Meg Goldberger, 24, blasted airlines for not making accommodations for plus-size passengers and requested that, if seats were available, she be offered the choice to upgrade to business or first class.
Airlines have come under fire for their small seats and toilets from a plus-size empowerment coach.
Meg Goldberger, 24, criticized airlines for failing to create accommodations for plus-size customers and demanded that, if available seats, she is given the option of upgrading to business or first class.
The 280-pound native of Cardiff continued by discussing her experiences with fatphobia from both other passengers and airline staff while travelling.
In an interview with The Sun, Goldberger stated, “I want airlines to offer us business or first class upgrades for free if there are empty seats.
“I won’t pay for it but it means we get access to bigger toilets and bigger seats,” she continued, adding the upgrade was necessary because: “It makes flying more comfortable for me.”
“I weigh the same as Olympic bodybuilders or weight lifters. They get free upgrades so should I. It’s only fair we get bigger seats and safe spaces,” she argued.
In other parts of the conversation, Goldberger emphasized the emotional pain she experiences when other passengers make fun of her in addition to the physical discomfort she experiences on airplanes.
She claims that while she was strolling down the cabin aisle on a recent flight to Dubai, passengers referred to her as a “fat cow” and told her that she belonged in the cargo hold.
“We suffer long-term trauma or PTSD from in-flight fat shaming,” she said.
In contrast, Goldberger claimed that she experienced discrimination from a variety of sources.
She described how, on a recent journey, she also had to deal with the airline staff’s fat-phobia, which required her to continually request a seatbelt extender. She claims that when they eventually brought her one, they didn’t provide her any instructions and she had to figure out how to use it on her own.
“I was terrified to ask for one and couldn’t find any information about seat size, tray table reach, or plus size assistance and support on the airline’s website,” the embodiment coach explained.
“Plus size people should not have to endure bullying and fat shaming on planes,” she added.
