Last week an American Airlines passenger tweeted she would like to be compensated for riding on a flight “wedged” between two “obese” passengers.
Conservative political commentator Sydney Watson tweeted about her discomfort on her three-hour-long flight. Stating she had to struggle to get some chair space within her seat.
The controversy:
Airlines’ own policies regarding overweight passengers.’’I’d like some reparations pls,’ she tweeted, after several media outlets picked up the story.
On the other hand American Airlines does not have a policy pertaining to overweight passengers. As they responded to Watson’s tweet with ‘Our passengers come in all different shapes and sizes. We’re sorry you were uncomfortable on your flight.’
Of course Watson did not approve of the airline’s response and wrote, ‘This is really their official reply to me being sandwiched between two obese humans.’
American’s policy:
According to the policy of one of American Airlines competitors, Southwest Airlines does have a ‘Customer of Size and extra seat policy’ states ‘customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s)’ are required to purchase additional seats.’
This past Saturday she admitted she was ‘totally fine with being in the news for fat shaming’ and added the public response to her tweets has been ‘unhinged.’
I've been getting unhinged emails, messages and comments all evening and couldn't work out why.
Now, I realize it's because I took issue with people putting their fat rolls on my body without my consent. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/iXbLXd2qPE
— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) October 15, 2022
‘I’ve been getting unhinged emails, messages, and comments all evening and couldn’t work out why,’ she tweeted. Now, I realize it’s because I took issue with people putting their fat rolls on my body without my consent.’
Social media support and outrage:
View this post on Instagram
She shared some of her correspondence with people that were angry with her sentiments on her flight experience with the overweight passengers. As she tweeted while on her flight that she was ‘literally – WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight. This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I’m stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours,’ she wrote, along with posting two images of what looked like the overweight passengers’ bodies overlapping her seat.
‘Holy sh*t. So, I’m expected to have only a quarter of a seat when I fly?’
‘I just experienced getting sweat on, touched without my consent, smacked in the face and subjected to hours of no personal space.’
Who’s at fault?
‘And your response is essentially ‘too bad’? Is that what I’m getting here?’ she wrote, as she tagged American Airlines.
‘I don’t care if this is mean. My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes. I can’t even put the armrests down on either side because there’s no f***ing room.’
‘I’m sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not.’
‘If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE,’ she wrote. ‘Buy two seats or don’t fly.’
What’s your opinion?
Do you feel Sydney Watson was correct in feeling the way she did about the overweight passengers crowding her space? How would you have handled this situation?