watcing the Morning show when I saw the outfit. For everyone who thinks it is not, obviously did not watch the show. When she was asked to sit down by the talk show host, her midsection was immediately blurred out! As she was sitting there, you can see half her bottom! She should feel and be embarrassed. I think the Southwest Airline employee did NOTHING wrong. Her argument was that she passed several check points without being told nothing. Of course, the skirt is ok when she stands, but if I remember correctly when you fly, you have to sit down, and that is where the skirt is inappropriate.

Does anyone remember when you used to dress up to fly?

I remember as a kid dressing up when we were going to fly somewhere and you felt special that you were getting on a plane. You hardely ever see anyone dressed up anymore, unless it is business men and women. It is a miracle that some people even wear shoes (how many times have you seen people walk barefoot on the plane, yuck!! do they evern realize how gross that carpet is).

After watching the interview on the Today Show and watching her flash everyone after she sat down, I think she should be embarassed and she should have thought what to wear before she left her house that morning. I don't think Southwest did anything wrong!!

Every time I fly I get more and more depressed when I see how people dress in public...the "fall of Rome'' keeps coming to my mind more and more these days. The woman dressed like trash and NBC had to blur out her crotch when she sat down and then she has the nerve to say there is nothing wrong with her outfit. Her skirt is sitting at her hipline...obviously if she pulled it down for Southwest, it must have been 6 inches higher before..and her top must have been pulled down to her fricking waistline. She wants attention, that is obvious, and then says she's embarrassed by their actions???exsqueeze me? baking powder???? the only embarrassment is caused by her lack of common sense in what she wears. And then her mother actually defended her...and is doing her daughter NO favor. I suppose her mother sees nothing wrong with her daughter dressing like a whore.. Did it ever occur to this idiot that she may be offending other people who don't like having to see her genitals in public?? Not everyone who takes offense is a prude or jealous. Maybe we just take pride in dressing appropriately in public. Let's see what type of job you get in the future dressing like that, other than a job at hooters. Unfortunately, this woman, and i use the term loosely, is one of hundreds who dress like whores in the airports. HOORAY for southwest...and FOR GOD'S SAKE SOUTHWEST, IMPLEMENT A DRESS CODE FOR THE SAKE OF ALL YOUR PASSENGERS!

To all you people whose lives are so empty and shallow that you need to try to control those of others in an effort to make them as miserable as you, MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS!!

And get down to a psychiatrist quickly, because if a small flash of belly skin is putting you over the edge of the PRUDE cliff then you are probably a neurotic or possibly even a psychopath.

If you do believe in god (of whatever persuasion) then you should realize that his/her most wonderful creation was the human form UNCOVERED!

Those who want to cover it up for "morality's sake" need to look inward at their pathological priggishness.

Oh, and for you, Southwest. Post here and publicly in newspapers that you have fired that flight attendant, or you'll never see me flying on your airline again.

sign me,
a frequent flyer

Quote: "And get down to a psychiatrist quickly, because if a small flash of belly skin is putting you over the edge of the PRUDE cliff then you are probably a neurotic or possibly even a psychopath."

Ernest, you honestly think this whole thing is about BELLY SKIN?! Are you kidding? The issue is a little further south than that... think "men would be arrested for doing this at a playground" and maybe the light will start to dawn on you...

I don't know if the majority of the women who express outrage at how the young, attractive Ms. Ebbert dresses are overweight and unattractive.

However, the Hooter's connection reminded me of something that happened in San Antonio in July 1994. The national vice-president of NOW (National Organization for Women) chained herself to a railing outside of the Hooter's restaurant on the San Antonio Riverwalk as a protest. The local paper published her photo and she was definitely overweight, and in my opinion most unattractive.

But women have a choice to work or not work at Hooter's, knowing what it entails. And we have a choice to fly or not fly on Southwest, knowing that if someone, man or woman, overweight and unattractive or fit and hot, complains about our attire then we are subject to ridicule, lecture and removal from the flight.

I'm flying to Albuquerque on Thursday, and will NOT be flying Southwest.

Whatever happened to the concept of "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" that I grew up with. Southwest has an image to uphold and the young lady(I use that figuratively) did not meet that standard. I am surprised that I see few if any comments defending Southwest.

I don't have a problem with Southwest asking the girl to cover up. I'm no prude, but that outfit was meant for a night club not an airplane.

I'm sure her underwear (if she was even wearing any) was just as skimpy as the skirt.

One last thing... If she was embarrassed by the situation, why is she going on TV to tell the whole nation about it? She is just looking for some free money via a lawsuit.

Congratulations, Southwest, for reminding everyone of how our society is still blatantly misogynistic. The old days of "refusing service to anyone" and "she made me do it because her skirt was too short" continue to haunt us. It's also nice to know that my comments will be relegated to this black hole blog for discontent customers (or rather EX-customers). It'll be a cold day in hell when I fly this airline again.

I certainly am defending Southwest, Matt!
Southwest is
So
Wonderfully
Awesome! :)

I think the decision to approach the young lady was correct. She couldn't sit and rise on the news programs without flashing the camera, so I doubt she could on the plane either.

BUT I agree with the comments that the matter should have been handled a bit more discreetly - no one else should have heard, even if it meant the flight attendant and passenger stepping out into the walkway.

God, if only it was true..that so many of you would choose NOT to fly SW...how nice that would be. Less crowds, particularly trashy dressers, would be a nice thought. But who do you think you're kidding? Southwest is the best airline in the country. Herb Kelleher had it right..The customer is NOT always right. This bimbo had to pull her blouse UPand pull her skirt DOWN ...take a good look at the photo...if that's the case, she was absolutely obscene. If someone took offense and complained, SW is in their rights to address that complaint and take action. She absolutely should have been embarrassed, not by SW, but by her own lack of modesty and and shame. she was an embarrassment to women and to smartly dressed hookers!

Yes, Joe, that national VP of NOW must have been protesting Hooters because she was overweight and unattractive and just felt so darn unworthy. It couldn't possibly be because she was taking a stand against the objectification of women and the fact that there are establishments that profit from that objectification. She wasn't standing behind the beliefs of her organization at all - she was just feeling sad that day because someone might have perceived her to be overweight and most unattractive.

And the women who are posting here to defend Southwest must of course all be definitely overweight and most unattractive as well. And what of the men who are defending Southwest? Or does it not matter how the men look?

