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By Shannon Power
Pop Culture & Entertainment Reporter
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A plus-size traveler has divided opinion after she said she should not have to be forced to buy two airline seats because of her size.
The plus-size travel blogger, Jae'lynn Chaney from Vancouver, Washington, has long advocated for better flying conditions for plus-size people. She started a Change.org petition to encourage the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to alter its policies.
More than 41 percent of the U.S. population is obese, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Airlines have varying policies for "customers of size". These include requiring them to buy a second seat if they can't lower the armrests due to their size or fit comfortably into one seat. Some policies allow passengers to get a refund on the second ticket if at least one seat is available on the flight after takeoff.
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"Air travel should be comfortable and accessible for everyone, regardless of size. As plus-size travelers, my partner and I have unfortunately experienced discrimination and discomfort while flying," Chaney wrote in the petition.
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"The FAA must require all airlines to implement a clear customer-of-size policy that prioritizes the comfort and well-being of all passengers," she added. "This policy should include clear guidelines on accommodating larger passengers, such as providing larger seats, seat-belt extenders, and alternative seating arrangements."
Chaney told Newsweek the petition was "not just about getting free seats for people who need more space on planes."
"It's about so much more than that. It's about spreading awareness, fighting for a more inclusive future, and helping accommodate those who need it. It's about creating a world where everyone, regardless of their size or shape, can travel comfortably and safely," she said.
Chaney added, "the precedent for policies like this has already been set" and praised Southwest Airlines as having the best and most successful customer-of-size policy.
"They've shown that it's possible to create a policy that's both inclusive and profitable, and many plus-size people fly with them because of their policy. In Canada, the one-person, one-fare policy requires transportation services to provide free additional seats, and it's been incredibly successful as well," she told Newsweek.
The influencer explained she started her blog because "as someone whose body doesn't fit the societal norm, I found myself struggling to navigate travel in a way that felt comfortable and safe."
"There were very few resources available to help me, and I often felt like I was left to figure things out on my own," she said. "I wanted to create a space where plus-size travelers could come for information, advice, and inspiration. I wanted to show people that it's possible to travel and have amazing experiences no matter what your body looks like.
"And I wanted to be a part of the movement to create more positive representation for plus-size individuals in the travel industry and beyond."
In the petition, Chaney also provided a list of recommendations including the installation of wheelchair-accessible restrooms on planes.
She wrote: "It's time for the airline industry to take a stand and commit to creating a more inclusive and accommodating environment for all passengers. Join us in demanding that the FAA take action to protect plus-size travelers."
Chaney's petition was picked up by hip-hop news site The Daily Loud, which posted about her on Twitter.
"Plus-sized traveler demands free seats, better accommodations on airlines: 'All plus-size passengers should be provided with an extra free seat, or even two or three seats depending on their size, to accommodate their needs and ensure their comfort during the flight'," the tweet read alongside two photos of Chaney.
Chaney's story has divided Twitter users, with a number writing that the airlines bore no responsibility to her.
"You should be required to buy two seats yourself actually. The airline didn't cause your issue," tweeted sports writer Dominique Clare.
Another person wrote: "How about airlines make seats that people actually fit in. Its a dirty way to make money!"
A third added: "As someone overweight, that is an asinine thing to demand. That's like tall people demanding doors everywhere be taller lol. Except of course, they can't control being tall. But us overweight folk, largely (not everyone), CAN control being overweight. I know I should."
And a fourth commented: "I think we can all agree airline seats are too small for anybody."
Chaney said the debate and negative comments could be "hurtful" and "overwhelming," but reinforced how important it was to raise awareness.
"It's never easy to be the target of hate and criticism, and reading some of the vitriol directed toward me has been emotionally draining," she said. "There have been moments when I've felt discouraged because of the negative comments.
"The fatphobia, ableism and discriminatory comments people have made have shown just how much work there is to do when it comes to creating a more equitable and inclusive society.
"While it's been painful to read some of these comments, it's also been a powerful reminder that there are still so many people who are being discriminated against simply because their bodies don't fit within the narrow societal norm."
The travel blogger is not the only person to speak out on the issue: Toronto's Kayla Logan wrote for Newsweek about having to pay a "fat tax." The body-positive social-media influencer described it as "a surcharge placed on larger individuals."
"Because of my body and the space I take up, I have to pay more money. It feels like discrimination," Logan wrote.
"In my view, fatphobia is so rampant in society because people believe it's an individual problem; they feel this is a reality you have created for yourself because you don't have control over your life," Logan added. "The belief embedded in us is often that slim equals healthy, but when I was thin, I was anorexic and purging."
Logan wrote: "For decades, airlines have been increasingly decreasing the size of seats, while studies have shown that the American population has gradually been getting larger. After factoring in a pandemic to that situation, a large chunk of the public is plus-sized so, I don't understand why we're not catering to those people.
"I believe that, in society, fatphobia is the last acceptable form of discrimination. We put the onus on the individual and we're not taking into consideration any other wider issues," Logan added. "In my view, it's all about profits; the more people they can fit onto a plane, the more money the airline makes."
Update 4/19/23, 10:55 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Jae'lynn Chaney and a new photo.
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