A woman who chastised Alaska Airlines was told to either cover up or get off their plane. A man on a Delta flight earlier this year gets removed for offensive wording on his sweatshirt. This comes as more airlines are encountering strong headwinds in multiple ways, when enforcing rules with sometimes irritable, post-Covid revenge travelers. These incidents have resulted in extensive online debates, wherein some defend the behavior and others condemn it. We’ve recently seen and heard of people pushing their luck on this topic when on Hawaii flights, and we hope to head trouble off before it starts.
For many of us, the idea of airline dress codes harken back decades to when men wore suits and women wore dresses. Some of us still like to dress nicely when traveling, while others prefer strictly comfortable attire. And some might even be tempted to get a headstart on their vacation by wearing something close to beach attire (hint: don’t do it).
Yes, the airlines absolutely still have dress codes that include Hawaii flights.
This is something we hadn’t thought much about ourselves. While appropriate behavior seems more obvious, attire is a whole other matter. As you’ll see below, some airlines, Hawaiian Airlines being one example, get quite specific as to what is and what isn’t permissible. The trend, however, seems to be more general, which leaves a lot at the discretion of the cabin crew.
Bottom line is that it makes for a far better start to your vacation to not have to get in a dispute with your flight attendants about your appearance. We’re sharing the rules for every airline that flies to Hawaii from the U.S., so you can know in advance what to expect.
The woman on the Alaska Airlines plane took to TikTok (TikToker @badbish1078) to post the following video. The caption read: “Alaska Airlines just told me I had to ‘cover up’ if I wanted to get on the plane.”
@badbish1078 I said no ❤️ #fyp #patriarchytingz @alaskaair ♬ 1 step forward, 3 steps back – Olivia Rodrigo
The passenger, some of whose other TikTok videos are profanity-laced, panned the phone camera to show a brief tank top and frayed shorts.
We aren’t sure what happened to the woman as she claims to have refused to cover up as requested. Her TikTok friends weren’t all that happy about her problem, either. She completed her tirade with the hashtag #cancelalaskaairlines.
Rules for attire on flights to Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines dress code.
The dress code on Hawaii’s bellwether is specific. “Hawaiian Airlines reserve the right to refuse transportation or remove from the aircraft any guest who does not meet Hawaiian Airlines standards for dress and attire, as outlined below. Without exception, all guests must wear the following items:
-Clothing must cover the upper part of the torso, such as tank or halter tops.
-Clothing must cover the lower part of the torso, such as shorts.
-Swimming attire is not acceptable.
-For safety reasons, footwear must be worn unless the guest is unable to do so due to a disability or physical condition that prevents them from wearing footwear.”
Alaska Airlines dress code.
According to Alaska Airlines, “the dress code… is casual, and the requirement is simply a neat and well-groomed appearance. Clothing that is soiled or tattered and bare feet are never acceptable. You are expected to use good judgment, but customer service agents will have the final authority to refuse travel for inappropriate attire or appearance.”
It happened again recently, when another Alaska Airlines passenger was escorted off a flight from Seattle to Alaska because of her attire. And this was another case gone viral via social media. The woman who has a TikTok handle of fattrophywife, has had enormous interaction regarding her video of the situation. She removed her top to reveal her midriff, claiming that the plane was too hot. What remained was merely a black sports bra.
American Airlines dress code.
The company’s rules simply state, “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.”
Delta Airlines dress code.
Delta’s rules specify that they may refuse carriage to any person “when the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”
Southwest Airlines dress code.
SWA says that the following is prohibited: “engaging in lewd, obscene, or patently offensive behavior, including wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene, or patently offensive.”
United Airlines dress code.
The company says in its rules that it won’t transport “passengers who are barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive.”
A Love Island star just had a similar clothing issues on a Hawaii-centric airline.
Love Island Australia’s lead, Amelia Marni, got into trouble with Qantas’ Jetstar when she accused them of shaming her for her clothing.
Jetstar said that the woman was sporting a black crop-top, when a flight attendant told her to “cover up” for wearing revealing clothes. Sharing what she was wearing on Instagram, she said “we love a sl*t shame moment.”
Another reason never to visit Hawaii.
That may solve the problem for everyone.
Good. The Aloha State doesnt need non compliant, self centered, all about self visitors.
Nor does it need judgmental busy-bodies who look down their noses and stereotype and condemn others who may look or dress differently from themselves but who are doing them no harm whatsoever.
For God’s sake….will you stop?
