Airplanes are notoriously cramped, tight spaces that aren’t comfortable for just about anyone, especially individuals who are tall or overweight — or both. Now, one plus-sized model is publicly calling out Delta as the body positivity movement is in full swing. Remi Bader was unhappy that her seat belt didn’t fit around her waist without an extender and made a video to express her displeasure.
“Delta, figure it out!” wrote Bader in the subtitle of the clip, which she shared with her 2.1 million followers. “And no I shouldn’t need to ask for an extender. It should just be easy! @delta,” she wrote. The video has racked up more than 1 million views.
Commenters were mostly supportive and agreed with Bader’s assessment. “Eeek. Everyone praises delta too. Being a size 14 should not warrant an extension,” one person wrote.
Some of Bader’s followers tried to explain why the seat belts didn’t fit everyone, insisting that it wasn’t fat phobia, but a matter of practicality. “When the seatbelts get damaged, they trim them instead of replacing the whole thing,” one commenter wrote. “This is why the length is so inconsistent.”
It makes sense that Bader was complaining about Delta planes in particular. Travel review site The Points Guy said Delta’s seatbelts range in size from 40 to 45 inches. Meanwhile, American Airlines belts fall in the 45 to 47 inch range, while JetBlue seatbelts are 45 inches.
The plus-sized model would have the worst time on a Southwest flight, however. Their seatbelts are the shortest at just 39 inches long.
This isn’t the first time the issue has come up for Bader. In October, she posted a video on the issue of seatbelt length on planes, saying she felt unsafe when her belt wouldn’t close during takeoff on yet another Delta flight. When she asked the flight attendant about it, the model was told she could have asked for a seatbelt extender. But Bader claimed to not know what that was.
She went on to say how she felt “embarrassed” having to ask for one and said, “clearly there is something wrong with me.” The model also shared some follower comments of people who commiserate with her on feeling shamed for having to ask for an extender.
“Just make longer seatbelts, why is this an issue?” she said in the TikTok video.
Her comments come not long after a plus-sized travel blogger posted similar complaints in her own TikTok compilation. Kirsty Leanne recorded herself struggling to fit into an airline seat, buckle her seatbelt, and put down her tray table. Commenters were a lot more critical of Leanne, with many admonishing her to purchase two seats or not fly at all.
“Really not fair to others to take up 1 and a half seats,” one commenter wrote. “Buy 2 seats or don’t fly.”
“Shouldn’t… you get smaller instead of the planes catering to you?” another person said.
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