Airport bans pyjamas and crocs before backtracking and claiming it was a joke
‘We’ve seen enough. We’ve had enough. It’s time to ban pyjamas.’
Tampa International Airport’s viral post yesterday told followers they would also go ‘croc-free’, leaving many stunned at the sudden change in dress code at the airport, which serves 25,000,000 passengers each year.
Dressing professionally while travelling by plane – especially internationally – is not common. Travellers opt to wear sweat pants, hoodies, and those ugly, but comfortable shoes – Crocs.
So when Tampa Airport said they had ‘seen enough’ of pyjamas, adding: ‘The madness stops today. The movement starts now,’ followers went into a frenzy.
Eventually, the account had to clarify that the announcement was indeed a joke, with airport spokesperson Beau Zimmer telling AP the post was part of the social media account’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’ persona.
‘Our regular social media followers just eat this stuff up. But obviously this is all in fun, and we encourage our travellers to be comfortable,’ he said.
After the post went viral, the account posted a clarification: ‘Today’s post about ‘banning pyjamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates.
‘We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humour.’
But passengers were already replying in droves, with one writing: ‘Flying from JFK to Tampa in pyjamas and crocs tomorrow out of pure spite.’
Another added: ‘Airport food costs $47. Flights are cancelled randomly. But yes. The pyjamas are the crisis.’
The joke appeared to be a nod to Transport Secretary Sean Duffy’s announcement last year that he wanted airline passengers to ‘dress with respect’.
In November, Duffy said: ‘Whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better.
‘Let’s try not to wear slippers and pyjamas as we come to the airport.’
His campaign, which he called ‘The Golden Age of travel starts with you’, was announced with a 1960s-style advert which saw travellers dressed in suits and hats.
‘Are you dressing with respect?’ Duffy asked in the video, adding: ‘Are you keeping control of your children?’
Airlines in the US do not have universal dress codes, but they do enforce something called ‘Conditions of the Carriage’.
Those conditions allow flight attendants to refuse passengers from boarding if they’re wearing what’s dubbed as ‘inappropriate attire’ – but this doesn’t include Crocs and pyjamas.
Instead, people wearing offensive clothing with bad language, swimwear, explicit outfits, or wearing very messy clothing can be turned away.
For now, passengers can keep wearing their beloved Crocs and pyjamas.
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