6 days Ago By Jack Hobbs
A plus-sized traveler is claiming that a worker in the Seattle –Tacoma International Airport discriminated against her because she allegedly refused to push her wheelchair. Jaelynn Chaney, 28, shared a video of herself on the social media app TikTok where she described the alleged discrimination. Speaking to her more than 140,000 followers, Chaney stated that she had been through an "ordeal" when she got off the plane in May 2024 .
According to the influencer, who is a 6XL, the airport worker allegedly refused to push her because of her weight. The content creator has since spoken out repeatedly about the airport and how it allegedly "violates our rights," and even went as far as to claim that other plus-sized customers had experienced the same discrimination. "I was denied wheelchair assistance at SeaTac because of my body size," wrote Chaney in a video dated February.
"I was denied wheelchair assistance at SeaTac because of my body size," she added, tagging the FAA. "I almost fainted last time I flew in because they refused to help me. I’m not alone—this has happened to other fat travelers, too.
" "If SeaTac refuses to assist fat people, they need to have a written policy stating their discrimination outright," she wrote. "But instead, they lie, deny services, and leave disabled fat travelers stranded. This is unacceptable, and I will not stay silent.
" The video has gained 256.2k views since being posted. In the original video, Chaney revealed that, despite being able to walk, she always requests wheelchair assistance when flying.
However, during this trip, Chaney alleged that the employee who was assigned to help her from the entry of the jet bridge started to walk away when she realised she would be assisting her instead of one of the other passengers. Things took an even worse turn when Chaney claimed that the employee started making comments about her weight and seemingly ignored her pleas for a wheelchair. "I was then forced to walk up one of the longest jet bridges I've encountered and she didn't stop," the content creator said.
Chaney claims that by the time she was offered a wheelchair, she was about ready to faint and that her lips were white. "This was my first time flying without oxygen," she claimed. "This woman just assumed I could walk and would rather me do that instead of her having to push someone my size up the jet bridge.
" "All the other attendants wheeled their passengers up the jet bridge but my needs were disregarded," she added. According to Chaney, her "ordeal" was an example of why "employee sensitivity training" was necessary to help plus-size travellers. In a petition started by Chaney, she demanded that the FAA and airlines to give overweight flyers additional free seats to ensure they are comfortable while flying.
Chaney also stated that she wanted all airlines to implement a "comprehensive customer-of-size-policy that prioritises the comfort and wellbeing of ALL passengers." According to Chaney, the policy should include "clear and inclusive guidelines on accommodating customers of size," as well as "alternative seating arrangements, larger seats, and other size-accessible accommodations." Chaney added that, plus-size passengers who are "forced to occupy only one seat allegedly face "pain and vulnerability to poor treatment from fellow passengers, including hateful comments, disapproving looks, and even refusal to sit next to them.
" "This mistreatment of plus-size passengers is unacceptable and it highlights the urgent need for better policies that protect the dignity and rights of all passengers, regardless of size," she added. It was reported that her petition has gained some traction with almost 4,000 signatures. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
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