Plus-size woman, 28, with a chronic illness reveals her top tips for flying in comfort – detailing how she stays healthy AND deals with judgment from fellow passengers

A plus-size traveler with a rare heart condition has revealed some of her top tips in a bid to make traveling more comfortable for others in her position.

Hanna Brandow, 28, living in Brooklyn, New York, uploaded a clip to TikTok in which she describes her journey through the airport and on her way to a flight.

First, she instructs viewers to always “leave enough time for travel and always open the windows” of your taxi to avoid getting hot and bothered.

Suffering from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which causes the heart to beat very fast after getting up, Hanna says she always wears a mask when traveling, as any form of illness such as Covid can have fatal consequences.

At the airport, the TikToker explains that she has to pull down her mask at the security gate while an officer verifies her identity.

After going through security and finding a seat near the gate, Hanna steps out of a “portable mini HEPA air purifier that I just turn on and put on the seat next to me.”

To take the weight off her feet and prevent swelling, she makes sure to put them on her suitcase and says compression stockings are “key.”

Her other wardrobe essentials include Crocs and sweatpants.

To manage hunger, Hanna says she “brings lots of snacks and a wrap, as well as electrolytes so I can stay hydrated.”

During the trip, the travel professional will put on a double mask as an extra safety measure.

For comfort, she also brings a mini fan — which she says has been one of her best purchases to date — and she always asks for a seat belt extender.

To date, Hanna’s insightful video has received more than 9,000 likes, as well as hundreds of comments from grateful followers. Many shared some of their own tips.

One viewer said: ‘I would also recommend a fan that you can put around your neck so you don’t have to hold it! GAME CHANGER!’

Another comment revealed: ‘I made sure to buy my own seat belt extender. Comes with me on every flight.’

By posting these tips online, Hanna hopes to help other plus-size and chronically ill travelers.

She said: ‘I get tired very easily, my heart suffers a lot, so I have to be careful when lifting and bending.

‘My blood volume is low, so I get dizzy very easily.

‘I also have severe migraines.

‘All this makes for a difficult daily life, traveling is even more difficult.

‘Some days I can walk, other days I use a cane or stay in bed.

‘It’s up and down, but I don’t let my fitness or size stop me from traveling, although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think long and hard before booking a trip.’

To make air travel easier for everyone, Hanna says more spacious airplane seats should come into play.

She explains: ‘We all know that airplane seats have no legroom and no width, even for thin people.

“They just want to get as many people on the plane as possible and I understand that from a business perspective, but there are so many people who don’t feel comfortable on planes.

“People treat fat people like they’re our fault, or they deserve to suffer, or like they should just stay home.

‘People deserve dignity, respect and equal treatment, even if they are fat.’

Hanna says air travel isn’t something she can avoid because both her fiancé and her parents live in different cities.

However, she says her hacks help her “travel safely, prevent chronic illness from flaring up, and avoid others’ germs.”