Woman Gets 'Dress Coded' On Flight, Sparking A Scene And A Debate

Ashley Hunte
The sky as seen from an airplane window.
Unsplash | Audrey Grace Paul

Recently, a woman experienced a shameful and embarrassing moment when she was reprimanded for her clothing choices while boarding a flight.

TikTok user Jacy (@maybejacy), a Los Angeles-based singer, got "dress coded" while boarding a Southwest flight from Sacramento to LA. She posted her story to TikTok last week, and the video has since been viewed over 2.4 million times.

The TikTok was only a few seconds long, but outlined what was going on.

Jacy showing her pink top while aboard a Southwest Airlines flight.
TikTok | @maybejacy

The video shows Jacy on the flight, holding a shirt in one hand, while looking totally offended.

Text on the screen reads, "bro I got dress coded on a south west flight? are we in Highschool? are u upset about my shoulders?"

"It’s 102 degrees. my torso is fully clothed?"

It continues, "and it caused a scene bc some sweet lady stuck up for me and then got kicked off the flight. Whoever grandma complained about me…catch me outside bich.”

Jacy titled the video, "give me my money back smelly [expletive] @Southwest Airlines or send me a bottle of expensive champagne."

The top in question was a pink corset-styled tank top from Urban Outfitters, which doesn't really seem like a dress code violation.

The comment section on the TikTok mostly came to Jacy's defense.

A woman saying, "Like, seriously?"
Giphy | Married At First Sight

"Nothing wrong with that outfit," one comment read.

"I literally wore a sports bra and biker shorts on my southwest flight the other day," another said, pointing out the weird double standard at play here.

Shortly after the first TikTok, Jacy posted a second.

Jacy in the midst of telling her airline story.
TikTok | @maybejacy

In the second TikTok, Jacy goes into more detail about what exactly went down, as well as the kind woman who stood up for her and ultimately got kicked off the flight.

She identifies the woman as Melinna Bobadilla, who posted a (now deleted) Twitter thread sharing her side of the story.

Jacy in front of a greenscreen image of Melinna Bobadilla's Tweet toward Southwest Airlines.
TikTok | @maybejacy

The tweet reads, "Hey friends just got pulled off a @SouthwestAir flight bc I advocated for a young woman being shamed and harassed by an employee for wearing a tank top that was deemed too revealing."

"[The] employee became defensive when I asked about what rules the young woman was breaking."

Though the original tweet was deleted, Southwest issued a response, requesting that Bobadilla come into contact with them in order to sort it all out.

As Jacy was boarding the flight, an attendant asked her if she had a jacket.

According to the staff member, Jacy needed to "cover up."

"Cover up what? My shoulders?" Jacy comments in the TikTok. The attendant gets her a t-shirt, which Jacy refused to wear.

According to Jacy, Bobadilla was "respectfully" sticking up for her.

A woman shaking her head and saying, "That's not right."
Giphy | mintmobile

But despite this, Bobadilla got kicked off the flight (though interestingly enough, Jacy was allowed to stay on despite the perceived dress code violation). The whole thing was incredibly confusing and aggravating.

Once again, commenters came to her side.

A man saying "Not cool, man," before walking away.
Giphy | The Office

One commenter said "Is there an unknown dress code they failed to tell us about?!"

Technically, there isn't. But there is a brief guideline on their travel instruction page that asks guests to present a "clean, well-groomed, and tasteful appearance."

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!