Everyone is talking about the fact that United Airlines decided to turn two young girls away from boarding a flight recently when their clothing, leggings, were deemed inappropriate. This isn’t just a rumor posted to social media, United has confirmed that they turned the girls away at the gate. Some of the children in the group were allowed to change clothing but two were reportedly not allowed to fly. A father flying with the same group had just shorts on and he was allowed to board. United has been responding to tweets from celebrities with defensive messages that the girls didn’t meet their dress code policy. However these were passengers flying under United’s pass system for employees and family and they were under stricter dress code rules than usual customers. Still, people are outraged and United’s defensiveness is going to cost them business now that this has gone viral. Here’s more, thanks to People:
Shannon Watts, a mother-of-five from Colorado and founder of movement Moms Demand Action, shared on Twitter Sunday that young passengers boarding a flight from Denver to Minneapolis were told they could not board the plane unless they changed their outfits.
Although some were allowed onto the plane after modifying or changing their outfits, she tweeted that two girls were not allowed on the flight. Of the group, she noted that one was about 10-year-old. Watts asked United for an explanation.
United responded to Watts on Twitter, writing that they “have the right to refuse transport for passengers who are barefoot or not properly clothed.” They later clarified that the girls in question were “pass travelers,” or travelers flying on comped or discounted tickets, typically reserved for employees and their family members. United explained that they have a stricter dress code for pass travelers as they are representing the United brand.
Still, stars like Chrissy Teigen and William Shatner joined the list of people speaking out against United’s confusing policy on Twitter.
“I have flown united before with literally no pants on. Just a top as a dress,” wrote Teigen, 31. “Next time I will wear only jeans and a scarf.”
And here are a few of the tweets in question. When Chrissy Teigen says that she’s going to wear just a scarf and jeans, you can bet that she’s serious.
A 10-year-old girl in gray leggings. She looked normal and appropriate. Apparently @united is policing the clothing of women and girls. https://t.co/RKsIFoE8pq
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
I have flown united before with literally no pants on. Just a top as a dress. Next time I will wear only jeans and a scarf.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 26, 2017
@united Why aren't you allowing girls to wear leggings on flights? Who is your gate agent policing girls clothing?
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) March 26, 2017
@PattyArquette United employees or their eligible dependents standing by on a space-available basis. Pass riders are prioritized last, (1/2)
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
@PattyArquette The attire of the pass traveler did not meet our rules. ^FS (2/2)
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
@PattyArquette Patricia, as stated, these were United representatives. We hold our employees to the highest of standards. ^FS
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
@PattyArquette We acknowledge the severity of the situation, and are looking into it. We appreciate your honest feedback. ^FS
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
I fly regularly and I have a kid so I understand why this is outrageous to people. It’s inconvenient to say the least, and since leggings are typically worn by women and girls it sounds discriminatory as well. Even if this only applies to passengers with free passes, it’s tone deaf for United to defend the policy instead of trying to listen to customers. United should acknowledge people’s concerns, state that this is a policy that they are reconsidering which does not apply to everyone, and apologize. They’re trying to be “right” instead of listening, which is making this much worse and more widely reported than it otherwise would be. United has issued a clarification about this, stating that regular passengers can wear leggings, but they double down on this decision to kick the girls off the flight, stating in part “We regularly remind our employees that when they place a family member or friend on a flight for free as a standby passenger, they need to follow our dress code.”
photos credit: WENN and FameFlynet
If something about a young girl in leggings is inappropriate to you, it’s YOU who’s inappropriate. Leggings are comfortable and perfect for flying. F*ck that noise.
I think that’s what a lot of people are missing with the ‘it’s their policy’ argument.
Yes, United has a dress code. That dress code is the problem, because it is sexist. Not enforcing the dress code necessarily, although that is all kinds of dumb.
Most dress codes are made so that girls don’t ‘accidentally’ turn on some dude. it’s all about how to control how women look and express themselves, with an added note of paternal ‘it’s for your own good’ and a dash of misogyny ‘girls need to stay covered to not distract’ mentality.
If I’m reading this correctly, it’s not only a sexist rule, but also a stupid, hypocritical one. How is it that they deem leggings – and even specifically, leggings – as appropriate attire for regular passengers, but not so for stand-by passengers? It’s ridiculous and pretty galling, considering we are talking about little girls being singled out. And why were some allowed to change, but not others? Who made this decision and why?
On a side note, I t’s always intrigued me how we in Australia have worn leggings differently to you guys. Here, leggings are mostly worn under a long top or short dress, usually with ballet flats. In most cases, they’re not worn as “pants”, per se. There has been a noticeable “crossover” in the last couple of years, due mainly, I think, to the massive popularity of wearing active wear as regular clothing. Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell what are leggings, and what is active wear. I love the leggings-and -long-top look – it looks great on pretty much everyone, is really comfortable, and can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion and season. For example, throw on a long cardi and replace flats with boots in Winter. I’d never wear leggings with a short top, but that’s just me.
Whatever, this is a stupid rule that United and other airlines need to modify or do away with. To single out little girls is despicable.
Hi I work for an airline, I have been refused travel once by United because I was wearing a skirt without tights. I can explain to you how the policy is when you are an employee and are travelling on discounted tickets or Buddy passes. There are rules that apply to travel with them. You have to wear smart casual clothing. Back in the day it meant… not Jeans, no leggings, no running shoes, no flip flops… no track suits, no shorts, no tank tops etc. You had to look smart casual end of. This rule has been relaxed quite a bit by some airlines.. others still want you to adhere to them. It is not sexist it applies to both female and male employees. I find it ridiculous of course but hey, i suppose it is hard to break some traditions.
@expression thanks for extra info. What I don’t understand is why airlines have this rule in first place? Who is going to know you are friends or family of airline or on buddy passes? Do you have a special seats that say you aren’t “regular” paying passengers? So many questions. This sounds really stupid to me.
My thoughts exactly…The problem is you and not the girl wearing leggings.
I’m with you. I’ve been surprised that even in live-and-let-live San Francisco, once girls hit 5th grade, they are told that leggings are inappropriate for school. Our society is nuts. Let them be comfortable and focus on learning.
