Ben Thompson
A plus-sized influencer has called upon airlines to stop charging larger flyers for an extra seat, slamming the policy as 'discriminatory'.
Jae-lynn Chaney launched a petition in April, demanding that the Federal Aviation Administration adopt a comprehensive 'customer of size' policy.
This would mean that larger seats would be provided to ensure that customers of all weights can enjoy a plane ride in comfort.
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However, Chaney admitted that if her demands were implemented, flight prices would likely increase for all passengers.
Chaney said: "It is difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of who will pay for the policies mentioned in the petition.
"However, what is clear is that the mistreatment and discrimination of plus-size travelers is unacceptable and must be addressed.
"Implementing policies to accommodate plus-size passengers may come with associated costs, but these costs must be weighed against the benefits of creating a more welcoming and inclusive travel experience."
However, she is still sticking to her guns as she's adamant that plus-size passengers face additional challenges on flights.
Chaney, who has to buy an extra seat while flying, said: "People with smaller bodies get to pay one fare to get to their destination.
"We have to pay two fares, even though we’re getting the same experience. If anything, our experiences are a little bit more challenging."
In her petition, she divulged more details about what she and her partner had experienced while flying.
Chaney wrote: "During a flight from Pasco to Denver, my fiancé was subjected to hateful comments, disapproving looks, and even refusal to sit next to them, amounting to discrimination.
"Similarly, on another flight, I was forced to occupy only one seat with immovable armrests that caused me pain and bruises."
Canadian air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs has come out and claimed that the practice of charging passengers for two seats is a 'human rights issue'.
Lukacs said: "Being a large-size person is not a choice, as many people mistakenly believe.
"There is, unfortunately, a lot of negative attention and prejudice against plus-size people.
"It’s not as if someone is getting up in the morning and making a decision that they’re going to be a large person.
"So through that lens of human rights, I don’t see any justification for charging these people a double fare."
Another advocate for size inclusion on flights, Kristy Leanne, says that she has received backlash since speaking out online.
Leanne said: "I was sharing my experience with airlines and showing other plus-size travelers what to expect, so I didn’t expect so many people to think that the points I made were complaints of any kind.
“I thought I would get one or two negative comments as I always do with videos talking about being plus-size, but not to the extent that I did."