A United Airlines flight had barred two teenage girl from boarding the flight on Sunday since they failed to meet the dress code for special pass travellers, as reported by the company in its statement on Twitter amidst a social media turmoil triggered by the incident.
The tweets shared by another traveller named Shannon Watts said that the girls were forced to change their dresses.
They were advised to put dresses over their leggings before they were again permitted to board their flight from Denver to Minneapolis. The airline said on Twitter that the passengers that morning were United pass riders who did not comply with the dress code policy for the company that benefit travel.
The airline mentioned in another tweet that they do allow casual attire for the passengers. But then, the girls were following different guidelines.
Generally, the passengers of United passes are company employees or the family members of the employees. This policy of United Airlines sparked a furor among the women especially since this attire is quite popular in their wardrobes. Having said that, several schools have barred girls from wearing leggings citing them as inappropriate costumes.
However, the social media platforms protested against this policy, simmering in outrage over the incident. Celebrities also joined in with humorous protests.
The United did not respond to the comment immediately. Shannon Watts, the passenger who was the first traveller to share a tweet about the incident mentioned that a 10-year-old girl was clad in gray leggings. Watts added that the airline authorities had permitted the girls to board the flight after they had changed their dresses or put the dresses over their leggings.
Watts also added on Twitter that such a behavior is sexist and sexualizes young girls, going on to say that the families were shocked.
