A woman freaked out after reading airline fine print and claimed Spirit and Delta can boot you with no refund for wearing crop tops, flip-flops, or pajamas. And online commenters freaked out, and of course split between ‘people are just trying to be comfortable’ and ‘people are gross’.
Of course, the actual policies are broader and vaguer than her rant. Spirit updated its Contract of Carriage last year to spell out “barefoot or inadequately clothed” (including see-through, exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts) and lewd, obscene or offensive clothing or body art, with enforcement at staff discretion.
Dressing that way, though, is almost a requirement for Spirit Airlines passengers. So perhaps they hoped to avoid a second bankruptcy by denying boarding to everyone and keeping their fare?
@mayaslife.04 Like are we in middle school? #fyp #airport #flying #trips #dresscode ♬ original sound – Maya Isabelle
@mayaslife.04 Replying to @Coloblonde just my opinion! #flying #airlines #fyp #dresscode ♬ original sound – Maya Isabelle
She says Delta and Spirit will kick you off with no refund if you have a crop top or are wearing flip-flops. She adds that they “don’t want” pajamas or sweats, and jokes airlines shouldn’t police outfits in a “tin can in the sky.” She does acknowledge, though, that passengers shouldn’t be subjected to smelling each others’ feet.
She insists that for a 6-hour flight she’s wearing sweats/pajamas. Paging Sean Duffy! A couple of takes do seem reasonable here, even if we’re a long way from when my mother used to make me dress up to fly cross-country as an unaccompanied minor (over 40 years ago!).
- If you want high class, deliver a high-class product. Seats are too small to not be comfortable. But often first class passengers behave just as badly (and Spirit offers first class now, too!)
- Flip flops are a problem because you shouldn’t inflict a man’s toes on someone else, feet can smell, and people take them off to go to the lavatory. RFK, Jr. does!
DISGUSTING!! What sort of person walks BAREFOOT down a plane aisle — in first class, no less. Even worse, it was on his way to the toilet!
RFK Jr is a really strange dude. pic.twitter.com/tQXdYUtGfz
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) November 13, 2023
Here’s what Spirit’s Contract of Carriage actually says, though. A passenger may be refused or removed if they are “barefoot or inadequately clothed.” As for Delta, “barefoot” is a specific example where they may refuse transportion or remove a passenger. Leave your shoes on!
Delta threatened to kick off a braless passenger and removed a veteran over an ‘End Veteran Suicide’ shirt, forcing her to strip and booting her out of extra-legroom Comfort+ seating.
Meanwhile, a woman and her sister whose shorts were too trashy for Spirit got kicked off in Miami.
American Airlines actually wouldn’t let a two-time cancer survivor wear her ‘F-cancer’ hoodie though later apologized, saying the employee was wrong. But another passenger wasn’t allowed to wear ‘F-12’ (anti-police message) which just underscores how much discretion and how little guidance is given. American also told a former Miss Universe to cover up if she wanted to fly. She was wearing clothing less revealing than others on the same flight.
What is wrong with people these days. Can’t everyone dress business casual for airplanes, or possibly business attire for higher classes of service? People who dress with rude slogans on their t-shirts or hats, or expose their body should be kicked off and banned.
Am I supposed to have moral outrage over the fact that airlines done want passengers dressing like skanks on the plane?
Grow up my little snowflake. Everything is not all about you. There are social norms whether your entitled ass likes it or not.
I wish more airlines would be more assertive in enforcing community standards.
I do get tired to people dressing like trash on a plane. PJs may be the rage, but you look stupid wearing them on a plane. Except for the long flights where it is the norm.
The “look at me” crowd with the low cut tops, thongs showing and guys with jeans falling off their a** are all inconsiderate of others.
Lastly shoes, if your plane has to ground evacuate or worse flip flops or candles aren’t going to protect your feet. Then you will be trying to sue someone for your stupidity.
Dress for the occasion or stay home.
@Raphael Solomon – Dress “business casual” on airplanes? Huh? This isn’t the 60s dude. First of all I am old enough (67) and been traveling extensively since the mid-80s to remember when it was normal to see almost everyone in the first class cabin in suits (mainly because heading to a business meeting, not due to dress code).
