United Airlines agents forbade two teenage girls from boarding a flight to Minneapolis because they were wearing leggings, according to witnesses and The Washington Post.
A third girl would have been kept off the plane as well, but she put a dress on over her leggings and was then allowed to board.
The three teens were traveling on a United Airlines employee pass. The airline said it has a no-leggings policy for employees using their benefits to fly. A spokesman for United Airlines contacted by The Washington Post told the paper that the girls in question were "not in compliance with our dress code policy for company benefit travel."
The spokesman says leggings are prohibited clothing for those flyers using the employee travel benefit, but did not clarify further.
United shall have the right to refuse passengers who are not properly clothed via our Contract of Carriage. ^FS
— United Airlines (@united) March 26, 2017
Another passenger aboard the flight tweeted United about the incident.
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
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
The post has gone viral, with many on social media critical of the policy, saying its wrong to police the teen’s attire and that leggings are comfortable travel wear.
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
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