Spirit Airlines Faces Backlash Over Dress Code Enforcement on Flight

Two women from the United States have accused Spirit Airlines of unjustly removing them from a flight due to their attire, specifically the wearing of crop tops. The incident reportedly took place on a Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to New Orleans, leading to significant social media attention and public debate over airline dress codes.

Tara Kehidi, along with her friend who is identified only as Teresa, documented their confrontation with a Spirit Airlines flight attendant. The footage, which has been widely circulated online, shows the women being asked to leave the plane, sparking accusations of sexism and discrimination against the low-cost airline.

Teresa, in a post on Instagram, claimed that a male flight attendant demanded they exit the flight, citing their crop tops as inappropriate. “My friend and I had a terrible experience on Friday on flight 387,” Teresa wrote, highlighting that they were supposedly targeted due to their clothing. She argued that the incident was exacerbated by the flight attendant’s sexist attitudes, despite other passengers and flight staff disagreeing with the attendant’s actions.

Spirit Airlines, in a statement provided to The Independent, acknowledged the incident and noted that their Contract of Carriage imposes “certain clothing standards” for passengers. The contract indicates that passengers may be removed if their attire is deemed “lewd, obscene or offensive.” The airline confirmed that they are investigating the incident and maintaining communication with the affected passengers.

During the altercation, a mother and her toddler were also allegedly made to leave the aircraft along with Kehidi and Teresa, although the reasons for their removal are unclear. In the video, the mother can be heard questioning the decision to remove her and her child.

Teresa further alleged that after being deplaned, the supervisor who promised to rebook their flights failed to do so and declined to provide a refund. Faced with these circumstances, Teresa claimed to have incurred a considerable expense of $1,000 in rebooking with a different airline.

The encounter has led to widespread reactions, with many on social media condemning the airline’s handling of the situation. Passengers present during the incident have supported Teresa’s account, describing the flight attendant’s behavior as inappropriate and unnecessary.

As public discussion over airline dress codes continues, this case adds to a series of recent airline controversies surrounding attire and passenger removal policies, prompting calls for clearer and more equitable standards.

The Independent and other media outlets continue to seek further comments from Teresa and Spirit Airlines as the investigation unfolds.