I agree with not wearing offensive t shirts or clothing that exposes various body parts but I have no problem dressing comfortably for a flight. If I’m in domestic first it is jeans or shorts (depending on time of year) and on international business class usually joggers or sweats since I want to be comfortable on long haul flights. If you look at the people boarding in first or business on leading international carriers the vast majority are dressed casually. You can “want” all you desire and feel free to dress however you want but don’t go trying to impose your ridiculous standard in 2026 on others.
Pajamas. Seriously?
@RetiredGambler. You sound like a lot of fun. Hope I never wind up beside you on a flight
@RetiredGambler. good thing you are retired.
Flip flops are for the beach PERIOD
Pjs are for your bedroom PERIOD
Skank wear is for Playboy PERIOD.
if you do not like it THEN DO NOT FLY
Why is it most of the time women who have to dress the part of TRASH and then say they are not treated the same as a man?
Can a 50 yr old pot belly guy get on the plane in wife beater and speedo?
Can a 30 yr old guy get on a the plane with a T shirt that says “women are house wife’s and baby makers, keep them barefoot at home out of the office”
There is no reason there should be any rules that are stricter about dress than you’d find anywhere where people are together for a while – stadiums, movie theaters, buses, malls. The days are long past when airplanes were romanticized as smoke-filled elegant transportation for the rich. Dress for comfort. If someone doesn’t like it, they can look the other way.
Flip-flops are a safety hazard. They slow people down when walking in the airport, are dangerous to navigate escalators, and could slow an evacuation in an emergency.
@Thing1 and @Tomri:. And the last time I flew Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class to LHR they gave me a very nice set of pyjamas and socks to wear on the flight.
If the airline passes them out to their best customers (VA Upper Class), why is it a problem?
P.S. I still have them – they are very comfortable.
Here is a clue for those with no common sense – flying is not the same as going to Wal Mart.
May I suggest they fly Frontier. They will find lots of low class people just like themselves. The overweight women can have a contest inflight as to whose breasts out hang out the most. The overweight men can do same with their wifebeaters.
@tomri – did you not read my post or do you just have comprehension issues? I NEVER said flip flops or other inappropriate attire was correct. Personally I adhere to the “no one wants to see a man’s feet” line and only wear flip flops at the beach or pool. Also, won’t be wearing pajamas on a plane. However, I think the “wear business casual” and bemoaning the current trends sounds like the old guy on the porch yelling at kids to get off his lawn. You won’t change the move to more casual attire. And for flying there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to dress up. Be comfortable. Trust me I wear appropriate clothes but also dress like many frequent fliers for comfort. I’m not trying to impress anyone and frankly don’t give a damn what anyone thinks. Half the first class cabin is in shorts to a leisure destination in the summer and the vast majority of business class passengers on long-haul flights are in sweats, joggers or other comfortable clothes. It is frankly YOU and many others on here that are out of touch with the current norms. Again you be you but don’t tell me or others what to do!
When I fly, I’m wearing shorts/sweats and a t-shirt. Actually, that’s what I’m wearing unless I’m at work, a job interview, or a religious service. Anyone who doesn’t like that can attach their lips to my posterior.
Brian L. If that is how you feel, why not just go to the job interview the same way?
@Brian
Why do you get dressed up for religious services? Didn’t Jesus walk around in sandels?
@David
You are correct. Flying is not the same as going to Walmart. More fights on Spirit than WalMart.
AlanZ – not necessarally true – depends where you live…
@David R. Miller — And, which ‘red’ state might that be, sir?
Smelly feet are due to wearing footwear that doesn’t breathe and having the person sweat. Leather and cloth footwear are sometimes fine but synthetic uppers will trap moisture and that can lead to bacterial or fungal foot odor. Flip flops and other types of open footwear are worn by most people in tropical areas. I can say with certainty about those in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, that their feet don’t stink in general and foot odor is much more of a problem in the USA than in Southeast Asia. I still support the airlines requiring closed footwear but not because of the seeming lie about smelly feet being due to wearing flipflops.
A second observation is about pajamas. While I support an airline banishing wearing pajamas on a flight, it should be applied uniformly. Therefore no pajamas to wear during long haul flights in first class. If pajamas can be worn by some, they can be worn by any. Pajamas are not only for the bedroom is some of Asia. They can be worn to the market without a problem. They can actually be worn in many places without a problem.
I try to dress appropriately when I travel. And if you need a seminar about what “appropriate” means, then don’t bother going to the airport. I don’t like traveling with classless clowns. Stay off my plane. Hitchhike or take a freighter.
