Jaelynn Chaney is speaking out after claiming she experienced discrimination during a recent trip through Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, alleging an airport worker refused to assist her with a wheelchair because of her size.

The 27-year-old influencer, who is based in Vancouver, shared an emotional video on TikTok describing what she called a humiliating encounter while traveling through the busy airport. According to Chaney, she had arranged wheelchair assistance ahead of her flight, but the employee assigned to help her allegedly walked away after seeing she was plus-sized.

In the widely circulated video clip, Chaney told followers the incident left her exhausted and struggling physically as she navigated what she described as an unusually long jet bridge without the support she had requested.

Although Chaney is able to walk short distances, she explained that she often uses wheelchair assistance while flying due to ongoing health challenges. She claimed she repeatedly asked the airport employee to allow her to sit in the wheelchair, but said her requests were ignored.

The influencer said the experience felt deeply personal and accused the worker of treating her differently because of her body size.

“Discrimination is real,” Chaney said in the video, adding that she wanted to speak publicly so others dealing with similar experiences would not feel alone.Her comments quickly drew reactions online, with many social media users expressing support and sympathy. Some followers encouraged her to continue advocating for plus-sized travelers, while others criticized the alleged treatment she described at the airport.

Chaney has become well known online for discussing accessibility and body inclusivity in travel. Over the past several years, she has built a sizable following by documenting the challenges plus-sized passengers often face while flying.

Last year, she gained national attention after launching a petition urging the Federal Aviation Administration to create stronger protections and accommodations for larger airline passengers. Among the proposals included in her campaign were calls for complimentary extra seating options for travelers who require additional space during flights.

Jaelynn Chaney sitting inside a plane describing that plane seats are getting smaller, Photo Credit: newsnercom/Instagram
In her latest TikTok, Chaney also revealed that this trip marked the first time she had flown without supplemental oxygen in years. She showed followers the seatbelt extenders she used onboard and opened up about previous medical complications connected to pulmonary hypertension.According to Chaney, her health struggles began after a 2019 hospitalization when doctors initially feared she may have suffered a stroke. She later learned she had pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition affecting the lungs and heart that eventually required oxygen therapy.

Despite the challenges, Chaney says she remains determined to encourage people of all body types and medical backgrounds to travel confidently.

She frequently addresses concerns from viewers who worry about flying while plus-sized or dealing with medical conditions, insisting that travel should be accessible to everyone.

The incident has reignited broader conversations online about airline accessibility, customer service and how airports accommodate passengers with differing mobility and health needs.