On May 18, a passenger attempted to board a JetBlue flight from Boston to Seattle. But the passenger, a burlesque performer who uses the stage name Maggie McMuffin, was prevented from boarding. JetBlue crew told McMuffin her outfit — a sweater with striped shorts and thigh-high socks — was inappropriate.
The crew told McMuffin she would have to purchase something more appropriate from a terminal store. Which she did: a $22 pair of women’s extra-large pajama bottoms.
@fuckityfuckity Yes. I was told to rebook or find something else so I bought and put on these. pic.twitter.com/RgdIkjApTD
— Maggie McMuffin (@MaggieMcMuff) May 30, 2016
Crew members permitted McMuffin to continue her journey home.
Now, JetBlue is apologizing for the incident. Sort of.
According toUSA Today, the airline has reimbursed McMuffin for the pajama bottoms and issued a $162 credit toward a future JetBlue flight. But a spokesperson said JetBlue stands by the “difficult decision.”
RELATED:JetBlue pilot arrested for allegedly flying drunk to JFK “The gate and onboard crew discussed the customer’s clothing and determined that the burlesque shorts may offend other families on the flight,” a company statement said. “While the customer was not denied boarding, the crew members politely asked if she could change. The customer agreed and continued on the flight without interruption. We support our crew members’ discretion to make these difficult decisions.” McMuffin told USA Today she doesn’t think it’s enough.
“It was a nice gesture,” she said. “But I don’t really want to fly JetBlue again and they told me they couldn’t give me a cash refund.”
RELATED:United fires flight attendant who exited plane via emergency slide She said she’d prefer a clearer airline policy regarding dress code.
“If companies are going to seek action against people like me, they should clearly list their boundaries and their dress code,” she said. “I think this seems like a small thing, but it’s connected to a lot of larger things in our society, and it’s something JetBlue really needs to analyze.” However, JetBlue’s contract of carriagecontains a clause indicating “lewd, obscene, or patently offensive” clothing may result in removal from a flight.