What would Southwest Airlines do if Marilyn Manson came on the plane in Gothic dress? How about if the President of the Southern Baptist Church was sitting across from him, and began morally judging him for his dress. Many people dress Gothically, or in todays fashions--which is the accepted norms of the fashion world. Can any other person judge another for what they wear on MORAL GROUNDS. This issue is truly not about what Kyla was wearing and more about someone "The AIRLINE ATTENDANT" who has been recently given more power by the airlines to enforce whatever silly rules they wish. I have noticed a continued trend in my past 50 or so flights where the flight attendants are less friendly and more confrontational with passengers. For an Airline that claims to have "POSTIVELY OUTRAGEOUS SERVICE"--I would agree that the treatment of KYLA is "SERVICE AT ITS MOST OUTRAGEOUS FORM". I have flown over several hundred flights in the last few years and I think I can distinquish a difference in behavior of management solely through its actions of instructing their staff. When babies are removed, women are chastized,and people are MORALLY JUDGED this AIrline is definitely in a declining mode by not trying to provide great service, Southwest Airlines once gained quickly in popularity for having Flight Attendants who joked with the crowd, lightened your hard day with a smiling face, and the entire crew (ground & air) would go out of their way to make your trip better. Captains' on the flights used to Thank You for flying Southwest and in the last 6 flights I have only heard this once. My last flight to San Diego over Labor Day Weekend began with a Flight Attendant who once I was seated in the Emergency Exit row asked if I Knew I was in the Emergency Exit Row and would I help in case of an Emergency. I repeated "Yes" loudly, she then proceeded to say I did not hear you in a very serious tone. I repeated "YES" respectfully, and she then said, "If you can not answer than I will have to move your seat." I then spoke at an alarming level and she then proceeded to say, "You don't have to yell at me." She said this same thing to toher passengers in the same area. This constant kind of harassment has been more and more prevelant when flying. Truthfully, it takes all the fun out of flying. It makes me reconsider that the hassel of passsing through security only to be treated miserably by the Flight Attendants makes flying a painful experience. The ending to this blog is to ask if I feel that screaming childrten should be MORALLY reprimanded by the FLIGHT ATTENDANTS and thrown off the airline because they offend my silebnt nature--with Southwest AIrlines policies--I would fully expect them to honor my personal needs over another passenger. If you read that clearly, I hope it sounds as stupid as it was intended. What is next? Who is next? What Culture is next? What will be the criteria for these judgements, and since I pay the fare to fly--Don't I get a Say? Or is Southwest Airlines just too big to care about providing service. Knowing that if they just take as much money as possible, people will put up with whatever Southwest cares to dole out to us. With 96 million passengers, it seems likie they just do not care anymore. I am deeply disturbed and hope that Kyla does sue the airline and the flight attendant for their lack of care, their MORAL JUDGEMENT, and their harrassment & humiliation she did not deserve.

All I have to say is that Southwest is the best. Now all of you that are bad mouthing Southwest ought to be a shamed at yourselves. I can assure you that most of you who are trash talking are the first ones to call when ever you want to go and visit families and friends during the holidays and want a low fare.

I support southwest and all of the employees.

P. S. For all of you staying at home and saying you hate Southwest, Go and Fly Jet Blue and American and get stuck at the airports because they all cancelling there flights .... Southwest rocks!!!!!!!

Southwest almost kicked Kyla Ebbert off her flight because her outfit was "inappropriate?" What about Southwest's "Gay" section on their home page? (Go to Southwest 'sitemap.' ) You'll see the word and link 'Gay.' Click on that and see Southwest's pictures of gay men in tight shirts being affectionate. Southwest then recommends 'Gay Friendly' destinations with the Siuthwest vacation packages.

Give me a break Southwest! THAT IS WRONG!! Supporting Gays! It's not wrong that Kyla Ebbert wore that lovely outfit she had on! Southwest, you should be ashamed, especially since the Southwest 'Gay' link is just down from the 'Kids corner' link!!!!!

I have a few questions that everyone seems to be saying but SWA still needs to answer:

1 What is the "official" response by SWA on this issue? Haven't seen or heard of one yet.
2. What is the Leadership (CEO and Chairman) of SWA saying about what appears to be very bad PR? Does anybody in business ask themselves "what repercussions will my company experience from my actions if the issue was published in the newspaper?" This was klnown as the "newspaper test" and it prevents many embarassing situations.
3. Why is SWA, specifically the editor of this blog, trying to defend SWA's actions by deflecting their lack of professionalism to NBC?
4. What is the airline going to do about handling sensitive customer service issues in the future? How about SWA posting a "bill of rights" for the travelling public for their airline.

There seems to be quite a few REALLY angry customers here. SWA needs to remember, the people that post on this log are current and/or future customers and if they decide the ones having a "pro" Kyla attitude do not meet the "values" of your airline, I hope they will be prepared to explain to the stockholders and maybe Congress why "values" are more important than the travelling public's right to be comfortable.

I am disgusted with this whole thing. I believe the Kyla was wronged and SWA should pay. What I am more disugsted about are the people who believe that their value systems and morals are far in excess of mine and they can dictate what I can and cannot do. To those who think they that their "values" give them special priveldges because they are "better" than me, get REAL. I am as good or even better than you. I am an individual and do what I believe is correct. We all see what extremism and extemist thinking is doing in the world now, right? We do not even have to look overseas, all we need to do is look in Washington DC. How many of our freedoms have we lost, young men and women either lost in battle or scarred for life and billions of dollars wasted, because a bunch of extremists are working the top jobs in DC?

Company shills like Matt and Kimberly are forced to make strawman arguments for lack of any other substance. Of course the company has the right to refuse service...it is just stupid and we are pointing that out. They could refuse on any number of grounds and we would still have the right to call them on it. Coke switched to New Coke, perfectly within their rights, and the country showed them what a mistake that was...same with SW.

You seem to be caught in the middle of a bad situation. I would bet that your employee was trying to treat the issue discreetly and something intervened. Don't bow to all the bloggers currently insulting you on your handling of the situation. They say they won't fly with SWA, but most of them are so shallow, they will be on your next flight because it leaves 10 minutes earlier than anyone else's. You could probably use some help in the letter writing department if the Today show read the complete letter. Trust your employees.

You guys were dead wrong in treating Kyla Ebbert in this way. I hope she sues you for humiliating her in this way. Keith should be fired and you owe Kyla a HUGE apology.

Do you remember you are an American company? Do you remember what this country stands for? Freedom. She was not revealing cleavage, her skirt was short, but once seated who the heck would know? I've seen the clothing Kyla was wearing and there was nothing wrong with it. What do you want? Burkas?

Shame on you. I will remember this next time I have a choice in airlines - and I will hold this against you. Treat your customers with respect or you'll have none.

Roger- you are an idiot. You say posters are shallow and SWA should ignore what they say. Brilliant. The company should ignore hundreds of potential customers complaining that the company has acted shamefully. SWA should hire you, you'd fit right in. Many customers DO remember these things. I've been boycotting EXXON for years, and I am also boycotting KLM for destroying my luggage and then dumping it wrapped in tape on my front doorstep in the dead of night. I will never fly with them again, and I've stuck with that for years despite flying to the Netherlands many time since. If I believe a company may not treat me appropriately I will not afford them the opportunity to do so.

SWA - you were wrong and you need to fix this.

Thank you Southwest for standing up for modesty!

