United Airlines Tried to Bar Girls From Flight for Wearing Leggings

On a flight from Denver to Minneapolis early Sunday morning, Shannon Watts observed a United Airlines gate agent refuse to allow two young girls on the plane because they were wearing leggings.

Watts took to Twitter immediately to document the incident, decrying the apparent policing of the girls’ clothing and calling the dress code enforcement sexist:

Watts objected to the company’s policy, saying that it sexualizes young girls who were simply wearing comfortable clothing, and she questioned whether boys were held to the same sort of dress code.

As the incident unfolded in real time on Twitter, United’s own social media account began to chime in. But the airline’s responses seemed to only stir the pot and trigger more anger.

Amid the reactions, chatter, questions, jokes, and the like — all to be expected when a social media public relations disaster begins to unfold — one fact seemed to be getting lost in the shuffle: The family members flying on United, according to the airline’s social media account, were “United pass travelers,” which refers to an employee standby status that is subject to a separate set of rules and guidelines, including the airline’s dress code.

Yet Watts was quick to point out that the girls were traveling with their dad, who was allowed to fly in shorts.

As other Twitter commenters wrote (many of whom claim to have traveled for years under similar rules), perhaps it’s time for those long-held guidelines to be changed.

A website that reportedly lists dress code guidelines for United employees traveling via the pass program states the following attire is unacceptable:

• Any attire that reveals a midriff

• Attire that reveals any type of undergarments

• Attire that is designated as sleepwear, underwear, or swim attire

• Miniskirts

• Shorts that do not meet three inches above the knee when in a standing position

• Form-fitting lycra/spandex tops, pants, and dresses

• Attire that has offensive and/or derogatory terminology or graphics

• Attire that is excessively dirty or has holes/tears

• Any attire that is provocative, inappropriately revealing, or see-through clothing

• Bare feet

• Beach-type, rubber flip-flops

The website also says, “Customer Service’s judgment will prevail in all matters pertaining to the dress code.”

Still, other observers pointed out discrepancies, citing examples when United seemed perfectly happy to display women in leggings and yoga attire.

In an email statement, United confirmed that the travelers could not board because their pants “were not in compliance with dress code policy for company benefit travel.” According to the spokesperson, “There are different rules for these privileges because people are flying for free.” It also noted that regular-paying customers are welcome to wear leggings aboard its flights.

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

• Teen Made Her Sister the Best Shirt to Fight Dress Code Injustices

• High School Dress-Code Survey Faces Backlash From Parents

• A Dance Club Is Banning ‘Deplorable’ Dresses

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