Plus size travel influencer Jaelynn Chaney says she's working with a US SENATOR to try and get fat flyers free extra plane seats - after admitting slimmer passengers may foot the bill

A 25-year-old plus-sized influencer claims she is working with a US Senator to provide overweight passengers with free airplane seats to accommodate their size. 

Jaelynn Chaney, a travel and lifestyle creator, initially ignited controversy when she demanded the Federal Aviation Authority and airlines give overweight flyers as many free seats as they require to fly comfortably. 

She also insisted that airlines refund overweight passengers for any extra seats they're forced to purchase and admitted ticket prices would rise for slim passengers. 

In an effort to further her cause, Chaney released a TikTok video claiming that she has been 'meeting with the team of a prominent Senator in the United States'. 

She did not clarify which Senator she had allegedly met. 

In the clip, she says: 'Lately, I have been reaching out to stakeholders who can help us make progress and make change in the travel industry. 

'This has included meeting with the team of a prominent Senator in the United States.'

According to Chaney's Instagram page, she follows Senator Maria Cantwell along with Senator Patty Murray from Washington and Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois. 

DailyMail.com has approached Cantwell, Murray and Duckworth for comment. 

Chaney also claims she has been in contact with airline representatives about the issue. 

Apart from allegedly speaking with senators, she has released a petition for her cause and shared videos on her struggle. 

'As plus-size travelers, my partner and I have unfortunately experienced discrimination and discomfort while flying,' she wrote in her petition, which has been signed by around 38,354 and has a goal set at 50,000. 

She added: 'All plus-size passengers should be provided with an extra free seat, or even two or three seats depending on their size, to accommodate their needs and ensure their comfort during the flight.'

Focusing on reimbursements, Chaney added: 'Airlines should offer a refund for plus-size passengers who purchase additional seats independently. This should be a straightforward process that can be accessed online or through customer service.' 

'During a flight from Pasco to Denver, my fiancé was subjected to hateful comments, disapproving looks, and even refusal to sit next to them, amounting to discrimination. 

'Similarly, on another flight, I was forced to occupy only one seat with immovable armrests that caused me pain and bruises.' 

In a series of Instagram videos, Chaney has widely documented her struggles flying, from showing her and her boyfriend being tightly packed into seats to showing what some passengers have said to her, including asking her if she bought two seats. 

'They say it's not fair to the person who has to sit next me if I don't,' text overlaid on the video read: 'When I tell them I do, they say I'm selfish for taking a seat from another.' 

However, when Chaney is 'forced to occupy only one seat,' it can lead her to being in pain and cause chafing, as well as being subjected to 'poor treatment from fellow passengers'. 

'This mistreatment of plus-size passengers is unacceptable, and it highlights the urgent need for better policies that protect the dignity and rights of all passengers, regardless of size,' she wrote. 

'Unfortunately, plus-size passengers often experience discomfort and discrimination when flying. The lack of a uniform customer-of-size airline policy is unacceptable and must be addressed.' 

Chaney currently uses seatbelt extenders to make flying a more comfortable experience. She hasn't commented on why she doesn't fly business or first class - which offers much bigger seats - although those fares are far more expensive than regular coach seats.  

She also believes crew members should undergo training on 'how to accommodate plus-size travelers, including handling sensitive situations and providing appropriate customer service.'

In addition, she believes TSA should also be trained and 'implement clear guidelines for screening plus-size travelers, train agents on how to respectfully interact with plus-size travelers, offer sensitivity training, and provide accessible screening equipment.'  

Chaney has also suggested a wheelchair-accessible bathroom be added to all new airplanes. 

However, she also pointed out she did not know who would have to fund the cost of the changes she suggested but believes the changes are worth it. 

'It is difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of who will pay for the policies mentioned in the petition,' she told Fox News in a statement. 

But seems like costing issues are not as paramount as Southwest Airlines instituted a 'Customer of Size' policy this week, which allows overweight passengers whose body takes up more than one seat on the plane to get 'the needed number of seats' for free. 

The policy states that customers who 'encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s)' may purchase however many extra seats they need, which will then be refunded at check-in. 

Southwest's policy states that customers qualify for the free ticket if any part of their body extends past the seat's armrest. 'The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats,' it reads. 'If you’re unable to lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion of a seat next to you, you need a second seat.'

'Our policy does not focus on weight.'

The airline does not ask for customers' weight or body mass index (BMI), which determines if you are overweight or obese, according to medical guidelines.

The extra seat can be purchased before booking online and then refunded, or customers can go to the departures gate and ask about the free seat. If you book the seat online, you must see a customer service agent at the airport for refund documents.

But travelers have begun to criticize Southwest for their 'ridiculous' accommodations. 

While some body-positive customers have praised the policy for allowing those with obesity to travel more easily, critics say it's 'pandering' to very overweight people - and gives them an unfair advantage.

On social media, many have pointed out that free space is not available to customers who are very tall and need extra legroom, those traveling with medical equipment or are wheelchair users.

These groups often end up paying hundreds of dollars for additional space. 

In April, personal trainer Josh Nabbie filmed a response to one of Chaney's videos and criticized the idea of giving extra seats to obese passengers. 

He said: 'You did not think about this for more than 30 seconds,' he said in the video, which has more than 1.4 million views. The reality is, everybody has the ability to fly on a plane. Some people just have it worse.

'Let's say you have some disease and you need to carry medication or special medical equipment with you.

'You have to pay extra to get that s*** on the plane, or at the very least, spend a lot more time going through the TSA. That sucks, but you have to do it. 

'Say it's not even physical, it's a mental disorder, and you're just extremely prone to anxiety attacks or crowded spaces or something like that. If you want to fly, you have to figure out the accommodations for that.'

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that obesity is on the rise in the US. 

Rates are highest in West Virginia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, where 40 percent of adults are considered obese. This is defined as a BMI of at least 30. 

In 19 other states, 35 percent meet this criteria. No state had an obesity rate below 25 percent.