Table of Contents
Introduction
So dear readers, picturise this scenario. You are getting ready to board a flight, perhaps you are happy, or perhaps you are exhausted. One would think that now everything is as common as it will get—until it isn’t. Then, all of a sudden the next headline in “Delta airlines news” is about you. That was exactly the case, when a passenger was forcibly removed from Delta Airlines after he was spotted wearing a t-shirt of then US president Donald Trump’s middle finger. Sounds wild, right? But believe me; it is not all about a t-shirt in this story. Let’s move on to what happened, why that happened, and what does that mean for you next time you go on such trip.
The Incident: What Actually Happened?
The T-shirt That Sparked A Controversy
Let us quickly address the issue of the t shirt that is at the centre of these considerations. This was not your ordinary graphic T-shirt. It had Trump who was wearing a protective sunglasses whose frame had an American flag motif and standing up for some obscene gestures, the words “Hawk tuah spit on that thang” was written on it too. Now, for those of you who are scratching your heads in complete bemusement about that phrase, do not worry. It refers to a rather infamous internet video, but that’s neither here nor there. The only thing which is important is the course of events this shirt triggered.
At Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, before the flight, a Delta employee noted the passenger who wore his shirt without shame. It was said that someone else lodged a complaint regarding the shirt, so the passenger was told to turn the shirt inside out or that he would not be allowed to board the aircraft. Partially, he agreed, but for a very short period of time. However, after the maneuvers, and right before the craft took off, he wore the shirt back in the right way. This is the point where all hell broke loose. A second employee of Delta went back into the plane, and the man was thrown out of the plane.
The Action Taken by Delta Airlines: Understanding it Further
So, why did Delta Airlines feel the need to make such a decision? According to practice, it is their policy to exclude passengers who are in clothes or whose deportment is deemed by the staff to pose “an unwarranted risk of upsetting or annoying” other passengers. In the present instance, Delta concluded that the shirt warranted taking such steps.
But did they make the right decision? With Delta’s Contract of Carriage, it guides that they are entitled to cancel any passenger as per their reasons in order to ensure comfort or safety of the other passengers of the flight. But this particular case has raised the question of how far one can go. Was it simply a question of the shirt, or there was something deeper? Delta maintains it was ‘for the sake of pleasant experience for passengers’, and most people are wondering if this is going to be a new era of flying.
Public Reactions: Splits Opinions
Social Media Noise
As you would imagine, the incident didn’t just end with the passenger disembarking the aircraft. It soon turned into a heated discussion on the internet, and especially on the subreddit who hosted the video. The netizens were, it turned out, rather decisive. While some supported Delta’s position against what they perceived as inappropriate dress code policies, others clashed with the airline over the broad-handed policy which sounded like restriction of freedom of speech.
Supporters of the passenger in question countered that the removal from a flight on the grounds of wearing a t-shirt, however inappropriate to some, cannot stand. Critics however noted that the policy of the airline must be holistic, the comfort of all the people on board and not an individual. And let’s be honest, flying is bad enough without the addition of controversial t-shirts that people seem to be fond of wearing.
The Broader Implications
This incident is more than a tweet that any Twitter user could recall. It forces one to reflect on internal procedures at airlines during the similar scenarios. Delta Airlines, which is already a serious industry participant, has now to face a different challenge, the court of public opinion. Was this event of such magnitude that it will hurt their reputation or is there scope for other perception that it will enhance the brand of the airline to passengers who desire class and decorum?
It also brings into focus the policies followed by the Airlines. Are they red tape or just practicing courtesy? This may vary depending on your choice of respondent. But one thing is for sure, this is not the first time Delta is in the news for such battles and it sure won’t be the last.
Alright, So What’s The Trend Now? Other Strengths of Delta Airlines Section
The No-Bra Incident
Do you recall the incident where a woman was almost thrown out of a Delta airline flight because she refused to wear a brassiere? A captured video caused uproar a few months ago. Lisa Archbold, a DJ, got onto the aircraft dressed in a loose t-shirt with no bra and was briefly detained by a gate agent who said that it was ‘disrespectful’ for her to ‘dress like this’.