I appreciate SW's courage in standing up and exercising the good judgment that Kyla obviously lacked. If there isn't a stated dress-code this may, unfortunately, cost SW in the short term. However, doing the right thing often pays dividends in the long-run. I have kids and would not have appreciated her choice of clothing for the flight. This is a clear issue of a selfish person who forgot to think before they acted. By the way, when and how did 'constitutional' rights become an issue? She dressed inappropriately and got called on it. She's embarrassed and humiliated, yet she (and her mother and attorney) draw more attention by ratcheting this issue up in the public's eye? Sounds more like a litigious person who is looking to make money. Oh well, if she gains any money from this, maybe she can go purchase more clothing (because we all know you can't buy common sense). In any case, she'll probably think twice about wearing certain articles of clothing out in certain public situations in the future.

I read her early comments that she re-arranged her attire to cover revealed areas. I figure the posted photos of her attire are similar to "after re-arranging" rather than how she first flopped her privates down in the seat on the plane. I am thankful that Southwest Airlines considers appropriateness of attire that can negatively affect hygene for subsequent passengers and I support their employee's judgement in calling this attire into question. This is an average looking girl attempting to get publicity and money (and likely fame) from a company that is responsibly handling a situation that affects where others will sit after she is long gone. From her mother's comments, the mother is a disgrace too. But, judging by the Brittneys, Paris Hiltons, LiLo's, etc. of the world, this seems to becoming the norm. :(

I applaud SWA's attempts to keep reasonable hygene where "public" seating is concerned. I'll fly SWA whenever possible!

I can't believe the anger being directed towards Southwest. If there was nothing wrong with the woman's attire, why was she embarrassed? Lots of places have dress codes. So, what's the big deal? If the woman tried to enter a nice restaurant or a dozen other places, she would have been refused service or given something to cover herself up.

I've read the comments about the young lady well its actually both young ladies at this point. If you go on any local "hot" climate campus that is what you will see. The young ladies and guys dress anyway they want to because its their right. Yes, you have rights but you better not be the person who fits into any one of the catagories below because then I will complain and have you spoken to like a 6 year old.
I wish that if you started policing clothing that you would also police the following, men who take their shoes off (SMELL) older women who wear shirts that are too big and their large breasts hang out, kids who have a dirty diaper, parents who allow their children to kick the back of chairs, people who bring on food because they can't go 2 hours without any, bad breath, body odor, skirts that are too long that they trip falling on me, or in an emergancy it will get in the way( check the local hospitals dress code they do not allow long skirts), overweight people who don't buy 2 seats and therefore sit in the middle seat and roll on me, someone who talks loudly, someone who chews their gum loudly, stupid comments made by airline personal intended to be funny, personal either straight or gay that bother me and anything else I feel like complaining about.
How dare you decide for me what is appropriate or not, that is not your place nor is it the stupid person who complained about this young lady. If I was her I would sue you for future stress because that was not olny embarrasing it was also unforgivable.
If you read this blog which I don't think you will, but out of all the letter posted here how many are positive, and out of those real consrvative blogs do you think fly Southwest on a regular basis? HMMMm lets see mayber 15 are positive and maybe 1-2 fly you at least monthly now look at all the customers you lost.
I'm no tgoing to lie and say I'll never fly you, you're the only airline that flys direct to see my grandmother, but what I will say is this, I will never fly you if another airline is available. By the way I only see my grandmother 4 times a year, but I fly montly to all those places you do . The difference is I'll be flying an airline that on concentrates on security, flying on time preformace, staff that is their to ensur emy safety and not on an airline that doesn't like the way I dress.

I fly Southwest everytime I can when traveling. That roughly equates to something like 25-30 business trips per year, not including any personal flights I may decide to take. I may reconsider spending my money with this company if this is a part of the way they do business. Quite frankly, I think Southwest employees commenting on anyone's personal dress is the thing that's offensive here. I personally have no opinion one way or another about the young lady's attire, because whenever possible I mind my own concerns and leave other people alone. The idea that a paying customer could be removed from the flight for wearing an outfit that is merely suggestive of something lewd or inappropriate gets me steamed. That assessment is subjective, and as such, should be left to individual tastes (provided no laws of indecency are being broken). When I want morality injected into my air travel I'll fly Air-Robertson, or Air-Dobson. When I want to get to my next business destination I think I might choose a different airline than Southwest!

I find this entire thing rather pathetic.

Don't we have more important things to argue about? Her skirt was inappropriate...so were the actions of the airline. No, she shouldn't dress like that..but the airline shouldn't have embarrassed her about it.

I think what disgusts me even more are the comments about "worrying about fat people"...we can't judge clothing, but we can judge people based on size?? Slamming people of faith and calling them names because you don't agree? Rushing to snap judgments on who complained???

If you don't like what Southwest did, then don't fly with them. Period.

But it is so very, very sad when we have to sue over something like this, and resort to such verbal abuse of others. Meanwhile, children die of AIDS and starvation...but hey, we can wear our short skirts and flash our panties because we sued and won!!

So sad. And incredibly pathetic.

Southwest, find a better way to deal with customer complaints.

Women, leave something to the imagination.

And for those who want to slam me for being overweight, bigoted, and a religious zealot...then I suppose you can feel free, if that's what it takes to make you feel good about yourself.

NBC's poll on the issue, while not scientific, was announced this morning on the Today Show and it's on their website at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20638463 - it shows the following results:

20% - Yes, her skirt was so short it was practically obscene.
51% - No, it wasnt's inappropriate attire.
29% - No, but if she was my daughter I'd ask her to cover up more!

That's 80% for the "No" votes. Now do you see which way the public sentiment is regarding this PR fiasco?

While Southwest is a private company owned by scads of investors, they operate under the authority and license of the US Government and there are at least two or more government departments or agencies who can put the screws to them. There are limits as to how they can discriminate amongst their passengers. All of you folks who have commented that they're a private company and do as they wish are flat out wrong.

Don

Southwest should be ashamed of the way they treated her! This is the REAL issue here. I've encountered this many times as a business professional who travels often. People who work in the service industry have no clue how to handle people. I've heard retail managers berate employees in the middle of the establishment with no regard to how inappropriate (not to mention extremely uncomfortable) it is to hear as a patron. The same holds true with how they treat their "valued customers." This conversation should have taken place OFF of the plane. There shouldn't be anyone who disputes that. For that, she deserves an apology.

It's also so sad to listen to how uptight some of you are. It was a FLIGHT!! She wasn't going out to dinner, to a wedding, to church, or a funeral, she was taking an airplane ride! Quit condemning our entire society by the choice of clothes a person decides to wear. It doesn't serve as an indication of our society. It's a fashion trend that will go away like the rest. This isn't the first time a short skirt has been in style.

Some restaurants that require men to wear suit coats keep some coats on hand for men who show up at the door inappropriately dressed. Perhaps Southwest should have disposable burqas available to insure that no one on the flight is put through the psychological stress of seeing someone else's skin.

