A plus size traveller has hit back at trolls who said she should pay for two plane seats.
Lindsay McGlone, 26, shared a video to TikTok of her Ryanair flight to Bulgaria in an attempt to reassure larger people that ‘they deserve to travel’.
The footage shows Lindsay, who is a size 24 and 5ft3in, boarding the flight with her 28-year-old partner Tommy.
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In the video, Lindsay can be heard asking the cabin crew for a seatbelt extender.
It also shows that she can pull the table down.
The clip was viewed more than 907,000 times and racked up 10,000 likes.
But while some viewers thanked her for highlighting the issues that plus size passengers face, cruel critics commented that Lindsay should pay for an extra seat.
“I want to show people that they can travel and advocate for people who have different body types while being considerate of the people around them,” Lindsay, from Barnsley, South Yorks, told Luxury Travel Daily.
“I have a larger body and I’m aware that some people don’t agree with my body type.
“You’re going to get derogatory and fatphobic comments. I didn’t expect the video to blow up as it has.
“I’ve had messages from people that the video has helped. One person messaged me saying that they were getting on a flight, they’re bigger and they were so relieved that they found the video.
“People said I should eat a salad. It’s so petty.
“I haven’t needed two seats before. I recognise I would maybe be more comfortable with two seats but I recognise that I fit in one seat.
“I treat the trolls with kindness. They comment because they feel a certain way about themselves.
“There’s a reason they’re like that and it might not be their fault. Getting into an argument with someone on the internet is a waste of time. Fatphobia is so loud.
“I’d ask them to think about if it was their relative or if they had an illness that made them bigger.”
Lindsay believes most holidaymakers can’t afford to pay for an extra seat.
Lindsay said: “If seats were accessible financially to someone who is larger, do I believe that they should buy two tickets?
“If they feel it’s necessary. If I bought two tickets, people would say I was stopping an extra person from going on holiday.
“People can’t determine what it’s important to spend your money on.
“People think they have a say in where or how we sit. It’s up to the individual.
“We have autonomy over our bodies. We don’t need other people to tell us.”
She says she always goes out of her way to make sure the people around her are comfortable when she’s on public transport.
Lindsay said: “I haven’t really had an uncomfortable flight but I build up the anxiety myself believing that I’ll have a negative reaction.
“I speak to the flight attendant and ask if there’s going to be anyone sitting next to me who I could make uncomfortable.
“People demonise us and see us as needing fixing rather than as individuals.
“I always ask the person next to me if they’re comfortable.
“If you approach the subject or take ownership you can be made to feel like the devil so we can’t win.”
Lindsay is passionate about encouraging plus size people to travel and wants airlines to make transport more accessible for larger customers.
She’s been a content creator for seven years.
She said: “I talk about what it’s like living in a plus size body when you don’t hate yourself.
“I don’t just advocate for fat bodies. It’s not all about me. I also advocate for other underrepresented groups in society, such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
“When you have a platform you should raise voices of others. It’s about using the platform for good.
“I’m so passionate about my work. ‘I’ve accepted that the content I create means I’ll get trolled.
“It’s my little way of trying to make a change in the world.”
Some people said that Lindsay’s video had encouraged them to book a flight while others said that airlines shouldn’t have to accommodate to plus size people.
One person said: “What does annoy me is they want me to pay for being slightly over on luggage?
“They should actually ask person weight when booking.”
Someone else added: “Soon as you need a belt extender you should pay for two seats.”
A third user added: “I’ve not flown for years as I’ve been scared at the prospect of needing an extender so thank you for showing how easy it is.”
Another person said: “This gave me so much reassurance.
“I’m going on holiday next week with Jet2 and I’ve heard they’re bigger than Ryanair so less stressed right now.”
Another commented: “I’d charge you for three people, it’s a liberty.”
Lindsay added: “I’ve been advocating for underrepresented groups all my adult life.
“I’ve created events such as Reclaimed Means Business, an event for business owners to feel they can show up as themselves regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability.
“I had a great time travelling and I intend to continue helping plus size travellers feel comfortable.”
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