Plus Size Travel
Plus-Size Travel Advocates Speak Out
Whatever size we are, we know the look. The one a large airline passenger receives from a seatmate when they arrive at their row. Sometimes the look is accompanied by an audible gasp.
“Society has an anti-fat bias, and you can encounter it anywhere,” writes Cheyenne Davis in the essay “The Uneasy Truth About Traveling While Fat” in the online magazine thrillist. “Living in a world fueled by fatphobia creates unnecessary barriers, from limited clothing options to discrimination in medical care, employment, and relationships. According to the NIH, more than two in five adults live in a large body. And yet despite this fact, we continue to face daily challenges—including in travel, where inequities like the ones outlined below so often deny us access to the same life-changing experiences available to others.”
Jeff Jenkins, a National Geographic travel host and award-winning content creator, says that airlines can definitely do more to make flights accessible for everyone. “We are still waiting on the FAA to give dimensions for standard seat sizes for each aircraft,” he says. “We hope that they listen to us and make the seats wider.”
Throw in additional ableist and racial biases, and these roadblocks can escalate substantially. “Whenever I’ve visited Chicago, I’ve observed a recurring issue where Black disabled individuals, myself included, are left waiting for assistance for extended periods,” explains Jervae Dionne Anthony, artist and founder of Fat Black Liberation. “The available wheelchairs don’t cater to those with infinifat bodies, typically above size 32. It’s a struggle to survive a form of violence that often goes unnoticed and unaddressed.” Read more.
Our Takeaway: The failure—and in some cases the refusal—to meet the needs of plus-size travelers is a serious accessibility issue for the entire industry. Beyond airline seats and wheelchairs, there are size problems with amusement park rides, hotel bed dimensions, zipline harnesses, and on and on. . .
Plus-Size Woman Shares Useful Airplane Seat Hacks
Our Takeaway: Plus-size travelers, especially woman activists believe that they are marginalized and discriminated against by airlines and other suppliers and hacks alone will not be enough.
As society continues to put a greater emphasis on the need for inclusive and accessible travel for all people, the aviation industry is taking small steps toward change. There is still work that needs to be done, however, especially when it comes to size inclusivity. Aircraft cabin features including seats, aisles and lavatories make it glaringly obvious that there is a disparity when considering accessibility for plus-size travelers. Although this lack of consideration can be frustrating, influencer KirstyLeanneTravels gave her followers a simple, yet effective strategy to obtain a second plane seat at no extra cost. In a video posted to her TikTok, Kirsty approaches a flight attendant and asks, “Do you know if there are any two seats next to each other free?” The flight attendant tells her that once all travelers have boarded the aircraft, she will check. The TikTok then pans to Kristy on the plane sitting in the extra seat she asked for. Read More.
Major Airline Announced: Step Right Up, We Need to Weigh You
Our Takeaway: While this was a survey to determine the true average passenger weight in order to calculate the amount of freight, they will be able to accommodate, we hope this is just a one-off event. If this catches on, privacy litigation can’t be far behind.
Airline passengers are well accustomed to weighing their luggage and keeping bags light ahead of departure, but many travelers flying with one airline will soon be asked to step on the scales themselves. Yes, you read that correctly — passengers themselves will be weighed. Throughout the month of June, all Air New Zealand passengers travelling internationally from Auckland airport will be asked to step on the scales to participate in the airline’s passenger weight survey. Read More.
Thousands Sign Petition Demanding Dignity for Plus-Size Travelers
Over 6,000 people have signed a petition for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require airline accommodations for “plus-size travelers,” such as extra free seats and priority boarding.
The petition demands that the FAA require all airlines to implement a clear “customer-of-size policy,” grant extra free seats, provide priority boarding, and offer seatbelt extenders for “plus-size” passengers. The petition further demands “sensitivity training” for TSA employees and “accessible screening equipment” to treat “plus-size travelers” with “respect and dignity.” The Department of Transportation issued the “Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights” in 2022, listing the first as “The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect. Read more.
Our Takeaway: Plus-size travelers often experience the same degradation that people with disabilities suffer when exposed to the public. While this petition is the opening salvo in a battle for respect and dignity when they travel, they may have trouble convincing miserly airline pencil pushers to give up a free seat for extra side room.
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