United Airlines Faces Backlash After Refusing to Allow Girls to Board Plane in Leggings

United Airlines is really sticking to that dress code defense, huh?

United Airlines flight taking off.
Getty

Image via Getty/Bauer-Griffin

United Airlines flight taking off.

United Airlines has found itself in some hot water after Shannon Watts, founder of the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action, saw the company's gate agent initially refuse to allow two girls, who were either 10 or 11 years old, from boarding their flight because they were wearing leggings. The employee allegedly wouldn't let them board the aircraft heading from Denver to Minneapolis until they either changed their clothes, or "put dresses on over leggings."

"These were not private conversations, they were happening in front of everyone. (Passengers) looked frantic as the flight was boarding," Watts told the New York Daily News. Watts made it clear that the clothing worn by these “young teen” girls were "little girl leggings," not "super tight leggings." 

United pointed out a rule in their Contract of Carriage, which indicates that a passenger can be refused if that person is "not properly clothed."

Needless to say, the idea that a female in leggings is deemed by the company as "not properly clothed" is quite the problematic stance. What makes matters worse is that last year, United Airlines posted a tweet in support of International Yoga Day where the woman in the photo is wearing—you guessed it—yoga pants.

As expected, there has been plenty of backlash, and people are pointing out the absurdity in their stance of disallowing kids in leggings from boarding their flight.

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