For the second time in recent months, Southwest Airlines became the “fashion police.”
Southwest Airlines said it will apologize to a passenger who was told he would be removed from a flight if he didn’t change clothes.
Joe Winiecki, of Largo, Fla., boarded a Southwest flight in Columbus, Ohio, wearing a fishing shop T-shirt which featured the words, “Master Baiter.”
Mr Winiecki, who was traveling home, said he was in his seat when an employee told him he had to change his T-shirt, turn it inside out, or get off the plane.
He protested that the airline was infringing on his right to free speech, but changed his shirt fearing he would miss the flight and a day’s work.
Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said Friday the employee made a mistake because the Dallas-based airline does not have a dress code.
The airline was apologetic for the second time. The first came when a college student wearing a denim miniskirt and a sweater over a tank top was told to change her outfit or get off a flight departing from San Diego.
After the Ebbert encounter, Southwest President Colleen Barrett sent employees a generally worded e-mail reminding them that the airline has no dress code.
Southwest, like other airlines, has language in its contract of carriage that states it reserves the right to deny service to customers whose clothing is “lewd, obscene or patently offensive,” according to the AP.
Report by David Wilkening