The controversy had parallels with the Trump shirt issue whereby a lot of people were left wondering how Delta makes determination on what is right and wrong. Again in both circumstances, Delta employees used the excuse of some dress code policies, supporting their argument on how everybody should look on board an aircraft, yet the reading of that chalkboard appears to differ. Does dress code refer to what an individual is wearing or relates to whoever is putting on the clothing? That is something many of the passengers are asking nowadays.
A more in-depth examination of Policies at Delta
There is delta policy this is concise and straightforward so to speak it states that, any passenger can be refused any services if it is believed that their dress, grooming or behavior is repugnant to other passengers. However, how they implement these policies can be quite dubious. The ultimate objective of the airline is to create a pleasant atmosphere for all the occupants on board. We have observed, on the other hand, that what is objectionable to one individual is the norm for another.
But it comes with the bigger picture – could Delta be going to the other extreme in their policies? Some people are of the opinion that the airliner is only performing its tasks, which include upholding some level that renders the rest of the journey comfortable to everyone. Others feel that they are going too far and intruding into the clothes of passengers. Whichever argument of persuasiveness you believe in, it is evident that Delta has a very thin line to make and incidents of such nature do not just make it any simpler.
How It Helps the Individual Traveler in the Future
Airline Rules and Regulations
So, as a potential customer in the future, what can you learn from all this? First of all, you should first know the policies of the airline you are embarking on. This isn’t about Delta alone; in most instances most customers can expect such guidelines from most if not all major airlines. So here’s what one needs to know. One could save oneself of a lot of pain—perhaps a few headlines too.
But it is not just rule and regulations that concern the passenger; it is the general environment attentive self-preservation and its contents. In 2020, everything has the potential to become viral information, thus one has to pay attention to the garb one puts on and how that could be interpreted by people. You are not necessarily doing anything wrong, however repercussions will still follow.
How Social Media Plays a Part in the World
Lastly let us also not over overshot the importance of their ways of communication in all these things. The man with the Trump shirt might have just left the plane with people did not make the scene and that would have been the last of it. But as usual the benefits of social media came into play and his version of events had everyone talking and it pretty much left the airport. Thus social media can be wielded to influence people to make a case and in turn influence the policies of their targeted organization.
Delta does not throw caution to the wind in these types of situations. They know that one wrong move, and a spring-loaded PR theater could be in store. For the passengers, this also ranks among the reasons why what happens on a plane does not always stay on a plane. In the era of smartphones and social networks, something is bound to make it to the headlines.
Conclusion
So, was the decision to deboard their passenger on Delta an aggressive tactical decision or a blunder? It is a matter of contention. On the one hand, they were just carrying out their mandates by making sure that everybody on the plane was not uncomfortable. On the other, they risked losing a segment of their market who would perceive this move as violation of their freedoms.
What is evident is that airlines are walking a tightrope. That is, they need to protect or provide all the passengers on board with maximum comfort and safety, and respect individual passengers’ rights, and that is, by the media. For now, the maximum you can do as a passenger is to keep yourself informed, keep your manners, and… well, think twice about wearing that ‘divisive’ t-shirt for your next flight.
FAQs
What did the shirt exactly say?
The shirt had a print of ex-president Donal Trump with the words, “Hawk tuah spit on that thang, taken from some internet video.” The picture also had Trump with two fingers raised like he was showing the middle finger
Is it legal for Delta to eject a passenger for inappropriate dress?
Yes, Delta’s policy permits them to take out passengers whose manner of dressing might be disturbing to other passengers. This is part of their comprehensive aim to ensure all the passengers are easy and comfy.
Has Delta previously suffered from the same occurrences?
Yes, there have been numerous cases where passengers flying Delta were removed from the flight or requested to remove clothes changes because they were offensive or inappropriate policies.
How do passengers make sure that they do not violate any airline rules?
They need to know the requirements of the airline before flying out. Most airlines such as Delta have these policies on their websites.
Will the present scenario alter Delta Airlines future provisions?
It’s possible. This is because the public’s sentiments can force the hand of the airlines and perhaps, make amends on certain policies that tend to stir public feelings in the wrong direction.
