Posted by Anna Fajnorova.
On March 26, a gate agent decided to deny two teenage girls from a flight because they were wearing leggings. The girls were traveling on a company travel pass and their leggings were a violation of the airline’s dress code. United Airlines defended the gate agent’s decision and it led to an uproar with many people on social media after the incident was reported. Now does United, being a privately-owned company, have the right to do what they did?
United Airlines allows customers to fly in leggings, but these girls were “pass rider” users. “Pass rider” is a benefit United Airlines employees receive for working for an airline. Employees are able to travel the world and extend their privileges to relatives or friends as long as they use an airline that follows that policy. Employees and “pass rider” users are considered representatives of United and have a dress code to follow. Because the girls were wearing leggings, they went against the dress code and were denied to fly. Other airlines follow the same policy as United and have a set dress code for relatives and friends that receive benefits from their airline. Southwest Airlines has a “relaxed and casual” dress code, but does not allow “low-cut, skimpy, revealing clothing, short shorts, or gym shorts.” JetBlue also does not allow leggings but finds jogging suits acceptable. Besides leggings, low-cut, revealing attire, and sweats of any kind are not allowed. Employees and pass rider beneficiaries must also have clean shoes as well as cover up their tattoos. Another question that should be asked is does United have the right to tell employees and their families what to wear, especially during their leisure time?
Even though there are critics saying several things such as “how would people know about the policy”, “the policy is outdated and strict”, and “it’s sexist because it singles out attire worn primarily by women”, what United Airplanes did was not wrong according to the article. Many “pass rider” users even agreed with United’s decision and believed the teenage girls were taking advantage of the employee benefit and should have known better. United regularly reminds their employees that when a relative or friend is given the benefits of becoming a “pass rider” user, they need to follow dress code. If this is the case, United only followed policy that employees are regularly reminded of and enforced that policy. Yes, the policy seems outdated because leggings are something that many people currently wear but “pass rider” users represent the company along with employees, so they must follow dress code as well.
Anna is a finance major at the Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, Class of 2019.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/03/27/united-airlines-your-leggings-are-welcome-as-long-as-youre-paying-for-your-flight/?utm_term=.31bfbcfaf365