‘Fashion police’ incident leads to skimpy fare sale
In typical Southwest brash fashion, the airline is trying to make a marketing ploy out of the two widely publicized incidents where it apparently discouraged women fliers because of their attire.
The airline announced “skimpy” sale fares of $49 to $109 in honor of miniskirts.
“It is quite humorous, given that we were born with hot pants,” said Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly. “We’re trying to be good-humored about all this.”
Ms Kyla Ebbert was involved in the first incident when an airline employee asked her to change her miniskirt and sweater or get off an airplane in San Diego.
After pulling down her skirt, she was allowed to stay on the plane to Tucson, Ariz.
Ms Ebbert’s account and a similar one by another young California woman led to unfavorable news coverage and internet chatter about Southwest Airlines.
“Newspaper columnists and bloggers derided the airline – which in the 1970s put its stewardesses in hot pants and called itself ‘The love airline’ – as prudish,” said the AP.
Mr Kelly declined to give his opinion of Ms Ebbert’s outfit but said the airline needs to “lean towards the customer.”
Report by David Wilkening
David
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