As a friend of mine always says, "If you see something you ain't seen before, shoot it!"

Thank you Southwest Airlines for taking a stand on an issue that seems to becoming a symbol of our youth today. Yes, you are a "family" airline and you should be proud of that image. Schools fight daily with young ladies and young men dressing inappropriately and who think the dress code does not apply to them. Secondly, how you dress reflects on how well you perform your job. If you dress professionally, you work and are treated professionally. Imagine that young lady trying to apply for a job in that outfit in the business world (yes, I know she works at Hooters!!) Where are the family values? Where is the pride is dressing appropriately? As a teacher, I see too many of our young ladies dressing to "attract" attention from the opposite sex. I would be very interested in seeing how she really looked when she boarded the plane. I am 100% positive that she did not look the same as she was photographed on the Today Show. Again, I applaud your actions!!!!!

I certainly plan to avoid flying Southwest until they correct this flawed dress code policy -- how ridiculous to try to enforce some subjective dress-code -- if a person has enough clothes on to make it through a public airport facility without getting arrested, then he/she has enough clothes to sit in a seat on an airplane lol

I now have a new favorite airline!

Thank you Southwest for taking a stand on proper dress and behavior!

Shame on the mother for showing her face on national TV in support of the little tramp! I'd have more respect for her if she was a stripper or call girl..at least then she'd be getting paid!

Hmmm...a day trip...dressed like a slut...no luggage...meeting a Doctor...

Maybe she just forgot to change out of her work clothes for the flight?

Is anyone actually surprised?

Airline customer service has become an oxymoron. I mean, air travel is stressful without the Ã

You guys have blown it BIG time!
I thought you had more brains than this.
How many MILLIONS of dollars of revenue will be lost by assuming the role of morality police?
I just saw on the news that you did it AGAIN with a second young woman?
Are you guys NUTS (no pun intended) or what????

Who are you to judge a person's attire? You can have billboards in public busses with women in barely any attire, but you humiliated a woman because she was wearing perfectly reasonable attire for today's standards.
You can take you opinions about "ethical attire" and keep it to yourself,
You deserve to get sued for pushing your etical standards upon others... I for one and never flying your flight again! Long live freedom!

Am I the only one old enough to remember the beginnings of Southwest Airlines? They brought many a customer to the ticket counter with their cutting edge and scandalous (at the time) of their mandatory "Hot Pants" dress code for all stewardesses. They were the new airlines with the new attitude. Fresh, irreverent at times but always tasteful if not in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way sometimes.

It seems their current moral compass and fashion police Nazi's have been infected with a large dose of self righteousness.

The two women accused of being provocativley dressed would have been the building blocks of a new Southwest Ad Campaign if Herb was still running things.

Herb.....we miss you!.......Chip

Take a look at your own company and what your flight attendants used to wear! "Butt-Skimming Miniskirts!" Get a life Southwestern! I used to work for PSA and know all about your skeletons! If I were that young woman, I would file a lawsuit against you and she is a fool if she doesn't.

By the way, you're running an airline, not a new religion.

EXCELLENT DECISION! IF SOMEONE ASKES AN ATTENDENT TO TELL A CUSTOMER THAT THEY NEED TO ALTER THEIR ATTIRE IN ORDER TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL TO THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN, THEN GREAT! WHO NEEDS TO HAVE IMODEST WOMEN STRUTING AROUND THINKING THAT THEY DON'T INFLUENCE THOUGHTS OF MEN AND CHILDREN. NO ONE WITH ANY INTEGRITY WOULD WANT TO DEGRADE THEMSELVES THAT WAY. TEACH YOUR KIDS TO VALUE THEIR CAPACITY FOR GREATNESS AND THEY'LL FEEL FULFILLED. THEN THEY WON'T NEED PEOPLE TO STARE AT THEM IN ORDER TO GET SOME KIND OF SELF WORTH.

I see from the blogs above that there are both negative and positive comments about the flight attendant's treatment of Kyla Ebbert. My personal opinion? Southwest Airlines should post a policy on what they consider proper dress code. Until they do, what anyone wears is none of their business. The flight attendants are being paid, through the obnoxious amount of costs that passengers have to pay to fly, to serve the customer. That's it. Nothing more. Pass around the pillows, offer the alcoholic beverages (so much for being a "family airline"), and whatever else is the job description of the flight attendant. Their personal opinion needs to be put aside. Let them laugh about it or comment on it with their peers and loved ones, and do NOT approach the customers about their attire. I will be watching closely the (hopefully) speedy plummet of SW Airlines stock. I imagine that not all passengers will abandon your company, however, I do hope that enough passengers will abandon your company to make a significant enough difference for you to look at this more deeply. I understand your need, in the business aspect, to back up your employee. All companies should initially back up their employees, however, in private, I believe that this particular employee should suffer reprimand, and might I add to his paycheck. If your company ends up losing him, well, then maybe you're not going to be missing much. It's okay to be conservative, it's okay to value your personal opinion. It's NOT okay to impose your personal beliefs when you are a member of the customer service industry ~ unless that customer is going to cause grave danger to the other passengers, leave them alone........

SW airlines - thanks for being professional, safe AND fun. When a passenger is disruptive, I appreciate the way you take action to ensure that one person's 'self-expression' doesn't threaten the safety and enjoyment of the majority of other passengers. I also appreciate that you are aware that families fly on your airline, as well as business professionals. There are appropriate places for peep shows. A airline flight is not one of those. Thank you for working to keep your flights open for the majority of your passengers. I will look for even more occassions that I can fly with SW.

I was a devoted Southwest flyer. With the cheaper rates and good service, you have always been a great deal. In fact, I am a member of your rewards program. However, after now hearing about TWO girls that you have 'accosted' due to their attire, not only will I never fly your airline, niether will my family or anyone at my place of employment - since I make all travel reservations.

Another thing that is upsetting is the introduction to this blog. It's almost as is Southwest finds these complaints humorous and invites everyone to come see all the complaints and add one of their own.

Southwest, I hope you stand by the flight attendant's decision. It sadens me each day when clothing becomes more loose and revealing. Even ten years ago this skirt would have given most people the impression that the girl was a prostitute. And in my opinion, Hooters is only one and a half steps above that profession.

Hey, if it was okay to 'get it on' with anybody, anywhere, anytime, then that type of apparel would be necessary. Since there is still at least a weak moral fabric left in our country such skimpy dress is not okay. I am a father of a 2 and 1/2 year old son and will be greatly bothered, annoyed and saddened if and when he ever has to sit next to a girl dressed so innapropiately.

If I am ever presented with that dilema, he and I are going to take the next flight if Southwest or another airlines is unwilling to have her dress up to something more proper.

I'm sure the staff at southwest could give a crap what this girl was wearing. The interaction between her and the staff was probably due to customer complaints. Also, many of these comments are melodramatic. It is beyond ridiculous to accuse southwest of behaving like the taliban just because they ask some girl to cover up her crotch.

