We care about presentation: United Airlines

Airport Young female passenger on smart phone at gate waiting in terminal while waiting for her flight. Air travel concept with young casual woman sitting with hand luggage suitcase.

United Airlines has had a turbulent week (did you like that?) with its leggings fiasco, as we like to call it.

The airline’s gate staff refused three female travellers boarding due to their attire being inappropriate. The travellers were riding on staff perks, no doubt the kids or friends of an airline staffer, and were dressed in leggings.

The airline was accused of ‘body-shaming’ due to the young age of the travellers, one being 10-years-old, and for having policies that were deemed outdated and skewed to females by many.

In response, United persisted in pushing its right to refuse boarding based on dress codes, while celebrities like Chrissy Teigan and Sarah Silverman kicked off a boycott.

United even released a blog reminding regular passengers that “your leggings are welcome”, but the issue hasn’t gone away yet. Even Delta is having a cheeky dig at United’s expense:

So what is United’s – and other airlines’ – dress codes? You might be surprised at what’s expected.

US travel website Travel + Leisure did some digging, with company spokesperson Jonathon Guerin telling them, “We care about the way we present ourselves to you, our customers, as we believe that is part of the experience on board our flights.

“When taking advantage of this benefit, all employees and pass riders are considered representatives of United, and like most companies, we have a dress code that we ask employees and pass riders to follow.”

Per T+L, the airline’s policy for pass holders won’t accept midriff-showing tops, sleepwear or swimwear, mini-skirts, shorts that fall less than three inches above the knee, or dirty and torn clothing.

According to CNN, who obtained a copy of the official policy from a United Airlines employee, this also includes form-fitting Lycra or spandex tops, pants, and dresses.

T+L did a round up of other American airline dress policies, which showed:

  • Some airlines, like Delta, don’t have specific dress code policies in place for employees and anyone flying as a pass rider, although in a tweet said they discourage “swimwear, sleepwear, or underwear as outerwear”.
  • Southwest Airlines’ Employee Travel Privilege Policy requires a “clean, well-groomed and tasteful appearance” from customers, though stops short of detailing specific clothing that is prohibited in the policy.
  • Hawaiian Airlines expect all customers to wear clothing covering the upper part of their torso (like tank tops or halter tops), the lower torso (like shorts), and footwear, unless a disability or physical condition prevents this. First and Business class expects men in collared shirts and long pants, and women in business-appropriate blouses, skirts, jeans or dresses. If you’re in Economy, then bring on the shorts, slippers and leggings.
  • American Airlines said it does in fact have a specific dress code for travellers using staff passes, but didn’t fill T+L in on what it was. Their website states paying customers cannot wear any clothing that would cause discomfort to other passengers or be barefoot.
  • Staff pass travellers on Alaska Airlines need to have a “neat and clean appearance” that includes no “short shorts, torn or tattered jeans, bare feet, halter-tops, exercise clothing, T-shirts, or sweats”.
  • And while JetBlue did not specify the minimum dress standards, they did stop a passenger boarding a flight out of Boston last year due to inappropriate attire.

 

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