Spirit Airlines passenger says she was denied boarding over shorts deemed "too short"

CBS News

5 days ago

A woman said she was denied boarding on a Spirit Airlines flight at Miami International Airport this week because of her shorts — sparking a tense confrontation that ended with her sister in handcuffs and raising questions about the airline's recently updated dress code policy.
Tanasia Grayer said she was stunned when a Spirit Airlines employee told her on July 16 she wouldn't be allowed to board her flight from Miami to Chicago because of her outfit. What started as a dress code dispute quickly escalated into a confrontation that ended with her sister under arrest. Confused and frustrated, Grayer contacted CBS News Miami.
At the heart of the issue is a policy change Spirit Airlines implemented in January 2025, tightening its guidelines around what passengers can wear on board.
"First of all, he told me I'm not getting on the flight at all," Grayer said. "I said, 'I don't have anything to change into.'"
CBS News Miami began to look into the situation: Grayer said it was her shorts that got her booted.
"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 recounted. "So I looked at her and I said, 'Like what?' She said, 'With those shorts.'"
On Thursday, she was wearing the same outfit since her luggage had been shipped to Chicago.
"This is just regular shorts. This is how I walked through the airport," Grayer showed CBS News Miami. "This is how I walked through the airport with these shorts with my robe. This is exactly how I have my clothes."
Grayer said the shorts she wore on her Spirit Airlines flight down to Miami were just as short, but did not cause a problem.
"They treated me like a real criminal in there," she said, referring to her experience at Miami International Airport.
Grayer's sister, Jessica Kordelewski, was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct at MIA.
"I'm going home, getting on a flight and going home," Grayer said. "I won't be back in Miami at all."
Spirit Airlines sent CBS News Miami a statement, saying in part:
"We always want our Guests to feel welcome and have a great experience. Consistent with other U.S. airlines, our Contract of Carriage contains certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us. Our 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 Guest and their travel companion were eventually denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior. Further questions should be directed to law enforcement."
Back in the 1950s and '60s, air travel was considered a luxurious and glamorous experience. Passengers dressed in their finest attire. Today, most travelers opt for comfort over formality when heading to the airport.
CBS News Miami showed other flyers the outfit Grayer wore — the one that led to her being denied boarding on a Spirit Airlines flight — and asked for their thoughts.
"Honestly, I don't think that's fair. I think every girl, no matter what they're wearing, should be able to express themselves," said traveler Makayla Boubert.
"Honestly, it's not even bad. The fact that she got kicked off the flight for that is pretty crazy," said Jayden Jungra, another flyer.
Clint Henderson, a blogger with website The Points Guy, told CBS News Miami that the rules were recently changed.
"Spirit, actually, in particular, imposed new rules in January of this year to make inappropriate dress more defined in their Contract of Carriage, so they're well within their rights to kick people off who they don't feel are dressed appropriately," he said.
That new policy includes no see-through clothing; no exposed breasts, buttocks or other private parts; no lewd, obscene or offensive clothing and tattoos; and you can't be barefoot.
"Just remember that you're in a public space, that you're going to be flying with children, and not everyone is going to love your low-cut top or your tattoos," Henderson said.
The sisters were able to find a flight home on another airline.