Plus-sized social media influencer Jaelyn Chaney believes that airlines should give obese flyers as many free seats as needed to feel comfortable.
With this in mind, she launched a petition on Change.org calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to end "discrimination and discomfort" for overweight passengers such as her. The appeal that aims to reach 7,500 signatures read: "Air travel should be comfortable and accessible for everyone, regardless of size."
The Vancouver-based influencer recounted that during a flight from Pasco in Washington state to Denver, she and her fiance were subjected to "discrimination" in the form of hateful comments, disapproving looks and outright refusal to sit next to them. In another flight, Chaney was forced to occupy only one seat with immovable armrests – causing pain and bruises.
"This mistreatment of plus-size passengers is unacceptable and it highlights the urgent need for better policies that protect the dignity and rights of all passengers, regardless of size," she lamented.
Chaney also urged the FAA to mandate that all airlines implement accommodations for obese passengers such as "larger seats, seat belt extenders and alternative seating arrangements." Aside from this, she also recommended that airlines provide up to three seats for obese flyers. Moreover, she demanded that airlines reimburse obese passengers if they purchase two seats independently via a "straightforward process that can be accessed online or through customer service."
Flying a "minefield" for obese people
Back in January, BuzzFeed News published an article featuring "horror stories" experienced by fat flyers. It recounted a 2020 incident involving film director Kevin Smith, who also plays the Silent Bob character in movies such as "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." He boarded a Southwest Airlines flight, stowed his bags and took his seat.
However, a member of the flight crew approached Smith and informed him of his ejection from the flight as he "had violated the airline's customer of size policy at the time." According to Southwest, passengers unable to lower both armrests when seated should book another seat. The policy arose from disgruntled customers complaining about the "encroachment of a large seatmate."
Southwest has since rewritten its policy following the incident with Smith. As of 2022, fat passengers are required to purchase a second seat. However, the payment for this second seat can be refunded by request after their trip. (Related: Too fat to FLY? Airlines to begin weighing passengers (and charging accordingly.))
Most of the time, other passengers loudly complain of the inconvenience and discomfort of being seated next to an obese passenger. Also, flight attendants may decide that flyers are too fat to be accommodated and would escort them from the plane – leaving them stranded without warning or recourse.
"Among the most persistent challenges of flying while fat is navigating the maze of airline policies about when and whether we'll be permitted to stay on a flight," BuzzFeed News contributor Aubrey Gordon wrote. "Current policies for so-called passengers of size vary substantially from airline to airline, leaving fat passengers, especially larger fat passengers, to determine which airlines will allow us to keep our seats and which won't."
A 2020 study by Harvard University found that about 36 percent of the population – one in every three adults – is obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported in the same year that the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in adults from 2017 to 2018 was 42.4 percent. The National Center for Biotechnology Information, which is under the National Institutes of Health, predicted that an estimated 20 percent of the world's population will be obese by 2030.
Watch Natural News and Brighteon.com founder Mike Adams recount below how he dealt with obesity, diabetes and chronic pain prior to becoming the Health Ranger.
This video is from the EnergyMe333 channel on Brighteon.com.
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