A passenger has claimed she was left “embarrassed” after being “singled out” by airline staff and prevented from boarding a flight due to her size.
Keirstyn Catron, 24, shared her experience on TikTok earlier this month, where the video has racked up more than 223,000 views.
She had been waiting at the gate when a staff member allegedly approached her in front of other passengers.
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Keirstyn claims she was then stopped from boarding entirely.
“She [the airline staff member] proceeded to ask me if I can fit into a seat in front of everyone,” she told What’s The Jam.
“She also said because of my size, I potentially would not be able to get on the plane.
“I never made it on the plane.
“I simply was just discriminated against and thrown off based off an assumption.”
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The Houston-based traveller said the experience left her feeling humiliated.
She said: “I feel very embarrassed and angry that I was treated this way because this has never happened to me before.
“The gate agent and the supervisor were very rude and unwilling to help me.
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The only positive interaction the passenger had came from another staff member elsewhere in the airport.
She said: “The only person who was kind to me was a guy who was at a ticket counter downstairs.”
The incident took place at LaGuardia Airport in New York on 10 November last year, but has gone viral online in March.
One user wrote: “What an awful situation you experienced. I am so sorry.
“For this to be your memory of New York, as special as it is.
“You deserved better than this.
“This is such a shame for an airline to choose to treat others this way.”
Another person commented: “Wow… I’m sorry you had to experience that queen.”
A third user said: “As an employee of a different airline, I literally couldn’t imagine singling someone out to say this…
“I’d be mortified, I’m so sorry you had to deal with this.”
One user added: “This is gonna be a wild class action lawsuit.”
And another person wrote: “Proud of you for speaking up online… I have seen at least 10+ of the same story, and I hope Southwest is listening to all of this.
“Keep speaking up, it is not okay to embarrass and disrespect people in front of a whole plane!!!!”
Despite the ordeal, Keirstyn shared a message of encouragement for others.
She added: “The main thing I want to say to my plus size women is you were made perfect.
“Don’t let hateful people keep you from doing the things you love to do.
“Always live boldly and unashamed, always be you.”
Jam Press has contacted Southwest Airlines for comment.
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