A plus-size influencer has gone viral after she revealed how she secures herself two seats on a flight without having to fork out extra cash.
UK-based TikToker Kirsty Leanne makes content giving travel advice to overweight travellers, and has since set up a travel service for plus-size women.
Leanne has now revealled how she manages to secure herself two seats on 'almost every flight' she boards.
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In a video shared to her 115,000 followers, Leanne explained: "One of the most daunting things about flying as a plus-size person is how much space you’re going to have.
"And with the airlines making it so difficult to book a second seat, this tip has definitely saved me so many hours of uncomfortable flights."
Leanne said that she asks the flight attendant: "Do you know if there’s any seats where there’s two seats next to each other free?"
In her video, in which she filmed herself asking, the stewardess can be heard saying: "Maybe after boarding I can look."
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Leanne admitted that the hack may not 'work every time', but it was always worth trying.
She said: "I know how hard it can be to advocate for yourself, but remember that you deserve to be comfortable too."
In a follow-up TikTok, she explained that it was often too difficult to book a second seat, as airlines 'don't make it easy' to find an extra space, as well as it being costly.
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"The best thing to do is Google the airline and extra seat and see if there’s a policy that comes up," Leanne advised.
"It’s always better to ask so that FAs [flight attendants] are aware you want more space. They also may tell you to wait until after takeoff to move and will save the space for you.
"I also ask at check-in as often, they can change your ticket to be in an empty row.
"A lot of the time, however, I’m told it’s a full flight even if it’s not. If you get this answer, don’t be disheartened – people don’t show up or miss their flight, leaving extra seats."
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Many viewers applauded Leanne for her advice.
One wrote: "I tried so hard with Delta on a recent flight. They made it near impossible."
"It’s not fair that people should have to pay more just to have a comfortable flight," another user wrote.
Leanne's travel tips have also earned her some criticism in the past, as trolls have insisted she should just buy a second seat.
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Responding to the criticism in a post, Leanne wrote: "I know that flying next to a plus size person is not comfortable, and while buying a second seat can be a great for some, it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ all solution!"
Ben Thompson