Topic : 03/06 Etiquette Dilemmas

As a Southwest flight attendant, I appreciate the manner in which Dr. Phil handed the Kyla situation on his show. I really have no comment on Kyla's outfit, as I was not onboard the airlplane that day and therefore do not know all of the circumstances surrounding the incident.  I do think that SWA's public apology was adequate, and it seemed as though Dr. Phil was in agreement. I am certainly opposed to frivolous lawsuits in general, and I was pleased to hear Dr. Phil express a similar sentiment,

That said, I think it's important to point out that most flight attendants are not the militant villians they are often made out to be. Southwest is a fun-loving airline, and our employees do, in fact, receive extensive training regarding customer service. Though I enjoy my job, I am challenged by customer service-related issues on a daily basis. I try to be fair and respectful toward everyone, yet it can be tricky to resolve some situations without upsetting someone.

Not long ago, I was walking through the airport on my way to the gate when I saw a middle-aged man wearing nothing but very short, thin nylon shorts and running shoes.  He was doing sprint drills up and down the concourse, appartently trying to squeeze in a workout before boarding his plane. Well, of course he ended up boarding my flight, wearing....you guessed it....nothing but nylon shorts and running shoes. SWA's official policy is that we do not have a dress code, but this guy didn't even have a shirt on. This was of particular concern to me because it was going to be a completely full flight, so I knew that at least one other passenger would have to sit next to him.  Is it fair for the other passengers to have to sit next to a sweaty man with no shirt on? I asked myself, "If I were a passenger, would I want to sit next to that man?" My answer was a resounding "NO," so I (discretely) spoke with the operations agent, who decided that it was perfectly acceptable for this man to fly in such attire, since we do not have a dress code. He ended up sitting in a middle seat between two businessmen in nice suits, and I spent the rest of the flight wishing I'd put my foot down and insisted that he at least wear a shirt. If I had said something to him, would he have felt embarassed? Probably, but maybe he had reason to, and maybe that embarassment would have been incentive enough for him to wear a shirt the next time he flies.

Again, I think Dr. Phil handled the sitauation beautifully. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Kyla,  you are so vain.  What a joke.  You and your attorney need to get the dollar signs out of your eyes and find something a heck of lot more meaningful to deal with.  How many million dollar condos do you need Mr. attorney???  

Your outfit is nice...for a night out!  But I bet that when you sat down you could see the color of your panties...assuming you had any on.  Also, where you wearing a bra????  

Dr. Phil,

Give it sometime and you will catch her flying Southwest.  I am sure she will have a grand excuse...

I understand that airline employees have to put up with a lot........working in customer service I completely understand that.  What I don't agree with is that if there isn't a standard policy regarding something like a "dress code" then how could Southwest kick off Kyla for what she was wearing? She was absolutely dressed appropriately for the weather conditions!! Sure her skirt might have been a little short in some people's opinions, but that's like saying someone can't fly because their shirt is to tight, that color is too bright, or their shoes are outdated!!  That's why a dress code would be helpful too avoid all this, so if it takes a lawsuit to get it, then so be it!! And FYI, Kyla did not say it was over if she got an apology, she only said she would not do another show............go back and watch the tape.

And the story about Kate who got kicked off for her 19 month old son saying "bye by plane" too much........well that is just ridiculous!!  He is a baby and that is too be expected.  If that is all he was doing after being delayed for 11 hours than I think that is amazing!!  Continental airlines should be ashamed of themselves and that flight attendant should have never spoken to Kate that way!! I will never fly southwest or continental again because of these two stories.  I think airlines all of the times treat customers poorly due to lost luggage, delayed flights, overbooking etc. and I think it's time that it's minimized and they realize it's just not acceptable.  I applaud these two ladies for speaking out!!

I totally agree with you.  It took Southwest TWO months to send an apology and from the beginning, on every show and appearance that I saw, she has asked for that. 

As far as a lawsuit...go for it.  I don't mean millions, but when I fly, spend my money on a ticket and get humiliated, I'd expect to make them pay also.

Go Verizon, they are my flight of choice from now on!!!   And boy was Dr. Phil out of line pushing and humiliating her also...he maybe she can sue him also!! 

  The crunching makes my teeth hurt even if the person is across the room.  Someone told me that people chew ice because of an iron deficiency.  I've suggested to a couple of people and when they started on vitamins with iron they stopped crunching. One of them also craved dirt and charcoal when she was pregnant.

Gotta agree w/newgran03 on this one. Somehow, spitting on fellow park patrons, although neither expressly prohibited or injurious per se, does make the park experience a LOT less enjoyable for those who have to dodge. That behavior was over the line IMO (and obviously in the opinion of the park employees).

Who decides, you ask? Sometimes the rules are spelled out, codified. Corollaries to the rules are oftentimes brought about by general consensus over time. Some aspects do revolve around the idea of "doing as you would be done by," (eg, I don't want to listen to others' cell phone conversations in a fancy restaurant, so I'll keep mine shut, too). Sometimes the consensus changes (ie, fashion, some manners), sometimes not (other manners such as chewing with your mouth open if you can help it). Obviously, not everyone agrees with, or abides by, the general consensus.

Dr. Phil,

I was so disappointed when I heard Kayla was going to be on your show.  Does anyone ever check their stories out before playing them in public.  I was angry when I heard the Today show did a piece on her with SWA.  Because she says this is how she dressed right away we believe her and broadcast it all over the news.   Who was on the flight that can say what she was actually wearing?  Even if that was the outfit, I am sure the skirt was a little higher and the shirt pulled down a little more.  Big difference when you are alone and when you are sitting next to your mom and an attorney.  Then to hear that even on the Today Show they had to block out some of her parts so that it was seen on tv.  Imagine that, even the Today Show thought she was dressed inappropriately and knew that it wouldn't pass the censors, but instead of saying she couldn't appear on the show like that, they showed her, blocked out the inappropriate scene and made SWA out to be the bad guy.  Now I see even you jump on the band wagon to get the ratings and have the little cry baby and her attorney on your show.  We all sit there and say "times aren't the way they used to be.  I remember when children had manners, girls took pride in themselves and on and on....."  Here is a situation where a girl should be informed there is more to females that skimpy skirts and showing your crotch to the world and we say "oh poor thing she was treated so badly.....".  All the media networks that have this girl on promote the behavior we see in today's society and yet those same media networks than say, we have to turn society around........Grow up Kayla, realize there is more to women then sex and females have a hell of a lot more to offer than their crotch......Media outlets, quit just worrying about ratings and realize situations like this don't even deserve media time.  SWA didn't go to the seat and tell the girl in front of everyone, they called her up, handled it in a professional manner, now if just the media can learn something about professionalism and the attorneys that take these frivolous cases and tie up the court systems well, I guess there is no hope for them.  They will always be after the almighty dollar no matter what it is for.......