PASSENGER COVER UP Are airline employees overstepping their authority

Posted on 06/02/2016 | About Boston, Massachusetts

A burlesque dancer says JetBlue employees at Boston's Logan International Airport forced her to change clothes before she was allowed to board a connecting flight to Seattle.

The 26-year-old dancer uses the stage name Maggie McMuffin. She tells The Boston Globe she was waiting for her flight May 18 when a JetBlue employee requested that she change out of her high-waisted shorts or risk not being admitted onto the plane. McMuffin says her black-and-white short shorts “covered everything” and her body was “90 percent” covered, given that she was also wearing thigh-high socks and a sweater. JetBlue spokesman Doug McGraw says airline employees discussed McMuffin's clothing and determined it might offend families on the flight.

Curious. Regardless of what you think of McMuffin’s choice of travel attire, nobody complained about it, but airline employees decided to flex some muscle, play fashion police and issue an ultimatum to change or not fly. There is something very wrong here. Far too many people are offended by far too may things. If you think someone is inappropriately dressed explain why to your kids (privately - nobody else needs the lesson). If you’re offended by how someone looks – here’s a tip – don’t look at them. If someone is not encroaching on your personal space, or fouling the place with language, music, or unpleasant odors, what does it matter what they are wearing? If they are sitting beside you, and have all the naughty bits covered, what does it matter what they are wearing? You’re really not going to see them unless you twist around … and that’s your problem.

If airlines want to institute dress codes they should print them prominently along with their baggage restrictions, but, even with the best intentions, it’s not up to individual employees to arbitrarily determine what is appropriate wear for travellers. McMuffin complied but called it embarrassing and vowed to never fly JetBlue again.