Kathy, are you kidding? If your three daughters are being so isolated thast they can't even consider modern day clothes that are frankly appropriate and very tasteful and you think that an airline should help you be a parent you have deeper problems. Frankly you should consider moving moving to a Quaker community.

Attributing the flight attendant's unprofessionalism to another passenger's complaint does not justify the inappropriate behavior of that employee or the company's subsequent response. We will not allow you to dictate what we can wear or cause us to feel shame for our personal tastes.

The last thing I want my airline to do is to try and dictate our culture. I am more concerned about getting to my destination safely and on time. For better or worse, our world has become more sexualized and that is the fault of today's parents and media. If I wanted my preferred airline to start trying to change the world's culture I would give money to Pat Robertson so he could start up his own airline.

Frankly, I am irritated by this whole deal. I have been a faithful SWA customer for years. Even to the extent that I moved to a city that is not serviced by SWA but still drive 4hrs roundtrip for business trips! But if I have to keep hearing about this utter non-sense I will be less inclined to go out of my way.

I fly SWA for the punctuality and price, I got to church for my morality. IF these girls made all the way through security and past the numerous law enforcement officials then I don't really see the point. Unless of course they are nude or in a string bikini. So, come on Southwest let's get back to flying and away from the culture police.

Thank you Southwest, for standing up for decency and doing the right thing. My family and I are customers for life.

Way to go . Now I know why I don't fly your P.O.S.airline.What next sweaters issued to all female fliers with a cup size bigger than 32a .Maybe they'll fly Delta .

Did anyone bother to actually watch the TODAY interview with Ebert? Most of the men who have posted here naturally approve of skimpy attire. You should go back and watch; you will get a nice flash of her crotch as she makes all efforts to sit back down in that very short skirt. It was plenty short enough to stand up in, much less try to sit in. Women like Ebert are desperate for any attention they can muster by wearing such clothing, then stupidly wonder why they are victims. They make themselves targets.

While some may enjoy the "eye candy", some are offended by it. I applaud Southwest for taking a stand.

Southwest Airlines dress code:
No females under the age of 26 (id's will be checked) allowed unless wearing polyester pant suits or bolero dresses circa 1904.
No Hooters employees.
No females with a cup size over B unless they are overweight and wearing spandex.
No females that are prettier than other females that have an inferiority complex.
No girl scouts unless they are in the official boy scout uniform.
No females wearing tight jeans unless they are 3 sizes too small and are 50 lbs overweight.
Remember, Southwest prides itself as an organization that values other customers more than you. If you keep that in mind you won't be disappointed.
Taken and edited from the Customer Service section:
Again, the mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service (compared to flying a crop duster) delivered with a sense of warmth, (showing to much leg means you might be cold) friendliness (two faced), individual pride (I am better than you), and Company Spirit (Vague, means whatever benefits us at the moment). And, the information in this document is intended to show you that, regardless of the circumstances that may arise (get the heck off our plane) during your flight, we have already thought about your safety (Jealous women), your wellbeing (keeping you from being attacked by these women), your pocketbook (we value your money), and your expectations (you didn't really expect to fly with us did you?). You see, we are here not only to get you from point Ã

The girl stated that she was humiliated in a t.v. interview that I saw and she also stated that she had no problem on the return flight with her outfit. I am wondering why if she was so humiliated then why didn't she buy a pair of pants for the return flight? I am also reading alot of people on her side, but if it had been me, a 42 year mother of five wearing a get up like that, I'm sure the people in this country would be thanking Southwest airlines! I guess if you're young, blonde, and sexy it's okay to dress that way!

I for one am extremely pleased that your company gave the boot to some tarted up lil hussy who had the nerve to dress like that on an airplane. Whatever happened to dressing up in suits and dresses for plane trips? Parents these days...I tell ya. That young lady is obviously misguided and needs better role models in her life...I hope you passed along that 700 Club pamphlet I routinely leave in the backs of airline chairs...that is one lost soul that desperately needs the guidance of the Lord and I sincerely wish Southwest Airlines the best as they continue to pass on the values that make this nation so strong and true. God Bless America...and no one else!

I will NEVER fly your disgusting airline! The woman who your flight attendant harassed was NOT undressed!! What she was wearing is legal and legal should be all that matters. I am sure the person complaining was a FAT SOCCER MOM !!! Well I will take my $$ elsewhere, where I can dress as I please. SOUTHWEST=AMERICAN TALIBAN..you people probably should just pass out burqhas!!

What exactly is your problem? Are you some kind of Islamic owned company trying to impose your radical suppressive Sharia on the American public? I for one am offended by your impudent behavior. Look, despite your companyÃ

Get rid of the person who stopped this young women from getting on the plane. Time for damage control. If the picture I saw in the paper was what she was wearing when she boarded the plane then Southwest you are in the wrong. Look on the Internet polls are showing 77 to 78 percent in favor of Kyla. A lawsuit will happen and you will not win even if you win. At a time when other airlines are trying to knock you off the top postion, it is time to step up and end this matter.

I think what they did was completely appropriate. The girl isn't as attractive as her mother claims, she has about as much meat on her as a clock does. Secondly, this person is probably trying to change the world and get it back to women being admired for their beauty, instead of them being known for being a tramp like this chick. Wake up girl, your not all that. She has clearly shown she was no respect for herself. She dresses like a skank, AND is a hooters waitress. If I had to be in the same plane as her, especially if my son was with me, I would report her asap. No one wants to see her nasty body. Maybe the girl should learn to get some taste. What was her excuse, did she want to get a lower bill from her doctor? Maybe once she starts respecting herself, she will get respect. Her and thousands of other women, have ruined the thoughts on women today. If you don't want to be thought of as a slut, COVER IT UP!

You did the right thing Southwest Airlines!!! If you are going to be in a very public place sitting in tight quarters with one another, you need to be modestly dressed. Not to mention, what if there had been an emergency? Could she bend over to help open doors or help out in anyway she needed to without flashing everyone in her path? That skirt might even hinder her because its tight around her legs. You never know people. Better to dress appropriately.

This issue is not about being fashion police people. Its about saftey.

Good job southwest!

Don't be so quick to judge....the girl had not problem showing her white under garments on national TV (Today Show)....plus to get a better idea of her character take a look at her myspace.com page:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:http://www.myspace.com/PrincessKyla

She has no problem showing the entire internet communitie her underwear, so a reasonable person would deduce that she would have problem showing a enter Southwest flight her underwear.

Southwest did the right thing.....Dress appropriately to get on a public flight and there would be no problem.

