A female passenger, Ms Lisa Archbold, has demanded a meeting with the US Delta Air Lines president over what she perceives as a discriminatory policy. Ms Archbold claims that she was threatened with being kicked off a Delta flight because she was not wearing a bra. The incident reportedly occurred in January when a female gate agent asked her to cover up despite her breasts not being visible. Feeling targeted and humiliated, Ms Archbold deemed the incident as an act of punishment for not conforming to societal expectations of womanhood.
Ms Archbold, a DJ flying from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, argued that her attire of baggy jeans and a loose white T-shirt should not have been deemed “revealing” or “offensive” according to Delta’s policy. The agent informed her that she could continue her journey if she put a jacket over her T-shirt.
Attorney Gloria Allred, representing Ms Archbold, has written to Delta demanding a meeting with the company’s president to discuss their alleged discriminatory policy. Ms Allred highlighted the double standards by pointing out that male passengers are not required to cover up their t-shirts or wear a bra while traveling. She humorously remarked that Delta should not be mistaken for the Taliban, implying that such policies are outdated and unnecessary.
According to US federal rules, airlines can remove passengers with safety or security risks. However, Ms Archbold’s attire did not meet these criteria. Ms Allred emphasized that breasts belonging to Ms Archbold or any other woman are not weapons of war and should not be criminalized.
Ms Allred clarified that there are currently no plans for a lawsuit and that a meeting with Delta’s president is all they desire. The goal is to ensure Delta updates its policies to promote equality and inclusivity.
In response to inquiries, Delta stated that representatives had already reached out to Ms Archbold with an apology earlier this year, suggesting a willingness to address the issue.
