A plus-size traveller has revealed a simple hack for getting a second seat on an airplane completely free of charge – and it works ‘almost every time’.
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, regularly shares travel tips for larger-bodied people and has built up a following of 110,000 people on TikTok.
As a frequent flyer, Kirsty – who is size 26 – says it is uncomfortable if she is seated next to another person – for both them and her.
While she says she ‘does what she can’ to ensure the person next to her is comfortable, Kirsty has revealed she has a clever trick for securing a second seat next to her to avoid being pressed up next to someone.
She shared her advice on TikTok, where the video racked up two million views and 72,000 likes.
Kirsty Leanne’s video hack about how to get an additional seat on a plane has gone viral on TikTok
In the clip, she said: ‘How as a plus size person I get an empty seat next to me on almost every flight I take.
‘One of the most daunting things about flying as a plus-size person is how much space you’re going to have.
‘With airlines making it so difficult to book a second seat, this tip has definitely saved me so many hours of uncomfortable flights.
‘All you need to do when you’re boarding is find a flight attendant and ask this question.’
Kirsty was then seen asking an attendant if there were any rows where two seats next to each other were available.
The attendant agreed to check after boarding was complete.
Kirsty, who shares her tips on her blog PlusSizeTravelToo, added: ‘This obviously doesn’t work every time and if it’s a full flight it’s a little more difficult, but it’s always worth asking.
‘I know how hard it can be to advocate for yourself but remember that you deserve to be comfortable too.’
Kirsty Leanne often shares tips on how plus sized travellers can get the best out of flying, which she does a lot
As a frequent flyer, Kirsty says it is uncomfortable if she is seated next to another person – for both them and her
Kirsty says a big problem of flying is the lack of space and says airlines make it tricky to book two seats
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, regularly shares travel tips for larger-bodied people and has built up a following of 85,900 people on TikTok
Kirsty has been using this method for months after realising how simply asking the question could lead to a more comfortable journey.
‘A while back I was on a flight that had a few empty rows and mine was full. I pulled a FA to the side and asked if it was possible to move and she said yes, which made so much difference,’ she says.
‘I started asking more and more and eventually I learnt the best time to ask is when you board.
‘The FAs can help you directly and if there are any seats left over, they’ll ensure you’re able to move into them (as lots of people like to move without asking – which I don’t recommend).’
She adds that many airlines make it hard to buy two seats together, leaving plus-size passengers with few options.
She say, ‘Airlines make it so difficult to buy a second seat under the same name and passport details, including when it comes to the cost.
‘Some airlines will not allow you to do it and if you contact their customer service line, they don’t know what to do either.
‘Other airlines do allow it, but they will give your seat away if it’s overbooked. Some airlines also don’t have seats that are ‘comfortable’ if purchased as a two, as their armrests don’t raise or they don’t raise fully.
‘I wish it was a simple solution to make everyone comfortable but unfortunately, I don’t think it ever will be.
‘This is a great way to get a little bit of extra space without taking a seat from anyone else.’
She adds that once the doors are closed, any empty seat will not make more money for the airline, so it makes sense to ask to use them.
She says, ‘I want everyone on a flight to be comfortable and this is a great way to ensure that.
‘If it doesn’t work, unfortunately I have to sit in my assigned seat but I do make sure I’m doing what I can to make people comfortable in that situation.
‘Ultimately, I wish airlines had better policies to better help passengers of all sizes be comfortable.’
It is far from the first time Kirsty has spoken about flying as a plus-size person.
Last year, she divided opinion after sharing a viral TikTok slamming Ryanair for the size of its seats, with some critics telling her it was ‘not the airline’s fault.’
Kirsty filmed the clip while flying with the budget carrier from London Stansted to Hamburg on April 21, revealing how she struggled to fit down the plane’s narrow aisle, couldn’t use the tray table due to lack of space, and could barely move in the tiny toilet cubicle.
Kirsty wanted to highlight issues she encountered to others. However others claimed Kirsty ‘only has herself to blame’ and should treat the moment as a ‘wake-up call’.
Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, shared a viral TikTok slamming Ryanair for the size of its seats and aisle has divided opinion – but was met with criticism by some, who told her it was ‘not the airline’s fault’
She criticised the airline as she said she struggled to fit down the plane’s narrow aisle, couldn’t use the tray table due to lack of space, and could barely move in the toilet cubicle
Meanwhile the TikTok user and plus size-blogger said using the tray table was a ‘big fat no’ due to lack of space
Recalling the problematic flight, Kirsty explained: ‘The first issue I faced was walking down the plane aisle.
‘I was one of the last people on the plane because I was running a little late so I felt the stares of people. All I could think was that they didn’t want me to sit next to them.’
‘I got to my seat and thankfully the one next to it was empty, giving me a little more room.’
Meanwhile she went on to reveal there was little space between the seats on the plane, saying: ‘In terms of legroom, there wasn’t much space but this is also because I had an under seat bag, it was definitely manageable though.’
