Ever since airline deregulation, as air travel prices have fallen, the skies have become increasingly small-d democratic. While the average income of an airline passenger is above the national average, people inside the metal tube have looked much more like America than when I was young.
I used to travel as an unaccompanied minor, living in New York and visiting my dad in California. In the early 1980s I used to be dressed up in a jacket and tie to fly. Now passengers come as they are and people from all walks of life intermingle. Meanwhile the country itself has become far less formal, which means that airline passenger attire has changed along with it.
That sometimes creates clashes between an airline’s expectations – or at least a gate agent’s or flight attendant’s expectations – and the passengers they serve. Whether it’s Southwest kicking off a woman that’s ‘too sexy to fly’ or United denying boarding to a passenger in leggings (who turned out to be a nonrev passenger, but the airline’s twitter account made no distinction and declared such dress inappropriate for the airline).
What better name could their be for a frequent traveler than Andrea Worldwide? She’s a United customer who flies “every 10 to 14 days” and earlier this month departing Denver she had a run in with one of the airline’s gate agents. She says she’s a MileagePlus elite member, a status she earns flying for business and taking regular trips to Puerto Rico to visit her boyfriend.
She felt humiliated when a male gate agent stopped her from boarding her Denver – Newark flight because her top was ‘too revealing’.
Andrea Worldwide was boarding a flight from Denver, Colorado to Newark, New Jersey on January 13 when a male employee stopped her from getting on the plane, she shared on Facebook.
She was eventually told that her shirt was too low-cut — and only after that humiliation did employees change their minds and let her on the plane.
Here’s what she says she was wearing:
United’s contract of carriage says they may deny boarding to passengers who are barefoot or “not properly clothed” but fails to define what that means. As a result it becomes a subjective determination on any given flight. As a result it’s impossible to know in advance what will trigger a gate agent or flight attendant. Will Chrissy Teigen cause the next incident?
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
As an airline, United is moving more and more towards subjectivity removing bag sizers at the gate leaving it up to the discretion of an agent whether or not a bag is appropriate size to be on board. The problem is that customers and any given agent, from whatever their background, may have a different view of an appropriate bag size and appropriate clothing for travel.
On Spirit Airlines you’re lucky if passengers are wearing clothes at all…
What breasts?
This is stupid Gary. You’re above this. I read your blog to be informed about miles and points – not trash like this.
Jose: You suck.
Gary: You need to take a stand against commenters like Jose.
If UA is getting more subjective then just pull that scarf around a little better next time.
What’s next for UA, banning people who wear socks with their sandals?
@Jose
Agree, what breasts? She is trying to get attention
She “employs hundreds of women”, sure, hundreds, not thousands? What does she do? Don’t tell me, YouTuber? Blogger? 😉
Let me guess, this “humiliation” can only be fixed with a $50k settlement? People suck. Get over your victimhood complex. You don’t have an inalienable right to not have your feelings hurt.
Can’t find a single item in your post that supports “threatened” in the title. Can you expound on what that gate agent said to you about this incident? Otherwise, I think you clickbaited the shark with this one.
Poor fashion choice, but I’m surprised if this would actually get you kicked off a plane (although I see that she did actually fly). That said, so what? If I go to a restaurant and wear casual clothes different from what other diners are wearing, do I have any legitimate grievance if the restaurant tells me to put on different clothes? Does everything have to go everywhere as long as it’s not obscene? Why? Why can’t businesses have dress codes, even if they don’t enforce them 100% of the time? And isn’t it a good idea to discourage folks from not wearing “provocative” clothes when they fly?
Why do I keep reading this junk? I only have myself to blame for reading this trash. I could have spent the last two minutes working, learning, earning or burning miles and instead I went here
What makes you think Gary is above this? 50% of his content is crying about AA/AAdvantage, 25% is pushing AA credit cards and 15% is stuff like this.
@chopstix: I have eaten at the #1 restaurant in the World, Osteria Francescana, dressed in GYM SHORTS and tennis shoes. (They did put us in the back corner behind the plant).
So , F someone’s dress code to spend ridiculous money at their restaurant….
and the F doesn’t stand for first class.
