Twitter’s Up in Arms Over United Kicking a 10-Year-Old Girl Off Flight For Wearing Leggings
United Airlines found itself in the center of a firestorm on Twitter Sunday, when a 10-year-old girl — traveling on a free pass as the child of a United employee — was not allowed to board a flight because she was wearing leggings, which the gate agent deemed to be inappropriate attire.
The story began to spread after first being tweeted by Shannon Watts, who was waiting at the Denver airport Sunday morning while flying to Mexico. She observed the unidentified child not being allowed to board her flight to Minneapolis.
1) A @united gate agent isn’t letting girls in leggings get on flight from Denver to Minneapolis because spandex is not allowed?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
2) She’s forcing them to change or put dresses on over leggings or they can’t board. Since when does @united police women’s clothing?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
3) Gate agent for flt 215 at 7:55. Said she doesn’t make the rules, just follows them. I guess @united not letting women wear athletic wear?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
As the story gained traction in social media, United explained the reason for the denial. Via its Twitter account, the company cited Rule 21 of its contract of carriage, which states, in part: “Passengers who are barefoot or not properly clothed” may be prohibited from flying. The company said that customers flying for free on their “United Pass” were subject to a more strict dress code.
The passengers this morning were United pass riders who were not in compliance with our dress code policy for company benefit travel.
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
The company’s response drew outrage from many on Twitter, including a number of celebrities:
@united Leggings are business attire for 10 year olds. Their business is being children.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) March 26, 2017
What a surprise @united , you don’t even have to have people ON your airplanes to fuck their day up
— Keegan Allen (@KeeganAllen) March 26, 2017
Hey @united I fly a LOT. About to go on tour all April and changing all my @united flights to other airlines
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) March 26, 2017
@united @SarahKSilverman yeah. They are only trying to treat the teenage daughters of their employees like shit. Not everyone else.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) March 26, 2017
Not a good look @United… #bydhttmwfi https://t.co/unXazNjTRY
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) March 26, 2017
But United had its backers in the debate which was all over social media on Sunday, with many stating that the airline had the right to ask someone flying for free to adhere to a higher standard — no matter what age.
@Sethrogen @united As the son of a flight attendant, I assure you dress code applied equally to men. If going to ride free, must look nice.
— Dem4Now (@Dem4now) March 26, 2017
@Sethrogen @united you are representing the airline when you fly on a pass. Dress code is very important.
— Jes Vegas (@JesinVegas) March 26, 2017
@PattyArquette @shannonrwatts @maysoonzayid @united they police the dress of both men and women when flying employee pass.
— Laura (@ReallyLaLa1) March 26, 2017
@BJohnson0328 @united it’s not ridiculous … as a pass rider you are an extension of the employee, therefore an extension of the company
— Kate Mockus Cipriani (@katemockus) March 26, 2017
@christapeterso @Mamaofthreebear @united @waltmossberg The child is an employees daughter flying free. To fly free there r regulations to be followed. Not everything is a freaking fight.
— Laura (@LauraAnnLA50) March 26, 2017
[image via Anton_Ivananov – Shutterstock.com]
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