Ben Thompson
A plus-size influencer has gone viral after she revealed how she secures herself two seats on a flight without having to fork out extra cash.
UK-based TikToker Kirsty Leanne makes content giving travel advice to overweight travellers, and has since set up a travel service for plus-size women.
Leanne has now revealled how she manages to secure herself two seats on 'almost every flight' she boards.
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In a video shared to her 115,000 followers, Leanne explained: "One of the most daunting things about flying as a plus-size person is how much space you’re going to have.
"And with the airlines making it so difficult to book a second seat, this tip has definitely saved me so many hours of uncomfortable flights."
Leanne said that she asks the flight attendant: "Do you know if there’s any seats where there’s two seats next to each other free?"
In her video, in which she filmed herself asking, the stewardess can be heard saying: "Maybe after boarding I can look."
Leanne admitted that the hack may not 'work every time', but it was always worth trying.
She said: "I know how hard it can be to advocate for yourself, but remember that you deserve to be comfortable too."
In a follow-up TikTok, she explained that it was often too difficult to book a second seat, as airlines 'don't make it easy' to find an extra space, as well as it being costly.
"The best thing to do is Google the airline and extra seat and see if there’s a policy that comes up," Leanne advised.
"It’s always better to ask so that FAs [flight attendants] are aware you want more space. They also may tell you to wait until after takeoff to move and will save the space for you.
"I also ask at check-in as often, they can change your ticket to be in an empty row.
"A lot of the time, however, I’m told it’s a full flight even if it’s not. If you get this answer, don’t be disheartened – people don’t show up or miss their flight, leaving extra seats."
Many viewers applauded Leanne for her advice.
One wrote: "I tried so hard with Delta on a recent flight. They made it near impossible."
"It’s not fair that people should have to pay more just to have a comfortable flight," another user wrote.
Leanne's travel tips have also earned her some criticism in the past, as trolls have insisted she should just buy a second seat.
Responding to the criticism in a post, Leanne wrote: "I know that flying next to a plus size person is not comfortable, and while buying a second seat can be a great for some, it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ all solution!"