A Delta passenger, Lisa Archbold, claims she was threatened with being kicked off a flight for not wearing a bra and has demanded to meet with the airline’s president to discuss the incident. Archbold, a self-employed DJ, was boarding a flight from Salt Lake City to San Francisco wearing baggy jeans and a loose white T-shirt without a bra when a gate agent temporarily escorted her off the plane and demanded that she cover up, even though her breasts were not visible. Archbold felt targeted and humiliated by the agent’s actions.
During a news conference with her attorney, Gloria Allred, Archbold expressed her feelings of being targeted and humiliated during the incident. She felt like a “scarlet letter” was being attached to her for not being a woman in the way the agent thought she should be. The agent claimed Archbold’s attire was “revealing” and “offensive” and violated the airline’s policy. She was allowed to fly only after putting another shirt on top of the one she was wearing, as per the gate agent’s instructions.
Allred has written to Delta on behalf of Archbold demanding a meeting with the airline president to discuss the discriminatory policy. Allred emphasized that male passengers are not required to cover up their T-shirts or wear bras to board a flight, so women should not be required to do so either. She stressed that breasts are not weapons or a crime and should not be used to discriminate against women. Delta’s rules state that the carrier may refuse transport if a passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene, or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.
Despite the incident, Archbold has no plans to file a lawsuit and only wants a meeting with Delta’s boss to ensure that policies will be updated. Allred emphasized that Archbold’s breasts, or any other woman’s, have never tried to take over a plane, and it is unfair to target women for their natural bodies. A Delta representative has reached out to Archbold with an apology earlier this year, and the airline has not provided further comments on the incident.
The incident has sparked a conversation about the discrimination women face regarding their clothing and bodies while traveling. Allred highlighted that federal rules do not require women to wear bras to board or remain on a plane, and women should not be singled out for their attire. Archbold’s experience has brought attention to the need for airlines to update their policies to ensure fair treatment of all passengers, regardless of gender. Delta’s response to the incident and their willingness to meet with Archbold will determine how the airline addresses similar situations in the future.