I had no idea there even was a dress code on airlines? I’m pretty sure I flew from Boston to Miami one time in Spongebob Squarepants pajama bottoms and no one said anything to me (although they probably should have).
Haha yes, as a regular passenger you can wear what you want as long as it doesn’t violate decency laws. These dress codes are for a specific type of flyer, those that get standby passes from the airline, not for regular paying folk.
United, and it sounds like other airlines, have dress codes for the people who use their ‘free’ flights. Flight attendant families can fly standby, so get a flight for free, if there is space on the plane.
It’s a common policy with all airlines. If you are using employee or buddy passes you have to abide by the dress code. My dad was an airline employee and it was no big deal.
I worked for the airlines for many years and am familiar with the rules for “non-rev” passengers. Yes, if you’re “representing” the company they don’t want you dressing inappropriately. That being said, United, as well as many other airlines probably need to update their dress code!! Not allowing girls to wear leggings is ridiculous and sexist!
All United (and that stupid ass gate agent) did was bring negative attention to themselves. No one cares about the outdated dress code for non-rev passengers, all they hear is that young girls were turned away for wearing leggings. What a PR mess!! I’m glad they are getting it from all sides. They handled this in the worst possible way.
I heard about this last night and immediately thought they must be flying stand by or buddy pass.Ive a relative who was an executive for Delta and we often flew with using his perks- lesser priced tickets and often up graded to first class.The stipulation was that you dress very conservative and “dressed up”.My young cousin was made to change at the gate due to a length issue with her dress,but to my recollection men had to be in dress pants and wearing a neck tie.I think dressing up when given perks is fine-but a ten year old in leggings seems a bit extreme.
What is so offensive about leggings (on kids!), not to mention even on a woman, that they would be against a dress code?
What is the male equivalent?
This is preposterous, rules or not.
The representative for the airline said that because the girls were on the employee family pass that that was the reason. They represent the airline because family members work for them and that’s why their travel attire is policed differently.
I call BS because how would any of the passengers know that these girls family members work for the airline. Do they sit in special seating that says family pass. Yet the man was allowed to wear shorts. This freaking airline is sexist because most of the clothes that are restricted are clothing worn by women.
Of course they know who’s flying on a Pass. It’s not a regular ticket, it’s a form of stand-by.
Bridget, how would passengers be aware of what tickets other passengers are holding?
Bridge think about what you just wrote. Passengers don’t get to look at other passengers airline tickets only the boarding agents and flight attendants who work for the airline do.
For some reason I thought you meant ticketing agents. I must be tired.
But then again, if you’re flying for free with the trade off being the clear expectation that you’re supposed to dress nicely, I’m not a fan of complaining that the stated rules are being enforced. Just me there.
A bunch of my family members work in the industry as pilots and flight attendants and I’m pretty sure all the major airlines still have a dress code for non-rev and buddy pass flyers, though the code has been majorly relaxed in recent years. In the 1990s we had to basically dress up like we were going to church, no jeans or Tshirts allowed, had to be well-groomed, etc. (specifically we were flying Delta and American then). My parents always told us to be super polite because we were “representing the airline.” Rules are more relaxed now on Delta but still no sweatpants or anything that looks like pajamas and some people think of leggings as sweatpants. I think one reason this dress code exists is that families often end up in First Class (that’s where the vacancy usually is for standby) and the airlines don’t want their paying First Class passengers offended by sitting next to free riders in shabby clothes, sweatpants, etc.
I think families are loathe to lose this huge perk of flying free and imagine this hullabaloo over the leggings is infuriating for families who follow the basic etiquette rules to get the perk, which has become less generous over time. It’s not guaranteed to always be there.
The thing is, I’ve been in first class before and regular passengers were wearing sweatpants as well? Lululemons and Nike tracksuits everywhere. That’s just the most comfortable on a long flight? I would understand banning worn out, shabby clothing, but a $100+ tracksuit? You would fit right in.
My dad worked for airlines my entire life, so I was a pass rider for years and often looked overdressed compared to other passengers. But nonrev passes are benefits – not rights – and unless you follow the rules, you can have your pass rights suspended or revoked permanently. Leggings worn as skin tight pants by anyone at any age likely was a dress code violation.
Even paying passengers can be denied boarding if they are dressed inappropriately. But airlines are less likely to challenge a paying passenger’s outfit unless it presents an obvious health or safety issue.
If you know anything about how stand by works or just listen to the gate agent, you know who the stand by passengers are. They are the last to board the flight and if they are given a seat, the agent will literally announce, “Will stand by passenger John Doe come to the counter”.
I call BS on the pass thing as an excuse also. Who was the dad in shorts traveling from with the girls? Was he traveling on a pass ticket also? So a dude in shorts is cool? That’s business-casual? But a 10-year-old in leggings are not?! If the rules were being equally applied he should have been told to slip on some loose fitting pleated slacks.
This story is disgusting. Policing the dress of little girls who just want to be comfortable on a plane. But the other passengers can be forced to look at some dudes hairy legs. Sexism at its finest.
And why does the man get to wear shorts? Having a dress policy is fine, but this sounds sexist.
Shorts are allowed part of the dress code (as long as they are a certain length/style etc), so it’s not like the gate agent was making a sexist call based on that. Now whether or not that’s fair policy to have is another question.
Because some styles of shorts can be business casual. Leggings aren’t.
It’s about the formality of the clothing, not how revealing it is. Leggings are extremely casual, in the same vein as sweat pants. Knee length shorts worn with a nice belt and shirt and loafers aren’t nearly so casual.
If it turns out the guy got on the flight in boardshorts and a Hawaiian shirt, then that would be an issue, but as it is nothing suggests he wasn’t fully in line with the dress code, while the girls were definitely very much not.
You’re going to roll up to a business casual meeting with shorts because they might be classier? Christ, I want your job. Sign me up, scottie!
I’ve flown non-res with a family member that worked for Delta, and the rules for this are very strict for everyone. All of the airlines have a dress code for those kinds of passengers that work for them and the parents know that. Generally it’s business casual. no flip flops. no sneakers. No workout wear (for both genders) They should have known better and followed up with the kids to be clear.
that said, a 10 year old? It’s up to the gate person to enforce it, and that’s just insane. And United is not playing the PR game very well.
