An Australian woman who was sandwiched between two overweight passengers during a flight has released the airline’s response.
Sydney Watson, an Australian-American conservative political commentator, caused a storm after she shared a photo from her three-hour flight, complaining that she was “sandwiched between two obese people.”
Here’s what she tweeted that she was accused of fat-shaming after she detailed her three-hour flight “wedged between two obese people” on Twitter.
“I am currently – literally – WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight,” adding, “This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I’m stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours.”
Watson spent a recent flight from New York to Dallas tweeting about how two people were spilling over their seats into hers. That’s not fat-shaming. That’s called invading other people’s space.
Responding to the complaint, American Airlines said that they cater to people of all sizes and shapes. But Watson, who was not very happy with the response, said she will stand by everything she said and asked for reparations from the airlines.
On Friday night, she tweeted, “I’d like some reparations, please.”
American Airlines has decided to make things right. They sent an email to Watson after their first “sorry, not sorry” apology on social media didn’t exactly do the job.
On Monday, Watson shared the email she says she received from an airline representative. In the email, the rep apologized for her “diminished” comfort during the flight. She is then offered compensation for her horrible flight experience.
Part of the email read, “As a gesture of goodwill, I have issued you a $150 Trip Credit which will arrive via a separate email.”
Well, here’s the email I got from American Airlines. pic.twitter.com/bfa2jwoZYE
— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) October 17, 2022
“While American Airlines does not seem to have a policy about overweight passengers, the airline’s competitor Southwest Airlines does have a “Customer of Size and extra seat policy.” Under this controversial policy, the airline requires “customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s)” to purchase additional tickets so they do not block people from enjoying their flight on the airline,” AWM noted.
Watson tweeted out a follow-up that sounds like she’s not going to accept the $150 Trip Credit. Or at the very least she’s trolling those who called her a fat-shamer.
She has thoughts on how else to use $150. If it was up to her, she would rather give the refund to someone who needs a personal trainer or a gym membership.
I’d rather take the $150 American Airlines offered me as a refund and give it to someone who needs a PT or a gym membership.
— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) October 17, 2022
This is what happens when you falsely accuse someone of doing something they didn’t actually do. They lean into it and they get to take whatever kind of victory lap they want.
Some put their head down, and others point and yell at the pitcher as run around the bases. Watson is more of the point and yell type.
Source: AWM