A plus-size TikTok content creator, who calls herself "big curvy Olivia" shared a video on TikTok on May 18, 2023, calling out United Airlines for designing narrow aisles. Olivia referred to the narrow aisles as "discrimination" and said that since she weighs over 50 stone (700 pounds), she couldn't fit down the aisle. She faced a lot of backlash when people saw the video.

Although the TikToker seems to have deleted her account after all the backlash, the news along with the video was shared on Twitter by the Daily Loud.

While a few people agreed with the TikToker when she said that airlines should design plane aisles, others took it as an opportunity to fat-shame her. Some people also people who had some suggestions for her. A user named @sophieaquario even stated that while they supported body positivity, what Olivia said was "just entitlement."

Internet criticizes "Big Curvy Olivia" over airplane aisle video

Apart from the backlash and the fat-shaming, several netizens left a lot of disrespectful and negative remarks for Olivia and her request. Others also criticized her and called her entitled. There were some others who also gave her suggestions on what she could have done, telling her what they did when they were on flights.

While some agreed with Big Curvy Olivia's note on the design of the plane aisles, some tried to joke and claim that airlines should be accommodating to tall people. A few others, who also have curvy physiques, shared that they also face similar problems with narrow airline passages

Others provided reasonable explanations to narrow aisle

Before she deleted the video and deactivated her TikTok account, Big Curvy Olivia wrote:

Honestly it's discrimination that they can't build wider aisles in airplanes in 2023."

Olivia posted the video as she demonstrated the challenge she faced while boarding a United Airlines plane. She had to walk past the premium cabin which features lie-in beds and suite-like facilities for the passengers' privacy. Big Curvy Olivia could not get past the privacy dividers because her hips got stuck.

She shared how she had to turn sideways in between the dividers and twist her body to make her way through the narrow passage. Big Curvy Olivia also had to raise her arms up and force herself to get to the galley before continuing to find her seat.

However, there were some people who argued that airlines made narrow aisles to be able to fit more seats in one flight and accommodate more passengers at once. They said that if airlines made bigger passages, they wouldn't be able to fly so many people at the same time and it would have required more planes, thus more expenses. They argued that narrow aisles are economic.

Since Big Curvy Olivia spoke about discrimination based on size, some also said that it wasn't possible to account for every shape or size. They said that it would be near impossible to do so while trying to keep a low-expense budget and provide seats for more people.

They said that while they didn't mean to be rude or mean, Olivia's size was pretty uncommon. They said that it was practically absurd to expect airlines to design seats and aisles with her exact size in mind.

They stated that if airlines were to make things fair, passengers would have had to pay for their tickets based on how much they weigh. Netizens said that it would be similar to how shipping charges for packages were determined by their weights.

They said that this system would make it easier for families with children to travel as a child weighing less than 40 lbs shouldn't have to pay the same amount as someone weighing 200 lbs.

Plus-size influencer made a petition against airlines discrimination

In another instance from April 2023, a social media influencer Jae'lynn Chaney, a plus-size influencer, demanded that the airlines provide better accommodation for larger passengers.

Chaney made an Instagram post about it as well. The influencer stated that it was unfair that plus-size travelers are compelled to pay for an extra seat and are humiliated for their size while flying.

Jae'lynn claimed that she and her fiancé received disapproving looks and hateful comments. She stated that some people even refused to sit next to them on their flight to Denver. Her petition was signed by more than 9,000 people.

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