Thank you, Southwest.
I don't much care about this girl's feelings, or her mother's opinion.
Some people actually still have morals, and are not interested in this girl's free anatomy lesson.
Yeah, I watched her on television, and guess what? Her white underwear was available for all the world to see when she stood up. I've got my own underwear to worry about, and wish everybody else would keep theirs to themselves.
And now we have another half-wit griping about being asked to cover up. Well, girls, put some clothes on before you leave the house, and you won't have to worry about it. Just because other people are running around with their asses hanging out doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.
Again, thank you, Southwest. More power to you!

I find it funny that people compare this to a "religious" issue or compare southwest to a terrorist group. This issue is FAR from religious or a terrorist plot. i think those people just like hearing themselves talk.

A couple of points:
1) Like any other news report, its all about the spin. If you look at still photos of her standing there, you can clearly see the following:
- Her skirt is barely longer than her relaxed hand. Unless she has hands the size of Andre the Giant, chances are her skirt was not very long.
- On the Today show, she was wearing the skirt FAR below her hips/waist. You can see where her "love handles" end, an indication of where her hips are. The skirt is far below that point.
- The shirt that she had on was a "long" tshirt, thus it APPEARED that the skirt was being worn in the correct place
- If the skirt was being worn on her hips as it should be, you would have seen the bottom of her rear end.

2) As stated above, I would not want someone's bare behind sitting on the seats. Good thing the seats are leather now and not cloth.

3) While not a direct influence on this event, she is a waitress at Hooters and has some rather revealing pictures on her myspace account. It shows that she has very few inhibitions when it comes to clothing.

4) The airplanes are a place of business, not your house. Someone stated, "if you can wear it in public, you can wear it on an airplane." I dont see too many people wearing bikinis while on board. I dont see many people going without a shirt. It is clearly written in the Contract of Carriage that Southwest can ask a passenger to adjust their attire if it is found to be lewd/offensive/inappropriate.

5) To those who said Southwest used hot pants and go-go boots back in the 70's. Those hot pants did not show the rear end.

BRAVO Southwest! I want to buy airline tickets just so that I can support Southwest. I had begun to wonder if there was any public place left where decency could be the norm for my young son's eyes to see, instead of the exception. The astonishing publicity this woman has recieved as she proudly reveals her outfit to all of America and the world makes it clear to me that she really is not very embarrassed at all. She should be thanking Southwest for her 15 minutes of fame.

It seems the Southwest fashion police have struck again.Thank God nobody saw a little cleavage or thigh.Maybe on future flights they can hand out burkas or whatever the islamics force on women.Congratulations Southwest you should be proud of yourselves.

Standing in line behind (BEHIND) women who expose themselves everytime they bend over reminds me of some of the info I gleamed in my college psych class. If your self esteem is so low that you dress to solicit a sexual response to get things in life, then you aren't far from a padded room or at least a life time of being the punch line in jokes thrown around in locker rooms. I want my children to stand up for themselves as serious citizens, not try and get by because I can flash myself in public and participate in lewd, offensive, and inappropriate behavior. Thank you Southwest!

Regardless of how she was dressed there is clearly not a dress code requirement for Southwest Airlines. If the airline had a problem with her attire then it should have been adressed to her prior her boarding the plane. Who made the steward judge and jury as to how a person should be dressed. Southwest clearly blew. I will no longer fly an airline that will humiliate its customers like that.

KUDOS TO SOUTHWEST FOR THEIR HIGH STANDARDS AND FOR HAVING THE DECENCY TO EXPECT OTHERS TO BE DECENT.
PEOPLE LIKE KYLA (HMMM...SHE DOES 'BARE' A RESEMBLANCE TO PARIS) SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE TIME OR ATTENTION BY OUR SUBSTANDARD MEDIA (WHICH IS JUST A BIG PART OF THE CORRUPT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY).
I HOPE SOUTHWEST DOESN'T BACK DOWN AND FIGHTS THIS ALL THE WAY. IF YOU LOSE THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH SUCH ISSUES, THEN THE REST OF US CAN TRAVEL COMFORTABLY WITH FAMILY AND FELLOW RESPECTABLE PATRONS. EVERYONE WILL WANT TO FLY SOUTHWEST!

where do you get off thinking that you can tell someone to rearrange her clothing, especially if there's nothing wrong with it?!! shouldn't you be worrying about terrorists and hijackers?!! i'll make sure to never fly southwest again!! have you ever seen any of the young girls walking around on the street in basically nothing? well, obviously you haven't!! you seriously need to apologize. and don't expect to be getting many customers after this. southwest, YOU SUCK!!!!

SWA may be right....but you still look like morons. I've been flying SWA since the days of hot pants & free whiskey and you're starting to show signs of stress...Dowdy flight attendants, Yankee attitudes, less service. What ever happened to the good ole days? !!

The Kyla incident provided free media exposure, but what a price you're going to pay. It's time to save face with more free media exposure that will do some good...A PUBLIC APPOLOGY & A FREE RIDE FOR A YEAR and hopefully you won't have to hire more attorneys.

Southwest needs to issue an immediate apology to the woman in question, as well as all of their customers, past and present. If they do not, and refuse to back down from the position they have taken on this issue, I hope that this woman sues the airline for refusing service to her for an extremely arbitrary and prejudicial reason. If that's the course of action the airlne intends to follow, then shame on them and I hope that millions of passengers choose another company for their business and/or recreational flight needs.

I encourage everyone to boycott the airline now to show Southwest how ridiculous their recent actions have been. At present I am instructing my company's travel department to remove Southwest from our list of preferred airlines. I encourage others in similar corporate positions to do likewise.

If Southwest have a dress code please place it on your website so that passengers can review it before Purchasing a ticket on Sothwest . All of the rules ( Including but not limited to Southwest DRESS CODE)should be posted on tickets as well as on internet site.

You are totally wrong. Lacking a posted written dress code, you cannot arbitrarily pick and choose which passenger's attire is "appropriate" or "inappropriate." To do so violates the Freedom of Speech/expression and Equal Protection sections of the US Constitution. The only exception might (and I emphasise - might) be if a passenger's attire clearly and openly displayed male or femal genitals.

I have often seen a nursing mother on SW flights displaying a lot more of her breast than the young woman you tried to deboard. I have seen men with very open tank tops displaying a lot more chest than the young woman you tried to deboard.

As far as SW being a "family" airline; what do you think the other airlines are? I have never been asked if I had a family on SW, Alaska, NW, United, TWA, Western, Continental, Pioneer, or any other airline. No other airline, to my knowledge, has a dress code other than the common law protections against public displays of genetalia.

Who do you think you are? The US Taliban? This is exactly the kind of think you might expect in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan.

You can be sure I will never fly on SW again unless you issue a personal and public appology, admit your error, promise to behave yourselves in the future.

