Passenger Lisa Archbold claims she was removed from the flight over her choice of clothes.
Passenger Lisa Archbold claims she was removed from the flight over her choice of clothes.
This article was one of Herald Travel’s top stories of 2024.
A Kiwi passenger was horrified to be deplaned from a Delta Airlines service, after being told that her decision not to wear a bra was against the carrier’s dress code.
The traveller said they had boarded the afternoon flight after an awkward encounter with the gate agent. She described the chilly welcome as “super weird” but having been allowed onto the flight, she thought nothing of it.
Having found her seat, moments later an airline worker boards the flight and comes to her row.
“I’m thinking, someone has died or they found something weird in my bag,” the traveller told the Herald.
“This woman from the ground crew comes to me and loudly says in front of the whole plane ‘I need to speak to you in private. Follow me’,” said Archbold.
The publicist and former judo champion’s mind is racing as to what it could be. Having been advertising a liquor brand belonging to an actor at the festival, her checked luggage was full of vodka, which she presumes is the cause of this incident.
It’s at that point she realises that it’s because she is not wearing a bra.
“It is Delta’s policy to remove anyone in revealing clothes from the aircraft,” she claims to have been told “I will allow you to stay on the plane, if you put your jacket on”.
Archbold still could not believe this was why she was summoned to the front of the plane.
Lisa Archbold, who performs under the stage name DJette Kiwi, says she was surprised to be pulled up on her dress code. Photo / DJette_Kiwi; Instagram
“I was dressed like a little boy in baggy pants and shirt, I had no idea what she was talking about,” said Archbold, sharing a photo of her outfit.
Archbold alleges that she was unfairly singled out over her appearance, which she insists conformed to the carrier’s dress code.
“She essentially weaponised Delta’s policy to humiliate and abuse a woman, she didn’t think was being a woman in the right way.”
The passenger filed an official complaint with the airline and is waiting to hear back.
The airline was contacted by the Herald for comment.
Delta does not have an official dress code for travellers.
However, under its domestic contract of carriage, the airline reserves the right to refuse or deplane travellers when “the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”
This story was originally published in New Zealand Herald Travel on February 2, 2024 and has been updated.
