Plus-size travel influencer melts down as she issues fresh demand for free extra seats for fat fliers

A plus-size blogger has once again voiced her demand that US airlines stop charging larger passengers for extra seats ahead of the holiday season.

Jaelynn Chaney finds it outrageous that plus-size passengers are “forced to pay twice for the same accommodations that someone else gets with just one ticket,” she said in a TikTok video this week.

“It’s not about giving fat people more; it’s about meeting basic needs.”

The plus-size travel crusader has long preached about the need for bigger seats on planes, claiming that major air transport companies are constantly reducing seats to accommodate more passengers.

She believes the U.S. should adopt Canada’s “one person, one tariff” policy.

Since January 2008, a one-person, one-rate policy has been passed into law by the Canadian government.

Airlines such as Air Canada require passengers requiring medical accommodation to submit paperwork and documentation from their doctors to make the request. This request will be approved up to 48 hours before the flight, the airline said. Canadian government.

From Air Canada Eligibility for air travel papers does contain a section in which passengers are given the opportunity to request accommodation ‘due to excess weight’.

She believes the U.S. should adopt Canada’s “one person, one tariff” policy. Since 2008, the Canadian government has introduced a one-person, one-rate policy into law

To determine if a passenger qualifies for the airline’s one-person-one-fare policy, they must provide their height, weight, body mass index and surface dimensions, which is the distance to the two widest points.

A doctor’s signature is also required.

The US does not have a similar policy. The Ministry of Transport rules: ‘Airlines are not obliged to provide more than one seat per ticket purchased.’

“Why is it that other countries, like Canada, recognize this as a basic need, while here in the U.S., airlines continue to make money off our inconvenience?” Chaney wondered. ‘It’s time they stop taking advantage of our bodies and start treating everyone fairly.

“And let’s not forget that the number of airplane seats is shrinking every year, making it even more difficult for people who already need extra space.”

Commenters were quick to take issue with Chaney’s will, with one writing, “If you fill two seats, no one else can buy a ticket to sit there, so you have to pay for it.”

Another wondered the same thing: “If you use two chairs, don’t you have to pay for two chairs?”

Another disgruntled commenter wrote: ‘If I’m ever big enough to need two seats, this will be my wake-up call.’

Airlines, such as Air Canada, require passengers requiring medical accommodation to submit paperwork and documentation from their doctors to make the request. To determine eligibility, a passenger must provide their height, weight, body mass index and more

“So who would decide if two seats were needed?” wrote one man. ‘What if I identified as a passenger of stature? Or would the fact that I’m 6 feet tall require me to be guaranteed assignments or leave ranks?’

This isn’t the first time the influencer has advocated for the half of obese fliers desperate for more space to fly in comfort.

In June 2023, she called for US airlines to have to reimburse overweight passengers for any additional seats they have to buy when booking to accommodate their size.

“As plus-size travelers, my partner and I have unfortunately experienced discrimination and discomfort while flying,” she wrote in her letter petitionwhich has been signed by almost 40,000 people.

She added: “All plus-size passengers should be provided with an additional vacant seat, or even two or three seats depending on their size, to meet their needs and ensure their comfort during the flight.”

Turning her attention to refunds, Chaney added: “Airlines should offer a refund to plus-size passengers who independently purchase additional seats. This should be a simple process that can be accessed online or through customer service.”

Nearly a year and a half later, U.S. airlines have yet to hear her plea.

But she’s had trouble with more than just airplane seats, including when she got stuck in a revolving door at Chicago O’Hare.

“Why is it that other countries, like Canada, recognize this as a basic need, while here in the U.S., airlines continue to make money off our inconvenience?” Chaney wondered. ‘It’s time they stop taking advantage of our bodies and start treating everyone fairly’

Despite not needing a wheelchair for daily mobility issues, Chaney decided to use one as she passed through Chicago O’Hare Airport.

“I recently had a disturbing experience at Chicago O’Hare Airport. As a plus-size ambulant wheelchair user, I faced a major challenge trying to get to the baggage claim,” Chaney began.

‘The only option is to go through a revolving door. Push the button to make it slower for people with disabilities, but when we got in we got stuck,” she explained, noting that she is also claustrophobic.

‘I panicked and frantically gestured for staff to help, but they just stared at me and offered no help.’

Chaney, who is a size 6XL, posted no photo or video evidence of her ordeal and accused O’Hare airport staff of being unresponsive.

She also claimed that airport staff at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport refused to push her onto the jet bridge because of her size.

“My ordeal at SeaTac Airport will shock you,” Chaney said in a TikTok in May. Chaney, who can walk, then talked about how she requested wheelchair assistance on a recent flight, as she always does.

However, Chaney claims that when she tried to leave the plane, the employee who was supposed to help her started walking away when she realized she was supposed to be helping the plus-size woman and not one of the smaller passengers.

The travel influencer said that as the employee walked away with the wheelchair, she commented about her size. Chaney says the ordeal left her gasping for breath.