If her genitalia were exposed in public, violating laws in California or Arizona, than SW should say as much and I am sure public opinion would turn. For now we can assume she didnÃ

I was absolutely disgusted with SWA's treatment of one of their passengers recently. Get off your high horses and do your jobs. Policing passengers' clothing IS NOT A FLIGHT ATTENDANT DUTY!!!!!!! Never mind if someone else says they are offended, that is their problem, you know you have more important things to do while boarding an airplane. You should be thankful to have a customer who opts to fly your sad airline so frequently. Keep singing and telling jokes, maybe you can all have a laugh when this you lady sues the PANTS off you!

I think SW airlines did the right thing regading this girl. What I'm amazed at is that a parent would SUPPORT a daughter wearing such a revealing skirt. Short is okay, but when she has to pull it down constantly to make sure it's in "just the right place" and use a magazine to cover herself while sitting is sad. Don't get me wrong, as a male I don't mind the scenery at all, but when I ask myself if I respect someone dressed in such a manner, the answer is no. The "hottest" women are those who are not only attractive, but smart and professional in their dress and conduct.

I have flown SWA many times but after this I will never fly on your airlines again. I thought we lived in a country where we could choose what we wear and where we wear it. The flight attendant was totally out of line and if another passanger had a problem with her attire "she" should have spoken to the young lady. I have been treated horribly by rude flight attendants employed by SWA. They last time I flew SWA I had to endure the horrible singing by one of your male attendants trying to be funny and singing his own version of "She'll be coming around the mountain", he needed to keep his singing to his shower. Guess I'll return to AA or United where I know I'll be treated with respect.

I just have to respond to the many people who have complained that SWA is infringing this woman's constitutional rights. Please review your 9th grade civics books or any copy of the Bill of Rights: the First Amendment right of free expression only applies to restrictions placed on speech by the Government, not by a private entity such as SWA. Congress can't pass laws that infringe on free speech or expression. Private companies can, and do, enact numerous restrictions on "expression" such as dress codes. Similarly, a private company doesn't violate a citizen's rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment (or the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendemtn) by treating her differently than another similarly situated person. A violation of the EPC would occur if a state government denied a person the right to vote becuase of her race; a private company such as SWA does not violate the Equal Protection Clause if it prevents a scantily clad woman from boarding a flight but allows a similary dressed man to do so.

You could look it up.

In my many years in the travel industry, I have never seen an airline treat a passenger's dress, in such a disgusting manor. Southwest's total disregard for it's passengers is evident in the 2 incidences reported. management should have immediately apologized to the 2 young ladie, offering them both free r/t tickets for 1 year, reprimand the Southwest flight attendants involved, making them attend mandatory cutomer service refresher courses. Aren't airlines in business to fly passengers? United Airlines' flight attendent got it right - they were more concerned about flight safety, then customer dress. What is crazy is that 99.9 people would say they were very well dressed for college girls in the very hot southwest United States.

Southwest, when you get it right, we will fly you again, but never again until you take positive action to our satisfaction.

I generally fly SW when ever I can. I am not sure I will any longer. It's not that I agree with the dress styles of today or lack of common sense by individuals about their attire. I am also very glad that my children are all grown and I do not have to fight those 'appropriate dress' battles any longer. Dressing for 'respect' for oneself is a value taught or learned the hard way-by their peers.

What question that does come to mind is why SW Airlines feels that they have been sanctioned to be the fashion police of the skies. Yes, they can set their own standards for their business. Any business has a right to do that and it is ethical to do so. However when I try to think what SW's motive may be to make an issue of these women's clothing, ethics does not come to mind. OWNERSHIP of the airlines does come to mind. Let's say that your owners were Muslims and wanted all women to be covered from head to toe. I can see where you may take action to cover these women up with a blanket. Who exactly does own SW? Should you now be called South Western Arab Airlines?

As much as I enjoy flying Southwest Airlines, I have to say that the flight attendant blew this one. Where do we stop, I find when a woman sitting next to me wearing a half a bottle of perfume to be offensive, would you have that person removed. Probably not. With that said you would have most likely asked the person to sit in another seat away from the passenger that is being offended. The same is what should have happened here. I understand that the person was allowed to fly after she covered up. I my mind it was too late when the over zealous employee humiliated the passenger who remember is your "customer" also. I have seen much less on people flying a Southwest flight and no one bats an eye. Flight attendants main job is for the safety of the passengers not to be a critic on "Americas Next Top Model" I hope you have learned your lesson Southwest.

Having worked for an airline many years ago, I always dressed in a professional way while flying as I felt it made an impression of my professional self. Unfortunately, over the years the way people dress when they fly is totally ridiculous and I feel like I am riding a bus line..not an airline.
It seems like the passenger that was asked to do something different about the way she was dressed was obviously wanting everyone to look at her and go google eyed over her. Not a pleasant sight. There are a lot prettier women out there who dress very classy and elegant....she looked rather "cheap" in my opinion. She needs to get a grip and learn how to dress more appropriately in the general public. I support Southwest all the way!!!!!

To those that have posted that are savvy on the NYSE, does this mean that since Miss Ebert went public with her private parts that she can now trade on the NYSE?

Americans are FED UP with all these little dictators telling us what to eat, smoke, drink...tell us we can't say Merry Christmas or have a Christmas Tree, and now SOUTHWEST is telling Americans what they can wear? Well, this is one American that will never fly Southwest and will make sure my friends and family never fly Southwest either. Virgin America out of the Bay Area will be my Airline of choice from now on. Ya know, we have sons and daughters fighting for OUR FREEDOM and people like you are attempting to take them away. This has a real bad smell, is the ACLU putting pressure on you on behave of CAIR?

Give the two women a free flight and fire the self-righteous guys who told them to cover up. It's the least they deserve. We don't ride on Southwest to be lectured about how we should return to the 1950s and dress and act like June Cleaver. Hey, wasn't that the time when the stewardesses wore hot pants as a uniform?

I have been a faithful Southwest flyer and Rapid Rewards member for many years, and have long argued that other airlines would be better served if they followed your lead. The recent imbroglio regarding Southwest employees policing the dress of your pasengers has led me to reconsider flying on Southwest going forward.

Unfortunately, I am constrained to conclude that you permit or encourage the arbitrary imposition of undocumented "fashion" regulations on paying passengers whose appearance apparently didn't alarm a gate agent and whose attire has not been suggested to be unreasonable until declared so by...a flight crew??? That's just silly. You're going to lose a lot of loyal customers if you allow this to continue.

Southwest has a open policy of granting there employeeÃ

How on earth did Southwest survive the 1980's if they are trying to kick off passengers for wearing mini skirts??!!

This is unbelievably ridiculous and to make matters worse, Southwest has refused to apologize!!! Suck it up and do damage control, because people have been sued (and won) for much weaker cases. In yours, not only is it a strong case, but you even admitted to it publicly.

A little humble pie goes down much easier than the amount of money and bad press you're wasting.

Regarding the comment left by Bob that included "...Yes I am a red blooded American Male I just like to have something left to the imagination." I believe the personal description should have been more on the order of , Yes I am a red blooded American Male CHAUVINIST. The woman is free to dress to please herself, not you. She is not our property.

