Spirit Passenger Claims She Was Denied Boarding Because of Her Shorts. The Airline Says It Was Her 'Behavior'
A Spirit Airlines passenger claims she was denied boarding due to her shorts, the airline says it was her "disruptive behavior"
Tanasia Grayer was trying to board a Chicago-bound flight from Miami on Wednesday, July 16, when the incident occurred
Grayer's sister, Jessica Kordelewski, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing after a warningA woman is claiming Spirit Airlines denied her from boarding a flight because of her shorts. The airline says it was her 'disruptive behavior' that caused the incident.
According to CBS Miami, Tanasia Grayer planned to board a Chicago-bound flight from Miami International Airport on Wednesday, July 16. When she arrived at the gate, she claims Spirit personnel told her she wasn't allowed to board because of her outfit.
'We were getting ready to board the plane, and the lady at the front desk, she stopped me and said, 'You're not getting on a plane like that,'' Grayer told the outlet. 'So I looked at her and I said 'Like what?' She said, 'With those shorts.''
Grayer alleges she walked through the airport without anyone telling her to change. Wearing a pink robe overtop, she says her clothes were not revealing at all.
'They said that you can't have the bottom or your butt out,' she said. 'That's why this robe is on so that I'm not too revealing.'
She added: 'I was in the airport for 40 minutes, y'all should've told me. That way I could've went and changed my clothes to put anything else on.'
In a clip of the confrontation with airport authorities shared with CBS Miami, a woman in the background can be heard shouting 'I'm confused, this is crazy, this is insane.' Grayer said that was her sister, Jessica Kordelewski, who was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct and trespassing after a warning.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Spirit said their records show 'a guest was not in compliance with our Contract of Carriage and refused to comply when provided an opportunity to do so.' The statement says their Contact of Carriage contains certain clothing standards for all passengers.
'The guest and their travel companion were eventually denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior," the statement read.
'I'm going home,' Kordelewski told CBS Miami after she was released from jail.'We are done with Miami, we ain't never coming here again,' Grayer added.
According to the outlet, the sisters booked another flight with a different airline to get home. She explained she wouldn't wear the same outfit to avoid any troubles.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.According to Spirit's Contract of Carriage, guests shall not be permitted on an aircraft and may be required to leave if they are 'barefoot or inadequately clothed,' or if their clothing or body art is considered 'lewd, obscene or offensive in nature.' Listed examples include see-through clothing exposing breasts, buttocks or other private parts.
According to USA Today, the airline recently updated this policy in January 2025. Before, the contract did not specify clothing examples nor body art.
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Over the next four years, they organized work stoppages and boycotts, with Juarez Zeferino – who speaks English, Spanish and his native Mixteco – often serving as a spokesperson. In 2017, the workers were granted a union election, resulting in the formation of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, an independent farm worker union representing hundreds of Indigenous farm workers. It's a 'nightmare' organization for Trump, who doesn't want to see immigrant laborers organized, said Guillen. 'These are communities that normally are marginalized, fighting for their rights and winning,' she said. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Since Juarez Zeferino's arrest, calls for his freedom have met with an outpouring of support, Guillen said. 'All the legislators know him, and there was immediate support for him in letters and calls,' she said. But she wishes Democrats would do more to fight for workers like him, including by trying to stop Ice arrests within Washington. 'Democrats need to be bolder,' she said. Franks agreed, and said workers like Juarez Zeferino should obtain amnesty from Ice. 'Just a couple years ago we were essential workers and the heroes but now we're the terrorists and the criminals,' he said. Asked if she had visited Juarez Zeferino, Guillen said, 'I can't do it.' She worries about his health and wellbeing in the facility. Franks, too, said he was concerned that the 'already skinny' Juarez Zeferino will become malnourished while in detention. But when he has visited the young activist, he said he was 'trying to keep his spirits up'. 'He's still messing around and joking around,' he said. 'And he's like, 'when I get out, we're going to do this, we're going to do that.'' Asked what is on that to-do list, Franks said Juarez Zeferino wants to be reunited with his family. 'And he wants to get back to the struggle,' he said. Solve the daily Crossword
