Woman forced to wear flight attendant’s jumper on Southwest Airlines flight to cover up ‘lewd’ outfit
A woman was left feeling “humiliated” on a Southwest Airlines flight after she claims she was asked to cover up her outfit or face being removed from the plane.
Eve J Marie, 26, who was travelling with her seven-year-old son, alleges that she was forced to borrow a flight attendant’s jumper and tie it around her for the entirety of the service from Dallas to Tulsa.
The model and influencer detailed her experience in a video shared to social media, saying that she was particularly upset as a frequent flier who spends $90,000 (£69,000) a year with the airline.
“I have just landed and I’m so p****d off,” she said. “I’m trying not to let it ruin my day.
“I literally was almost escorted off the airline because of my outfit, which really p*****d me off because I had a connecting flight, and nobody said anything on the first flight.”
Eve added that she was a “loyal customer”, so much so that she has a Southwest companion pass, meaning people travelling with her can fly for free.
“It’s really disappointing when you’re discriminated against because of your outfit,” she said.
Eve told The Sun that she felt “completely humiliated, embarrassed and highly offended” when a flight attendant threatened to remove her if she didn’t change her clothes.
In the video, she can be seen wearing a low-cut leopard-print top.
“I felt like the other women on the plane were judging me based on my attire and they were saying my breasts are too large,” she said.
The flight attendant, who Eve claimed was “apologetic”, eventually lent her a jumper to cover up her cleavage.
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After landing, Eve says she contacted Southwest’s head office, which apologised and offered her $100 credit in compensation. She said this wasn’t “enough for the humiliation and discrimination” she endured.
“I was completely upset and embarrassed at how I was treated,” she said.
“Nobody could tell me what exactly their 'dress code policy' was.”
Eve has said she wants a public apology, better diversification training, a clear and fair dress code policy that is the same across all flights, and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Like other US airlines, Southwest has a clause in its Conditions of Carriage referring to passengers’ dress.
“Engaging in lewd, obscene or patently offensive behaviour, including wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene or patently offensive,” is grounds for being removed from a flight.
The Independent has contacted Southwest for comment.
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