A woman has divided comments and opinions on TikTok as she documented her journey as a plus-sized passenger on a Ryanair flight. The TikTok video went viral and Kirsty Leanne soon found herself subject to varying opinions as the Manchester Evening News reported.
In the video she shows herself being given the middle seat and having to ask for a seatbelt extender. She also said she struggled to fit down the plane's narrow aisles.
While travelling from London Stansted to Hamburg for a conference Kirsty said she could feel people staring at her as she made her way to her seat. She said: "The first issue I faced was walking down the plane aisle, I was one of the last people on the plane as I was running a little late so I felt the stares of people and all I could think was that they didn't want me to sit next to them."
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Kirsty went to explain that the seat next to her remained empty for the flight, giving her more room and making her feel more comfortable. She said: "I got to my seat and thankfully the one next to it was empty, giving me a little more room."
She called the seating situation "definitely manageable" for a short flight however did decide not to use the plane's bathroom, as it was very small. Kirsty said: "I was running late, I didn't get to use the bathroom before I boarded so I thought I'd chance using the one on the flight but unfortunately, it's probably one of the smallest bathrooms I've ever seen and I decided against trying to squeeze in."
Kirsty also used a seat belt extender on the flight, which she said was handed to her "discreetly" when boarding the plane and the video documenting her journey has now been viewed over one million times. The 29-year-old received a mixed reaction from viewers in the comments with some saying she deserved to fly comfortably and others blaming Kirst for her weight.
One said: "Why are the comments so rude? She never said she was blaming the airline she is just showing you her experience travelling. Do you girl, love the video."
Another supported Kirsty, saying: “What is everyone's problem? she's not hurting anyone, just showing her struggle with travel and how people in the same position can make it work!"
However some felt Kirsty was blaming the airline, one said: “Honey it's not the airline's fault.”
Another added: "This should be a massive wake-up call."
And "Not going to change the whole airplane just for you, are they"
Kirsty responded to the negative comments, saying she was just documenting her experience as a plus-sized person on the flight. She said: "I'm sharing my experience as a plus-size person on Ryanair so others can see what it's like but yes I do think airlines should do more to be accessible for plus size people. That doesn't mean I'm blaming them for me being fat. It's pretty simple."
