November 17, 2007
Kyla Ebbert's clothing, Southwest airlines, and Playboy
Kyla Ebbert says she was wearing this outfit when she was removed from a Southwest airlines flight and told she was dressed to provocatively for a family airline:

She was able to take the flight by pulling up her top and pulling down her skirt so she didn't actually get kicked off the flight. However it was a painful experience as she felt humiliated.
Personally, I've seen more revealing outfits on planes and the only thing I wonder is if they get cold (I always wear long sleeves on a plane). What makes Southwest's behavior really weird is that they say the have no dress code as long as the appropriate places are covered (they seem to be in this photo) and a Southwest flight attendant complimented the same outfit on the return flight.
Of course, it wasn't all bad news since Kyla Ebbert made a bunch of money taking off that outfit for Playboy. Don't worry - that's a family friendly link from your family friendly travel blogger.
So was Southwest out of line or is the outfit inappropriate?
Posted by James Trotta at November 17, 2007 9:17 AM | TrackBack
It's quite clear that the skirt was the issue, and I am sure it wasn't pulled down over her thighs like that. What's offensive is that she's portrayed herself as innocent and cashed in on this BS. She's a useless disgrace to the human race!
Posted by: Michael at November 17, 2007 9:49 AMI am a 55 year old female! I fly Southwest quite often with my 16 year old grandson.I would have no problem with the way anyone dresses.Yes i am a christain i just dont judge.
Posted by: Rosetta Han at November 17, 2007 11:32 AMApparently the skirt was indeed the issue, and it was a good thing the morning show wasn't aired live, because they cut things a bit when she sat down & displayed a little too much with that too short skirt. I think the top makes her waist look higher than it is and makes the skirt look longer than it actually is.
Posted by: Hannah at November 17, 2007 2:51 PMI did not see anything wrong with her outfit. I am a 64 year old grandmother.Ive seen teenagers dress less
Posted by: Judi at November 17, 2007 3:23 PMI don't see any problem with what she was wearing - except that it is certainly not a designer outfit! Southwest might have been justified if she were in the pilot's cabin and providing a distraction...otherwise,I always say...different strokes for different folks..:-)
Posted by: Sharon at November 17, 2007 3:46 PMPersonally, I am turned on either way, but in this picture, the skirt is pulled down to her thighs - as she probably did to stay on the flight. With that skirt on her hips (seen clearly thru the blouse), there is no doubt that it would be innapropriate for anything other than a Playboy shoot OR strip club. I don't care whose grandmother you are.
Posted by: Michael at November 17, 2007 4:20 PMThe airlines should be able to set their own rules as to what is offensive to them. You know it when you see it.
She looks like a hooker. And by taking money from Playboy, she is a hooker.
Posted by: travelfan at November 17, 2007 7:40 PMI'm on Southwests side. I'm sure this gal thought she was really "hot" but there's a time and place for everything. There's no doubt in my mind that the "SKIRT" was showing alot more BELOW than was appropriate for a family airline and I'm GLAD Southwest showed some class and said something to her.
Posted by: Suzy at November 17, 2007 8:24 PMIf this young lady were my daughter, I would tell her to dress properly. It is a bad example for anywhere either on a plane, bus or any other transportation, still dress accordingly what is proper to wear when you are seen with public.
Posted by: Sylvia at November 17, 2007 9:57 PMPuhleeze! I've flown Southwest many times. Seated, who cares what anyone is or is not wearing? Who would even notice? And walking on and off the plane, if it bothers you, don't look. Lots of free publicity...lucky woman now making a mint from this.
Posted by: AF at November 18, 2007 1:48 AMI saw this young woman on the Opra show. That is where this photo comes from. When she sat down after this shot was taken she showed the whole world that she was unlike Britney, she wears panties. They were white and quite clearly on display. I was very surprised that the Opra show didn't block it out or show a different angled shot. I hope she is proud that she got to show her panties to a couple of thousand people that day.
Posted by: Dan at November 18, 2007 4:02 AMThe photo is misleading. This is the after shot. Southwest asked her to make the changes in order to fly their "family" airline. By her own admission she pulled up the white top to cover her cleavage and pulled down her shirt to cover some of her legs. This picture is what she looked after she made the requested changes and was able to return to her flight. How someone dresses is a matter of choice so is a company’s decision on how best to serve their customers. Both parties were exercising their right of choice.
Posted by: Jan at November 18, 2007 5:31 AMShall we go back to the old days where men and boys wore suits with ties and women and girls wore dresses, hats and gloves when they flew?? That is the way my family dressed when I first flew and I am only 59. Give the girl a blanket and let her be comfy.
Posted by: sherry at November 18, 2007 6:14 AMUnbelievable...hopefully you provided an adults-only link to those who "protest too much," but are so obviously intrigued by the pic!!
Posted by: Sharon at November 18, 2007 2:56 PMfrom looking at her , I say they kicked her off the plane cause she or he LOOKS like a MAN.
Posted by: lonnie at November 19, 2007 10:50 PMThe very first post upsets me. The poster is willing to go as far as stating that this woman is a "useless disgrace to the human race" based on some skimpy clothing. It says enough about the poster, I need not say more.
Now my opinion- the outfit is fine.
Let take it in different direction. So, should obese people be pulled off of flights, embarrassed and told to drop a couple tons before making the journey an absolute nightmare for the person who has to sit next to them? How about this? If Southwest tried this they would be sued. But it sure effects a lot more people that some skimpy outfit.
The grandmothers have it, get over it the rest of you.
Posted by: Vizz at November 20, 2007 8:11 AMI don't think she's a useless disgace because of the clothes she wore. I admitted that it turned me on.
I think she's a disgrace for cashing in on this. She has had an attorney on her side from day one, and even though all she said she wanted was an apology, she refused to accept it on national tv.
She says one thing and does another. She portays herself as innocent when she is not. She is a disgace!
Posted by: Michael at November 20, 2007 11:43 AMDoesn't take much to turn you on Michael...lol! You've already tried, convicted, and hung the girl...not sure what innocence has to do with making money! So, she cashed in on the media exposure, and?...certainly not the first to do so.
Posted by: Sharon at November 20, 2007 12:33 PMEveryone is naiive if they think she looked like that when she tried to board the plane. If she pulled that skirt up to her waist, her entire butt would be hanging out. The airlines were right in demanding she put on some clothes...she does look like a $3.00 hooker. Now, if they'd just monitor their supposedly PG or PG13 edited movies..that everyone on the plane, no matter their age must look at...they are offensive to some of us with children..you shouldn't have to shield your child's eyes the whole time you're on a plane! I agree with most others...the girl should put on some clothes and quit pretending she looked like that when she got on the plane..
Posted by: jan a. at January 8, 2008 8:46 PMI don't think it's good advertisement for them. From what I see it would be my last choice
Posted by: mike pineiro at January 11, 2008 2:06 PM