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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