The answer patrol got to this one before me, twice!

I have no issues with dress codes being enforced. I also don't think there's any reason why dress codes should be lightened up.

My previous place of employment required interfacing with business people; everyone dressed business-like as it's part of the culture. Clients who came in with sandals, shorts and t-shirts could because they were paying us, and they can wear what they like (within reason). UA (and it's employees) is basically a service industry and needs to consider the image the employees projects (on the clock, or taking advantage of a perk). I know the last sentence will get chuckles from bitter/embattled UA flyers but really, they are technically a service based industry :)

Why some think that they can dress whatever they want baffles me, considering they are taking advantage of a perk under the policy of their employer. The NRSA's should follow the prescribed dress code. It's not an unreasonable dress code either.

As to the OP's posting, if the NRSA was willing to rent, he might as well just gone to one of the stores in the airport and bought a cheap pair of appropriate shoes... at least he'll get something for it, AND fly in business.

Thanks peeps! Now how do I get me one of those for life without opting for UA slave-labor?

Become a UX (or other regional) employee... Skywest, Mesa, and Air Whiskey get travel perks on several US based airlines (I think even part time qualifies, but DON"T hold me to that).

Also, remember NRSA/employee travel does NOT earn miles/status.

Marry UA "slave labor"? Make your kids work for UA as "slave labor"? ;)

Date slave-labor!

Wow. $75 for shoe rental? Now had the NRSA wanted to bestow some buddy passes on me, I might have considered it. :)

I hope the GA reports this. Pretty low form. Not dressed right, go sit in Y. Are you sure it was a UX "employee"? This sounds more like one of the buddy pass stories I hear every now and then.

The Continental Airlines employee store at IAH used to sell T-shirts that said Marry Me and Fly Free ;)

Well, our kid's a captain on another airline with a dress code, and we fly NRSA all the time. Here's what I've learned over 10 years of pass flying about being a happy camper, and making everyone else happy too. . .

1. Considering what NRSA privileges amount to, adhering to a dress code is a small--no, miniscule--price to pay. Anyone taking advantage of these privileges and complaining about or trying to circumvent the dress code is a fool. It is simply not worth arguing about whether the dress code is "up to date" or not. For value received, the task is simple: read it, do it, get over it.

2. For NRSAs to hassle revenue passengers in any way is equally foolish and selfish at the same time. Those who do this should have their privileges revoked, end of story. At "our" airline, the NRSA rules even forbid such minor requests as asking paying pax to switch seats. This is as it should be.

3. When we first started pass flying, I thought that airline staff would be generally surly and dismissive of us, because of the NRSA status. We've found just the opposite to be true, and we've figured out why: every employee also has family members who fly on passes, so the Golden Rule tends to kick in. Whether they think about it or not, most of them treat us they way they'd like their colleagues to treat their families. Our job, in return is to treat them like we'd want our son to be treated (even though he's mostly behind the cockpit door). Amazing how well smiles and adhering gladly to the rules work, even with harried airport staff. When they see we've got the right attitude, there's little they won't do for us that's within the rules.

Life can be relatively simple, straightforward and pleasant if you let it be. Of course I know that flying is generally a matter of survival of the fittest, but we can hope that most of us are still courteous, decent and helpful people.

Thanks for the insider's info.

One minor point. I take it that your son, when he is flying the plane, is positioned "on the other side" of the cockpit door. I don't know why but for me "behind" the cockpit evokes the pax sitting area, which is "behind" the seats reserved for pilots.

Ha! Yes, while he's only flown me once in an airliner (quite by chance), I believe you are quite right that "on the other side" would have been the proper description of his location. The other alternative would probably give new meaning to the term "deadheading." But I must say that my flights with him in small planes when he was a flight instructor and a check airman were much more enjoyable. No doors at all.

Why does it not surprise me that this was a United employee?

It may well not have been. Different airlines have various schemes for accommodating families and friends, as well as the employees themselves. You are jumping to a conclusion by saying that.

This sounds like a companion pass traveler to me. Everyone knows that policy is strict and very enforcable on international routes, so I really can't imagine someone would be wearing sneekers and then would start asking around to rent shoes. Companions are entitled to business if they are dressed correctly.