The young woman took to Twitter to share her experiences of what it is like to fly when overweight.
Her Twitter account called ’Your Fat Friend’ details some of the things that have happened to her over years of flying.
From having to take her own seatbelt extender to how other passengers treat her, it is certainly eye opening.
She urges other travellers to be kinder to overweight fliers in light of this.
Within the thread, posted to Twitter, she explains what she does to prepare to fly as an overweight person.
“I researched airlines for their “customer of size” policies, many of which reserve the right to kick me off the plane, even after boarding.
“The rest require purchase of a second seat. If I don’t buy one in advance, I’ll be charged the day-of price. Today, that’s $ 800 one way.
“I brought my own seatbelt extender, so I wouldn’t have to ask for one. Sometimes my extender is confiscated by the TSA. Today it wasn’t.”
She states she is in constant fear that she could be stranded, as many policies don’t offer refunds or rebookings.
It’s not just the preparation, but how others react to her.
She continues: “Passengers complaining to flight attendants will get me reseated, charged double, or escorted off the plane, stranded without a way home.
“Over the last 2 yrs, about 50% of passengers in my row complained about me. So, my body is regularly discussed in my presence without my input.
“And no matter what happens, if someone complains, my body will be discussed loudly, with open revulsion, without regard for who hears it.”
She explains some of her previous experiences, with one man angrily moving away from her due to her location in the middle seat.
“I didn’t fly for a year and a half after that. Refused travel for work, didn’t see my family, only travelled where I could drive,” she wrote.
By the end of the thread, she hopes that it inspires others to be a bit kinder to other passengers.
A passenger once sued an airline after he complained an obese passenger ruined the flight.
He was flying from South Africa to Dubai and stated that the man spilled into his seat, causing discomfort.
