A social media personality has written a moving account of a recent plane journey that will help many people to understand the insecurities and fears experienced by overweight people.
The blogger – named ‘Your Fat Friend’ – posted a series of Tweets on her Twitter account that gave an insight into her state of mind as she took a flight.
It wasn’t a fear of flying that was getting her down – her problems start before she has even bought a ticket.
So, I’m on a plane today. Here’s what I did to prepare to fly as a very fat person. (Thread.)
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I researched airlines for their “customer of size” policies, many of which reserve the right to kick me off the plane, even after boarding.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
The rest require purchase of a second seat. If I don’t buy one in advance, I’ll be charged the day-of price. Today, that’s $800 one way.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I’m charged for that second seat regardless of whether one is available. I pay double for the privilege of staying on the plane.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Even if I buy a second seat in advance, the airline may still sell it to another passenger. If they do, I won’t be notified or refunded.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Once she has got her flight booked she then starts to worry about the experience of sharing the plane with several other passengers – many of whom may be discriminatory towards her.
She says that many passengers openly complain in front of her, which could cause her to be charged extra or even escorted off the plane – often without a refund.
I brought my own seatbelt extender, so I wouldn’t have to ask for one. Sometimes my extender is confiscated by the TSA. Today it wasn’t.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I’m not worried about the embarrassment of asking for a seatbelt extender. I know I’m fat.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I’m worried that hearing me ask for an extender will prompt others to complain. If they do, it starts a domino effect of trouble for me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Passengers complaining to flight attendants will get me reseated, charged double, or escorted off the plane, stranded without a way home.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Over the last 2 yrs, about 50% of passengers in my row complained about me. So, my body is regularly discussed in my presence w/o my input.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Some policies don’t include a refund or rebooking policy. So I could be out $1300 & still stranded. That’s a risk I take every time I fly.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
And no matter what happens, if someone complains, my body will be discussed loudly, with open revulsion, without regard for who hears it.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
She also mentions some of the other lengths she needs to go to in order to prevent her fellow passengers from becoming even more annoyed with her.
I also checked my bag so I wouldn’t give any other passengers another reason to be irritated with me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I bought a first class tickets bc they’re a bit wider, but mostly because there are partitions between seats. So complaints are less likely.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Although I bought a first class ticket, and despite being ~60 lbs smaller than I used to be, the tray table doesn’t fit around me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Without a tray table, I can’t work for the full six hours. I also won’t be able to eat the first class meal that comes with the ticket.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I also won’t request anything so the flight attendant doesn’t have to reach over me, again prompting my seat mate to complain.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
So I’ll sit silently, arms crossed, so I don’t encroach on my neighbor’s space.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
She also told the story of the first time she felt discriminated against on a flight because of her weight.
I was complained about for the first time about six years ago. I will never forget it. I was on an oversold flight, moved to a middle seat.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
The man sitting next to me became increasingly agitated. I said hello, asked how he was. He didn’t respond.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
He got up several times to talk to a flight attendant, pointing angrily back at me. My stomach sunk as I realized what was happening.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
When he returned, he gathered his things and said sharply, “this is for your comfort. It’ll be better for both of us.”
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
The FA looked at him blankly and said “no it’s not. Someone else will be sitting here.”
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
He scowled at her, then me, then moved to his new seat–directly in front of me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
I spent the rest of the flight with my arms & legs crossed, humiliated and alone. No one spoke to me or made eye contact.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
The flight attendant didn’t speak to me, but gave free food and drinks to the others in my row–rewards for tolerating my presence.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
No one said anything. No one interrupted him or reached out to me. I was invisible.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
“I wouldn’t do that to someone who was pregnant or in a wheelchair,” he said. “I know,” I said. “That’s what makes this so awful.”
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) 17 July 2017
Your Fat Friend has written a blog about her experiences of flying – read it here
