Southwest Airlines told The Dallas Express it will drop the “One Night in Dubai” theme originally slated for its Dallas employee holiday party. The decision follows questions from the newspaper and reports that flight attendants and other staff were uneasy about the concept.
Employee feedback prompted review
A Southwest flight attendant, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, alerted The Dallas Express that many colleagues were dissatisfied with the Dubai‑themed celebration scheduled for December 5, 2026. The employee said the gathering was being marketed as a “Holiday Party” rather than a religious observance, but staff felt the theme was inappropriate for a Christmas‑season event.
According to the flight attendant, the original “Save the Date” poster listed a premium bar, food trucks, a hookah bar, a cigar bar, a dessert station, a DJ, a henna artist, photo booths, dancers and live entertainment. It also offered “outfit inspiration” for both men and women.
Southwest’s response
Southwest spokesman Lynn Lunsford replied in an email on September 16, stating, “The party announcement you asked about was sent out before the idea had been fully vetted by the Leadership Team. We will be sharing a new party theme with the DAL Employees in the near future.” The airline did not disclose when the decision was made or what the replacement theme will be.
The airline confirmed that the announcement was sent to employees before leadership had completed its review. It also noted that the party is intended for Southwest staff at Dallas Love Field, including customer‑service agents, ramp workers, provisioning employees, gate agents, pilots and flight attendants. The flight attendant said the event could involve “thousands of guests,” though Southwest has not confirmed exact attendance numbers.
Background on the voting process
Information obtained by The Dallas Express shows that an email on August 18 invited employees to vote on holiday‑party themes. The message, signed by a supervisor identified as McKenzie and sent from Carrie Haynes’ account, asked staff to cast their votes. The selected theme was announced on September 15, but the process and vote totals were not disclosed.
The Dallas Express submitted nine questions to Southwest, asking who proposed the theme choices, how the “One Night in Dubai” option was selected, and details about event sponsors, funding and logistics. Southwest’s public‑relations team acknowledged the inquiry at 12:30 p.m. on September 16 and promised a follow‑up later that afternoon.
Context
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, a nation where more than 75% of residents identify as Muslim, according to the UAE Embassy. While the statistic applies to the entire country, it underscores why some employees may have found a Dubai‑themed celebration incongruent with a Christmas‑season party.
Southwest has not announced a new date or provided further details about the revised theme. The airline said it will communicate the updated plan to Dallas employees soon.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
