‘Offensive’ Tattoos and Revealing Clothing Are Now on Spirit Airlines’ No-Fly List

Spirit Airlines has sparked debate with its latest dress code policy update, becoming one of the few U.S. airlines to explicitly define what attire could prevent passengers from boarding or remaining on a flight.

Under its revised contract of carriage, a legal document outlining the airline’s responsibilities and passenger rights, travelers may be denied boarding or removed if they are deemed to be “inadequately clothed” or wearing attire or body art that is “lewd, obscene, or offensive.”

What Does ‘Inadequately Clothed’ Mean?

Spirit Airlines now provides a clearer definition of what it considers inappropriate attire, stating that passengers must not have their breasts, buttocks, or other private areas exposed, nor wear sheer clothing.

However, the policy remains vague regarding offensive tattoos, leaving much of the interpretation up to Spirit’s employees, including flight attendants. This subjectivity raises concerns about inconsistent enforcement and the potential for biased or arbitrary decisions.

A History of Airline Dress Code Controversies

Spirit Airlines is not the first airline to make headlines for dress code enforcement. In the past, various carriers have faced backlash for barring passengers over leggings, short shorts, clothing with expletives, or even not wearing a bra.

Bobby Laurie, a former flight attendant and co-host of The Jet Set travel show, noted that enforcing dress codes is highly subjective.

“What someone might find offensive or lewd, someone else may not,” Laurie explained.
“Typically, removing a passenger over attire requires agreement from multiple airline employees.”

This lack of uniformity in enforcement has led to instances where passengers have felt unfairly targeted or embarrassed.

How Other Airlines Handle Dress Codes

While Spirit Airlines has now detailed its dress code rules more explicitly, most U.S. airlines maintain vague or loosely defined policies. Here’s how major airlines compare:

• Spirit Airlines: Prohibits bare feet and attire deemed “inadequate, lewd, obscene, or offensive.”
• Southwest Airlines: Bans clothing that is “lewd, obscene, or patently offensive” but provides no further clarification.
• United Airlines: Denies boarding to passengers who are barefoot, improperly clothed, or wearing attire deemed offensive.
• Delta Air Lines: Removes passengers if their clothing presents an “unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance” to others.
• American Airlines: Requires passengers to “dress appropriately”, meaning no bare feet or offensive clothing.
• JetBlue Airways: Prohibits passengers over five years old from being barefoot and bans lewd or obscene attire.
• Alaska Airlines: Similar to Delta, restricting attire that creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance.

Passenger Rights and Airline Discretion

While airlines have the legal right to enforce dress codes, critics argue that vague guidelines leave too much room for personal judgment, which can lead to inconsistent applications.

Many passengers are now questioning:

• Who decides what is considered offensive?
• Will enforcement vary depending on the staff on duty?
• Could this lead to discrimination or bias?

Spirit’s new policy places greater responsibility on its employees, who must now judge attire and determine what crosses the line.

A Stricter Era for Airline Dress Codes?

Spirit Airlines’ move could set a precedent for other airlines to reconsider their own dress code policies. However, the airline has not clarified how it will train staff to ensure fair and consistent enforcement.

As the airline industry continues to navigate passenger rights versus corporate policies, the debate over dress codes, personal expression, and discrimination is likely to intensify.