Airline has blunt response to woman who was 'sandwiched' between passengers on flight

American Airlines has sparked controversy with its response to a customer who was 'wedged between two obese people' on her flight.

Granted, flights aren't enjoyable experiences at the best of times. If you don't have a small child pummelling the back of your seat, there's a baby who's decided to practice yodelling as soon as the plane takes off or someone who thought it was a really smart idea to crack open a tuna sandwich mid-flight and let the fishy aromas infiltrate every fibre of every surface.

The lack of personal space is certainly far from ideal too and it's always awkward if your head lolls onto your neighbours as you try and catch 40 winks.

However, one traveller has taken to social media to complain about being 'wedged between two obese people,' calling the experience, 'unacceptable' and 'not okay'.

American Airlines has since responded to the flyer but its acknowledgement has received an extremely mixed response.

The traveller - Dr Sydney Watson - doesn't just 'sometimes complain on TV' but also complains on Twitter.

Taking to the platform, Dr Watson wrote: "I am currently - literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight.

"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."

@SydneyLWatson/ Twitter

Dr Watson continued her rant by declaring she didn't 'care' if her statement 'is mean'.

"My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes. I can't even put the arm rests down on either side because there's no fking room," she continued. "I'm sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not."

She resolved: "If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE. Buy two seats or don't fly."

@SydneyLWatson/ TWITTER

After tagging American Airlines in her re-tweet, telling the company they 'need to talk', the airline has since responded to the doctor.

It wrote: "Our passengers come in all different shapes and sizes. We're sorry you were uncomfortable on your flight."

The airline added it offers 'a variety of seat sizes and styles, so [its] customers can select what works best for them' - the variety being the different classes of seat onboard the aircraft.

@americanair/ Twitter

However, American Airlines has received extremely mixed responses for its reply to Dr Watson.

Some users agreed with Dr Watson's outrage at the airline's reply. "Seriously? Your passengers shouldn’t be taking up multiple seat areas. I have had this happen multiple times on American and Sydney is right this is NOT acceptable!!!" one said.

Another accused the airline itself of 'hating fat people' for not being able to 'accommodate them with proper seating'.

A third commented: "@americanair is supportive of two of their passengers violating the personal space of another passenger. @americanair forces passenger to endure unwanted touching by other passengers for an entire flight."

@SydneyLWatson/ Twitter

Other users defended the airline and criticised Dr Watson for her harsh comments.

One said: "I feel sorry for those having to sit next to Sydney!"

LADbible has contacted American Airlines for comment.