Yes, I don’t have a problem with a strict dress code for employees. It’s that leggings on a 10-year old is deemed “inappropriate” that is messed up.
I don’t have a problem with a dress code for employees either but leave the family members alone. If my mother worked for that airline how would the other passengers even know unless I tell them.
My aunt regularly flies with one of these passes and she practically lives in sweatpants. Unless she changes into something else, she won’t be allowed on planes when she flies using the pass.
It’s a weird rule for sure, because who is going to know who’s flying as an employee of the airline anyway! It’s funny how men never seem to have foolish dress code rules…
Exactly. I just wrote about this.
Airlines (in my case Air Canada) are SO strict about the pass dress code. We all literally need to be dressed as if we are going to church on Christmas. Not even joking. Even my small children. You are legit getting your ticket for such a small amount of money compared to everyone else. Plus there’s the chance that you get bumped to first class. On a pass, they are more likely to bump you to first class if you are crazy dressed up. It’s worked for me many times.
Plus you are representing the employee with the discount. In my case my dad. I don’t want him getting in trouble because I show up for my flight in yoga pants. I have worn low cut or tight dresses and tops with dress pants. All was good. But once my brother once was denied boarding because he had on work boots.
This isn’t sexist people!!!! You just haven’t a clue as to how strict they are on both genders!
The father was wearing cargo shorts, though, which is more what I think it’s throwing everyone off. If that’s considered acceptable for an adult men, why would leggings on a *child* be problematic? I could understand if it was the mother or another adult family member, but plenty of children’s clothing – even dressier ones – utilizes leggings over pants because they’re easier to fit. It just seems like a bizarre contradiction in standards.
I get that “rules are rules”…. but this particular rule is absurd. The father of one of the girls was permitted to board wearing cargo shorts….but United wants us to believe the stupid legging rule is to withhold their high standards????
They are making this way worse with their response. They need some serious PR help.
This is on the list of dumb company policies. Leggings are normal girls wear! I mean even if these kids were wearing badges (which they were not) stating they are United employees no passenger would worry about their leggings!
Also shout out to William Shatner for tweeting a picture of himself being transported from space wearing red leggings (Star Trek episode), Levar Burton, and Sarah Silverman.
-From the Guardian UK-
The actor LeVar Burton had a similar exchange with the company, [after they gave him their policy] writing: “Duly noted, @United but…The punitive measures taken are not a good look!”
After telling the company she might change all her upcoming United flights to other airlines, the comedian Sarah Silverman received an explanation of the company’s policy. “I understand,” Silverman replied. “I suggest u consider updating ur rules 4 friends & fam as they seem to apply mostly 2 females & are outdated.”
https://apple.news/AM3yxfLd5S2-jVxYT50n3MA
I see young girls and women in leggings all the time. Everywhere from Disney World to the grocery store. Sometimes kids and adults are just wearing bathing suits when they’re food shopping at Publix and aren’t asked to leave or cover up.What would United Airlines say if someone was boarding in a bikini? Leggings are real clothes and not indecent
I just can’t even with this noise. I understand wanting your employees to dress more professionally for the flight to set a standard for paying passengers, but to turn away young children for leggings, which is a pretty standard school outfit for a lot of kids, is just ridiculous.
If United has the cheapest flight available I’m still going to fly United. This isn’t really an industry that needs to cater to things like this because a lot of people have to go with the cheapest option.
This is not good customer service at all and the PR is being handled very poorly, but they have the luxury of being the kind of company that doesn’t necessarily need to offer good customer service to be profitable.
This is a textbook case in how NOT to handle PR. The level of upset, outrage and bad press they received from NOT letting CHILDREN — repeat, these were KIDS — on the plane due to an amorphous dress code because they were, “representing United” as pass flyers; even though no one in the gate area nor on board could have ever known that without specifically being told AND that fact was only added only MUCH later, after several ham-handed Twitter responses from the official UA account, which caused the Internet to explode in outrage. They way they studiedly handled it far, FAR outweighs the value of their arguably outmoded “rules,” which seem to be incredibly unevenly and arbitrarily enforced based on numerous online reports of both the father being allowed to fly in shorts AND plenty of people weighing in on Twitter and elsewhere who say they’ve flown on UA passes while wearing yoga pants.
Speaking of which, the guy who noted that United’s own Twitter account actually used a Yoga-pant-wearing woman as a promo really nailed it. The outrage here is the hypocrisy.
One of the people singled out was a 10-year-old child for goodness sakes, and I have a real problem believing that leggings on someone so young were anything even close to “inappropriate.”
Oh and, having flown with on a family member’s buddy passes before (not on United) I do know there is a dress code for pass flyers, but I also know you check in and get your passes BEFORE you go through security. They’re not a guarantee you’ll get on, but it does mean someone from United already knew this family were pass flyers and checked out their clothing, found nothing wrong, and let them through; only to have the gate agent make a stink at the last minute <<—-And that's the real problem with all this. That agent created 1000x more bad press/embarrassment/disregard for United's reputation, as a company, by creating a scene than allowing pass flyers on board wearing leggings EVER could.
An error than greatly compounded by United's ham-handed Twitter responses that didn't even make mention of the pass dress code rule until HOURS later, after reporters were inundating United for comment.
It's hard to imagine how they could have handled this worse, actually. I mean, it's an airline, so I'm sure they could have found a way, but still.
To clarify … I’m not saying United can’t have stricter rules about pass flyers, but it was enforced so poorly as to cause all the problems they say they don’t want (besmirching reputation), and then some.
If the agent at check-in had quietly told the family they wouldn’t be permitted on as pass flyers in their current outfits, and explained why, it would be a no harm, no foul, no story moment. But to hold up boarding at the gate, in full view of other passengers who see nothing but kids being berated for their totally average attire is a massive, massive fail on the part of the airline that has NOTHING TO DO WITH whether the family at the center of it was or was not acting as pass flyers should.
