United Airlines is facing a full blast of Internet outrage after anti-gun activist Shannon Watts caught the airline’s gate agents forcing kids, flying on employee passes, to put dresses on over their leggings.
But while the policy has been branded “sexist” and inspired other airlines to tweet their universal leggings acceptance policies, it turns out United’s position isn’t that strange, at least as far as employee riders are concerned.
Watts sent her social media connections into action after observing a family being told their daughters’ outfits were unseemly and inappropriate for flying.
It inspired a wave of celebrity Tweets on the issue, as everyone from Sarah Silverman to Chrissy Tiegan shamed United for forcing kids to cover up. United refused to back down in its support of the gate agent, however, Tweeting out that it had a strict dress code for its travelers.
Lost in translation, though, is the fact that the passengers in question were flying on “buddy passes,” free tickets the airline allows its employees and their friends to use on flights that aren’t overbooked. When you fly on a buddy pass, as I have before, you’re technically considered an employee of the airline for the brief time you’re in the air—and all the rules that apply to employees apply to you, including the employee dress code.
It’s not sexist—it’s professional.
For United’s team members, that means no leggings. From their employee handbook.
If you’re a paying customer, the rules are different. United welcomes leggings wearers, if they’re shelling out for a ticket. Though, frankly, they shouldn’t welcome leggings wearers because leggings are not pants. But that’s a different story.
Other airlines are no different. Although Delta is happily welcoming people dressed for comfort on social media, their “Jetiquitte rules,” they have similar requirements for their employees and pass riders. “You should never wear unclean, revealing or lewd garments, swimwear, or sleepwear on a flight.”
If a gate agent thinks that includes leggings, that includes leggings.
The same is true on American Airlines, which is even more specific about what constitutes a violation of their dress code. For example, American allows you to change into sweats and pajamas on long haul flights, but requires that its employees and pass riders board the aircraft in business or business casual.
Whether the gate agent should have told the family to cover up their children in full view of other passengers is a relevant question. But there isn’t always an opportunity (or the room) to chat with passengers privately—and an airline employee, or their friends and family, should know the rules.