Travel influencer Jaelynn Chaney is calling out Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) for what she describes as blatant discrimination after she says she was denied wheelchair assistance because of her size.
The 28-year-old, who has more than 140,000 TikTok followers, staged a protest at the airport, holding a sign that read “Wheelchair Access for All” and sharing a video explaining her experience.
Chaney, who identifies as a 6XL, says she faced a distressing ordeal while flying into SeaTac in May 2024. According to her, an airport staff member assigned to provide assistance allegedly refused to help after seeing who they were expected to assist.
“She saw me, made a face, and walked away,” Chaney recalled in the video. “All the other passengers received assistance, but I was left behind.”
Chaney, who can walk but regularly requests wheelchair support for long distances, says the airport incident forced her to walk one of the longest jet bridges she had ever encountered. By the time she reached the waiting wheelchair, she said her lips had turned white, her oxygen levels had dropped, and she nearly fainted.
“This was my first time flying without oxygen,” she explained. “That employee made assumptions about what I could physically handle and decided not to help. That’s not just bad service, that’s dangerous.”
In her caption, Chaney criticized SeaTac for what she says is a pattern of exclusion: “If SeaTac refuses to assist fat people, they should put their discrimination in writing. Instead, they lie, deny services, and leave disabled fat travelers stranded.”
She added: “This is unacceptable and I will not stay silent.”
Chaney has been a vocal advocate for better treatment of plus-size travelers, and this incident is just the latest example fueling her ongoing campaign. In 2023, she launched a petition urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require a “customer of size” policy across all airlines. Her proposals include free extra seating for larger passengers, accessible seating options, and better staff training.
The petition has gained more than 39,600 signatures so far, with supporters sharing their own frustrations in the comments. Many described the physical and emotional discomfort of air travel, from bruised knees to open fat-shaming.
One commenter wrote: “After being fat-shamed by a passenger sitting next to me, I no longer fly.” Another added: “I’m tall, and I still leave flights with bruises. Airlines keep shrinking space, but expect us to just deal with it.”
Chaney believes this kind of treatment reflects a bigger issue: “Plus-size passengers face pain, humiliation, and sometimes outright refusal of service. That’s not just uncomfortable, it’s discriminatory. We deserve better.”
