Obese travel blogger furious after airline makes her purchase multiple seats despite her previous complaints

An obese travel blogger had a mental breakdown on social media this week over US airlines making overweight people purchase two seats if they are unable to fit into one due to their large size. Jaelynn Chaney, a plus-size travel blogger, issued a series of demands on TikTok to her 138,000 followers, urging US airlines to adjust their regulations to correspond with Canada's, which simply requires overweight passengers taking up multiple seats to purchase one ticket.

"This isn't about giving fat people more - it's about accommodating basic needs," Chaney said in the video. 

The heavyset travel enthusiast has long advocated for the necessity of larger seats on aircraft, alleging that major airline companies have systematically reduced the size of their seats over the past several years to accommodate an increased number of passengers. Chaney has uploaded numerous recordings of herself occupying nearly three seats on airplanes due to her large size. She wants the US to enact Canada's "one person, one ticket" policy adopted by the country in 2008, the Daily Mail reported.


Jaelynn Chaney wants US airlines to change policies to accommodate obese people

To determine whether a passenger is eligible for Air Canada's one-person-one-fare policy, the passenger must submit their height, weight, body mass index, and surface measurements, all of which must be approved under the airline's Fitness for Air Travel policy 48 hours before takeoff. Additionally, a physician must sign off on the document.

The United States lacks a comparable policy. According to the Department of Transportation, airlines are not obligated to provide more than one seat per ticket purchased.

"Why is it that other countries, like Canada, recognize this as a basic need, but here in the US, airlines are still making money off our discomfort? Chaney questioned, adding, "It's time they stop profiting from our bodies and start treating everyone fairly."

Chaney filed a petition in 2023 seeking that US airlines refund passengers who had to purchase numerous tickets due to their overweight size. Over one year later, the airline sector has not matched the demand.