People who get addressed about their clothing and refuse to comply and be considerate feel they should set the standard everywhere they go. They could care less if it’s offenseive to others. They are ill mannered and self centric and consider everything a right instead of a privilege. All about themselves and that’s it. Thanks.
One hundred percent accurate..well said👍😁🌴🌊🌴
Granted, we all expect to make it to our destination when we fly. Take into consideration an emergency, and would you be dressed appropriately to do what needs to be done or would you be worried about unwanted body parts showing showing because of your attire and be searching for shoes? I dress comfortably but within the airlines dress code. My granddaughter does the same. Different generations but we’ve taught her well!
I think if I’m lucky enough to survive a crash, not having shoes will be the least of my problems. Your comment suggests we should always choose our attire for flying on the premise that the plane will probably crash. And on the further premise that we will somehow survive, but the wreckage is so bad we’d need to walk over shrapnel or burning debris to exit the plane. How often does that happen?
Perhaps you should also wear a full fireproof suit, helmet, gas mask, Kevlar body armor, and a parachute? You know… just in case.
The fact is that traveling by air is statistically safer than any other mode of mass transportation. The likelihood of being in a plane crash is extremely slim; the odds are about one in 11 million.
You’d be surprised at those who would not be able to keep a level head after a crash. They freeze in fear and hinder evacuation. There are sharp torn metals in crashes that cause further injury to climb over and tear flesh. . Appropriate wear still matters even trying to survive a crash. Bleeding creates multitudes of issues in open water crashes and endanger the survival of others. Wear shoes not sandals. Put your sandals in a carry on.
It sounds like you must have been in a crash yourself, and therefore have personally witnessed those things. If so, I’m happy you were lucky enough to survive.
But again, I’m not going to dress for the purposes of surviving a crash. Because I don’t think I’ll be in one. If I thought there was a good chance of that happening, I’d never board the plane.
There’s a much, much greater chance of me being killed or seriously injured in an auto crash on the way to the airport. And I’m not going to dress for that either.
Just wear shoes good lord. You’ll be the one that gets the plane grounded while your yelling about your damn bare feet.
Not sure what you mean about “getting the plane grounded,” and why would I be yelling? Sounds like you’re the one that’s yelling, along with your cursing. Why don’t you just live and let live – dress as you like and don’t be so concerned about what others might be wearing that has no harm or effect on you whatsoever.
you are one of those people who thinks rules do not apply to you. So when your made to put your shoes on or leave the plane what will you do? Put them on so you can stay on the plane or complain about your freedom?
PaulC, why would you say airline rules don’t apply to me? When I fly, I follow all the rules of the airline, and nothing I’ve written has ever said otherwise. At least, I don’t complain about what some other passenger may be wearing or not wearing if it’s doing me no harm. Minding ones own business is the ultimate respect for others.
Yo, Kriss. I’ve been reading your replies for the past week and frankly, I’m tired. Your comments are not suitable for BOH. This is not Twitter or FB. I find your remarks are rude and meaningless.
Sincerely, I don’t think you should go to The Islands until you get a hold on that attitude. Locals try to convey Aloha to visitors. Do you even know what the word “aloha” really means. Fire up that google and learn how many meanings the word contains.
Check any attitude at the plane door and when you land, show some aloha.
Mahalo, a former kamaaina.
From one internet source, “Aloha means we are able to recognize and appreciate the uniqueness and differences each of us bring into this world. Honor and respect your family, friends, and all the people who pass through your life. Aloha does not pass judgement on others for it always trusts, always hopes and always protects.”
I especially like the part of not passing judgement on others. Unfortunately, passing judgement on others seems to be the prevailing attitude in most of the comments here. We should all live and let live, and not condemn others simply because they may look or dress differently.
You did at that..☺️🌴🌊🌴
Regarding appropriate flying/travel attire, I’ll probably be wearing shorts, either a tank top or a t-shirt & a running hat, & I’ll probably be barefoot. Our flights are about 11 hours each way plus the layover times. Spending that much time crammed into close quarters inside a metal tube I’m all about being reasonably comfortable.
For me being barefoot is a major part of that. I’ve flown barefoot many times & the world didn’t end. Most people either didn’t notice or didn’t care. I keep my feet nicely pedicured, since I don’t wear closed shoes I don’t have foot odor, & on the plane I keep my feet on the floor. I have flip-flops in my carry-on, if you insist that I put them on you will still see my feet & my toes.
Please don’t walk around the cabin in barefeet.
