Spot on, on the big boobie observation. If she was smaller on top the outfit would be 'cute' and 'sporty.' I get that from time to time. My sister (the A cup) and I (D cup) can be wearing the same kind of outfit, but I'm the one dressed inappropriately.

Memo to world: Boobies happen. When it's hot out you might see a little. Get over it.

This is really upsetting because Southwest are nearly always the cheapest airline from Chicago to anywhere west, and also the flight attendants are all usually hilarious, accomodating, and mixed gender. In their casual shorts and polo top get-ups, I've always appreciated their laid-back attitude to service. I flew a few weeks ago from Oakland to Chicago, and we had a bumpy landing. One of them came over the loudspeaker to say "Phew!" and breathe a sigh of relief for us.

This blows.

If I knew how to sew, I'd make one of those vintage Southwest Airlines flight attendant uniforms and wear it on one of their flights.

Even though the top of the first woman's outfit wasn't revealing at all, I still agree with the big boob comment. Nobody would find that green halter top revealing if I, who have small boobs, wore it. The point of a halter is to emphasize smaller breasts, but if someone wants to emphasize their big boobs, go right ahead.

This woman's name is Setara Qassim. That sounds like a Middle Eastern name. If she went on that flight wearing a hijab, she'd probably be kicked off for suspected terrorism.

this is such a disgrace. southwest was my fav airline because of the fun atmosephere but now i totally agree.
BOYCOTT SOUTHWEST!

it will be interesting to see if they defend the flight attendent

long ago before any of this came up, i booked a flight on southwest for this weekend. so on this, what i'm guessing will be my last southwest flight for quite some time, i'm seriously considering showing some cleavage just to get them cranky.

Chest hair and mustaches offend me. Shouldn't the males cover up, too?

In the case of the big-busted woman, I suppose the airline's thinking goes like this: it is possible that a male pilot (and most pilots, of course, are males in this well-paying profession) will catch a fleeting glimpse of the "inappropriately" attired young lady. The sight of the woman's breasts, of course, will force the poor male pilot to have an involuntary erection, thus causing him to be completely distracted and disoriented, perhaps even necessitating that he run off to the restroom to masturbate, if the woman sufficiently meets the standards established by his animalistic fantasies. After all, he is nothing more than the poor victim of his maleness. Accordingly, this buxom female distraction will endanger the safety of the passengers and could cause the plane to crash.

Rather than forcing the woman to cover up, I have a much simpler solution: ban males from flying the planes or, for that matter, doing anything where females are present, due to the fact that -- to borrow the Supreme Court's words when they exempted helpless women from selective service -- men are not "similarly situated" for purposes of thinking when the opposite sex is present. Their dicks take over their minds.

I don't think if she was small breasted she would have looked more "appropriate". I'm small breasted and shirts like that are always cut too big so any fast movements and I'd be flashing my bra (or lack there-of). There's a lot of low-cut tops I'd like but what's designed to show a cute amount of cleavage on an average woman shows off my entire breasts when it's on me. But that's all beside the point. Carry on with the well-deserved complaints for Southwest.

Oh for fuck's sake. This is just stupid. It's not like they were naked or anything. In my opinion, if your naughty bits (boobs, cooter, arse) are covered, then it's not offensive.

My understanding is that, in both cases, SW was responding to a complaint from another customer.

Personally, I think Southwest should adopt a "no bluenoses" policy, but barring that, here's hoping they realize that "I'm sorry ma'am/sir, but there's nothing I can do." is the best response.

It does bring to mind a larger question. I will flag down an employee if there's a problem with my food in a restaurant, or the air conditioning somewhere, or maybe if I need a pillow when I'm on a plane. Who flags down a steward to complain about someone else's outfit? I mean, what the hell?

I would have stuffed the blanket down that flight attendant's throat. Airplane blankets are disgusting, they NEVER wash them.

I agree with all the people who have commented and said this outfit isn't offensive.

But I think whether it's offensive or not is beside the point. I don't think a Southwest should allow it's flight attendants to decide what is and isn't offensive or go by customary complaints. If they want a dress code for their flights it should be clearly stated to the ticket buyer at the time they buy their ticket. Without a clearly spelled out dress code policy, they basically have a free license to discriminate. It's as if police officers were allowed to randomly stop people and publically embarrass them based on the officers personal preferences.

I think you're right, Jessica, it is already being applied discriminately against women who have the audacity to have big breasts.

and I meant customer complaints...

Did you see the opinion piece in the Trib?? http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/takingoff/2007/09/southwest-says-.html
They are thanking SW airlines.
I am just freaked about that. Queen Victoria may come back to celebrate.

how ridiculous....why should it matter what she was wearing? it's not like she was causing trouble or disturbing the peace!

Both of these cases are ridiculous. I mean, they're dressed. Even if they are responding to other customers, those customers should relax. These are young, attractive women dressing a way that they feel is appropriate. You wouldn't catch me in that short skirt the first one was wearing; my legs aren't nearly cascading enough.

