Airline facing backlash for barring girls wearing leggings

A group of girls wearing leggings were forced to change when trying to board an United Airlines flight on the weekend.

Controversy ensued on Twitter when activist Shannon Watts said an agent didn’t let some girls who were wearing leggings board the flight from Denver to Minneapolis due to the spandex material.

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

According to Watts, the girls had to change or put a dress on over their pants.

A United spokesperson said people who are flying as a companion to an employee and receiving a discounted rate are asked to follow a dress code as they are “representing UA when they fly.”

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

Despite the explanation, people have been speaking out on the rule.

@united @baddestmamajama Is this OK? @united pic.twitter.com/DnnunehBCB

— Aimee Tavares (@aimeetavares) March 26, 2017

@shannonrwatts Hey, @united, you know how this ends, right? Images of women in leggings tagging you on social as they fly your competition.

— Jenn (@jennvzande) March 26, 2017

@shannonrwatts @united seems to me a person in leggings is gonna have an easier time evacuating than someone in a dress.

— Tony Jordan (@twjpdx23) March 26, 2017

@united @baddestmamajama I'm a 35 y/o woman who is 8 months pregnant & exclusively wears leggings. Should I cancel my flight w/u next week?

— Crooked Butters 2.0 (@ButtersV2) 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

We here at @united are just trying to police the attire of the daughters of our employees! That's all! Cool, right? https://t.co/xGyL4IAslE

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) March 26, 2017

In an official response, United Airlines assured that the rule ONLY applies to those taking advantage of employee benefits (known as "pass riders").

"These are relatives or friends who also receive the benefit of free or heavily discounted air travel – on our airline as well as on airlines around the world where we have mutual agreements in place for employees and pass riders," the company wrote. "The passengers this morning were United pass riders and not in compliance with our dress code for company benefit travel. We regularly remind our employees that when they place a family member or friend on a flight for free as a standby passenger, they need to follow our dress code."

"To our regular customers, your leggings are welcome."

What do you think of the dress code enforcement? Let us know in the comments below.