United Looks at First-Class Seat Denial

WASHINGTON, D.C. - United Airlines is responding to allegations from a Maryland businessman who says a gate agent denied him access to the first-class cabin on a recent flight because he was dressed too casually.

Armando Alvarez is a corporate vice president with Best Buy who routinely flies from Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia to company headquarters in Connecticut. The alleged incident occurred Monday, October 26, when Alvarez says he used his United miles to upgrade to first class.

He says his name appeared on the TV screen in the terminal to come forward, and that's when he claims the gate agent refused to issue him the first-class ticket because he was wearing a track suit.

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Man Says United Denied Him First-Class Seat Due to Track Suit
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/man-kicked-out-of-first-class-united-110309

"I was humiliated. I was embarrassed and when some of the passengers were boarding behind me they said, 'Hey, what just happened?' And I said the agent just said I wasn't properly dressed to go in first class today. And they said, 'Was he kidding?' I said obviously not because I'm boarding and not getting in first class," Alvarez told FOX 5's Will Thomas.

A day after the story made national headlines, a United Airlines spokesperson returned repeated calls from FOX 5. A spokesperson says they've identified the gate agent and he is a contract employee who works for Air Wisconsin.

The spokesperson says the employee was interviewed and security footage from the terminal is being reviewed as officials for both airlines investigate the incident.

United says there is no passenger dress code, but they cited two rules. Ticketed passengers can not be barefoot and must be clothed.