If I were United corporate I’d be far more upset with the gate agent who started this, and perhaps the original Twitter tone-deaf responder, than the employee who issued the family a pass.
Good thing I’ve never questioned on Spanx or other lycra, spandex underwear. It’s combustible people!
LOLOL!!!
I have to be honest, I’m conflicted. Yes the policy is dumb….but….it IS the policy and apparently a known one. Flying on a pass is a privilege not a right; it would be different if this was a full fare customer. By all means work to change the dumb policy, but just showing up and expecting to be the exception is at best, silly. For that reason I blame the parents.
However United’s PR response was horrid! Defensive, piecemeal, and scattered. They’re getting the backlash they deserve for continuing to be incapable of dealing with the public.
@Mia45
+1000
It’s the policy. Parents take responsibility and move on!
Yeah thats the thing for me too. It’s the policy and the parents knew that. We can talk all day about whether it’s fair or not, but the fact is, it IS the policy. You can choose not to follow it, but then you cant really be outraged when there are consequences.
Which would be 100% valid if it were the family that complained on social media and started this … But it wasn’t. This was a self-inflicted wound by United. The way they handled their rules, and their initial responses to those who saw kids being singled out and denied boarding due to their clothing is the issue, far more so than the clothing or policy itself.
Considering the “rule” is, theoretically, to PREVENT embarrassment to United by its employees, that’s why this is an epic fail, on every level.
I agree. The airline I work for has an even stricter dress code – business casual, no jeans, no shorts, no leggings, no printed-t’s – men or women. Also applies to children – nice slacks, skirts, dresses, tops. They will take away your flying pass privileges if violated. So – while maybe United needs to look at their policy to ensure it’s fair for all genders, it is the current policy and every employee knows that.
Same. Air Canada will take away your pass. I show up in formal dresses, stilettos and tights. I look like a damn executive. I ain’t losing.my discount! Haha.
Yep. Having flown on a family / friends pass as a child, the rules are strict, and my parents used it as an example of learning how to dress appropriately. I love leggings, but they aren’t always appropriate, and I don’t like this idea that wearing leggings everywhere is some sort of feminist stance.
It actually annoys me this is getting so much attention. It’s a great example of people reacting before they know the facts. The family didn’t follow the rules, and that’s not United’s problem.
Policy and all understood
But 10 yr old girl? Really?
Whats next?
Forcing female children to wear huge tents , wimple like Females from middle ages?
Yes, let’s teach children to only follow rules if you agree with them. Tired of seeing every single body part exposed. If you can see vagina lips it is so tight, inappropriate. I’m sure if a male decided to wear leggings under this code, they would be rejected as well.
Honestly, I can’t tell you how grossly tight some leggings are on some people. If I can see the outline of your vulva or penis, your leggings are too tight ! Wear a longer top. LOL sorry this has nothing to do with this particular story but sometimes people forget about decency.
I’m more outraged at the 10 yr being denied access to the flight. I didn’t realize kids had “work appropriate” attire? Also dress codes are so inherently sexist. I cannot name one time a dress code issue has made headlines for a man being punished for his attire.
“I cannot name one time a dress code issue has made headlines for a man being punished for his attire.”
Because no one cares when a man is told to not expose his underwear with sagging pants or any other dress code violations. Men get caught for dress code violations, too, it’s just that no one cares so they don’t make a big deal out of it like they do for women.
When I was in HS, 90% of the time it was the guys who were getting in trouble for dress code violations. Rarely were the girls in trouble for it. But no one was up in arms about that because no one cares when a male gets in trouble for a dress code violation.
Ah yes, Leslie.
You pointed out the other reason they are used.
To shame and control men of colour and people from lower social classes.
Their bare bottoms were not exposed if their boxers were showing, its about disliking a certain mode of dress and having enough power to enact rules about those modes of dress.
My thing with the policy is that it seems so outdated, and who is it really for? These are people that get free flights hopefully if there are available flights (from what I understand) and yes, they work for UA, but they don’t wear badges or anything advertising them as such (again, just from what I understand), so what makes the difference what they wear? Other people on the flight don’t know that they are employees of UA, they just see little girls being harassed over the most trivial thing ever. Which, okay, within the last ten years, leggings have become popular. There was a time when it would be weird to see someone wearing leggings, but NOW is no longer that time. The policy needs updating. I’ve seen people defending UA and saying things like “My brother couldn’t board wearing shorts” and I just want to say, don’t you think that’s wrong? It’s like instead of just giving their employees a benefit, they have to make them uncomfortable when they use the benefit, too
Why did the policy get implemented in the first place? It seems odd?
I’ve known a couple of pilots who work for the big airlines, and my understanding of the policy is that you’re flying as a representative of the company, so you need to look nice.
No. No. No. I’m so over this faux outrage. They were flying on a friends and family and there is a dress code for that. It’s pretty plain and simple. The blame goes to the parents who should have been aware of such policy and should have made sure that their children were appropriately attired.
Is this the witch hunt society we now live in? Where people who aren’t even fully aware of the situation can tweet about something and then people work themselves up into frenzy? This has got to stop.
This story is driving me crazy. My dad and brother are commercial pilots. It is pretty well known that when you’re nonrev-ing, you better be dressed nicely. As a kid (we always nonreved) I was ALWAYS in a dress, my brother in slacks and a button down shirt. i don’t even think you can wear jeans.
When I was about 13, AA wouldn’t let me on a flight because I was wearing a sleeveless dress. They made my dad buy me a sweater from the gift shop. These airlines don’t play around and dad should have known that.
When I purchase a ticket I wear leggings, no problem. The public needs to realize this is a nonrev issue, not a leggings issue.
THIS.
YES! This story and the widespread media attention it has received has pissed me off. My mother worked for United and I flew all around the world on family passes. I always dressed nicely because I understood the rules and the benefit I was receiving – free travel. I flew first class to Australia and wore dress slacks (there’s a no jeans policy) because guess what, I’m flying first class for pennies on the dollar. United isn’t policing regular passengers, just the people who choose to receive benefits from being associated with an employee. Don’t like it? Buy a ticket.
THIS to both Patty and Mandy.
