They've upset A LOT of people.

Two teenage girls were unable to board a United Airlines flight yesterday because they were wearing leggings. Apparently, the girls, who were traveling from Denver to Minneapolis, did not meet the dress code allocated to special pass travellers. According to Reuters, the airline insisted that the girls, who were traveling with a companion, would not have been turned away for wearing leggings had they been paying customers. United spokesman, Jonathan Guerin, responded to the backlash,

"(The two girls) were instructed that they couldn't board until they corrected their outfit. They were fine with it and completely understood,"

Guerin added that all three passengers missed the flight as a result, and he did not know if they had boarded a later plane or made alternate travel arrangements. It wasn't the girls in question who took to social media but an onlooker boarding the same flight, Shannon Watts, who was appalled by the situation,

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

2) She's forcing them to change or put dresses on over leggings or they can't board. Since when does @united police women's clothing?

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017

3) Gate agent for flt 215 at 7:55. Said she doesn't make the rules, just follows them. I guess @united not letting women wear athletic wear?

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 26, 2017

Her tweets quickly went viral, and people aren't happy...  

@united I always dress for comfort when I fly and wear leggings. I will avoid your airline, and continue to wear leggings.

— Alex G (@onlywithspring) March 26, 2017

@united Not ok for 10yr-old to wear leggings? You've lost my business. My 4 teens & I will fly different airline this summer. #BoycottUnited

— Mims (@SisterX) March 26, 2017

@united my family and their leggings will be taking our travel $$$ to another airline.

— Joe Friday (@packrat1201) March 26, 2017

 

That time @united declared that women must wear dresses over their leggings in order to fly. A terrible airline somehow gets even worse. https://t.co/q9idyDotSo

— Scott Shields (@sdshields) March 26, 2017

The airline released a statement as the furore gathered pace online. They defended their position, stating that for regular customers leggings are welcome, but for pass travel privilege a dress code is in place.

To our customers…your leggings are welcome! Learn more about our company’s pass travel privilege: https://t.co/5e3euG1H9G.

— United (@united) March 27, 2017

We're not sure if that will fly with customers.