A plus-size woman has been slammed for sharing tips on how to secure a free second seat on flights to avoid being crammed into one chair.

Kirsty Leanne, 30, from Shropshire, regularly shares travel advice for larger-bodied people and has built up a following of 129,000 people on TikTok (@kirstyleannetravels ).

While she is often trolled for her posts, a recent post has garnered heavy criticism – after Kirsty detailed how she tries to secure a second seat on airplanes to avoid being uncomfortably crammed into one.

As a frequent flyer, Kirsty says it is uncomfortable if she is seated next to another person – for both them and her.

But critics slammed her method for trying to avoid this, insisting she should instead “lose weight".

“I wish it was much easier to fly as a plus-size person and we didn’t have to do these things just to be comfortable,” Kirsty said.

“One of the most nerve-wracking things about flying as a plus size person is the lack of space in economy.

“Not only is it incredibly expensive but airlines make it so hard to book a second seat and so over the years, I’ve had to find ways to increase my chances of getting an empty seat next to me.”

The travel pro shared her top tips for ensuring a comfortable flight by securing a second seat to spread out in.

But after sharing the advice on Instagram, Kirsty was met with backlash – with some users instead criticising her weight.

One person commented: “Or, and hear me out, you could make a life-change and not weigh a 1/4 ton.”

Another critic said: “You say in your post ‘I wish we didn't have to do this.’

“Well, I have great news you don't HAVE to do that...you can take steps to become a healthier non-obese version of yourself and fly with the confidence that you'll be just fine in any seat.

“Being obese is not a life sentence.”

Someone else added: “These can't be serious posts.

“I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I spent my whole life trying to manipulate travel options to avoid eating healthier.

“I pay a lot of money to fly in upgraded seats.

“I do it the honest way.

“I suppose you want both meals for those seats too.”

One user commented: “I used to need 2 extenders and I didn’t like that so I lost 100+lbs and now need 0 extenders.

“Problem solved.”

“You should have to pay double because you are the size of two people simple as that it’s not about being mean it’s about being FAIR to everyone else and maybe make some life changes,” said another critic.

Someone else added: “I hope company’s don’t cater to this morbid obesity.

“If you are this big maybe you shouldn’t be traveling.

“You make everyone else uncomfortable.”

Other people suggested she lose weight or walk to her destinations instead.

But fans were quick to defend Kirsty.

One person said: “I honestly can’t believe the amount of people that are just plain mean.

“So sorry you have to read through them.”

“Actually, I think anyone of any size would like to know how to keep people from sitting next to them in a plane,” another user commented.

Someone else added: “You absolutely deserve the most comfy travel experience possible & these are smart tips.”

“Thank you for your post and tips! You're much appreciated!!!” said another fan.

Despite the trolling she often receives, Kirsty – who shares her advice on her blog, Plus Size Travel Too – isn’t letting the hate deter her and is passionate about making travel more accessible for plus-sized people.

Sharing the tips on how to secure a second seat on airplanes, she said: “Look for ‘neighbour-free’ and ‘customer of size’ policies.

These allow you to either get a free empty seat or pay a small fee to have the seat next to you blocked from seat allocation.

“Ask when you check in if there are any seats with a seat next to them and if it’s not a full flight, could they block the seat next to you.

“This should be free of charge!

“You can also ask at the gate, as they will be able to tell you if the seat next to you is free and reprint you a boarding pass with a new seat if needed.

“Usually, I ask at the gate before boarding starts.

“Check in at the latest possible moment online to see what seats are free (this is a very high risk, of course, but can have amazing results!)

“Choose seats in ‘undesirable’ places (back of the plane, near to the toilets, etc) in hopes that they don’t fill up.

“The most effective thing for me is asking when I board the plane if I can move once boarding is complete to two empty seats.

“To do this, it’s easier if you board as soon as you can as lots of people often ask the same thing.”

ENDS