Ok, y’all defending this BS need to take several seats. It’s been reiterated over and over and over and over again that 1. The dad was allowed to board in cargo shorts. CARGO SHORTS. Tell me how that fits some vague business casual standard. 2. There were airline employees, actual united workers, who issued these folks their passes, and found exactly zero problems. If what they were wearing was so obviously scandalous, it was the job of the employees to not issue the passes; if their outfits were so hideously inappropriate then they shoudn’t have made it as far as the gate. 3. The way united has handled this is a textbook case in horrible PR strategy, and people are within their rights to call them out on that. 4. Lastly and most importantly, the thing people are angriest about is the treatment of THE TEN YEAR OLD CHILD. What, she didn’t wear her little American girl doll brand business suit and matching briefcase, and she should have known better? SHES 10. Applying some business clothing BS to a freaking kid is just that, BS. If y’all really can’t see why people are angry, then y’all need JESUS.
No, I don’t need Jesus but thanks for the concern. If I send my kids to private or parochial school, they have certain dress guidelines that need to be followed. If I want to fly on a friends and family pass for United, they have certain dress codes that they need to be followed. It’s really not that complicated. People can argue until they are blue in the face about the unfairness of it all but the simple fact is, those flying on friends and family passes are held to higher standards.
What it is, is yet another case of social media outrage started by a third party who didn’t have all of the details, and everyone else is piling on. Here’s a thought, if the family didn’t agree with the rules, they should have purchased a ticket and they could worn whatever their little hearts desired.
You know how many jobs I’ve had that required a certain dress type that I didn’t agree with? Plenty, but at the end of the day, I agreed to work there so I had to follow the dress code. It is not that complicated. The rules were not just created yesterday, they’ve been in place for a while.
The blame really lies with the parents who should have known what type of dress was expected.
@LP, I was with you until the comment about people needing Jesus. People’s opinions on all of this has absolutely nothing to do with whether they are Christian or not.
Thank you! Reasonableness!
Agreed. And I will add I could care less what Chrissy Teigen thinks on any subject.
Exactly. I’ve flown on these passes before. The dress code rules are very, very clear. No workout wear is a big one. It’s not about how revealing it is, it’s about how casual it is. You can wear tight pants if they’re nice tight pants. You can wear shorts so long as they’re knee length and paired with nicer pieces eg. shirt and blazer, and not Daisy Dukes or board shorts. What you can’t do is show up looking like you’re dressed for the gym or a lazy day at home. The rule is business casual or better, and again, it’s exceedingly clear, including the fact that it applies to everyone, from children to the elderly.
I fly a lot. People talk while waiting for planes and while on the plane. Many people will tell other passengers all about their relative who works for such and such airline and how they get comped flights. I’ve heard it dozens and dozens of times over the years. People especially won’t shut up about it if the relative is a pilot. So they often are to some extent representing the airline. Since the airline doesn’t know who’ll brag all about their almost free flights and who won’t, the very least they can request is that everyone looks put together.
first logical comment i have seen all day. Yes yes yes
I repeat: this is a strong argument for why the pass-flying family in question has no right to complain and, guess what, THEY DIDN’T! It was fellow United passengers who saw CHILDREN being denied boarding and singled out, in a public gate area, for wearing totally reasonable, everyday clothing. A self-inflicted wound COMPOUNDED by their tone-deaf Twitter response, which really stepped up the public outrage and sent it spiraling across the Internet. Again, ALL without the family at the center of it making a single complaint, as far as we have heard.
Which is poor, to say the least, representation of United’s esteemed brand, the EXACT thing they CLAIM they’re preventing by having a strict(ish) non-rev dress code.
No one hurt United here, but United.
I find it quite over the top that they’d turn down girls wearing leggings. I think leggings and a long top are normal street wear for girls. I can sort of see why they’d turn down women wearing normal leggings as trousers but then again, it’s not exactly normal to run around wearing leggings in my country anyway.
However, I think the father should have known about the policy and he could have prevented that situation.
I’m sorry, this is all beyond ridiculous. I’ve flown many times as a “Non Rev” (employee pass) on Delta. There is a dress code, business casual, no jeans, leggings, sneakers etc. Employees who fly on passes also have to adhere to these rules. A small price to pay for free travel, if you don’t like it buy a ticket & wear whatever you want. I love social media but this is absurd. First world problems made worse by entitled celebrities who don’t have to worry about paying for travel.
I really feel like the majority of people on social media didn’t even bother to read the whole story first. There is a dress code…if you want to travel for free, obey the dress code.
Exactly; we all hate United so it’s easy to just read the headline, assume they’re in the wrong & post outrage on SM.
As someone who has used a buddy pass, I was told the rules. My friend advised me of the rules: I represented the employee whose privilege I was traveling under as well as the airline, any bad behavior could result in a suspension of her travel privileges and/or termination of her job. While sm outrage is fine, I wonder what the impact will be for the employee.
I’m worried about that employee, too. My dad would warn me to be on my best behavior when flying non-rev because he would get a call from his supervisor if I made any kind of waves. (I never did, but this was all spelled out in the rules for those tickets.)
Look, United totally blew their social-media response to this, but it’s not just leggings being singled out. When I flew on employee passes (we called it non-revenue ticketing at that point), we weren’t allowed to wear jeans or sneakers, either, and no one said it was because they were particularly inappropriate. The rule just was, everyone including kids has to dress business casual, and the payoff was flying for $20 one way.
It’s really too bad that United didn’t originally say “we are looking into this” and then come back to say, “employees and their families must wear business casual while flying on passes.” There’s nothing especially controversial about the idea that jeans and leggings aren’t business casual–little boys wearing sports shorts would be turned away, too.
Bermuda shorts were always dangerous — you never knew when a gate agent was going to be having a bad day and decide it wasn’t dress code.
There’s just nothing about this story that would remotely surprise anyone who ever worked for an airline. And come on: for a $20 ticket, you can leave the leggings in your luggage.
So, what’s the difference between that and a guy wearing the worlds tightest/thinnest skinny jeans?!?! Becuase a male is wearing them, I’m sure. Also, if you think a little girl in leggings is inappropriate, you are the one with the issues. Seek help. Please.