@losingtrader – damn man, you couldn’t even put on jeans for Mossimo?!
The spoils of being an “expert” in the field. Send some trashy boob stories to the rubes once in awhile to stay in business, and keep anything useful to yourself and your inner circle
And I don’t need an expert to complain about AA – too easy, lowest form of reporting right there
I bet the sizers will come back – as someone will say that they had a bag that was not too big but they couldn’t bring it on the plane because they were discriminated against as being a member of a protected class. The trend is away from subjective decisions.
I can’t wait for the UA gate agents to take a stand and finally block all passengers wearing white socks with black shoes. How terrible!
#Kirbyed
Why do I have the feeling this story is made up? Either she did not have the jacket and scar on and her boobies were hanging out or the whole thing is made up.
Is it just me or is it just women who have issues? The Qantas red workout outfit and Ugg boots, leggings etc etc. I want to see a guy try to get on a plane with his man boobs hanging out or in spandex unitard showing his junk. Have a 60 yr old try and get into an Emirates Lounge wearing flip lops with white tube socks.
Don’t show us your shirt. Show us your boobs!
So the woman who had this incident with UA legally changed her name to market herself as Worldwide worldwide? Sounds like the act of a desperate attention-seeker.
Her boyfriend seems to be in line to find out the hard way that he may be dealing with a drama queen who becomes increasingly dramatic. At least if he doesn’t move on sooner than later.
Yea whatever. She seems like exactly the type of person who would try to make this a thing and run to the media for attention. If this did happen I am willing to bet that the male employee is gay. Have a difficult time imagining any straight man complaining about this or wanting to get involved in this dispute.
Sounds like a bunch of disappointed commenters up in here, who were hoping for some good pics.
Thanks Gary. If nothing else a good reminder that wackos out there are always looking to dip into someone’s (your) wallet.
To all those in hysterics about it being included in this edition of the newsletter: take a chill pill and relax. In every issue besides the tips, Gary includes a funny, sad, oddball, happy, sweet, wtf?, or quirky item. It makes for a little levity. There’s always a brief description so if you have certain triggers, DON’T CLICK THE LINK! It will spare the rest of us your petty outrage
I have up on UAL 30 years ago,. So,. The question is Why do you still punish yourself by flying UAL when there are so many other better options?
Oh good lord, she sounds like a drama queen.
Why would you run a story before checking facts. This woman was not dressed as she posted in this picture. The sad fact is that she will be rewarded for PERJURY. and United will not stand behind their employees for enforcing their policies they created and trained their employees to follow. (We see the same thing occurring in Our school districts where administrators don’t back their teachers against insubordinate kids and their parents) This woman walked up to the gate in a bralette with no sweater/scarf covering her – that is where her humiliation should be – Not because she was asked to please cover up before boarding the plane. She Then covered herself up and snapped a picture for her Facebook page and has been eating up all the attention she could get from the media. This is what is wrong with society. I hope United supports their employees and this woman is NOT given a dime or any more attention she craves. She is not empowering women by lying but setting us back.
Why would you run a story before checking facts. This woman was not dressed as she posted in this picture. The sad fact is that she will be rewarded for PERJURY. and United will not stand behind their employees for enforcing their policies they created and trained their employees to follow. (We see the same thing occurring in Our school districts where administrators don’t back their teachers against insubordinate kids and their parents) This woman walked up to the gate in a bralette with no sweater/scarf covering her – that is where her humiliation should be – Not because she was asked to please cover up before boarding the plane. She Then covered herself up and snapped a picture for her Facebook page and has been eating up all the attention she could get from the media. This is what is wrong with society. I hope United supports their employees and this woman is NOT given a dime or any more attention she craves. She is not empowering women by lying but setting us back.
I’m always glad when classless people are called out. Particularly women who are out in public looking like they’re ready for work in a bordello. Closely followed by jerks that abuse airline agents and hotel clerks. Cleavage and profanity have no place in society. Do whatever you want in private, show some class when you’re out. It’s quite simple. Get the message, or stay home and amuse yourself with brainless social media.