Jae’lynn Chaney, a plus-size travel blogger based in Vancouver, Washington, has long campaigned for more accommodating airline policies toward passengers of larger sizes. The plus-size traveler has now taken a new step. She has just launched a Change.org petition demanding that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reevaluate its position on the issue.
The petition has received more than 8,000 signatures so far.
Chaney initiated the petition after she and her fiancé, a Colorado resident, claimed they were discriminated against during a recent, 2-hour flight from Pasco, Washington, to Denver.
According to Chaney, other passengers refused to sit next to them. She said they were subjected to “hateful comments” and “disapproving looks” as a result. Chaney also claims the airline’s failure to accommodate her size has caused her “pain and vulnerability.”
Airport Assistance For Plus-Size Travelers
Chaney also wants “additional airport assistance,” such as help with a wheelchair and priority boarding. In the petition, she also asks airlines to give their employees the training they need to handle “sensitive situations” and give “appropriate customer service.”
In addition to the airlines and FAA, Chaney has also given the TSA a piece of her mind in the petition about how they could better accommodate overweight passengers.
“The TSA should implement clear guidelines for screening plus-size travelers, train agents on how to respectfully interact with plus-size travelers, offer sensitivity training, and provide accessible screening equipment,” she wrote.
“They’ve shown that it’s possible to create a policy that’s both inclusive and profitable, and many plus-size people fly with them because of their policy. In Canada, the one-person, one-fare policy requires transportation services to provide free additional seats, and it’s been incredibly successful as well,” the influencer told Newsweek.
The plus-size traveler got a lot of negative comments after she wrote about the petition on her Twitter account.
“It’s never easy to be the target of hate and criticism, and reading some of the vitriol directed toward me has been emotionally draining,” she told Newsweek. “There have been moments when I’ve felt discouraged because of the negative comments,” Chaney added.