A woman expressed feeling embarrassed and disrespected following an encounter with an airline employee concerning her attire. Nikki Osborne recounted the incident at Qantas’s Brisbane lounge, where she was wearing tailored white shorts, a pink lace bodysuit, and a knitted white cardigan for a business trip. According to Nikki, a staff member approached her, requesting she cover up, citing the need to be considerate of other cultures in the lounge.
The incident left Nikki feeling a mix of shock, embarrassment, and frustration, especially as she prides herself on dressing professionally in her roles as a radio host, writer, and comedian. Despite the airline’s subsequent assurances that such incidents would not recur, a follow-up call further scrutinized her outfit choice, causing discomfort.
However, Nikki’s confidence in Qantas was restored when a flight attendant recognized her as ‘Bush Barbie,’ treating her respectfully. Nikki mentioned that while she intends to continue flying with Qantas, she will be more mindful of her attire in the lounge in the future. Qantas’s dress code policy prohibits items like thongs, gym wear, beachwear, sleepwear, and clothing with offensive imagery.
This incident is not isolated, as other travelers have also faced criticism for their clothing choices. Maggi Thorne shared a similar experience on a Southwest Airlines flight, where she was allegedly shamed by a flight attendant for her outfit, despite feeling it was appropriate. Southwest Airlines has since apologized to Thorne and filed a complaint on her behalf, acknowledging the incident.