Plus size passenger slams Ryanair after she can’t fit into seat

A size 26 traveller has divided opinion after sharing a viral TikTok slamming Ryanair for the size of its seats, with some critics telling her it was ‘not the airline’s fault.’

Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, filmed the clip while flying with the budget carrier from London Stansted to Hamburg on April 21, revealing how she struggled to fit down the plane’s narrow aisle, couldn’t use the tray table due to lack of space, and could barely move in the tiny toilet cubicle. 

Kirsty, who blogs about her experiences travelling as a size 24-26, wanted to highlight issues she encountered to others. However others claimed Kirsty ‘only has herself to blame’ and should treat the moment as a ‘wake-up call’. 

Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire,  shared a viral TikTok slamming Ryanair for the size of its seats and aisle has divided opinion – but was met with criticism by some, who told her it was ‘not the airline’s fault’

Kirsty Leanne shared her experience with flying as a plus-size woman

She criticised the airline as she said she struggled to fit down the plane's narrow aisle, couldn't use the tray table due to lack of space (pictured)

She criticised the airline as she said she struggled to fit down the plane’s narrow aisle, couldn’t use the tray table due to lack of space, and could barely move in the toilet cubicle  

Meanwhile the TikTok user and plus size-blogger said using the tray table was a 'big fat no' due to lack of space

Meanwhile the TikTok user and plus size-blogger said using the tray table was a ‘big fat no’ due to lack of space

MailOnline has contacted Ryanair for comment. 

Recalling the problematic flight, Kirsty explained:  ‘The first issue I faced was walking down the plane aisle.

‘I was one of the last people on the plane because I was running a little late so I felt the stares of people. All I could think was that they didn’t want me to sit next to them.’

‘I got to my seat and thankfully the one next to it was empty, giving me a little more room.’

Meanwhile she went on to reveal there was little space between the seats on the plane, saying: ‘In terms of legroom, there wasn’t much space but this is also because I had an under seat bag, it was definitely manageable though.’

She showed her boarding pass which revealed she had been allocated a middle seat

Her clip went on to say that she could not use the tray table

The 29-year-old said she had concerns over sitting in the middle seat (left) as well as issues with using the tray table due to her size  (right) 

Kirsty also revealed another issue she faced was the bathroom on board the plane, which she called 'one of the smallest she'd ever seen'

Kirsty also revealed another issue she faced was the bathroom on board the plane, which she called ‘one of the smallest she’d ever seen’

The plus-size blogger also revealed how she was unable to do work because she didn’t have space to use the tray table.

She said: ‘I was going to use the tray table to do some work on the way but when I couldn’t put it down, I quickly decided that it was not going to happen.’

Meanwhile she continued: ‘The bathroom was another issue I faced,  because I was running late I didn’t get to use the bathroom before I boarded.

‘I thought I’d chance using the one on the flight but unfortunately, it’s probably one of the smallest bathrooms I’ve ever seen and I decided against trying to squeeze in.’

She added: ‘In terms of the seats, I was comfortable but I think it’s because the seat next to me was empty and I had that little bit of extra space.

‘I needed to use a seatbelt extender but this is something I am used to and the flight attendant handed it me discreetly as I asked when I boarded.’

After her clip went viral on TikTok, Kirsty was flooded with comments from other users, with some saying it 'wasn't RyanAir's fault' she was uncomfortable when flying

After her clip went viral on TikTok, Kirsty was flooded with comments from other users, with some saying it ‘wasn’t RyanAir’s fault’ she was uncomfortable when flying 

In the now-viral clip, which she shared to her TikTok account, Kirsty can be seen showing her computer screen where she has been allocated a middle aisle seat.

Her post showed how little space she had on the flight as she tried to squeeze into the plane, before she also shared a photo of the seatbelt extender.

Meanwhile she shared a short clip as she attempted to use the  tray table, which she said was a ‘big fat no’, and revealed she had little space to move in the airplane’s bathroom cubicle.  

She captioned the clip, which has racked up more than one million views, ‘Flying Ryanair with no upgrades’.

However despite her criticism of the flight, some people on the app had little sympathy for her and argued that airplanes shouldn’t have to accommodate her.

The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person

The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person

However other users were quick to defend the plus size blogger, with some saying she 'wasn't hurting anyone'

However other users were quick to defend the plus size blogger, with some saying she ‘wasn’t hurting anyone’ 

One user said: ‘Acting like it’s their fault.’

‘This should be a massive wake up call,’ another person argued.

One person wrote: ‘There’s only one person to blame.’ 

Someone else said: ‘Honey it’s not the airlines fault.’

‘There’s only one person to blame,’ added another user.

However others were quick to defend the plus-size blogger, with one person writing: ‘What is everyone’s problem? 

‘She’s not hurting anyone, just showing her struggle with travel and how people in the same position can make it work!’

However despite her criticism of the flight, some people on the app had little sympathy for her and argued that airplanes shouldn't have to accommodate her

However despite her criticism of the flight, some people on the app had little sympathy for her and argued that airplanes shouldn’t have to accommodate her

Pictured: Kirsty during a recent visit to Disneyworld. The traveller loves to update her fans on her journeys with snaps

Pictured: Kirsty during a recent visit to Disneyworld. The traveller loves to update her fans on her journeys with snaps 

Kirsty during a recent trip to Gent, in Belgium, where she toured vintage shops and chocolate maker shops

Kirsty during a recent trip to Gent, in Belgium, where she toured vintage shops and chocolate maker shops 

The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person and says the experience is less than comfortable for larger people

The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person and says the experience is less than comfortable for larger people

‘Why are the comments so rude?’ another user said, ‘She never said she was blaming the airline she is just showing you her experience travelling.

‘Do you girl! Love the video.’

Someone else added: ‘People saying that it’s so easy to just lose weight. Some people have diseases and metabolism issues and it would be difficult for them to do so though.’

‘People acting like being plus size is a choice/something to be ashamed of?,’ one person added.

It comes after the blogger first hit the headlines a few months ago when she was allegedly told to buy two seats for herself due to her body size. 

The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too, where she talks about travelling as a plus size person and says the experience is less than comfortable for larger people.

Plus-size travel blogger once again split opinion after sharing on TikTok the ’emotional damage’ of trying to fit into a plane seat

Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, first hit the headlines a few months ago when sharing another viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat.

The video left TikTok users divided, with some critics telling her to buy two tickets or stop flying.

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. 

Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, first hit the headlines a few months ago when sharing another viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat

Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, first hit the headlines a few months ago when sharing another viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat 

Choosing a comfortable seat, asking for a seatbelt extender, tray tables not going down, small bathrooms are all things to worry about

Kirsty wanted to show larger people who travel that they are not alone in their fears and worries when boarding airplanes

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.

Some people insisted Kirsty deserves to fly comfortably, while others felt the airlines shouldn’t have to change to accommodate plus size people.