Travellers attempt to derail airline backfires

A plus-size customer has gone popular on TikTok after criticizing an airline for the size of its seats and aisle – but some social media users blame her. Kirsty Leanne, 29, of the United Kingdom, recently released a video of her experience on Ryanair, where she was offered a middle aisle seat but was compelled to request a seatbelt extender. She also alleges that she struggled to fit in the plane’s tiny aisle and that she couldn’t use the restroom because she couldn’t fit in. Kirsty alleges she flew with Ryanair from London to Hamburg for a conference on April 21 and returned on April 26.

However, the flights did not go as well as she had hoped.

The first problem I had was walking down the airline aisle; I was one of the last persons on the plane since I was running a bit late, so I felt people’s glances and all I could think was that they didn’t want me to sit next to them, Kirsty told Jam Press. When I arrived at my seat, the one next to it was happily unoccupied, allowing me a bit more room. There wasn’t much legroom, but it was partially due to the fact that I carried under-seat luggage; it was still bearable. I had planned to use the tray table to do some work on the trip, but when I couldn’t set it down, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.

Another difficulty I had was the bathroom; because I was running late, I didn’t get to use it before I boarded, so I thought I’d try the one on the flight, but it’s definitely one of the tiniest toilets I’ve ever seen, so I opted against attempting to fit in. I felt comfortable in the seats, but I guess it was because the seat next to me was unoccupied and I had that little bit of extra room. I needed to use a seatbelt extender, but this is something I’m used to, and the flight attendant quietly handed it to me when I boarded.

The blogger originally made news a few months ago when she was supposedly informed she needed to purchase two seats for herself owing to her girth. Kirsty can be seen in the TikTok video revealing her computer screen where she has been assigned a middle aisle seat and how little space she has on the day, as well as uploading a photo of the seatbelt extender and labeling the video “Flying Ryanair with no upgrades. The video has been seen over one million times and has over 4700 likes, however, fans are split on the subject.

Some believe Kirsty deserves to fly comfortably, while others believe she is solely to blame.

“What is everyone’s problem?” one individual said. She’s not causing any harm; she’s only demonstrating her problem with travel and how others in similar situations can make it work!”

“What’s up with the harsh comments?” She never indicated she was criticizing the airline; she was only sharing her travel experience with you. Do what you want, girl. “I really like the video,” another person wrote.

“People claiming it’s so simple to just lose weight,” someone other said. Some people, however, have ailments and metabolic disorders that make it difficult for them to do so.

“Why are people acting as if being plus-size is a choice/something to be embarrassed of?” one individual said. Critics, on the other hand, contended that flights shouldn’t have to accommodate her.

“They’re acting as though it’s their fault,” one person said.

“This should serve as a tremendous wake-up call,” another individual remarked. “Honey, it’s not the airlines’ fault,” someone else remarked. Another user wrote, “There’s only one guy to blame.”

The blogger also writes about her travels on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too, where she discusses traveling as a plus size person and claims the experience is less than comfortable for larger individuals.