A plus-sized woman says she was reduced to tears by "incredibly rude" airline staff as she boarded her flight.
Holly Richards is a women's size 28-30 so had bought two seats for her flight to Melbourne's Avalon Airport on Saturday to ensure she and other passengers would be comfortable.
She says she had been left "filled with shame" after there was a mix-up with her carry-on luggage while boarding the Jetstar flight.
Describing the ordeal on Instagram, the Australian woman said she wanted to get two seats to avoid "any uncomfortable looks or comments from the person sitting next to me about encroaching on their space."
She had also purchased an extra 7kg of carry-on luggage to avoid charges from the budget airline.
She continued in the post: "I had my handbag, a small suitcase and also my CPAP machine for my sleep apnea which I knew from previous experience is considered a medical device and therefore is not included in carry-on baggage allowance."
However, two "incredibly rude" members of staff weighed her bags and told her she was 3kg over and was only allowed two items.
She explained to them she had purchased an extra seat and so believed that less than 2kg over the limit would be okay, "seeing as technically that extra seat comes with another 7kg of carry-on luggage allowance".
She said the staff member did not agree with this and she was reduced to tears.
“There are clearly no policies for catering to the needs of plus-size passengers,” she told news.com.au.
After clearing the issue at the check-in desk, Holly claims that as she was boarding she was then reprimanded and told she had “confused the system” by checking in online and to “not book an extra seat again”.
Holly believes the ordeal could have been avoided if there was an indication on a passenger’s boarding pass that they have purchased an extra seat.
She continued on Instagram: "I was forced to wait in line and take my seat while very obviously crying.
"It's unbelievably terrifying being a larger person in this world at the absolute best of times.
"I actively avoid being out in public in situations where my body is going to be an inconvenience or the cause for any comment at all."
In her post, she also explained how her weight affects her everyday life and the lengths she has to go to ensure her weight is not an issue.
She asks restaurants if they have larger chairs, carries a seatbelt extender and avoids public transport in case she encroaches on someone's space.
She added: "There will of course be many, many who will say 'just lose weight'. I don't owe anyone an explanation or apology for my body."
Ms Richards told news.com.au she hopes to decrease the shame plus-size people often feel and encourage them to “live their lives out in the open” and do all the activities they want to.
Jetstar has since refunded Ms Richards' flights.