Thanks for your point of view, but there is no logical reason why anyone should not walk around in the cabin barefoot. Nothing that could ever be on an airlines cabin floor could actually harm anyone’s bare feet or a barefoot passenger, in spite of the many arbitrary fears and warnings often expressed. And that includes potential urine on the floor of the lavatory. Warnings against coming into contact with such things seem to be based on the false assumption that anything you may step on will somehow absorb into your skin and cause infections or other problems. That just doesn’t happen. That’s what your skin is for, to protect the body from potential outside harmful invasions. Bare feet are not harmful to anyone on a plane.
Reasonable length shorts and a tshirt, ditch the hat and wear your slippahs in the terminal, boarding the plane, and while walking in the isles…don’t put them in your carry-on…decorum is your friend…Mahalo
Dress as you wish, but may I suggest, don’t tell others how they should dress.
You sound like one of those people who also props their bare feet up so the person in front of you has to look at them. Please, be aware some people are disgusted by feet. You are not the center of the world dear. 🙂 Courtesy is free. Thanks.
Why would you make such an arbitrary judgment about my supposed behavior on a plane? You don’t know me, and stereotyping people based on your own view of the world is not only disrespectful, but grossly inaccurate. It is inconsiderate shoe-wearing passengers who are likely to remove their shoes and prop their feet up in someone else’s space, not regular barefooters who never wear shoes and have no need to “air out” their hot, stinky feet. Feet, bare or otherwise, belong on the floor. That’s where mine remain on a plane. I suggest, instead of making negative personal judgments about others, you just live and let live.
Like everyone else I’ve seen the passenger-shaming photos. As I noted earlier I keep my feet on the floor, not propped on the armrests (or anywhere else).
On a separate issue, prior to the flight I shower, put on fresh clean clothes & I take it easy on perfume/cologne. Once my carry-on is stowed & I’m in my seat you won’t even know I’m there.
On the other hand, the extended family with half a dozen small children in the seats near us…
regardless of whether a traveler got away walking on to a plane barefooted, it is actually not allowed.
“Not allowed” is not an accurate statement.
All U.S. based airlines’ contracts of carriage contain some reference to barefoot passengers, which generally is worded to the effect that the airline “may” refuse to board a passenger who is barefoot. They (with a couple of exceptions) do not say they “will” or “shall” refuse to board a barefoot passenger. “May,” in effect, therefore means it’s totally up to the discretion of the airline personnel at the time someone is boarding. It’s not a matter of “getting away” with anything.
My experience has been that boarding a plane barefoot is usually not a problem or an issue, nor should it be.
I travel a great deal, and have found the most comfortable thing to wear is a calve length single piece patterned dress with long sleeves and a slightly scooped neck. It is incredibly comfortable (like a nightie), and respectful throughout the world. I wear flat sandals (not “flip-flops), and top it all with a hooded long sleeve wrap from Magellans so that I can block out light, and also de-plane in Muslim countries.
Get totally grossed out and don’t particularly like exposure to exposed bellies, arms and thighs – especially for a long flight with someone packed next to me. I don’t want their bare skin rubbing against me.
Airlines should post dress guidelines with the ticket.
I totally agree! When flying or traveling we are in “their house”. What I mean is we should respect the airline, aircraft, air crew, and our fellow passengers.
It’s not the time to be showing off and acting like a fool!
☺️😁yup yup yup…well said 🌴🌊🌴
Love your comment…mahalo from everybody’s Hawaiian aunty in New Mexico…BTW if I unknowingly tracked onto the plane a number of goat-heads and was on the same flight as our barefoot flyer…au-wé or ow-wee… this kukui is worse then any I remember stepping on when growing up in my younger years in Hawaii. That’s why I don’t like to go barefoot outside of the house. Besides you don’t want to walk into somebody’s house in Hawaii with dirty feet cuz you were barefoot outside the house. They wouldn’t like it. You would have to wash your feet before you came inside the house or in most cases you would not be welcomed into their house ever again.
Nobody’s going to be walking around with goatheads stuck in their feet. Maybe in shoes, but certainly not bare feet. Too painful.
As to your analogy of not walking into somebody’s house with dirty feet, that’s why people generally remove their shoes first. Which is a good reason to always be barefoot on a plane. Shoes are generally filthy, both outside and inside the shoe.
Alooooha,Jan☺️🌺🍍🌴🌊🌴
Yepperz that’s for sure😉..always respect with a capital ‘R’as I followed growing up as a kid, i was never unwelcomed in anyone’s home because of dirty do-do feet..BiggHuggs🌺