United picking up flak over "dress codes" for kids
 

Absolutely correct. What is important to remember here is that they were on staff travel tickets. Most airlines impose dress codes for staff travel. They have already been relaxed a little in past years but there's a limit. I remember when I had to travel wearing a shirt, tie and jacket and most definitely no jeans.

I have some sympathy after a miserable experience some fifteen years ago on a longhaul BA flight to HK where I wasn't able to work due to the behaviour of staff children in J or F (cant remember which) - precocious teenagers with attitude. But IIRC they were immaculately dressed.

A sensible dress code - fine. I appreciate the respect for customers and I hope it is accompanied by a behaviour code.. But (if true) being "forced" to wear a dress in 2017?

Ouch.

Lo, I see the fuss was inaugurated by Shannon Watts, founder of the Moms Demand drivel group, proving that her true objective in life is not misguided efforts at public safety but to stir things up and generate publicity for herself.

Pathetic - but she clearly knows how to play lower-string media outlets like the BBC!

I feel sorry for the person who sponsored their buddy passes.

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Going on his previous utterances Donald Trump would have allowed these children on his aeroplane whether wearing leggings, or not:}

If you dont like the staff travel dress regulations, then simple solution, buy a normal ticket!

Probably so. If these people were on buddy passes, the employee granting them has the obligation to thoroughly brief the recipients (likely non-airline types ) on all requirements, including dress code. The amount of negative attention this has gotten UAL at a time when they're trying to rehab their company image might not bode well for said employee.

Don't like a dress code ? Fair enough...buy a full fare ticket and dress like you came to empty the dumpsters.

The choice of dress isn't up to the pass riders...it ain't their party.

Buddy passes suck anyway. The boarding priority is so low it can be hard to get a seat these days. We laughingly say we only give them to people we don't like. ;)

Yellow "journalism." "Journalism" by tweets. Let them walk or take a bus.

Absolutely :ok:

Years ago when I traveled on staff passes with my young boys they wore regular trousers, shirts and shoes. No jeans, no trainers, no shorts. Those were the rules and we accepted them. Of course, over the years, with the changes of fashion by regular passengers it soon became evident who the staff travelers were :) From what I have witnessed in more recent years many airlines have relaxed the rules to a certain extent but still keeping within the boundaries of good taste. I fully support United's decision.

Another :ok:

It can be a PITA but it's the company's train set.

'Back in the day' you could tell who your fellow (male) staff pax were, the only ones wearing a tie, esp. to somewhere usually 'tie-less' like Miami.

You still can !.....we are the one's checking our phones to see if the aviation gods were good to us with a seat assignment, long after the rest of the masses have lined up and are ready to board.

The buddy pass party accepted their fate with good grace - always wise not to bite the hand who hands out the passes.

Ms. Watts stuck her unwelcome nose into employee pass policy.

I recall a weekend YYZ-YVR jaunt where I was in my normal compliance with the dress code.

On landing I threw my backpacking equipment into the rental car and headed off to the Olympic peninsula. The US Customs lady's suspicion antennae began twitching when somebody in a jacket and tie from YYZ was telling her he was on a weekend camping jaunt :\

Production of airline Id and statement of pass cost and dress code settled her back down;)

Yes, I remember being the only one on the check in queue in CPT wearing a tie!

Nothing wrong with a sensible dress code, an 'activist' making up some self serving news slant.

This is one of those made-up internet controversies based on nothing. They were non-revs who were not dressed in accordance with the company dress code.

If they didn't make the dress code clear, then they deserve what they get.

This is part of why I don't give out buddy passes. Not worth the headache.

Non-Rev Passes
 

Details well covered here, but many main stream press reports did NOT note that these kids were non-rev pax. Flak or not, one poster above properly points out that it is still UAL's train set. Accept the rules or buy a real ticket!

Company dress codes are just as stated in the rules, if you don't want to conform, then buy a full fare! Last year my wife and I arranged to meet our oldest granddaughter in Heathrow to travel back to Canada, she was dressed very smartly in a full dress and well groomed, the result? We all got upgraded to first class when the aircraft filled up when an American flight had a mechanical You want to see happiness? Just put an eighteen year old in a first class seat along with all the other perks which are included! We are now the favorite grand parents!

Amen! Those passes come with dress code requirements.