Airlines Called on to Publish Passenger Dress Code

New York - From skirts too short, to pants too low, some passengers are learning the hard way that their wardrobe can keep them grounded.

Several high profile incidents have airplane passenger rights groups calling on airlines to publish dress codes just as clearly as ticket fares and baggage restrictions.

Kate Hanni, executive director of FlyersRights.org argues the lack of consistency leaves passengers exposed to the judgments of the flight crew, who may take offense at clothing that would not be considered indecent off the plane, but which can lead to an argument and sometimes end with the passenger getting kicked off a flight.

"People aren't mind readers," Hanni said. "They don't know what that flight attendant's going to want to see when you get on a plane!"

Most of the major carriers scoff at spelling out specifics, and only give general guidelines in their contracts of carriage. American Airlines, for instance, will give a maximum weight limit, but reserves the right to turn away anyone deemed too fat to comply with safety instructions by themselves.

The airlines say it also within its rights to kick off someone with an offensive odor not caused by an illness or disability. On the question of clothing, passengers can be booted if they are dressed in a manner "that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers."

"In the end, the flight crew is in charge of the aircraft, and they have to make judgments based on what they think is going to create the safest and most comfortable environment for everyone on the airplane," says Virgin America CEO David Cush.

Airlines say dress codes would be hard to enforce, and could expose them to lawsuits if the flight crew over-reacts.

In the view of Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, that is what usually happens.

"If an airline's going to be so unreasonable for kicking someone off a plane for wearing saggy pants or being slightly overweight, to me, it just seems impolite of the airline to behave in that way," Branson says.