Public transport, in the broadest sense, doesn’t always run smoothly. Delays, unscheduled stops, or troublesome fellow passengers are just some of the inconveniences commuters may face. Another issue to consider is the conduct of staff, who don’t always adhere to expected standards. Two female travellers from the United States recently experienced this firsthand.

Travel influencer Teresa Around The World, originally from Portugal and now based in California, is known for creating content focused on her journeys. On 4 October 2024, Teresa and her friend boarded a Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans. However, their trip took an unexpected turn when a flight attendant objected to their choice of attire—crop tops—which led to an unplanned end to their journey.

"We were harassed by a male flight attendant who told us to ‘cover up’ because we were wearing crop tops," Teresa explained on Instagram. "Everyone else (including flight staff) agreed though that there was nothing wrong with what we were wearing and that crop tops are not against their dress code. He then continued to treat us poorly and give us no reasoning as to why he wanted to kick us off. Other passengers joined in and tried defending us but ultimately a supervisor liked to us and told either we would leave the flight or she would bring the police. She told us she would rebook our flight and then once out of the plane she said there are no flights and also refused a refund. I then had to pay $1,000 to book a new flight with another airline."

"This is appalling service, that in 2024 we are getting kicked out of a plane for ONE MALE flight attendant not liking our shirts. Everyone working at the airport agreed this was an act of prejudice, discrimination and misogynist and that we should take legal actions. We spoke with the police which said the same. We were refused their full names, a refund, rebooked flights or anything all because of a sexist and rude flight attendant," the influencer added.

More footage of the incident on the Spirit Airlines flight can be found on TikTok. Witnesses unanimously state that the women dressed appropriately and accused the steward of blatant sexism. Spirit Airlines has yet to respond to the travellers' allegations.

According to the airline’s policies, passengers may be asked to leave the plane if their clothing is deemed ‘inappropriate,’ ‘indecent,’ ‘obscene,’ or ‘offensive.’ However, the women claimed to have contacted an airline representative, who confirmed they had not violated the dress code.