A plus-sized woman has gone viral after claiming she sometimes can’t go to the bathroom on planes because the aisles are too narrow.
Traveling by airplane can be a hassle for anyone, but for plus-sized passengers, the experience can be especially challenging.
A recent account from a plus-sized woman highlights a problem that many might not have considered: sometimes she simply can’t go to the bathroom on planes because the aisles are too narrow.
People have been left divided by the passenger’s account.
One pens: “Unfortunately, planes are being redesigned to be more compact. It’s a problem, not just for those who are plus-size but those of certain height. Look for alternative ways to travel or buy premium.”
A second agrees: “Well, instead of flying you’ll have to drive? The airline is a want not a necessity. They don’t need to change anything”
“Ask your ticket agent to purchase a plus size seats that are next door to the plane’s restrooms,” suggests a third.
However, other commenters have agreed with the TikToker.
One comments: “I remember the days flying when you could pass the hostess trolley without having to climb onto someone else’s lap to get out the way. They should have fewer seats with more room. We are not sardines.”
A second adds: “I mean, being of average weight I do feel like most low-cost busses or planes have reduced sitting capacity to some absurd size. I do fit in, but it feels like back pain and minimal leg space.”
For many people, air travel is synonymous with cramped spaces, limited legroom, and uncomfortable seats.
However, for plus-sized individuals, these discomforts can be much more pronounced, impacting not just their comfort but also their ability to perform basic necessities like using the restroom.
The design of commercial aircraft is heavily influenced by the airline industry’s desire to maximize space efficiency and profitability.
Airplane aisles are often designed to be narrow to allow for more seating, which can increase the number of passengers an airline can accommodate per flight.
However, this design choice often fails to take into consideration the needs of plus-sized passengers.
Airplane lavatories are another area where space constraints are noticeable.
Typically small, cramped, and lacking in accessibility features, these restrooms pose a significant challenge for larger passengers.
The combination of narrow aisles and tiny lavatories can make a simple trip to the bathroom an ordeal, one that many plus-sized passengers dread.
TikToker Bo Berry candidly spoke to her followers about the challenges she encounters when flying, highlighting what she describes as the ‘number one roadblock’ for her as a plus-sized traveler.
She posted a video of herself navigating the aisle of a United Airlines plane, demonstrating how she has to turn sideways to squeeze past the rows of seats.
On TikTok, Bo shared her experiences with her followers, detailing the obstacles she faces when traveling by air.
The video was captioned: “Flying while fat – Lavatory edition.”
Beginning her explanation, the TikToker said: “So, this is an awkward topic but we’re going to go ahead and get awkward and talk about it.”
She then admitted: “I don’t fit in a standard airplane lavatory at all.”
“Forget the difficulty of having to get two seats to fly – accessibility to a bathroom is the number one roadblock for me when it comes to long-distance travel,” she continued.
Bo further explained that while ‘wide-body aircrafts’ are equipped with wheelchair-accessible toilets, which are also spacious enough for larger individuals, ‘narrow-body’ planes do not have the same requirements.
“If I’m flying on a narrow-body plane, I can’t use the bathroom and my maximum flight time is about six hours,” the TikToker elaborated.
She added: “I’ve never had a problem with that before except once I came super close to having an accident on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago.
“There was some bad weather and my plane was rerouted – it tacked on an extra two hours to the flight and things got a little sketchy.”
Since being posted, the video has garnered millions of views, with many viewers reacting to Bo’s situation.
One TikTok user commented: “I have had this issue as well. I got sick and tired of the embarrassment and self-hatred.”
Another said: “As a wheelchair user who works at an advocacy organization, improving airplane accessibility for all people is one of my top priorities.”
“Thank you so much for sharing!” wrote a third user, “I often get so much anxiety about getting past people in the aisle seats because I’m so wide no matter which way I turn.”
Another comment read: “WOW I never thought about wheelchair accessibility on a domestic/small flight. That is so sad.”
A final TikTok user added: “I hadn’t even thought about wheelchairs. They really need to fix this.”
@boberryvip Replying to @srtagringita Flying while fat – Lavatory edition. 🙂 #plussizeedition #flyingwhilefat #unitedairlines #plussizetravel #thicktoker #plussizeconfidence #fat #plussizetiktok #fattravel #plussizetraveltok #airplanebathroom ♬ original sound – BoBerryVIP
