How Did Lady Gaga Catch a Flight Nearly Naked?

Clad in barely anything, the pop star flew from L.A. to N.Y. on American Airlines, just like anybody else

By Leslie Gornstein Sep 15, 2010 9:57 PMTags
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Since when does Lady Gaga get to fly mostly naked on a public airline? Or did she have to cover up at the last minute after the paparazzi left?
—NewLady, Dallas via the inbox

The Gaga does not cover up for mere mortals, no matter who they be! The space villagers shall gaze upon The Gaga in her disco bolero, and her ironic Ringo shades, and her fishnets that she found on the bathroom floor at Jumbo's Clown Room! And the mortals shall thank the Lady for allowing them to do said gazing!

Yes, I have all the details on Gaga's flight, and there are definitely signs of special treatment:

But not at first.

Here's what we know: Gaga was flying from LAX to New York via American Airlines, of all things. She showed up at the departures terminal, just like everyone else, and then went through security. Insiders tell me they saw no signs of deference at that point—no separate line, no private room, nothing.

"She got in line with everyone else," a spy tells me.

At one point Gaga donned her golden bolero before boarding the American flight. But, my spy says, "at no time did we see anyone from the airline approaching her or asking her to do anything."

And when Gaga deplaned in New York, she was wearing the same outfit, or lack thereof, I am told.

We already know that the handcuff accessories were no problem for the star. The TSA, which helps to screen passengers for security, has said that handcuffs are not banned.

But Gaga's lack of clothing? That's a different story.

Passengers have been harassed by airline crew in the past for wearing clothes far more modest than what Gaga displayed this week. In 2007, Kyla Ebbert was booted from a Southwest flight for wearing a short skirt on what she was told was a "family friendly airline."

As for American, a spokesman declined to comment on Gaga specifically. However, he did share the airline's in-flight wardrobe policy. Passengers can be booted if they're "clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers," the policy reads.

That interpretation is "left up to the judgment of the crew," the spokesman tells me.

In other words, the crew didn't see anything wrong with how Gaga was dressed and let her on the plane. And there's a good chance that the decision had something to do with the fact that she's, you know, Lady Gaga.

So...why did Gaga wear that outfit in the first place? I'll have insight for you—in my next podcast.