Experience of Plus-Size Travelers Often Gets Ignored, Advocates Are Changing That

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2021

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Traveling can be a slog across the board, especially around the holidays. But for plus-size travelers it can also be a dehumanizing experience — navigating stares and glares and accommodations not built for their bodies and comfort. According to the CDC, about 74 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight, yet this isn’t reflected in travel amenities. From airplane seat sizes to hotel towels and furniture to weight restrictions for excursions, the experience of plus-size travelers is often ignored. Travelers like Bay Area native Annette Richmond, who founded the online community Fat Girls Traveling, are creating opportunities for more inclusive travel experiences. We’ll talk to Richmond and others about both the harsh and hopeful realities of traveling as a plus-size person. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, a wellness resort in Baja, California, just an hour from San Diego.
0:07.6	Three, four, and seven-night summer packages include fitness classes, hiking, live music, mindfulness, and culinary adventures, featuring fruits and veggies straight off the vine.
0:18.9	Special rates and offers are available for summer stays and first-time guests.
0:23.8	Saver summer at Rancho LaPuerta, rancho LaPuerta.com.
0:28.3	Support for Forum comes from Broadway SF, presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story.
0:35.7	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of
0:40.0	Leo and Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is
0:46.9	accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice,
0:54.1	and devotion.
0:55.8	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orpheum Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
1:04.2	Tickets on sale now at Broadway, sF.com.
1:09.0	From KQED.
1:10.5	Music From KQED. From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
1:25.1	With Thanksgiving just around the corner and the pandemic at lower intensity than last year, many people are preparing to go visit beloved family and friends.
1:33.3	Travel can be anxiety producing, but for plus-size travelers, there are additional costs, complications, and considerations.
1:41.3	Seat-width variations on planes, belt extenders, two small hotel beds.
1:47.0	As companies try to squeeze ever more dollars
1:50.0	out of their planes and buildings,
1:52.0	many people with larger bodies find themselves
1:54.0	more uncomfortable and subject to demeaning conditions.
1:57.0	We'll share experiences and talk about what could change.
2:00.0	That's next after this news.
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