Two teenage girls wearing leggings were Barred from boarding a United Airlines flight

United Airlines under fire over "Leggings-gate"

Two teenage girls wearing leggings were barred from boarding a United Airlines flight on Sunday because they did not meet a dress code for special pass travelers, a company spokesman said amid a furor on social media.

The two girls, who were traveling with a companion, would not have been turned away for wearing leggings had they been paying customers, United spokesman Jonathan Guerin said as the airline responded to the backlash.

"(The two girls) were instructed that they couldn't board until they corrected their outfit. They were fine with it and completely understood," Guerin said, adding that all three passengers missed the flight. He did not know if they had boarded a later plane or made alternate travel arrangements.

Though the three passengers did not complain about their treatment, another traveler, Shannon Watts, who overheard the discussion touched off a firestorm on social media with a series of tweets describing a policy she suggested was unfairly targeting women and girls.

"This behavior is sexist and sexualizes young girls," Watts said on Twitter. "Not to mention that the families were mortified and inconvenienced."

United pass travelers are typically company employees or their friends or family members.

Watts' tweets and United's defense of it touched a raw nerve for many women and girls who have made leggings a staple in their wardrobes.

The popularity of leggings has sparked criticism that they are inappropriate attire under certain circumstances. Some schools have barred girls from wearing them to class.

Social media lit up with outrage against the policy and the airline for its response to the initial outcry. Celebrities chimed in with humorous protests.



"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 top," model Chrissy Teigen tweeted.

United later put out a statement titled: "To our customers ... Your leggings are welcome!" that explained the policy for passholders in greater detail.

That policy also bars midriff-baring tops, attire that reveals undergarments or is designated as sleepwear or swimwear, mini-skirts, shorts that fall less than 3 inches above the knee or dirty or torn clothing.

Guerin conceded that the airline, in its initial response to the flap, could have done a better job of explaining the situation and countering apparently inaccurate information about the incident that appeared on Twitter.

"We'll definitely take something away from today, but we'll continue to engage with our customers (on social media)," he said

United Airlines barred girls wearing leggings from travelling, faces backlash
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Three of the girls were allowed to fly after putting dresses over the top of their clothing, but two were prevented from boarding at United Airlines


United Airlines has been criticised on social media after it barred two girls from flying for wearing leggings. The incident happened on a flight from Denver to Minneapolis on Sunday morning, BBC quoted activist Shannon Watts as saying.
A United gate agent was “forcing” the girls, one of them aged 10, to change their clothes or wear dresses over the leggings, Watts tweeted.
United said the girls were traveling on a ticket that had a dress code.
They were “United pass travelers”, which are tickets for company employees or eligible dependents, it explained in a Twitter exchange on the issue.
Shannon Watts, the founder of the group Moms Demand Action for gun reforms, tweeted about what happened to five girls when they tried to board a flight at Denver airport.
She said three of the girls were allowed to fly after putting dresses over the top of their clothing, but two were prevented from boarding.
She slammed the airliner for its actions, asking: “Since when does United police women’s clothing?”.
Although United has not officially commented on the incident, it did respond on Twitter by explaining the dress code requirement of its United pass travelersUnited Airlines barred girls wearing leggings from travelling, faces backlash.
Watts’ tweets have been shared and responded to by thousands of users, including actress and activist Patricia Arquette.