Nationwide — Tanasia Grayer, an African American woman from Chicago, Illinois, says that Spirit Airlines stopped her from boarding a flight in Miami because her shorts were “too short.” The incident escalated into a confrontation and ended with her sister being arrested.
Grayer was at Miami International Airport on July 16, preparing to return home. She said a Spirit employee blocked her at the gate, citing her outfit as inappropriate. Grayer explained that she wore the same style of shorts on her flight to Miami with no issues.
“This is just regular shorts. This is how I walked through the airport,” Grayer told CBS News. “This is how I walked through the airport with these shorts with my robe. This is exactly how I have my clothes.”
She was shocked and frustrated, noting she had no change of clothes because her luggage had already been sent to Chicago. The situation quickly grew tense. Her sister, Jessica Kordelewski, got involved and was later arrested for disorderly conduct.
Spirit Airlines said its dress code, updated in January 2025, includes clothing standards found in other U.S. airlines. The airline stated that Grayer refused to comply when offered a chance to change and was denied boarding due to “disruptive behavior.”
Other passengers shown the outfit said they didn’t see anything wrong with it. Some questioned the airline’s decision, pointing out that casual dress is common in airports today.
After the dispute, Grayer and her sister booked a return flight with another airline to leave Miami. She said she has no plans to return to Miami anytime soon.
Meanwhile, ravel expert Clint Henderson confirmed Spirit’s new rules prohibit revealing or offensive clothing, including see-through outfits, exposed private parts, lewd graphics, and bare feet, aiming to keep the environment comfortable for all passengers.