Most of these passes forbid jeans, so yeah, he would be turned away as well. It really isn’t a sexism issue, it’s a reading comprehension issue. There are rules for employee fares. Business casual. Leggings are not business casual. And yes, children are expected to dress up as well. I had to wear a long dress and a sweater when I flew on a pass when I was 12 (So this is not a new policy – I was 12 in 2001)
I fly FREE (on stand by) because my brother works for United and is allowed to give FREE passes to two members of his immediate family. There is a dress code and it is clearly spelled out. I will gladly adhere to a dress code (and I LIVE in leggings and flipflops) for FREE airline travel.
My young daughter wears leggings exclusively every day to school. So does every other girl at school. They are kind of the only kind of pant they even market for little girls! So, my daughter would have to wear a dress to fly on an airplane under this rule? She can’t even wear leggings as she usually does under said dress?? So bizarre! I mean as a kid I remember my first flight in 1975. I wore my easter dress and matching coat. Most people “dressed” to fly back then. But Jeez, that was then, this is now…United needs to update their “rules”.
And besides the ticketing agent, who even knows that these folks are flying free??? Again, totally bizarre rule. And again, totally targeting females.
You’re daughter can wear all the leggings she wants when your paying for her flight. If she’s flying on an employee pass, she has to adhere to the rules. Did you even read the details? One of the solutions offered yesterday was for the girls to put on a skirt over the leggings. The ticket agents knows b/c they fly standby. If there are seats available, they are given a boarding pass by said ticket agent. Just weird that people think its outrageous & traumatic for 10 yrs olds to have to wear something other than leggings.
The rule may sound silly, but a rule is a rule and those girls would have been informed ahead of time of what clothing was deemed appropriate. If you want to wear whatever, then pay full price for a ticket. Also, I know some people are wondering why shorts are appropriate but leggings apparently fall under “athletic wear” and that’s why they were banned.
Anyway, I think the whole story is getting overblown. This issue honestly doesn’t effect most of the people flying/complaining as they can still wear whatever they want.
Agreed.
I can’t believe how many people I’m seeing on FB defending this crap. Meanwhile, United ran an ad with a woman doing yoga IN YOGA PANTS. Their hypocrisy is breathtaking, but let’s not let the wimmins and children wear leggings because some sick dude might get a boner from it.
Barf.
Maybe if you took a minute to read why they were denied you’d be able to understand it. They are flying for FREE (or extremely cheaply) on an employee pass/friends and family pass. These passes have certain rules associated with them. Wearing business causal clothing is one such rule. Leggings are not business casual.
Not a sexism issue, they aren’t being hypocritical, they have a policy, the family was aware of the policy and chose to ignore it. It’s not a new policy either, I had to dress up to use a pass when I was 12 – and that was back in 2001.
I have flown on buddy passes from my friend who works for an airline as a chief pilot, and I was informed by her to dress appropriately, not too casual. Her children were always dressed nicely when flying on passes. She let me know this was expected the first time I flew.
If they were on passes, then I understand. If they weren’t, I don’t see the problem with how they were dressed.
One of the girl’s fathers was allowed to board wearing cargo shorts. Please explain this double standard, because I REALLY don’t get it.
Maybe he paid for his ticket. If not, then, you’re right, it makes no sense.
This is not unique to them and it’s not restricted to a woman’s clothing. We received family passes on a certain airline and were given a list of acceptable clothing ahead of time – even jeans were not allowed for males or females. If you accept the discount, you should be conscientious enough to abide by their dress code.
What happened to the girls left behind? What did they do? Were they supervised?
Ridiculous. Time to update the dress code and distinguish between adults and children (maybe under 13) as well.
What is wrong with leggins? It’s getting where you can’t do or say anything anymore. This world is getting crazier by the minute.
The dress code for pass riders outlines business casual. How difficult is it to dress a child in a pair of chinos and a polo shirt when that is what some school uniforms are. If you don’t want to follow the dress code, simply buy a ticket. I feel sorry for the employee who issued the pass.
LisaT, exactly. It’s not hard and I feel sorry for the employee as well. It’s all this nosy woman’s fault.
I think we can all comprehend what the rules are. What I am arguing against is that they should be updated because leggings for young girls are mostly all they sell, especially for fall and winter. Jeans aren’t allowed, sweatpants aren’t allowed, so girls have to wear uniform type pants or a dress? I think it’s pretty unfair. Women can choose from trousers and palazzo type pants, but young girls have pretty slim pickings in the “pant” dept. Even when my daughter does wear a dress, we pair it with leggings for modesty, for playground time and when flying, to keep her legs warm!
If you don’t have young girls take a gander at Gap, Old Navy, Hanna Andersson and other kids retailers…all leggings! Geez, they even get their own category…not pants but leggings. Hugely popular. United needs to get with the times…
Shouldn’t people be questioning why girls aren’t offered more options for attire? Leggings are a pretty new thing to wear outside of dance class and yet somehow little girls in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s managed to wear pants that were actually pants and not leggings.
Why can’t they make more pants for girls?
As for this brouhaha, it was part of the dress code and the parents should have informed the child about the proper attire. They caused the embarrassment for their children.
@homeslice I’m 32 and don’t have any kids so I checked old navy since you listed it and they sell pants, uniform pants, which most kids would need for special performance assemblies, etc so saying only leggings are sold is incorrect..paying $20 for nice pants (that they can use over and over again) for a free/cheap flight seems like an easy trade off. Not everything is an outrage…yes, rules are rules especially when you’re representing someone who works for that company.
If it were a 10 year old boy who wasn’t allowed to fly for clothing reasons, it wouldn’t have gotten this much attention. Honestly, I understand United’s policy toward free passengers, and why it would be different than for paid passengers, and don’t see the problem here. If a male were to wear leggings or no shirt I’m sure they wouldn’t be allowed to fly either. We just wouldn’t hear about it because only this type of stuff toward women gets attention like this.
Either of these people posting about missing girls in DC?
Best comment on this board. Where are all if the p*ssy hat wearing feminist at for those missing girls? A real feminist issue, nit a non-issue of ppl not following airline rules. Business casual for women is leggings with long dress tops or dress.