Restaurants have shirt and shoe requirements.Why can't airlines have dress codes to preserve the dignity of the passengers?

Keep up the great work SouthWest. Finally an airlines who dosent put up with the immoral actions of the young people today. Yes, you at one time allowed your staff to dress unappropriate,but have since changed that and became wiser. I applaude your CEO and anyone else who stands behind the decision made by that person. We need to stop this kind of behavior, especially on a family airline. What are we teaching our children if we allow this kind of behavior and it is then rewarded with publicity and fanfare. Then instead of keeping her mouth shut and going about her business, she knows that if she opens her mouth to the media she will get noticed. So of course the media as corrupt as it is today eats it up and makes a big ugly picture of it, making her the victim and your airlines as the predator. What about the rest of us who find this appauling and unexceptable? Do we have any rights at all ? This woman can dress anyway she wants but not on an airline with mixed people , both cultural and religious and young children. We as American Women shoud be showing how strong we are and demanding respect from the men in this world. Not using our bodies and media to exploit our insecurities. if you are as strong and intellegent as these women I would hope are, you dont need to present yourself like this. Where is the self-esteem and self-respect in the younger women today? What more can we expect from the media today. But I wouldnt have thought much of SouthWest if they had allowed this to happen. My husband and young family fly alot on both this airline and alot.. I have the utmost respect for this airline and will continue to fly them and recommend them to anyone I talk with. Even more now. My family and I want to fly on an airline that we know we can trust and that they respect us , just as they did to this young lady who thought she could do what she wanted and get away with it. You see, this lady could care less what she wore on that flight, she had heard about the first lady and wanted to make a statement, make herself prove a point. If she respected herself and her beliefs she would have gone about it another way. And if she respected the company she worked for she would have dressed in a more appropriate way when in the company of others and children and represented herself and the company she works for in a better manner.Simple as that...As it says in the Bible, "A woman shall dress modestly, with decency and propriety " . What kind of an example are we as women showing our young children if we allow ourselves to be the center of this kind of attention. This poor girl shows that she needs alot of attention and for some reason uses her sexuality to get it. Keep up the good work SouthWest, standing your ground in this matter and any other pertaining the safety and moral protection of your passengers will be rewarded as you go about your journey to make your airline a FAMILY Airline...God Bless you and your staff....As many write you to say they wont fly your airlines, many others will stand behind you to keep your airlines a respectable and enjoyable traveling experience...Thank you..

Southwest's treatment of Kyla Ebbert was outrageous! I saw Ms. Ebbert in her outfit on the Today Show and she looked like nearly every other 17-25 year old young lady in this country! What was so scandalous about her attire? Why was it necessary to embarrass her in front of a plane full other passengers? Shame on you, Southwest!

My significant other and I currently have to live over 600 miles apart and as a result regularly fly SWA (at least monthly if not bi-monthly) to see each other. We've spent thousands of dollars on SWA airline tickets. After hearing this story I am one seriously dissatisfied SWA customer.

I have two words for you SouthWest Airlines: Jetblue and Skybus. My partner and I will take our money elsewhere.

I APPLAUDE SWA FOR TAKING A STAND AGAINST FEMALES WHO DRESS LIKE PROSTITUTES ON FAMILY AIRLINES. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. TOO LONG HAVE WOMEN TRAVELLED WITH THEIR SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS SPILLING OUT OF THEIR HOOCHI TOPS AND MICRO MINI SKIRTS THAT WOULD MAKE A HOLLYWOOD HOOKER BLUSH WHILE CHILDREN ARE FORCED TO WATCH THESE SHAMELESS HUSSIES PARADE AROUND LIKE PORN PRINCESSES.

Apparently, many Southwest Airlines passengers are not flying out of John Wayne airport, where two weekends ago, two women were seen barely clad, strutting their stuff. One look around the aiport is enough to convince a person that there is a "dress" standard that involves a certain amount of cover up, which is NOT oppressive, burka comments from other bloggers aside. Even teenage girls and boys, who daily experiment with new fashion styles, are snickering at these people.

How do the bloggers here define the limit? If a woman shows up looking like a Victoria's Secret model in a photo shoot, that makes them happy and they'll either ogle or look the other way? Is a bathing suit adequite attire for riding a subway, a bus, an airplane? Sorry!! I have a 10 year old son, and women wearing 4 inch heels, the briefest of shorts, bare midriffs and plunging necklines that display more than ample cleavage, especially when they bend over from the waist to dig through their bags looking for their ID ("Whoops! I didn't realize that I needed to show you THAT!") make even HIM uncomfortable.

I am thankful there are people who have the courage to stand up on behalf of the other hundreds of thousands of people who pass through airport every day. These underdressed passengers SHOULD be embarassed that they are asked to cover up, though they should not be intentionally humiliated or abused.

For various reasons beyond the airline industry's control (and some because of deliberate corporate and government decisions), air travel in general in the 21st century ranks right up there with getting a root canal in terms of the general experience of the overall ordeal. Now this.

Southwest used to be my airline of choice. But no more. This incident only adds to my list of things I don't like about Southwest Airlines since Herb Kelleher retired. The nonsensical cattle call free-for-all seating has long been my #1 pet peeve. I much prefer reserved seating. But asking Kyla Ebbert to get off the plane for wearing a mini skirt after going thru all the hassles of checking in and security screening is the last straw. Just because some prudish biddy made a complaint (jealous of Klya's cover girl good looks, no doubt), or maybe because some gay male flight attendent took it upon himself, is no reason to subject a paying customer to such harrassment.

If Ms Ebbert's bosom had been spilling out of her top, or it became obvious she had no panties on under her miniskirt or was showing "cheeks", I could give SWA the benefit of the doubt. But in absense of a published dress code, Southwest doesn't have a leg to stand on in this case.

Speaking of biddies, LAURIE, assuming the outfit in question is indeed the same one Ms Ebbert wore for the Today Show interview, you all who support SWA's action ought to take a chill pill. The outfit consisted of a white T-shirt blouse with a moderately scooped neckline, cut high enough so as to show only the slightest hint of cleavage, and a white denim miniskirt with frayed fringe hem. Ms Ebbert also wore a light blue cashmir sweater over the T shirt. Yes the skirt was short. But there were no spaghetti straps, no deep plunge cleavage, no tattoos all over the place, no piercings, etc. Definitely not a "slut dress" outfit and certainly not a skanky look.

I might also add for the benefit of readers in cooler parts of the country, it is still over 100 degrees EVERY DAY here in Arizona, even now in mid September, so dressing light makes sense.

If a majority of Southwest Airline customers agree that women should not travel dressed as Kyla was, then the airline should come up with an official dress code, and let the flying public vote with their wallets and feet.

I think modesty has become a four letter word in our society, so to speak. I am not a prude, by any means, but there are some things that just should not be worn in certain places. Thank you SW ,you have a new customer!