Passenger says she was kicked off a flight for skimpy shorts — but airline says this is the real reason why

A woman says she was denied boarding on a Spirit Airlines flight this week — and claims her shorts were the reason.

In a CBS News Miami video (below), traveler Tanasia Grayer recounts a tense scene at Miami International Airport on July 16, where she was told by a gate agent she couldn’t get on her Chicago-bound flight.

“We were getting ready to board the plane, and the lady at the front desk, she stopped me and said, ‘You’re not getting on a plane like that,’” Grayer says in the on-camera interview. “So I looked at her and said, ‘Like what?’ She said, ‘With those shorts.’”

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Grayer says she had been walking through the airport for 40 minutes without anyone flagging her outfit. In the clip, she’s seen wearing a pink robe, which she says she added to avoid appearing too revealing. “They said you can’t have your bottom or your butt out… that’s why this robe is on.”

But things escalated quickly — and it wasn’t just about her outfit. According to a Spirit Airlines statement cited by CBS News Miami, the flight ban wasn’t about the clothing, but Grayer’s alleged behavior during the confrontation. The statement reads in part:

"We always want our Guests to feel welcome and have a great experience. Consistent with other U.S. airlines, our Contract of Carriage contains certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us. Our records show a Guest was not in compliance with our Contract of Carriage and refused to comply when provided an opportunity to do so. The Guest and their travel companion were eventually denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior. Further questions should be directed to law enforcement."

Grayer’s sister, Jessica Kordelewski, who appears to be the woman shouting, “this is crazy, this is insane!” in the background of the CBS video, was arrested by police shortly afterward. The sheriff’s department told the outlet she was charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing after a warning.

“I’m going home,” Kordelewski said after she was released from jail. “We are done with Miami. We ain’t never coming here again,” added Grayer.

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Spirit’s official contract of carriage, most recently updated in January 2025, states passengers may be denied boarding if they are “barefoot or inadequately clothed,” or if their attire is considered “lewd, obscene or offensive.” Specific examples include see-through clothing exposing the breasts, buttocks, or other private parts, as well as offensive body art.

Grayer told CBS she and her sister ended up rebooking with a different airline and made it home safely — but she made sure not to wear the same outfit the second time around.

On the YouTube post of the CBS News Miami’s YouTube clip, commenters shared opinions on the dustup. Commenters appeared to overwhelmingly side with the airline, blasting the passenger’s outfit as inappropriate for air travel. “Those are not shorts. Those are underwear,” one viewer wrote. Another joked, “Why would you want your skin to touch a Spirit Airline seat? I would be in sweats.”

Some questioned the choice to escalate the situation instead of just slipping into something more modest: “She could have put on proper attire in 1 minute and would be allowed to fly. She decided to argue and her sister to fight.” Others pointed out the irony of the look: "A ‘Versace’ robe… but flying Spirit.” And perhaps the most biting sentiment came from a commenter who summed up what many were thinking: “These young people are serious? She goes to the airport with shorts that look like underwear and a bathrobe!!??? I’m truly embarrassed that she is NOT embarrassed to be on the news with this story.”

Watch the full CBS Miami segment here:

Yahoo CreatorAlesandra DubinAlesandra (Alice) Dubin is an award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist. She has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA in journalism from NYU. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their twins.FollowFollow