A plus-size travel enthusiast who shared a viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat has divided opinion, with some critics telling her to buy two tickets or stop flying.
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, shared a video of herself on an airplane with the tray table unable to extend and the seatbelt tight against her stomach.
The video left TikTok users divided, with some insisting she should pay for two seats.
Kirsty, who runs a website about travelling as a plus size person called Plus Size Travel Too, is a passionate traveller, but says the experience is less comfortable for larger people.
‘I travel regularly and flying is definitely one of the most stressful parts of travelling while fat,’ she said.
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire who runs a website about travelling as a plus size person called Plus Size Travel Too, is a passionate traveller, but says the experience is less comfortable for larger people
Choosing a comfortable seat, asking for a seatbelt extender, tray tables not going down, small bathrooms are all things to worry about when larger people travel and so Kirsty ‘wanted to show people that they’re not alone.’
‘I wanted to make a light-hearted video – using a very popular TikTok trend – to illustrate things that I know a lot of people face when they travel.’
She went on to explain that choosing a comfortable seat, asking for a seatbelt extender, tray tables not going down, and small bathrooms are all things to worry about when larger people travel and so she ‘wanted to show people that they’re not alone.’
In the TikTok, Kirsty can be seen boarding a plane before sitting down and showing the seatbelt tight against her stomach, while the tray table isn’t able to come fully down – captioning the post ’emotional damage.’
The clip was viewed more than one million times and racked up 42,000 likes, but divided users.
In the TikTok, Kirsty can be seen boarding a plane before sitting down and showing the seatbelt tight against her stomach, while the tray table isn’t able to come fully down – captioning the post ’emotional damage.’
Keen traveller Kirsty, pictured on a trip to Paris, spent more than 10 years of her life trying to loose weight, but became ‘tired’ of her ‘every moment’ being about points and calories.
Some people insisted Kirsty deserves to fly comfortably, while others felt the airlines shouldn’t have to change to accommodate plus size people.
One person commented: ‘These comments aren’t it, everyone should feel comfortable traveling.’
‘Everybody’s being so mean… I’m sorry. You deserve to fly comfortably,’ another user said.
Someone else added: ‘These comments are NOT IT. I’m a flight attendant and it is definitely up to the airline to work with you to find a solution.’
‘Anyone commenting about her weight needs to educate themselves. It’s the airlines responsibility to provide equitable service,’ one person added.
However, critics argued that airplanes shouldn’t have to accommodate her.
One user said: ‘When I was a bigger gal I bought an extra seat.’
‘Doesn’t make sense for airlines to make seats bigger, they then lose seats and therefor money,’ another person argued.
Someone else said: ‘Imagine thinking airlines should completely change for you.’
‘Really not fair to others to take up 1 and a half seats. Buy 2 seats or don’t fly,’ added another user.
Meanwhile, other people felt the seats were already too small on airplanes.
‘Those seats are way too small to begin with I feel you,’ said one person.
Another user added: ‘The reality is even for average-weight people the seats still feel unethically small.’
‘No because why is everything so small on these planes. I’m mid-sized and I feel cramped,’ said someone else.
Another user said: ‘People saying it’s her fault like airlines haven’t been shrinking seats for the last 20 years. I’m 6’3” and I barely fit in coach.’
‘The seats have honestly gotten smaller and now you have to pay for extra room for what used to be a normal seat size,’ insisted one user.
Someone else agreed: ‘Honestly I feel like we could all benefit from bigger seats and more leg room.’
‘Regardless of the person, airplane seats are much too small for even the healthiest human,’ added another user.
Kirsty believes adjustments could help many people, regardless of weight.
She said that she doesn’t her size is ‘relevant’ as this applies to people of a ‘range of different sizes.’
A lot of people commenting ‘don’t be fat then,’ according to Kirsty, think it’s a ‘simple and easy’ change to make.
However, Kirsty who was spent over 10 years of her life trying to loose weight was ‘tired’ or her ‘every moment’ being about points and calories.
She says that she ‘finally’ started to live her life and is so much happier for it.
She said: ‘A lot of people can’t lose weight as easily as others for many reasons and I think that people don’t realise that or choose to ignore it because it doesn’t fit their narrative of plus size people.’
Kirsty said that when she stopped caring about loosing weight and started to live life, she was much happier for it
Kirsty, pictured on a trip to Disneyland Paris, said it’s not viable to have to buy two plane seats because travel is ‘already very expensive.’
She says that the amount of comments about airlines can do to be more inclusive and she wishes that there was an easy answer.
For example, a number of seats that cater towards bigger sizes, she believes would be ‘beneficial to so many people’ such as those who are pregnant, tall or event body builders.
However, she points out that she recognises that there are often difficulties around this, one being that some companies have a customer ‘size policy.’
For example, passengers get refunded if their second seat if there’s a seat free on the plane at the time of boarding.
Some comments suggest buying a second seat or booking first class, however Kirsty is quick to point out that this is not viable for everyone as airfare is ‘already very expensive.’