Ronald Young Jr.

And it felt like it was just important to tackle because flying sucks for everyone, yet the scapegoat always seems to be fat people. So I really wanted to unpack that.

This is Brigid McDonald. She's talking about a flight she took to South Carolina in the summer of 2023.

This is Brigid McDonald. She's talking about a flight she took to South Carolina in the summer of 2023.

This is Brigid McDonald. She's talking about a flight she took to South Carolina in the summer of 2023.

She flew Southwest, which was her go-to airline. Southwest has what's called an open seating policy, which allows folks to pick the seat they want when they get on the plane. Bridget had chosen a seat that she liked.

She flew Southwest, which was her go-to airline. Southwest has what's called an open seating policy, which allows folks to pick the seat they want when they get on the plane. Bridget had chosen a seat that she liked.

She flew Southwest, which was her go-to airline. Southwest has what's called an open seating policy, which allows folks to pick the seat they want when they get on the plane. Bridget had chosen a seat that she liked.

As the plane began to fill up, the flight attendants announced that people would need to move their bags from the middle seat. Bridget could no longer feign a search inside her purse.

As the plane began to fill up, the flight attendants announced that people would need to move their bags from the middle seat. Bridget could no longer feign a search inside her purse.

As the plane began to fill up, the flight attendants announced that people would need to move their bags from the middle seat. Bridget could no longer feign a search inside her purse.

It looked like Bridget had succeeded. No one else was boarding, and she had an empty middle seat between her and her neighbor on the aisle.

It looked like Bridget had succeeded. No one else was boarding, and she had an empty middle seat between her and her neighbor on the aisle.

It looked like Bridget had succeeded. No one else was boarding, and she had an empty middle seat between her and her neighbor on the aisle.

Bridget is describing one of the best feelings ever, and I am not exaggerating. One day I was headed out on vacation with friends who sat in a different row in between strangers, and somehow I got a seat in the empty row. My friend Travis looked at me and said, you just won the lottery. For me, it was even better than flying first class because I didn't have to pay more for the experience.

Bridget is describing one of the best feelings ever, and I am not exaggerating. One day I was headed out on vacation with friends who sat in a different row in between strangers, and somehow I got a seat in the empty row. My friend Travis looked at me and said, you just won the lottery. For me, it was even better than flying first class because I didn't have to pay more for the experience.

Bridget is describing one of the best feelings ever, and I am not exaggerating. One day I was headed out on vacation with friends who sat in a different row in between strangers, and somehow I got a seat in the empty row. My friend Travis looked at me and said, you just won the lottery. For me, it was even better than flying first class because I didn't have to pay more for the experience.

But also, as a fat person, having an empty seat next to you on a flight means more than just comfort. It means less anxiety and less physical stress on your body.

But also, as a fat person, having an empty seat next to you on a flight means more than just comfort. It means less anxiety and less physical stress on your body.

But also, as a fat person, having an empty seat next to you on a flight means more than just comfort. It means less anxiety and less physical stress on your body.

This experience of rigor mortising your muscles is very familiar for me. It's something I've done on many flights. Unlike Bridget, I prefer an aisle seat with a movable armrest because I'm not just fat, I have broad shoulders. So even if my stomach were smaller, I'd still be touching my neighbor.