- Spirit Airlines has updated its rules for passengers.
- It said passengers with lewd tattoos or who are inadequately clothed can be denied boarding.
- Being “inadequately clothed” includes “exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts.”
Spirit Airlines has tightened its rules for passengers.
Effective as of last Wednesday, the changes outline unacceptable clothing and appearances for travelers.
Section 4.3 of Spirit’s Contract of Carriage says passengers won’t be allowed to board or may be required to leave a plane if they are “inadequately clothed.”
For example, it lists “see-through clothing; not adequately covered; exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts.”
The rules also say clothing or body art, like tattoos, that are “lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature” may also result in removal.
Passengers also aren’t allowed to be barefoot.
Most airlines have fairly vague policies on things like clothing, meaning it is usually left to employees like gate agents and the flight crew to decide what is, or is not, acceptable.
Spirit is now being more precise with the definition of “inadequately clothed.”
It comes after several incidents across US airlines have made headlines in recent years.
Fliers have said they have been denied boarding or escorted off a plane for such reasons as wearing leggings, shorts that were too short, and not wearing a bra under a T-shirt.
Disruptions during or after the boarding process can cause delays. These might not only be annoying for fellow passengers but can also impact the airline’s bottom line. As a budget airline, Spirit relies on having its planes flying as much as possible.
The airline has been struggling in recent months.
Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last November. It announced plans to sell $500 million worth of planes and cut staff.
