If you've been anywhere near the internet lately you'll have likely seen some fierce debate over whether plus-size travelers should have to pay for two seats on airplanes or other modes of transport.
Like every debate, there are two main sides: On one hand, many people are claiming that plus-sized travelers needing two seats might be an indication that their weight has reached unhealthy levels, while on the other hand, others argue that a person's size shouldn't dictate whether they're able to live their lives as normal.
Regardless of your opinion, it's evident that the topic is certainly a touchy one.
One person who has a lot to say on the matter is Kirsty Leanne, a UK-based content creator with more than 115K followers on TikTok, who often shares tips and tricks for plus-size friendly travel.
Having had difficulty in the past traveling as a bigger woman, Leanne launched her own travel service for plus-size women, called Plus Size Travel Too. In a recent TikTok video - which has already received 2.6 million views - she explains to her followers how she gets an empty seat next to her on "almost every flight" she takes.
"One of the most daunting things about flying as a plus-size person is how much space you're going to have," she began in a voice-over while showing clips of herself heading to different destinations. "And with the airlines making it so difficult to book a second seat, this tip has definitely saved me so many hours of uncomfortable flights."
Leanne then shared the one question they should always ask the flight attendant when boarding a plane, including footage of her asking: "Do you know if there's any seats where there's two seats next to each other free?"
In response, the flight attendant says: "Maybe after boarding I can look."
Leanne admitted that while her hack may not always work, it is "always worth asking." She said: "I know how hard it can be to advocate for yourself, but remember that you deserve to be comfortable too."
In a later TikTok, Leanne revealed that it's often "difficult" to book a second seat on a plane because the "airlines don't make it easy" to find an empty seat, as well as that fact that buying a second ticket can be pretty pricey. "The best thing to do is Google the airline and extra seat and see if there's a policy that comes up," she said.
In the caption of her TikTok video, Leanne advised her followers to board ASAP, saying "the sooner [they] board" the plane and ask for an extra seat, the better. "It's always better to ask so that [flight attendants] are aware you want more space. They also may tell you to wait until after takeoff to move and will save the space for you," Leanne wrote.
"I also ask at check-in as often, they can change your ticket to be in an empty row. A lot of the time, however, I'm told it's a full flight even if it's not. If you get this answer, don't be disheartened - people don't show up or miss their flight, leaving extra seats."
