Yesterday, Southwest Airlines was trending again on Twitter, and once again it was not for the reasons they probably hope for. Plus, because it happened on a Monday, it has time to make it into a SNL skit for Saturday which will probably include all the other celebrity incidents Southwest has had.
The L Word actress Leisha Hailey was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight with her girlfriend for what the airline calls excessive kissing. Leisha says it was because she is a lesbian and the flight attendant told them Southwest was a family airline and did not allow that.
I understand why Leisha is upset. She says in her Twitter that she feels discriminated because she is gay. Look, I don't care if you are gay or straight I don't really want to watch you sucking face and groping someone in front of me. Well, unless you are both good looking and then it would be ok. And only then if it is better than an in-flight movie. Of course Southwest does not really have those so maybe this would be more fun. On Leisha's behalf, Southwest has proved itself to be really conservative in the past not just with celebrities, but remember the woman who was not allowed to fly because her skirt was too short? She had a quick few minutes of fame and even ended up in Playboy. She thought she was going to have a long career. Hope she invested that check she got from them.
Anyway, the other thing Southwest did was not stick to their story. They started off with the kicking off for excessive PDA. Later though they said they were going to issue an apology to Leisha for not fulfilling their customer's expectations. See, to me that says they were in the wrong. What we need is video. Everyone always has video, so why is there not any of this? It is like the woman I saw this weekend who started choking. A few people ran to her aid but most were reaching for their cameras. I heard one guy say that he was getting ready in case anything exciting happened so he could send it to YouTube before anyone else and get the hits. Seriously?
I agree with Enty, if I saw her on a flight, I'd be tempted to film her just to show my friends (not necessarily the kissing, just that she was there). I loved The L Word and her character. I wonder how much PDA was actually involved? It'd be nice to hear from some other passengers.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear from straight couples that have made out during a Southwest flight and whether they were confronted for it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read Southwest as not sticking to their story. They said they kicked her off for excessive PDA and they didn't issue her an apology but instead a generic press statement saying they always strive to fulfill their customer's expectations.
ReplyDelete(I also understand Southwest kicks straight couples off flights for the same thing all the time.)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I hate watching anyone make out. Grosses me out when straight couples or gay couples do it...kissing is fun to do but looks stupid when you're watching.
ReplyDeleteBut do I think they would've kicked a straight couple off? Probably not.
Then again, surely they asked them to stop, right? Did she and her girlfriend refuse to stop?
Amy, is that right?? In that case, no prob then.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Southwest Airlines, for having the spine to insist on adult behavior in public. Too bad you folded and apologized later. Some people see this as an admission of guilt. But let's be honest, you wouldn't have apologized if it was a hetero couple. Your sad apology is clearly tribute paid for the Prevention of Stupid Lawsuits by People Who Refuse to GROW UP.
ReplyDeleteI hate PDAs, especially the excessive ones that come with smacking sound effect. eeeeck. A nice peck, a hand hold, looking into each other's eyes, no matter if gay, straight, bi, none of my business, it's all cute and lovey-dovey.
ReplyDeleteBut quite honestly, even if Brangelina were making out in front me, going all raunchy in first class, while I'd be holding back gagging reflexes, I'd be filming the whole thing to post on Youtube!! Come on, it's Brangelina!
That being said, do we have proof that the couple was told to cool it down, or that their behavior is inappropriate in public before getting thrown out? It seems fairly decent to give people a warning; If they don't give a shit after being warned, and decide that they need to live their lives, and assume their right to 'Freedom', well, it is only fair that the airline protects everybody else's Freedom to decency and throws them out.
People, keep your PDA cute. Label it G, not PG, and NEVER EVER NC-17!
That's what I posted on FB (i.e. I don't want to watch ANY couple making out), but then I was worried my gay FB friends would get mad at me and I removed it.
ReplyDeleteSeems like to get kicked off the flight, you'd have to overreact when asked to stop your making out, too, which is another reason I'm inclined to agree with Southwest.