No shirt, no A-cups, no service?

So I am sure everyone here agrees that southwest is being silly. But do you think there is ever an outfit where the airline has a right to make a comment?

For example, if someone showed up in the outfit above in a bikini? In just bra and underwear? In the outfit below? No shirt no shoes no serive?

The reason I ask is because I have seen people in public with those outfits (the last time I was in a supermarket a very attractive woman by conventional standards was wearing just a t-shirt and a thong bikini).

Just wondering where people draw the line between publicly acceptable vs. not, and to what extent businesses can police their establishments.

Southwest can also deny a seat to a person who smells really bad, which I think is an excellent policy. I, however, do not agree that Southwest should have the right to kick someone off the plane for being a poor dresser.

This makes me want to starting complaining about all the other passangers on my next flight just to see what they do.

"excuse me? that lady is wearing too much perfume"
"that man's pants are too tight"
"that man's hawaiian shirt is by far too bold"

Being from Chicago as well, I agree heartily with String_Bean_Jen... I've flown tons of times with Southwest, and I'm always telling other people how friendly and funny their staff is. But this is ridiculous. I think some letter writing is in order!

Lucretia-

Not only that, I have been offended many a time by the images on men's shirts, hawaiian or otherwise. Maybe the next time they have a MALE passenger on their plane with an offensive slogan or half naked woman on their shirt, someone should complain and have him handed a blanket!

Allow me to offer a theory for the underlying cause of the airline's overreaction. I am reasonably certain that the on-board staff did not consult the airline's corporate office for guidance on these incidents but more likely the incidents were prompted by a complaint.

My experience is that, sadly, women are more likely to complain about such things, sadly. Men are often hypocritically puritanical about such matters, but women are often the vocal ones. Why is that?

I believe women who are indoctrinated into the patriarchy have been inculcated into believing that their husbands and sons and men in general should not be subjected to the temptation of female flesh. Heaven forbid the poor dears should have an involuntary erection. Thus, they take it on themselve, unconsciously, to assume the role of zookeepers, protecting their animals from their base, uncivilized natures. Think of it, in a man-free society, how many women really would be offended?

In a non-patriarchal world, men would control themselves and not give their women cause to fear that they would behave like animals.

I think that's a very good analysis, MsPitt.

Women who object to public displays of female breast/thigh/whathaveyou are always doing so for the sake of their husbands or male children.

Which number should we contact? Customer Relations or Public Relations? I want my complaint to go to the right asshats.

hahaha...you said asshat...love that word...

OH! for crying out loud! living in hawaii, you would be surprised what people walk around in...if these people get all bent out of shape over a low cut top and a short skirt...what would they think about a woman in starbucks in a bikini and a towel...oh yeah and no shoes...not even slippers...

women on the planes to or from the island wear bikinis/cutoffs...men wear the big "mumus", hardly anyone wears shoes...it's as relaxed as can be...granted it probably has a lot to do w/ the climate here...but still...there isn't a thing wrong w/ it...if someone is comfortable walking around a certain way...why does anyone else have the right to tell them how to dress?

i don't get it...

i am flying to the mainland this weekend...maybe i will have to test it out...

am I the only one who has the urge to book a flight on Southwest and wear a shirt in support of these women? Preferably a low cut shirt that will show off my obviously far too large breasts?

The sexist pig in me objects to this practice on the grounds that people* enjoy looking at women in "revealing" outfits and that anyone who seeks to prevent women from wearing them is needlessly reducing the total pleasure in the world.

*And by people, I mean me.

Doug S., I suspect that men like you are the reason that, in all likelihood, some women complained to the airline. Even women indoctrinated in the patriarchy realize on some level that it is dehumanizing to women for men to view them in the manner you so piggishly describe. Such women believe the attire at issue is wrong precisely because of male reactions such as yours. The trouble, Dougie boy, is that you shouldn't need to have women policing you with a leash around your fucking balls to stop you from behaving like a dog.

I'd rather drive by car than to get on ANY airliner. So, I'm boycotting them all!!!

Pretty sad that you have to use 10 year old boys as an excuse to cover up 23 year old women.

Sorry, Stacey I have to disagree with your remark about Southwest or any other airliner kicking people off just because they smell bad. They should have no right to kick anyone off just because they smell bad. That is discrimination, as well. People who smell bad have a right to get on a plane. Just like what we are discussing about women who chooses to dress slutty. It is her right to dress like that.

You know, my daughter is going to coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and I usually fly her on Southwest because it's 50 to 100 dollars cheaper. I'll spend the money I don't really have to fly her on another airline because of this kind of crap, and I'm going to write them and tell them so.

Doug S, and by "women" you mean women who live up to the beauty ideal.

"I believe women who are indoctrinated into the patriarchy have been inculcated into believing that their husbands and sons and men in general should not be subjected to the temptation of female flesh. Heaven forbid the poor dears should have an involuntary erection."