As someone who regularly and very gratefully travels on buddy passes with another airline, we’ve always made sure we’re very smartly suited and booted. It’s such a small price to pay for the privilege.
In case the folks at United haven’t noticed, flying is pretty godd-mned awful. The only way I get through it is if I’m dressed very comfortably. And I have worn leggings on flights a million times.
HoustonGrl, yes and you pay for that right, but if you’re flying for free or reduced fare then you follow the rules. I used to when I worked in the travel industry. It wasn’t difficult and I sure as heck didn’t mind since I was flying to Europe or California for free or $100 roundtrip.
I fly on buddy passes. We know the rules. Sure it’s extreme but you are essentially flying for free. The rules are black and white. My daughter was 5 and I had a skirt over leggings and was told we had to change her. Annoying but I folllowed the rules. You get a email beforehand reminding you of this every single time you use a pass. If this was a paying passenger I would agree with the outrage.
Everyone. My father worked for Air Canada for 33 years. I fly on a pass every time.
You are representing the airline. Your flights are crazy cheap and you get access to access information about flights that no one, not even travel agents, get access to. It’s a sweet deal. Since you are representing the airline, you need to be dressed up. That means no Jeans, no sweat pants, no leggings, no open toed shoes, etc. I’ve flown to the uk from Toronto in a wool dress, tights and stilettos before. So not comfortable but I have to look nice or it looks bad on my father. Even my brother who flies needs to be in dress pants, collared shirts, and dress shoes. He’s been stopped before for wearing lace up timberland boots. They were deemed to casual.
This has nothing to do with sexism. You can’t dress down when you fly on a pass. End of story. In some cases you are getting a $1000 for $200. All they ask is that you dress up.
This is a stupid rule, but I don’t think this situation really calls for the feminist outrage (which I’m usually all for!) it is creating. These buddy pass dress codes are annoying and can be arbitrarily applied. I was flying once and was wearing a skirt and a plain t-shirt and the ticket agent made me change! I had to ruffle through my suit case until I found a collared shirt which the attendant deemed acceptable. So stupid but more about what airlines consider “formal” enough to fly under their pass system. Which again, is so dumb because no one even knows your flying on a pass except for the airline employees themselves.
Dang, all the trump voters coming out of the woodwork- special snowflakes!! Women’s clothing SHOULD be policed! Nothing wrong with treating a 10 year old like an adult, since she’s female! The dad gets to wear whatever he wants but it isn’t hypocritical! Waah waah waaah!
Patty, lisat, Jennifer, jayna, tough cookie, et al- read my comment (or anyone else’s) and educate yourselves, please.
The dad’s clothing passed the dress code, move on.
I think this is dumb, especially when one of the girls kicked off was only 10 years old; however, my grandfather worked for Delta & when we flew on buddy passes we had a dress code as well. I don’t remember all of them & they’ve probably been change in the last 20 years, but I remember you couldn’t wear jeans if you wanted to be able to sit in 1st class (if there were empty spots you could potentially sit in 1st class) & men had to wear collared shirts.
I worked in the travel industry for over 10 years and traveled on free air passes or reduced air passes on various airlines and that’s just the rules. It’s clear. It’s not just United. You dress appropriately as outlined. Men, women and children alike. If you’re not flying on the passes you can wear whatever you like. I used to dress business casual just in case I could get bumped up to first or business class with my IATA card. Even getting bumped up you had to be dressed appropriately. As well as your companions, whether young or old. It would stink when I couldn’t get bumped up and then be stuck wearing constricting clothes but hey, its worth it when it worked in my favor.
They knew and that’s why they were changing. The person that started filming and making a big stink should have found out the facts first. As should all the angry celebs hopping on Twitter. Sheesh.
This is the problem with so many “keyboard happy” people now a days. They don’t even bother learning all the facts about a story or even reading the WHOLE story before becoming “outraged”. LOL it’s sad yet funny at the same time. People love to get upset…it’s a new addiction.
@Me “people complain too much on the internet! It’s ridiculous!” typed Me on the internet. “Theyre crazy! Imagine criticizing others online! Such a sad addiction, I’m glad I’m immune,” Me complained online.
Tldr: Everyone here defending this crazy a** regulation sounds like they’ve never taken a logic class….or heard of logic.
@ LP
Don’t quote words I didn’t even type. I never said that. People should always READ all the facts before giving an opinion. But, unfortunately MOST don’t. I’m not complaining, I am speaking the truth. LOGIC states people should learn the whole story before commenting. Have a nice day !
LP knows more about this situation than people who have flown using these passes and described their personal experience in this thread, so everyone pay attention to the anonymous internet person schooling us.
LP everyone here ridiculing the regulation has never utilized an airline employee pass or companion pass so doesn’t understand. Read up on it and school yourself. Easy as google.com. I’ll try and be nice like me was: Have a nice day!
Exactly. Faux outrage and it is ridiculous and out of control. But apparently, those of us that are over it, are all Trump supporters now.
I mean I guess it’s too much to ask people to respect a silly little dress code when they are flying for free or at an extremely discounted rate. Those are the special snowflakes, not the people stating that this is overblown nonsense.
And nobody was kicked off the flight. They were simply asked to put a skirt on over their leggings in order to adhere to a dress code that those flying on friends and family passes are required to adhere to. And quite frankly these arguments that they are just 10 annoy me too, because if they had been 12 people would be saying, they are just 12. It could have been a 21 year old and people would be saying, she is only 21. Give me a break.
1) Actually two “young girls” (no specific ages given, but ID’ed as older than the 10-year-old frequently mentioned) who didn’t have clothes to change into were denied boarding.
2) The family at the center of this controversy NEVER ONCE COMPLAINED PUBLICLY, at least as far as all the reporting has shown. It was OTHER PASSENGERS, seeing an ordinarily and adequately dressed family, being publicly and openly denied boarding due to their attire, that originally took this online.
3) After that it was UNITED — the airline itself, not any passengers — who immediately responded saying they had the right to refuse service to “improperly dressed” passengers, which is what really sparked the online hubbub; only clarifying that they were pass passengers hours later when the press requests started flooding in and they’d already tweeted many times about the incident.
