Granted, this isn’t a Spirit Airlines style non-apology. But when I read press reports proclaiming that Southwest had apologized to Kyla Ebbert, the publicity-seeking, ultra-short skirt-wearing Hooters waitress they harassed a few weeks ago, I stopped, read the company’s actual text, and thought, “No, they didn’t apologize at all!”
Sure, they say they’re sorry, but only after belittling the issue and making references to hot flashes and great legs. Cute folksiness? I think they’re winking at everyone saying, “We’re apologizing, but we don’t really mean it.”
Read the actual text of their apology:
From a Company who really loves PR, touche to you Kyla! Some have said we’ve gone from wearing our famous hot pants to having hot flashes at Southwest, but nothing could be further from the truth. As we both know, this story has great legs, but the true issue here is that you are a valued Customer, and you did not get an adequate apology. Kyla, we could have handled this better, and on behalf of Southwest Airlines, I am truly sorry. We hope you continue to fly Southwest Airlines. Our Company is based on freedom even if our actions may have not appeared that way. It was never our intention to treat you unfairly and again, we apologize.
Then they go on to declare a “Mini-Skirt Sale.”
Now, Kyla of the short skirts is really milking this thing to the hilt, and I have lost just about every smidgen of sympathy for her. But I still feel that airlines shouldn’t be in the fashion police business unless there’s truly a Sharon Stone “Basic Instinct” moment at hand (update: my wife tells me that Sharon Stone references are too dated… will you accept a panty-less Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears reference instead?) In which case, just hand her a blanket.
So the company finally caved to the pressure to apologize, and this is the best they could do. But they’re not sorry they hassled her. They’re sorry they got called on it.
And for those who need a reminder of Southwest’s own less-than-prude heritage, or who just want a little slice of airline cheesecake, enjoy these photos of Southwest’s flight attendants, back in the 1970s. Would those uniforms pass muster today?
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September 17th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Southwest Airlines MastersThe Business Apology: Throw a mini-skirt sale, ignore the injured party…
It’s being called the Southwest Apology. But what Southwest Airlines is calling an apology is nothing more than a mean-spirited dig at Kyla Ebbert. Here is the so-called apology by way of Upgrade:Travel BetterFrom a Company who really loves PR,…
September 17th, 2007 at 7:20 am
your picture says it all: the flight attendants don’t want to be seen in such outfits or see anyone else for that matter.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Why should they apologize? She was dressed as a street walker (and has pretty much replicated that look on the talk shows I’ve surfed by) and clearly has the brains of a house cat.
Now, you can’t throw all the stupid people off airplanes (how would congress-critters gett around?) but you can sure insist on basic decent dress.
Also, if you want to ding people in the 2000’s for stupid stuff they did in the 1970’s then you’d have to take everyone who voted for Carter…..
-TF
September 17th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
If you’re going to apologize, let it be real. That’s my beef: The fake apology with the winking and the har-har’s. Skirt length policy is separate.
Not apologizing would have been a matter of debate, but a defensible position. Giving a fake apology is worse than not giving one at all. Bad form.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
[...] har. Those t-shirt auteurs… such cunning linguists! Well, considering how Southwest “apologized” the last time, we should expect a fare sale with a saucy name soon. But what will they call [...]
October 16th, 2007 at 7:45 am
[...] never met a camera he didn’t love. Apparently neither did Kyla Ebbert, Southwest’s miniskirt bandit. Branson used Ebbert as a PR prop for Virgin America’s new service to Vegas. Classy. But hey, [...]
February 9th, 2008 at 3:47 am
So not nice of you! The outfit she wore was only risque because she has a sexy body. I’m not really for the bleached blond fake boob look but you have to admit she has a nice figure. If she was flat chested and weighed 20 more lbs. no one would have said a word to her. Anyway my house cat is very smart, don’t insult him.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
The waist band of that skirt is already right over her “privates”. So, if she sits down like that, what do you think happens? Any adjustments would result in over the line exposure. I don’t care what you look like, that’s indecent.