But they still let screaming, drooling, pooping, seat kicking children fly. Go figure.
ReplyDelete"I don't care if you are gay or straight I don't really want to watch you sucking face and groping someone in front of me."
ReplyDeleteExactly. Save it for a room.
I am very gay-rights, have many many gay friends---but I agree. Excessive PDAs are impolite. I don't want to see anyone making out when I'm trapped on a plane near them.
ReplyDeleteI think SW made a statement of some kind that they got rowdy about being asked to stop, and it "seemed a better discussion to continue on the ground rather than in the air."
ReplyDeleteGood lord. This is the world we live in now, when any confrontation or kerfuffle means everyone whips out their phones to record you. What a different world it is from even ten years ago.
ReplyDeleteSorry, unless someone can provide a story where a hetero couple was kicked off Southwest for "excessive PDA", this was discrimination.
I was on a SWA flight where a couple were practically having sex in their seats almost from the moment of sitting down. A (very effeminate) steward came by and told them to knock it off or they were going to be removed from the plane before we pulled away from the terminal. They cut it out until we were airborne, then started again. The steward then had the air marshal on board separate the two. SWA don't play, gay or straight. I think it really is because they see themselves as a "family-friendly" airline.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, I HATE seeing any PDA beyond handholding in public, regardless of who is doing it. Get a room, people, if you just can't control yourself.
So long as I don't have to see a nip, sexual organs, or heavy petting outside the clothes I could care less.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I betcha that Southwest fancies themself as a "family friendly" airline because they don't allow a lot of things that are accepted by society such as a short skirt, or baggy pants. I'm not really buying the discrimination thing unless I see proof.
Yes, yes, couples in love (strait or hetero). We get that your love is "special" and "timeless" but, alas, NO ONE ELSE wants to watch you swapping spit.
ReplyDeleteMy BF abhors PDA and I agree with him. Unless it's at the airport (and even then we keep it brief) who wants to see that shit?
_-_=_, actually, children who can't get it under control get kicked off flights, too. Does any one remember the toddler who had a meltdown awhile back and the family was made to get off the plane because of it?
ReplyDeleteI have young kids, and I do everything I can to avoid having to fly somewhere with them because it can be difficult for everyone involved, including bystanding passengers on the plane.
However, children, are developing and learning how to deal and control their emotions (hopefully, with proper adult guidance), which is a completely different arena, I think, than two ADULTS, regardless of sexual preference, getting too frisky on a plane, when they should go into the loo and pay their mile-high-club dues, with the door set to "Occupied".
I'm with most of the others - I don't want to see PDA no matter who is involved. I'm fine with holding hands and a peck on the lips/cheeks. I'm even okay with a lingering good-bye kiss or an embrace when they first get off of the plane. Especially when you can tell it has been a long time since the couple has seen each other or will see each other. But to have someone making out on the plane I don't care who you are. just stop it! I don't want to see it.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't even get me started on kids crying on the planes.
I read somewhere else that she and her girlfriend got quite hostile when told to keep it family friendly, and that's why they got kicked off. But yeah, I'd like to hear from the other passengers - apparently some of them were complaining about the PDA's....
ReplyDeleteMy sister just told me about a massive fight in San Antonio (where she lives) and e'eryone was pulling out their phones to film it... NOT to call 911!
ReplyDeleteI hate excessive PDA. For anyone.
ReplyDeleteI can't see anyone actually complaining unless they were on the same row, though.
I'm actually a little more horrified about the woman choking & people pulling out phones, considering she could have died. WTF is wrong w/ people???
i've complained at the movies when a couple was making out. it was disgusting! the guy had his hands down the girls pants in a pg flick. i was there w/ my kids who were ery aware because the couple was moving around so much. there is a difference between a kiss that says, "i love you and i'm so glad i'm here w/ you" and one that says MORE.
ReplyDelete