United Airlines is defending its right to block passengers over their attire after it was called out for stopping girls in leggings from boarding a flight.
The airline replied with rules about its dress code to several people on Twitter on Sunday after a witness tweeted that she saw gate agents blocking three girls from boarding a flight because they were wearing leggings.
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
The witness, prominent gun violence activist Shannon Watts, accused United Airlines of policing female bodies and sexualizing young girls, one of whom she described as a 10-year-old in gray leggings. One of the passengers’ fathers, she pointed out, was wearing shorts and allowed on the flight without question.
.@united They just boarded after being forced to change or put dresses on over the top of their clothing. Is this your policy?
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
2) This behavior is sexist and sexualizes young girls. Not to mention that the families were mortified and inconveninced.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
3) As the mother of 4 daughters who live and travel in yoga pants, I'd like to know how many boys @United has penalized for the same reason.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017
United Airlines responded to Watts first by pointing to a rule in its Contract of Carriage that gives it the right to refuse transport to passengers “who are barefoot or not properly clothed.”
@shannonrwatts In our Contract of Carriage, Rule 21, we do have the right to refuse transport for passengers who ... https://t.co/52kRVgaCyb
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
The rule does not elaborate on the definition of proper attire, but the airline tweeted that it leaves that up to the discretion of gate agents.
In a second response to Watts ― and several other Twitter users enraged by the airline’s policy ― United Airlines said the leggings-clad passengers were “pass travelers,” or passengers traveling as relatives or dependents of a United employee, and therefore subject to a stricter dress code.
@shannonrwatts (2/2) There is a dress code for pass travelers as they are representing UA when they fly. ^KP
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
@shannonrwatts (2/2) There is a dress code for pass travelers as they are representing UA when they fly. ^KP
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
The airline sent the same defense to several outraged people, including actress Patricia Arquette.
She snapped back at them after they responded to her stating that pass travelers must dress in “good taste.”
@united Leggings are business attire for 10 year olds. Their business is being children.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) March 26, 2017
Other social media users promised United Airlines they’d show up for their next flight with the airline in the the stretchy pants ― which are no stranger to controversy in recent years as schools have moved to ban the “distracting” pants on campus.
It's not going to be a pretty sight, but I'm going to wear yoga pants for my next @united flight.
— Andrew Millspaugh (@armillspaugh) March 26, 2017
I'm actually flying United Airlines this afternoon. I will be wearing leggings in protest. @united your staff needs training
— Dwayne Benjamin (@dwaynebenji) March 26, 2017
I don't usually travel in leggings, but strongly considering them now for my @united flight on Wednesday.
— Erin A. Hennessy (@ErinAHennessy) March 26, 2017
Meanwhile, supermodel Chrissy Teigen, who has no problem challenging companies’ double-standards when it comes to women’s bodies, said she’ll skip a top all together on her next United Airlines flight.
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
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
March 27, 2017 at 01:41AM
http://ift.tt/2n6vRyA
from Lydia O'Connor
http://ift.tt/2n6vRyA
No comments:
Post a Comment