Another Woman Claims Southwest Airlines Forced Her to Cover Up on Flight

FOX ^ | 09/13/07 | Unknown

[Froufrou]

A second young woman has come forward to claim that Southwest Airlines Co. employees made her cover up on a recent flight.

Setara Qassim told KNBC-TV in Los Angeles that a flight attendant confronted her during the trip from Tucson, Ariz., to Burbank, Calif., and asked if she had a sweater to go over her green halter-style dress.

Qassim, 21, said she was forced to wrap a blanket around herself for the rest of the flight. She complained that if Southwest wants passengers to dress a certain way, it should publish a dress code.

Last week, 23-year-old Kyla Ebbert said a Southwest employee pulled her aside as she was preparing to board a plane departing San Diego for Tucson in July and told her she was dressed too provocatively to fly on the plane.

Ebbert said she was humiliated and felt the stares of other passengers who had overheard the verbal dressing-down.

Airline spokesman Chris Mainz said the company had no record that Qassim ever complained.

Messages left with Qassim, who lives in southern California, were not immediately returned to The Associated Press.

Mainz said Dallas-based Southwest — which dressed its stewardesses in hot pants and called itself "the love airline" back in the 1970s — relies on employees to decide if a passenger's attire may offend other customers.

"We don't have a dress code. We rely on our employees to use common sense, good judgment and good taste," Mainz said. "It's so rare for us to have to address a customer's clothing issue."

American Airlines claims the right to refuse to carry passengers for a variety of reasons including being drunk, barefoot, having an offensive odor or being "clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers."

[Froufrou]

This one isn’t as bad as one I remember...I’ll see if I can find it.

[quark]

Just how does Jeri Thompson taste?

[TommyDale]

You would have to ask Fred for the details.

[colorado tanker]

Was she flying “commando” or something?

Commando?? I just love FR. You learn the most interesting trivia!

[TommyDale]

LOL! You are the second poster who had to look that up! ;-)

[Froufrou]

Just to prove I'm right, here's a designer's input.

http://www.helium.com/tm/460578/halter-backless-fastens-around

DOs Halter tops are super for cute petite young ladies, who desire to get a little extra sun on their shoulders and backs. This makes them ideal fashion for the beach, the pool, the park, and the occasional sporting event (as a viewer, not a participant).

Unless the halter top is equipped with lots of lycra layers, or a built-in support system, a halter bra must be worn with it. Strapless and convertible bras may also work with halter tops.

Many swimsuits, sundresses, evening gowns, and other festive items are now created in a halter design. These look lovely on the right sort of figures as well. Because of extreme temperature fluctuations, between outdoor weather and indoor climate control (heat or air-conditioning), and for propriety's sake, an outer jacket, cardigan, or overshirt may be desirable over a halter top or dress.

DON'Ts Unfortunately, the halter top is not equal-opportunity apparel.

Fashion mavens will tell you that no woman over 30 should ever wear a miniskirt (except, perhaps, to the beach). The same rule applies to halter tops.

Well-endowed women do no one any favors by bouncing around in halter tops. Unless the top is super-sturdy, it simply isn't practical for a woman who requires a D cup or more. Modesty and subtlety can be much sexier than floppy flesh on display!

Halters are for horses. If you look like a horse, don't wear a halter top. Plain and simple.

Also, halter tops only work on women with flawless skin. Bumpy, scaly, or ripply backs will only look worse in a halter. Ultra-bony shoulders also look ghastly in skimpy tops.

Very few women can tie on a halter and look simply sensational.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS In many cases (OK, in MOST cases), a more modest top will prove to be considerably more flattering to a woman's figure. As a general rule, the more womanly a woman's figure may be, the less she will be able to carry off the halter-top look.

[TommyDale]

As a guy, I find that women who object to how another woman dresses is almost always based on jealousy.

[Froufrou]

Well, my mother’s best friend told me once that if I really want to know how something looks on me I should always ask a man!

This from a woman who wore hot pants after she was 50!

[Froufrou]

Oh mercy! That hootchie-mama look!

I’ll say it like this: if I looked like that I wouldn’t wear that dress unless I could get my girls UP where they belong! NO SLAVES TO GRAVITY!

[calcowgirl]

I fail to see how that proves anything. What part of your excerpt are you referring to? Oh, and is “helium.com,” a site where anyone can post anything, authoritative in your “fashion police” world? Here is the author’s repertoire of articles... this rare article about halters appears to be one of her few fashion advice ventures. (In between articles about her being on the Atkins diet and how to potty-train your cat).
http://www.helium.com/user/show/74075

Back to the gal on SW Airlines: She was 23 years old, had a trim figure, wearing a dress that obviously had built in support, nothing was movin’ around.
http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=154928

[Froufrou]

I agree to disagree. I don’t care if nothing was moving around. When I see someone in a bust-enhancing garment, I believe the bust should be a perky one and this just is not a perky bosom. If they’re implants, she should ask for a refund.

Not everyone is fit enough for a wet T-shirt contest, either.

[calcowgirl]

I agree to disagree.

Actually, it appears you are choosing to avoid answering the questions because you can't support your contentions. Sobeit.

[Froufrou]

Sorry, I didn’t address your remarks about helium.com, which I found by googling ‘who should wear halters’ or words to that effect.

I don’t know who Nickerson is, but there were 8 or 9 other designers who said the same thing. I was down to her, number 7, when I posted it for reference, as an indicator that I’m not alone in my thinking on this. There really IS a fashion etiquette, whether you like it or not.

One designer even said it is never appropriate to wear halters to a wedding. Only one said they’re okay at work or in a business dress environment, which should tyically include air travelers [I know this from instructions I got with a bereavement discount.]

Also, there’s a nice quiz on ‘what not to wear’s’ webpage, if you’re so inclined.

[Froufrou]

The only thing lacking support here is that woman’s bewbs.

[calcowgirl]

I’m a frequent business traveler.

What percent of air-travelers would you guess wear “business dress” on flights to Tucson during the summer?

[007girl]

Oh no you didn’t! ahahaa

[Froufrou]

I’m not arguing with you. You really should see what the rest of designers had to say. It’s quite informative.

But to imply that wearing a halter on a plane is the “only” way to endure summer flights, which are typically air-conditioned, is ridiculous.

[007girl]

“Oh, yeah! Of course! I never miss my them! And Vogue, Cosmo, and a dozen more!
I mean, how could I ever go out in public without getting advice from the whacked out media???!!!!”

Hell to tha naw, that’s so bloody funny! :]

[calcowgirl]

But to imply that wearing a halter on a plane is the “only” way to endure summer flights, which are typically air-conditioned, is ridiculous.

Of course, I didn't imply any such thing.
You are arguing like a liberal. (changing the subject, misrepresenting my comments or wholly fabricating them, etc.)

[Froufrou]

For that matter, the South has always been a little more formal than the West coast. I’ll never forget walking into I. Magnin with my stepmother wearing shorts!

I was mortified!