I bet some of them have also calculated the odds of their husbands leaving them for younger, perkier women.

When a housewife lives on her husband's income and knows he married her for her looks, heaven forbid he now see someone whose looks matches his tastes more than his wife's looks have for years...

"Sorry, Stacey I have to disagree with your remark about Southwest or any other airliner kicking people off just because they smell bad. They should have no right to kick anyone off just because they smell bad. That is discrimination, as well. People who smell bad have a right to get on a plane. Just like what we are discussing about women who chooses to dress slutty. It is her right to dress like that."

For that matter what if someone smells bad *because* she *doesn't* "dress slutty" in very hot weather?

Squeaky Wheel Airlines.

How sad. The first time around, I assumed it was the actions of one rogue employee. Now, it may be a trend. Would these nice Southwestern employees feel more comfortable if all the attractive female passengers wore burkhas?

"Sorry, Stacey I have to disagree with your remark about Southwest or any other airliner kicking people off just because they smell bad. They should have no right to kick anyone off just because they smell bad. That is discrimination, as well."

Jovan, I assume you have not flown coach a lot. Throwing people off who do not practice any sort of personal hygeine, for the sake of everyone else, is one sort of discrimination that I am in FULL FAVOR of, at least on airplanes! :O

Erm . . . can we not use words like slutty? Okay thanks.

While this woman's plight is an outrage, I am sick and tired of seeing people offer up the burqua as a hysterical alternative. To most people in the West, a "burqua" is a catch-all term to describe the head-coverings of Muslim women. Please educate yourself.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils/html/1.stm

Y'know, I'm now reminded of the Naked Air airline. of this airline:

http://www.naked-air.com/

"While this woman's plight is an outrage, I am sick and tired of seeing people offer up the burqua as a hysterical alternative. To most people in the West, a 'burqua' is a catch-all term to describe the head-coverings of Muslim women. Please educate yourself."

For all I know, ForbiddenComma was not using "burka" as a catch-all term for any hijab including the shayla but actually using it as a term for something like a chador but with a mesh covering the face.

"To most people in the West, a "burqua" is a catch-all term to describe the head-coverings of Muslim women."

I was not referring to the headscarves. I was specifically meaning full-body coverings, due to the airline employee ordering the passenger to cover herself with a *blanket*.

And not to derail the thread too much but... despite what allowances we need to make for cultural differences and such, I will never, EVER see the full-body burkha or chador as anything less than a tool of oppression and humiliation against women. It was specifically designed out of the fears men have towards female sexuality, and is a natural partner for the horror of FGM. (sorry for the minirant... carry on...)

yourfuneralmytrial,

Ordinarily, I do feel like the burkha is a hysterical jump, but I think it makes sense in this case because Qassim is a Muslim name. She might not actually be Muslim, of course. I'm just judging based on her name.

If she had actually gotten on a plane wearing a light, airy hijab that didn't make her hot, someone would likely have complained about there being a "terrorist" in their midst. It would be wrong and obnoxious either way, but stupidity knows no bounds.

This concerns me as a large-breasted young woman who is considered attractive in that patriarchally approved manner. I look breasty in a polo shirt. I look breasty in a turtleneck. Can't large-breasted women exist in our society without someone acting like our every action occurs only to attract male attention? I don't even LIKE attention.

Lastly, I'm sensitive to scents, but I wouldn't complain about the specific person. I would probably just ask if the flight attendant could move me to another seat away from the overly scented person. Because it's my issue, not his or hers.

"It was specifically designed out of the fears men have towards female sexuality,"

That's why some people have promoted it in recent centuries, but I'm not so sure that's specifically why it was designed.

Consider how hairy we Middle Eastern women can be, how so few men (including the ones who gave us these genes!) like to see thick beard and moustache and arm hair stubble on women in public, and how much weaker hair-removal tech was 3000 years ago...

"and is a natural partner for the horror of FGM."

What about those Iranian women who promote chadors and abhor FGM, and what about those Masai women who don't wear chadors yet do force FGM on girls?

Not to derail the thread, but even that BBC thing gets the terminology a little wrong. What they're describing as a "burqa" is what a lot of Islamic cultures would call an "Afghan burqa." An actual burqa in the non-Afghan sense is a three-piece head-covering consisting of a headscarf, a veil that usually ties on over the nose, and a screen/veil part that covers the eyes. It comes down to past the shoulders, but no further, and is usually worn with a chador or another voluminous overgarment of a similar type. In Saudi Arabia, you'd probably wear a burqa with an abaya.

Having been in situations (voluntarily) lots of times where I've been covered head to toe in fabric, with only my hands and face showing, in extreme heat, I can say there are definite advantages to lots of layers of long, loose clothing. Being a Western woman with dark hair and pale skin, I have to say I kind of envy the Muslim women around here who wear light-coloured veils in the summer. I know from personal experience that even having a piece of cloth on your head is cooler than having the sun beating down on your (dark) hair... I like wearing a hi