Is this much ado about nothing? Mostly. I mean, I don’t think it’s a huge controversy, and I’m not planning to boycott United or anything drastic, but I do think it’s an extremely interesting and highly relevant, what-absolutely-not-do customer service exercise in the age of social media …
– Gate agent should NEVER have publicly shamed a family in an open area in full view of other passengers. Pass passengers or paying, that’s NEVER OK. Instead, if dress was an issue, a quiet aside in a private space was the way to handle it. If a private space wasn’t available, at the very least it should have been done far more discreetly than it obviously was.
– United PR Twitter person should have learned whole story BEFORE sending out ANY tweets AND been far less blame-y/shame-y when they did so.
This was a truly unforced error on United’s part. They’re far from “innocent victims” in an Internet witch hunt.
Years ago, I knew a pilot’s wife who always dressed to the nines. One Sunday she was coming back from a girls’ weekend and the entire way to the airport, she kept feeling like she had forgotten something.
At the gate, the agent informed her she wouldn’t be able to board. The woman had put on her tennis clothes that morning to avoid spilling anything on her plane outfit and had not only forgotten to change – she had packed up the outfit before heading to the airport. So she had to get her luggage back and wait for the next flight.
She and her husband always found this story hilarious because she had been flying free for decades at this point and normally always dressed so nicely that she was the last person you would imagine forgetting the rules.
ETA: Since my years in the Travel industry Delta now has a casual dress code for Buddy passes. Just not sloppy, no pajamas or revealing or dirty clothes.
What the F? Leggings? I don’t wear anything but leggings and you dare to tell me they’re inappropiate and I raise hell! Next time flying I’ll wear a tent to hide my inappropriate lower body.
Rocio, if you’re paying full price for your ticket you’re totally okay to wear leggings. If you’re flying on a pass or companion pass you have to dress according to the rules and regulations. So it’s up to you, fly for free or ridiculously cheap and dress business casual or pay the regular rate and wear leggings. But, you’re reminded to dress appropriately when you receive the passes.
Yes, rules and regulations are annoying. That’s why when you want the free dining plans at Disney you have to book by a certain time and vacation during certain dates. You want to eat at that hot new restaurant opening in NYC? You have to call on the day you want to go one month in advance. You want to save 60 cents on that tub of organic strawberries, you have to clip that coupon and show it at the register. You want to fly to Europe for $200 roundtrip? You have to dress business casual.
I would LOVE to hear Malala’s thoughts on this!
I don’t understand what’s the big deal. I worked for one of the most successful airlines and as a employee of such you have many privileges such as flying for only 10% of the price. As the crew might sometimes grade you up to business class if there is space and you still represent your airline you have to dress and even put make up etc appropriately. You even have a handbook for that. It is a matter of respect because the crews know each other and you might meet your boss etc. The same applies for hotels etc
I’m sure this won’t be a very popular opinion, but I used to fly on comp tickets as a teenager when my mom worked for a major airline (not United) about 20 years ago. We had to adhere to a dress code, regardless of our age, regardless of whether or not we were the employee or flying as a guest of the employee. If this had been a regular, fare-paying passenger, i would call this ridiculous and inappropriate, but that’s not the case here. When you fly on a comped ticket, regardless of how old you are, you are representing the airline and are expected to dress a certain way – this was made quite clear to my mom as the employee, and it was her responsibility as the employee to make sure anyone flying comped on her employee status was behaving and dressing a certain way.
There is a dress code and it’s the airline’s right to enforce it. To be sure, our style of dressing has changed probably since those codes were written and leggings have become a staple of dressing in a way that even five years ago they weren’t. Yes, the seeming randomness of it is frustrating, and it seems like it’s up to the individual agent to determine. On that note, though, as far as women’s wear, I also would be in support of the airline putting their foot down (and even businesses) on the kind of show-your-entire-ass-up-into-the-crack-and-all-your-business leggings that women feel the need to wear as “everyday wear” these days. I’m not even “old” or a fuddy-duddy, it’s just that damn, I do not want to see your junk! And the average person can’t be bothered to really look at what those leggings are showing to the world, thinnest stretch fabrics that reveal stuff in a most unflattering way. Seriously, not everyone can pull off that “leggings look” and no matter your size and shape, if your leggings are so thin as to show every nook and cranny? Barf. Imagine what crud is ending up from someone’s crack on public seating (restaurants, buses, businesses, public locations) that would otherwise be contained by a pant or even a legging of proper thickness and protection. It’s just gross. There are other parts of the body that can be beautiful to display but deep ass crack is not one of them plus it’s unsanitary.
I have flown on buddy passes almost my entire life, even as a child my parents would make sure I was dressed appropriately. Maybe because my father flew for Southwest, the dress code wasn’t as strict as other airlines but it was still enforced. I see that a lot of people on this thread have flown non-rev, but for those who never have, let me explain. Flying non rev doesn’t mean you automatically get a free ticket. That shiz is cut throat. You have to get your name on the list early so you have a better chance of getting on the flight. You pray to God that a family of senior employee doesn’t show up and knock you down the list. You die a little inside when an actual employee shows up. I’m sure there were Mexican stand offs with less tension than those times multiple non revs are waiting for the last seat. I have ran across so many airports that I can plot the fastest routes. I’m an expert of packing everything in one carry on bag. I was on a flight that LITERALLY just finished taxiing for take off, when they went back to the gate to kick us off. I have spent nights in airports and have taken some of the most convoluted routes.
As annoying as all that is, the fact that I was able to explore this world cheaply made it worth the hassle. And for what it’s worth, I have seen men denied seats because of their attire.
Last thought for those asking how other passengers would know you’re flying on a buddy pass. If I was traveling with my father, he would ALWAYS wear his uniform. Doing so allowed him to jump seat. Even if we weren’t of Southwest, he would wear it. Because he was in uniform, he went out of him way to represent his company in a good light. He would speak to the flight crew prior to the flight to let them know he was there and willing to assist if need be and help passengers. People would see the family he was with, so we also become de facto representatives of the airline.
Just came on to say that I find Chrissy Teigen irritating.