A woman has shown the reason that plane seats need to be bigger, saying every single time she gets on a commercial aircraft is a ‘struggle’ as the seats are ‘too small’
A model, who is well known for her curvy figure and large derrière, has taken to TikTok to share a common plane seat complaint she has. Gracie Bon, who has social media sent into a tizzy every time she speaks, discussing whether she’s had surgery to achieve her unique look, described getting into a plane seat as a “struggle” every time she flies somewhere new.
With many plus-size passengers frequently discussing how small plane seats are, taking the shame out of getting seatbelt extenders and the like, Gracie has shared her struggle in the hopes that planes will one day change their ways.
Gracie has lipoedema, which is an abnormal build-up of fat in the legs and sometimes arms, according to the NHS.
It can be painful and affect daily life, but there are things you can do that may help. Lipoedema can make your bottom, thighs, lower legs and sometimes your arms look out of proportion with the rest of the body.
You may also have pain, tenderness or heaviness in the affected limbs, and you may bruise easily. Lipoedema affects people differently.
Some people have mild symptoms that do not affect their lives.
Others can struggle with physical problems, blaming themselves for the changes in their body, and have mental health problems.
The main treatments are:
- Eating healthily, doing more exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight
- Wearing compression stockings or bandages to reduce pain and discomfort, and make it easier for you to walk
- Looking after your skin – for example, by regularly using moisturising cream (emollients) to stop your skin drying out
- Counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) if you’re finding it difficult to cope with your symptoms and you feel depressed
- A procedure to get rid of the fat (liposuction) if your symptoms are particularly severe – you may need more than one operation, and it may not be available on the NHS
But Gracie is proud of her body, and regularly shares videos of what she wears and what she’s up to, to show others that you can live a full, fun life with the condition.
She wrote over the top of the video: “Every flight [is] a new struggle because airplane seats are too small,” as she struggled to adjust herself into the seat comfortably, with her bum covering more than just one seat.
Previously, Gracie claimed she had to fly in a private jet because she was “banned” from some airlines.
“Aeroplanes should have bigger seats,” she said.
“It’s not my fault I have a butt this big,” she added. Gracie started a campaign in the hope of making a change and to help other curvy individuals, but after getting nowhere, she said her “only solution” is to get private flights after she claimed to have been banned from commercial flights.
Gracie explained: “Some airlines banned me so this is how I have to travel every time. I used to buy two or three seats so I started a campaign requesting bigger seats and they didn’t like it. Now flying private jet is my only solution.”