Gina Heslop
Gracie Bon, a 26-year-old Instagram influencer from Panama, is making headlines with her plea for airlines to create larger seats to accommodate curvier passengers.
Gracie, who has 4.5 million followers, recently shared a video of her struggles while flying, including a tight seatbelt and discomfort even in first class. Her video quickly went viral, gathering 1.3 million views and over 3,500 comments.
In the post, she declared, “Airplanes should have bigger seats. Today, I had a flight, and even in first class, I couldn’t fit. This is a petition for airlines so big girls like me can fly.”
Gracie’s request has sparked mixed reactions online. Some people criticized her, pointing out her history of body modification surgeries as a possible reason for her predicament. They suggested alternatives, such as buying two seats or using different modes of travel.
Others, however, supported her call for change, sharing similar experiences. One commenter wrote, “I agree. I also need a bigger seat and a seatbelt that fits more comfortably. Could they also make trays that work for larger busts?”
This debate about accommodating larger passengers isn’t new. In 2023, plus-size influencer Jaelynn Chaney brought attention to the issue when she asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise what she called “discriminatory” airline policies.
Jaelynn, a size 6XL, argued that these policies unfairly burden larger passengers, who often have to pay for extra seats. She stated it was unjust for bigger people to pay more than thinner passengers, even if addressing this might slightly increase ticket prices for others.
The issue gained further attention when a woman shared her experience on Reddit about buying an extra seat for comfort during a flight.
A mother then asked her to give up the seat for her toddler, sparking an online debate about individual rights, comfort, and fairness in air travel.
Gracie Bon, Jaelynn Chaney, and other advocates are amplifying the conversation, pushing the aviation industry to address the diverse needs of passengers.
The clash between personal comfort, financial considerations, and inclusivity remains a heated topic, prompting discussions about the future of air travel and how it can become more accommodating for everyone.
