Jaelynn Chaney, a travel influencer, is calling out Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) for what she views as obvious discrimination after she was reportedly denied wheelchair help because of her size.
The 28-year-old, who has over 140,000 TikTok followers, protested at the airport with a placard that read “Wheelchair Access for All” and posted a video about her experience.
Chaney, who is a 6XL, said she had a disturbing experience when traveling into SeaTac in May 2024. According to her, an airport employee designated to give aid reportedly refused to help once they spotted who they were supposed to help.
“She saw me, made a face, and walked away,” Chaney explained in the video. “She left me behind, while all the other passengers received assistance.”
Chaney, who can walk but frequently requires wheelchair assistance for long distances, said the airport event required her to cross one of the longest jet bridges she’s ever seen. By the time she arrived at the waiting wheelchair, she said her lips had turned white, her oxygen levels had fallen, and she had nearly collapsed.
“This was my first time flying without oxygen,” she said. “That employee made assumptions about my physical capabilities and opted not to assist. That isn’t simply terrible service; it’s hazardous.”
@goodmorningbritain Plus-sized travel campaigner Jae’lynn Chaney is calling on airlines to allow bigger passengers an extra seat, free of charge. #Planeseats #Travel #plusize ♬ original sound – GoodMorningBritain
In her caption, Chaney denounced SeaTac for what she called a history of exclusion: “If SeaTac refuses to assist fat people, they should put their discrimination in writing.” Instead, they mislead, refuse assistance, and abandon crippled, obese passengers.
She went further: “This is unacceptable, and I will not stay silent.”
Chaney has been an outspoken champion for improved treatment of plus-size passengers, and this event is only the latest example to fuel her ongoing fight. In 2023, she began a petition pushing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require a “customer of size” policy for all airlines. Her recommendations include free additional seats for bigger travelers, more accessible seating alternatives, and more staff training.
So far, the petition has received more than 39,600 signatures, with supporters voicing their own grievances in the comments section. Many people complained about the physical and emotional pain of flight travel, ranging from bruised knees to outright fat-shaming.
One user said, “After being fat-shamed by a passenger sitting next to me, I no longer fly.” Another said, “I’m tall, and I still leave planes with bruises. Airlines are consistently reducing capacity, yet they anticipate that we will adapt to these changes.
Chaney feels that this type of harassment is part of a larger problem: “Plus-size passengers face pain, humiliation, and sometimes outright refusal of service.” That isn’t simply unpleasant; it’s discriminating. “We deserved better.”