When people wear pajamas in public, do they then sleep in the same pajamas? Or do they have pajamas for outdoor use only? Why are most people ok with dirty pajamas? This is going to keep me awake at night.
The pajamas that I have seen worn in public by the locals in Southeast Asia have been clean and in good shape. They probably have worn them for sleeping but I don’t know for sure.
If you want to wear pajama pants, go with black. Nobody will notice the difference.
3 weeks ago
My wife and I had PAID First class tickets – and we had reservations for two dogs for which we PAID for. We got to the counter – told – we can NOT fly on that flight – but we can book you through ATL and then on to your destination. I asked for a Supervisor – was told NO, then I asked for a Red Shirt – was told NOT happening… Well I am a NORMAL first class passenger, with a LOT of SkyMiles, and and ALWAYS pay – I do not use upgrades when flying with my wife and dogs. Well – we get to ATL – we run to our next flight at a different terminal and each at the end of each terminal. We get on board – the gate agent then PULLED me off the flight – told me I could NOT go – he refused to let me get back on board – so my wife with ONE dog stayed and I had to take another flight – I asked for a Red Shirt – NOT happening… I was quite PISSED to say the least – DELTA has definitely gotten worse… OH and the first leg of the flight we were on a OLD LION Delta 737 – the seat did not recline – NONE of the power outlets worked – – NOTHING and I paid First class prices for this!! Well I called and wrote Delta – guess what I got – a MEASLY 2000 points – total Bullshit. So last weekend I decided to try BREEZE – WOW- AWESOME experience, my seats were clean (and did NOT smell like Vomit like the Delta plane), the outlets worked and the SEATS – OMG _ they reclined BEYOUND my imagination – BREEZE – your WIN – DELTA _ a BIG fat LOSER! Hey ED – yes – if you are reading – this – YOUR AIRLINE is GOING in the Tanks – and you might want to look up who I am – because I am refusing to take care of any Delta pilot that walks in my office – I had enough of the DELTA priviledge!
MAGA law may be on the way to enforce on board criminals.
Perhaps Kristi knockout Knome can come up with the proper punishment if one does the crimes.This could perhaps give Ice some over time removing them off flights
Deport some of them?
The Trump administration’s Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has launched a “The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You” campaign urging passengers to “dress with respect” and stop wearing pajamas/loungewear on planes
. This is a voluntary courtesy initiative to improve civility, not a strict, mandatory federal rule.
Key Aspects of the Campaign:
Goal: The campaign seeks to “restore courtesy and class to air travel” in response to increased in-flight disturbances.
Focus: Officials are encouraging passengers to avoid dressing “like they’re going to bed”.
Voluntary: The initiative does not include bans on specific clothing, but rather encourages a change in behavior.
Airline Discretion: While the federal government is promoting this, individual airlines (e.g., Spirit Airlines, American Airlines) already have policies allowing them to deny boarding for inappropriate, lewd, or offensive clothing.
The campaign has sparked debate, with some supporting more polished attire and others arguing that comfort should be the priority, according to reports from The Independent.
Nope to business casual. I’m permanently unemployed and have no reason to ever wear business casual. I only own one suit now. It hangs in a garment bag in my closet with shirts, ties, etc., as a “go bag” of sorts if I need to attend a funeral. I wear jeans and a colored t-shirt or polo everyday. That’s what I’m wearing on the plane tomorrow (in coach if it matters). I’m never the best dressed in F/J, but clearly more than acceptable. I wear shoes, and they stay on my feet (unless I’m using slippers in long-haul J). I never wear shorts except at/to/from the gym. Even if I thought shorts were appropriate for me to wear in public, an airplane is no place for bare legs (enjoy the slide).
The dumb masses that fly, or any public travel for that matter, overlook one major consideration …SAFETY. While the chances of an accident in any mode of “public” transportation (except auto-mobiles), is rare…it does happen. Every time I fly, I note these people in flip flops, shorts, pajamas and the like getting on an airplane. Those ARE the people who have increased their chances of serious injury or death. Having jumped down a slide during flight training and recurrent, I can tell you first hand…your skin will be burned by friction alone. You WILL lose your flip flops. Your bare legs, arms, floppy boobs and bare butt will be burned if there’s a fire. This is not an “alarmist whine, this is fact. The dumb masses don’t get it. While I will TRY to help someone, I have to think about my safety as well. I want to survive just like the next person. Therefore, I dress accordingly. “This comes to mind”, you are correct!