The 29-year-old said she had concerns over sitting in the middle seat (left) as well as issues with using the tray table due to her size (right)
Read Related Also: “GRACIE’S CORNER” HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR BOTH NAACP AWARD AND NICKELODEON KIDS’ CHOICE AWARDAND
Kirsty also revealed another issue she faced was the bathroom on board the plane, which she called ‘one of the smallest she’d ever seen’
The plus-size blogger also revealed how she was unable to do work because she didn’t have space to use the tray table.
She said: ‘I was going to use the tray table to do some work on the way but when I couldn’t put it down, I quickly decided that it was not going to happen.’
Meanwhile she continued: ‘The bathroom was another issue I faced, because I was running late I didn’t get to use the bathroom before I boarded.
‘I thought I’d chance using the one on the flight but unfortunately, it’s probably one of the smallest bathrooms I’ve ever seen and I decided against trying to squeeze in.’
She added: ‘In terms of the seats, I was comfortable but I think it’s because the seat next to me was empty and I had that little bit of extra space.
‘I needed to use a seatbelt extender but this is something I am used to and the flight attendant handed it me discreetly as I asked when I boarded.’
After her clip went viral on TikTok, Kirsty was flooded with comments from other users, with some saying it ‘wasn’t RyanAir’s fault’ she was uncomfortable when flying
In the now-viral clip, which she shared to her TikTok account, Kirsty can be seen showing her computer screen where she has been allocated a middle aisle seat.
Her post showed how little space she had on the flight as she tried to squeeze into the plane, before she also shared a photo of the seatbelt extender.
Meanwhile she shared a short clip as she attempted to use the tray table, which she said was a ‘big fat no’, and revealed she had little space to move in the airplane’s bathroom cubicle.
She captioned the clip, which has racked up more than one million views, ‘Flying Ryanair with no upgrades’.
However despite her criticism of the flight, some people on the app had little sympathy for her and argued that airplanes shouldn’t have to accommodate her.
The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person
However other users were quick to defend the plus size blogger, with some saying she ‘wasn’t hurting anyone’
One user said: ‘Acting like it’s their fault.’
‘This should be a massive wake up call,’ another person argued.
One person wrote: ‘There’s only one person to blame.’
Someone else said: ‘Honey it’s not the airlines fault.’
‘There’s only one person to blame,’ added another user.
However others were quick to defend the plus-size blogger, with one person writing: ‘What is everyone’s problem?
‘She’s not hurting anyone, just showing her struggle with travel and how people in the same position can make it work!’
However despite her criticism of the flight, some people on the app had little sympathy for her and argued that airplanes shouldn’t have to accommodate her
Pictured: Kirsty during a recent visit to Disneyworld. The traveller loves to update her fans on her journeys with snaps
Kirsty during a recent trip to Gent, in Belgium, where she toured vintage shops and chocolate maker shops
The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, Plus Size Travel Too , where she talks about travelling as a plus size person and says the experience is less than comfortable for larger people
Plus-size travel blogger once again split opinion after sharing on TikTok the ’emotional damage’ of trying to fit into a plane seat
Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, first hit the headlines a few months ago when sharing another viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat.
The video left TikTok users divided, with some critics telling her to buy two tickets or stop flying.
Kirsty, who runs a website about travelling as a plus size person called Plus Size Travel Too, is a passionate traveller, but says the experience is less comfortable for larger people.
‘I travel regularly and flying is definitely one of the most stressful parts of travelling while fat,’ she said.
Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne, 29, from Shropshire, first hit the headlines a few months ago when sharing another viral TikTok of herself struggling to fit into a plane seat
Choosing a comfortable seat, asking for a seatbelt extender, tray tables not going down, small bathrooms are all things to worry about when larger people travel and so Kirsty ‘wanted to show people that they’re not alone.’
‘I wanted to make a light-hearted video – using a very popular TikTok trend – to illustrate things that I know a lot of people face when they travel.’
She went on to explain that choosing a comfortable seat, asking for a seatbelt extender, tray tables not going down, and small bathrooms are all things to worry about when larger people travel and so she ‘wanted to show people that they’re not alone.’
In the TikTok, Kirsty can be seen boarding a plane before sitting down and showing the seatbelt tight against her stomach, while the tray table isn’t able to come fully down – captioning the post ’emotional damage.’
The clip was viewed more than one million times and racked up 42,000 likes, but divided users.
Some people insisted Kirsty deserves to fly comfortably, while others felt the airlines shouldn’t have to change to accommodate plus size people.
‘Why are the comments so rude?’ another user said, ‘She never said she was blaming the airline she is just showing you her experience travelling.
‘Do you girl! Love the video.’
Someone else added: ‘People saying that it’s so easy to just lose weight. Some people have diseases and metabolism issues and it would be difficult for them to do so though.’
‘People acting like being plus size is a choice/something to be ashamed of?,’ one person added.
It comes after the blogger first hit the headlines a few months ago when she was allegedly told to buy two seats for herself due to her body size.
The blogger also shares her adventures on her travel blog, where she talks about travelling as a plus size person and says the experience is less than comfortable for larger people.
