Carly, 32, is accustomed to receiving judgment from strangers because of her size. When she travels by plane, she often purchases two seats—not for extra luxury, but to have enough room to sit comfortably without worrying about inconveniencing another passenger. On a recent work trip, she spent an additional $176 on a second seat and settled into the window and middle seats, expecting a quiet flight. However, a couple arrived at her row and sat in the seats she had purchased.

“Excuse me,” Carly said politely. “I bought both of those seats.” The man laughed and questioned why she needed two seats, while his girlfriend insulted her and called her a “fat jerk.” Although the comments hurt, Carly chose not to argue. Instead, she told them they could keep the seat, deciding that she would not allow the confrontation to ruin her trip.

During the flight, the man complained to a flight attendant, saying Carly’s body and seating position were bothering him. The attendant checked the seating records and confirmed that Carly had paid for both seats. She then told the man that his assigned seat was 22C and asked him to return there. He eventually moved, while his girlfriend continued making insulting remarks. Carly reported the harassment to the crew, who documented the incident.

A few days later, the airline contacted Carly and informed her that the couple had been flagged in its system. She also received 10,000 bonus miles as compensation for the experience. More importantly, the incident left her feeling more confident about standing up for herself. Carly said the experience reminded her that she should not have to apologize for using the space she had legitimately purchased or for expecting basic respect from others.