My seatbelt on a Ryanair flight was painfully tight – despite me being the average UK dress size
A beautician has criticized Ryanair after going through a ‘too short’ seat belt on a recent flight, saying their standard size belts could be considered ‘fatphobic’.
Airline passenger Katie Higgins, 33, from Ayr, says her experience earlier this month flying from Glasgow to visit relatives in Cork left her feeling strapped to her seat because the seatbelt was too tight at its maximum length.
Katie says she is a size 16 – the average dress size in Britain – but says there was barely an inch of space left after connecting the metal fasteners.
She claims she should have asked for an extension belt if the material had been tighter, despite matching the size profile of the average British woman.
Katie Higgins, 33, from Ayr, posted on Facebook about her experience on a recent Ryanair flight, saying the standard seatbelt was so tight she almost had to request an extension – despite being a size 16, the national average dress size in Britain Britain for women
After posting her experience on social media, she says many people have admitted to buying their own extenders to take on flights — because they want to avoid the embarrassment of asking.
One person responded, “I’m so glad you posted this. I thought it was me. I can’t even breathe when I’m on a Ryanair flight and it’s way too embarrassing to ask for the extender. I know I shouldn’t be, because like you said, we all come in different shapes and sizes.”
Katie says she’s not ‘delusional’ about her size, but was baffled when the belt didn’t fit, as she recently lost two kilograms – and says plus-size passengers may be assessed if they have to ask cabin crew for belt extenders.
The part-time blogger shared how she felt on Facebook, where she claimed the budget airline’s tight seatbelts could damage “self-esteem and mental health” of some passengers.
Katie explained: ‘I was strapped into the seatbelt. It just fit, but if it had dug into me any more I would have been very uncomfortable. If someone else is a different shape or size, they may not be able to tie it.
Katie, who recently lost two stone, says she was shocked by how small the standard belt was, saying it can make plus size flyers feel “judged” if they have to ask for an extension
The beautician from Scotland snapped a photo of how she only had an inch of space left after she put the belt on the maximum width
“Usually with other airlines you can pull the belt length a bit and try to adjust it, but there wasn’t.
“It was facing me, and there was about an inch of space at the bottom and nothing else. If it had been any tighter I would have felt very uncomfortable during the flight.’
She added, “I’m not delusional, I know I’m a bigger woman. But something has to be given, especially since I lost two kilos.
‘Because it just fit, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to take one of the extension straps off someone who might need it. It’s very frustrating.’
Avid traveler Katie, pictured in Hollywood, has now called on airlines to adjust the sizing of seatbelts, saying they could potentially pose a safety risk if people are too shy to ask for an extension
Katie says the short seat belts are essentially a “safety issue” and believes the airline could be seen as “fatphobic” by some fliers.
The activist is now calling on the public to listen to the concerns of plus-sized people — rather than telling them to “lose weight” or accusing them of demanding “bigger seats.”
“There must have been other people on board the flight who were in a worse position than me. If it just fits, even if it’s a little tight, I’ll let someone else use the strap.
“I think anyone who has ever experienced a fat phobia can see it that way. Unfortunately, I have experienced many such things. I don’t think it’s fatphobic, but I think a lot of people might see it that way. I think they cut corners rather than being fat phobic.
‘A size 16 is the size of the average British woman. Following this logic, the average person needs an extender.
Katie says her confusion only deepened on her flight home the following week, when she was fitted with a seatbelt fitted – leading her to claim that flying Ryanair is like ‘potluck’.
Ryanair has been contacted for comment.
The beautician claims she has not yet contacted Ryanair about the matter as she believes her complaint would fall on deaf ears, instead using her social media to shame them.
Katie said: ‘I was flying on Friday and was strapped into the seatbelt. Monday I flew back again and the seat belt was looser. So unless I’m doing magic tricks this weekend, this is a bit of a problem.
“I was annoyed more than anything because it’s like getting on a flight.”
Pot luck: The beautician also says her return flight from Cork was fitted with a larger seatbelt, suggesting sizing inconsistency
“I have not complained before as I feel this would fall on deaf ears. It’s one of those situations where you say, “shut up or shut up.”
“Maybe it’s because it’s a budget airline that you just (should) expect these things, but we don’t (even) get cheap flights anymore.
“I posted the message on Facebook so that someone else would feel less alone. It can be quite damaging for people to feel like it’s only them.
“There are a lot of people who contacted me and told me they bought their own belt extender because they were afraid of the embarrassment.
“It has nothing to do with the size of you, but with the size of the belt and the safety aspect of it.”
Katie’s post garnered over 400 likes, shares, and comments on Facebook, and several viewers shared their own experiences in the comment section.
Katie said of the response to her post: ‘There are a lot of people who have contacted me and told me they bought their own belt extender because they were afraid of the embarrassment’
One said: ‘Fled to Dublin last year, on the flight out the belt fit perfectly and I felt really good!
Not a chance on the way home. I hated myself so much and it took everything I had not to cry.’
Another added: “I just flew to Croatia and had to ask for a belt extender. I don’t give a fuck what people think, but you can see the looks of disgust.’