Social Media Explodes After United Bars Girls From Flight Over Leggings
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – United Airlines came under social media fire Sunday after a gate agent in Denver allegedly barred girls from boarding a flight to Minneapolis because they were wearing leggings.
The hubbub started with a string of tweets from Shannon Watts, the founder of the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action, who has more than 30,000 Twitter followers.
According to her tweets, she saw a United gate agent refuse to let some girls on a plane unless they changed out of their athletic pants or put on a skirt.
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
In response, United Airlines said it had the right to refuse transport to people who are not "properly clothed," noting that the girls were pass riders, not regular airline customers.
@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 passengers this morning were United pass riders who were not in compliance with our dress code policy for company benefit travel.
— United (@united) March 26, 2017
It didn't take long before the incident was trending on Twitter, with users both defending and attacking the company. Celebrities such as William Shatner, Sarah Silverman and Christine Teigen chimed in -- all critical of the airline.
@PattyArquette @Shananigans @united @shannonrwatts See? ???????? I've done it before! ???????? pic.twitter.com/MC6P144kjL
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 26, 2017
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
@united Really? pic.twitter.com/O9RplgrTsv
— Jeremy Pond (@JeremyPond) March 26, 2017
As for the girls headed to Minneapolis, they were able to board the flight after changing, according to Watts.
