I will offer pointed commentary later this morning on the events surroundings #leggingsgate, but want to use this post to succinctly lay out a timeline of what REALLY transpired yesterday. Someone needs to.
Here is what we know:
- Incident took place in Denver International Airport Sunday morning
- A group of three United Airlines’ pass riders (family/friends of an employee) were attempting to travel from Denver (DEN) to Minneapolis (MSP) on UA215, leaving at 7:55AM
- Gate agent noted that two of the pass riders (teenage girls) were wearing leggings, in violation of United’s pass rider dress code policy
- United’s dress code for non-rev flyers states “form-fitting lycra/spandex tops, pants and dresses” are prohibited
- The women were asked to change clothes in order to board the flight
- Another family, traveling as revenue (paid, not pass riders) customers was in line to speak to the gate agent and witnessed the incident
- Their young daughter was wearing leggings
- They were unaware that the dress code was only for pass riders and assumed the policy applied to them too
- The family had a dress for the young girl in their hand baggage and placed it on her, without consulting with the pass riders or the gate agent
- Another passenger traveling on a different United flight witnessed part of the incident and tweeted about it, accusing United of being sexist against woman
- She quoted the agent as stating, “I don’t make the rules, just follow them”
- United’s Twitter team responded promptly, defending the action of the gate action and referencing the §21 of the company’s Contract of Carriage, stating that passengers can be denied boarding for being “barefoot or not properly clothed”.
- The tweet and United’s response went viral
- United soon realized that the two women denied boarding were pass riders and confirmed that via Twitter
- The family with the little girl traveled to Minneapolis as planned on UA215
- The two pass riders traveled on a later flight to Minneapolis
CONCLUSION
I have so much to say on this topic, but don’t want my commentary to be confused with the facts of the incident. Shortly I will publish my own thoughts, but this post is meant merely to accurately construct the timeline of events that led to the firestorm.
regardless of aesthetics, thoughts about potential sexualisation etc… what used to be seen as common decency has eroded dramatically, with many people choosing to dress as if they were in their own lounge at home for flights. I have come across numerous people who also smell badly, behave badly, are very inconsiderate and disrespectful on aircraft – because people travelling can come from just about all over the world and are very unlikely to be family or friends, a minimum standard should be upheld by passengers without airlines having to impose rules, but, experience of the last decade or so has shown rules are necessary… so tight fitting revealing clothing should not be allowed, regardless of age and gender (Imagine a guy trying to board wearing ballet trousers and the uproar that woul cause) acceptable levels of personal hygiene, comfortable none restrictive (comfortable and loose fitting) clothing and footwear that do not expose the feet, or areas of personal hygiene (such as armpits and everything around the waist) should be ok for everyone. shorts, skirts, dresses that reveal part of the leg are acceptable, or course… except in countries (or airlines from countires) where that contravens societal norms… please, be respectful to everyone and consider that not everyone finds it appropriate for your entire body outline to be cleary traceable…. and if you are benefitting from special privileges, all the more reason to abide by the rules that come with that privilege.. or buy your own full fare ticket.
please delete my name or the post. i find it inappropriate to display a full name, enabling people to trace you directly, without at least pre-informing. I stand by what I wrote, and, have no issues with being traceable if necessary, but the posts themselves should not contain full names without at least prior explicit consent
What are you talking about?
Matt
It will be quite interesting to hear what happens to employee whose passes were being used.
Great question. I’ll be addressing that in a post later today.
How old were the girls? I had read that they were 11, but here in your facts you refer to them as teenagers as well as women, so was their age incorrect?
Exact ages were not identified, but United referred to them as teenagers.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/26/news/united-airlines-twitter-dress-code/index.html
(see United statement)
I apologize, I had actually read 10 year olds (my son is 11). I wonder where that 10 year age came from on twitter? Hopefully United is not referring to 10 year old girls as teenagers!
Matthew, not sure if a man writing up this story can appreciate why it blew up.
It’s goes so much bigger than UA’s dress code.
Girls/kids don’t “represent” UA, adults do.
Most of us girls got hit with this clothing shaming from an early age. That’s what it’s about. Walk a mile in our required-heels & skirt before you proclaim full understanding.
Hi Kendall,
Take a look at my commentary (follow-up post). I suspect you will disagree, but I also think that 1.) all pass riders positively or negatively represent United and 2.) the spandex ban should be lifted but can reasonably be explained.
“not sure if a man writing up this story can appreciate ”
There it is Matt. Trying to silence you on your own blog
To Kendall: As someone who (presumably) wasn’t there and (presumably) doesn’t work for UA, I’m not sure YOU can appreciate this story
Thank you Kendall.
Thank you for only stating the facts on what happened. Too many articles have completely changed the topic on this but rules are rules. Kudos to the gate agent for doing his job and enforcing them.
I work for another carrier and we too have rules; it’s the employee ‘s responsibility to make everyone aware of the rules (employees have to follow them also); the travel perk is our most revered possession and employees have gotten themselves in hot water when the ‘pass riders didn’t follow the rules. Personally, I prefer to see a lady in leggings rather than in a miniskirt that barely covers anything.
In the case of UA, both miniskirts and leggings are prohibited. Problem solved! 😉
Bottom line: even if United is technically correct, in the grand scheme of things, they are wrong. And if it takes them this long to figure out why, they need to hire new people. Those who are defending United because the leggings techincally violated the rules are also missing the big picture here. It’s like all the grown ups have left the room, and the kids are fighting over who had the toy first.
Not sure why they are wrong to regulate pass travel clothing, a privilege of employment, not a right.
Thanks for the recap!!! the “real news” could learn a thing or two from this post!
Thank you,
You are the first person that got all the DETAILS right. Ms. Watts needed to mind her own business – was an observer from another gate with no details about WHY this took place. Fast-forward to the NYTimes and dozens of other “travel” websites and articles that compounded it (falsely) based on her idiotic tweet with no details.
United and all other airlines have the distinct right to have a reasonable and modest/moderate dress code for employees and their eligible pass-riders. As a side note this has also roused the ire of those that now understand that there a dress code for employees but are balking that United now doesn’t care that their fare-paying passengers look like slobs. Well, in the name of being politically correct, they don’t have to or want to care about their fare-paying passengers looking like slobs……..- that’s a personal choice. If they want to wear shredded jeans, flip flops, bare midriffs and body parts exposed or accentuated with spandex and look like slobs and idiots, go ahead. I just find it galling that Ms. Watts and various “celebrities” are so appalled at this – the world is falling apart and they’re worried about whether or not people can wear inappropriate clothing ??? Go save the world another way !!
Your article should be as widely reported as the original tweet! However…I must disagree with one of your points. Spandex leggings may be considered ‘mainstream’ and may even be cute on teenagers, however…not all pass holders are teenagers. It would not be unreasonable to assume that some pass holders are considerably out of shape. No company can make a rule that you can wear spandex if it’s cute, but otherwise not so much. The rules must be universal and if you would not want to see Aunt Peggy strutting her stuff down the airplane aisle in spandex, then no one gets to do so. If only they could apply this rule to paying passengers…there are some things that I just can’t unsee!!! 😛
They are traveling with United employee privileges. They can adhere to the rules or they should not fly….why is that so hard to understand? I hope United changes its policy as employee only. Then people will realize what stupidity earns them. United is offering employee perks. Abide by the rules or pay.