Chaney, 28, who boasts over 140,000 followers on TikTok, posted a video of herself holding a sign that read “Wheelchair Access for All” as she protested what she called “blatant discrimination” by SeaTac Airport staff. The protest follows an incident she described from a May 2024 flight where she claims she was humiliated and neglected by airport personnel.
According to Chaney, who wears a 6XL and frequently advocates for plus-sized travelers, an airport employee refused to assist her off the plane with a wheelchair. She says the worker appeared to walk away upon realizing she would be assisting a larger passenger rather than someone of average size.
In the emotional video uploaded to her social media, Chaney accused the airport of violating the rights of disabled and plus-sized passengers. “SeaTac refuses to assist fat people,” she wrote in the caption. “If that’s their policy, they should come right out and say it. Instead, they deny services, leave people stranded, and pretend they’re not discriminating.”
Chaney, who says she typically requests a wheelchair for every flight despite being able to walk short distances, recalled being forced to walk up a lengthy jet bridge while her pleas for help were allegedly ignored. “My lips were white, my oxygen levels dropped, and I nearly fainted,” she stated, adding that this was her first time flying without supplemental oxygen.
The influencer says this incident highlights why airport staff need better sensitivity training, particularly when it comes to serving passengers of different body types. It’s one of the key demands in a petition she launched last year, which has since gathered over 39,000 signatures.
Her petition urges the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airlines to enact a “customer-of-size” policy that would require accommodations like extra free seating and roomier chairs for larger passengers. She argues that current conditions not only compromise comfort but also open the door to mistreatment, such as rude comments and unkind looks from fellow travelers.
“Being forced to squeeze into one seat causes pain and exposes people to discrimination from other passengers,” she wrote.
The petition has drawn broad support, with commenters sharing their own frustrations about the lack of space on airplanes — not just for plus-size individuals, but also for taller travelers who struggle with cramped seating and bruised knees.
One supporter remarked, “I’m tall and fat-shamed every time I fly. I stopped flying altogether because of how awful it’s become.” Another noted the challenge of buying two seats under one name, saying, “Airlines don’t even make that easy.”
As debate grows over air travel accessibility and fairness, SeaTac Airport has yet to issue an official response to Chaney’s protest and allegations.