Qatar Airways Stopped Woman From Boarding Flight Because She Was Too Fat

A staff member of Qatar Airways reportedly stopped a woman from boarding a flight claiming that she was “too fat.”

Juliana Nehme, 38, an influencer and plus-size model from Brazil, said that a staff member of the Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways stopped her from boarding a flight because she was fat and asked her to purchase a more expensive first-class seat, New York Post reported.

Juliana added that Qatar Airways did not offer to refund her the USD$1000 (A$1480) that she had already paid for her ticket and told her to buy a first-class ticket for USD$3000 (A$4443) so she could fit into the seat.

Juliana's video about the alleged incident has since gone viral on social media sites.

In the video that she shared online, she explained that she, her mother, sister, and nephew were on holiday in Lebanon and were on their way home to Brazil, via, Doha, when a staff of Qatar Airways told her that she would have to purchase a more expensive first-class seat if she wanted to board the flight, Yahoo News reported.

Juliana explained that she had no issues boarding an Air France flight into Lebanon where she and her family were on holiday.

However, when contacted, the airline said one of Juliana’s family members failed to produce the required Covid-19 PRC test documentation to board the flight.

“The passenger in question at Beirut Airport was initially extremely rude and aggressive to check-in staff when one of her traveling party did not produce required PCR documentation for entry to Brazil,” a Qatar Airways spokesperson said.

“As a result, airport security was requested to intervene as staff and passengers were extremely concerned with her behavior,” they said.

Qatar Airways outlined their policy and stated that any passenger “who impedes upon the space of a fellow traveler and cannot secure their seatbelt or lower their armrests may be required to purchase an additional seat both as a safety precaution and for the comfort and safety of all passengers.”

The airline said that this was in line with industry practice and most other airlines.

“I am desperate, they don’t want to board me, because I’m fat. I need to buy a business ticket, which is $2,029, I don’t have this money. I don’t know what to do, there is only 30 minutes until the airplane takes off. They are saying I have no right to board the airplane because I’m fat. I don’t know what to do,” she said in the video.

Juliana said she spent almost two hours begging the airline to board the flight and travel back home. However, she ended up staying in Beirut Airport, Lebanon with her mother. Meanwhile, her sister and nephew caught the Qatar Airlines flight to Doha, Qatar.