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Josephine Baker in Paris, circa 1926 (Photo by Gaston Paris/Roger Viollet via Getty Images)Paris (CNN) — Writer James Baldwin was 24 when he arrived in Paris in 1948, with only $40 in his pocket. Entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker was just 19 when she left the United States and began dazzling Parisian crowds in 1925 draped in just a pink flamingo feather.Despite their humble beginnings, these iconic figures escaped the permeating and oppressive racism of America and blossomed in the City of Light to become trailblazers of literary and artistic expression lasting for decades to come. With roots stretching to the Harlem Renaissance and well beyond, black American artists arriving in Paris during this period experienced a freedom to pursue and express themselves through literature, music, stage performance and art. The ingenuity and creative brilliance of black Americans was always present, but in the United States, black artists and entertainers were obstructed psychologically and physically. Regardless of their fame and success African Americans were still restricted to back door entryways and segregated audiences and treated as second-class citizens. It was in Paris, a European cultural capital, where they were embraced for their talent and intellectual prowess and celebrated for their genius. While Paris certainly was not free of racism, the city was still a place of freedom from the repressive Jim Crow laws black Americans faced in the US. Author and activist James Baldwin gives a talk in Paris in 1963.AP From cafes to smoky jazz clubs, these artistic giants sought refuge in a city whose light promised not to dim theirs. The result? A groundbreaking cultural exchange that has enriched French culture and allowed African Americans to leave a lasting imprint on the country.Their paths can be retraced in cafes and hangouts made famous by African American scholars, artists and musicians — places that are still thriving today. Visitors can explore this history with a guided group tour or through self-guided stops at spots significant to the African American experience in Paris, or some combination of the two.Ricki Stevenson’s Black Paris Tours delve into the African diaspora’s influence and heritage. The walking tours explore neighborhoods and figures that helped shape Paris, including sites that chronicle the story of African American history in the city. The Brian Scott Bagley Company offers visitors a historic and artistic point of view retracing the life of the unparalleled Josephine Baker throughout Paris as well as other custom tours. More interested in curating a solo itinerary? Just mark the places you’re most interested in visiting, start your morning with a croissant and embark on your own adventure. Here are some fascinating spots to get you started on a journey into the dazzling legacy of black Americans in Paris. La Palette Nestled in the vibrant and artsy 6th arrondissement of Paris, La Palette is a well-known cafe created as a haven for artists and writers.The celebrated contemporary artist Beauford Delaney, originally from Tennessee, was so enraptured with Paris on his first visit in 1953 he decided to settle there. He lived in Paris for the remainder of his life. It was at La Palette where you could walk in and see regulars like Delaney or James Baldwin having lunch surrounded by dozens of original artwork hanging from the deep mahogany walls. Today, the cafe, with its sunny and flowery terrace, easily attracts visitors taking a step away from the array of eclectic galleries lining the street.Café de FloreJames Baldwin worked on his first novel at Café de Flore.Jarry/Tripelon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesSituated in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près, this landmark cafe dating back to the 1880s is where James Baldwin worked on his first novel, “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” The cafe has a rich history of being a home to artists and authors, tourists and locals alike.Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre were regulars. Stop in today, and you’ll find waiters, immaculately dressed in their white shirts and aprons, whisking espressos or aperitifs or French onion soup to tables, before leaving patrons in peace to converse and people-watch to their heart’s content.Les Deux MagotsLes Deux Magots is one of Paris’ landmark cafes.Jarry/Tripelon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesAnother magnet for the creative set, Les Deux Magots is located directly across from Café de Flore. This classic Parisian cafe was the backdrop for the passionate debate between two legendary African American writers, James Baldwin and Richard Wright. The renowned authors both detailed and wrote about the plight of being black in America but notably never agreed with the other’s perspective. Today, the cafe is a hotspot for tourists, and a common debate is whether to order red or white wine. Le TournonFor decades this traditional Parisian cafe located in the posh 6th arrondissement was a literary hangout bustling with brilliant black minds, including novelist and journalist William Gardner Smith and writer Ralph Ellison. It was at Le Tournon where legendary novelist Richard Wright, who protested the treatment of black Americans in works including “Native Son” and autobiography “Black Boy,” could always be assured of a debate alongside his coffee. Today, the cafe is a popular spot for neighborhood residents. It’s also steps away from the French senate so you might even spot the occasional government official. Inside, photos of the many famous African American artists who regularly visited the cafe for the classic bistro fare and spirited discourse are proudly displayed . Le Tournon, 18 Rue de Tournon, 75006 Paris, FranceThéâtre des Champs Élysées”I have two loves,” Josephine Baker once stated, “My country and Paris.” As jazz crossed the Atlantic, it brought its distinctive improvisation and addictive sounds — and so did one of the world’s most iconic entertainers. It was at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées in 1925 where a 19-year-old Josephine Baker opened “La Revue Negre,” the captivating cabaret show that would entice Parisian audiences for decades. The show was an overnight sensation and Baker became the biggest black female star in the world known for her “danse sauvage,” performed in her now iconic banana skirt. Baker’s bold looks have been recreated by the biggest names in entertainment, including Beyoncé and Rihanna, and inspired collections in fashion from Prada to Marc Jacobs. Today, the theater, which opened in 1913, is dedicated to classical music and dance including concert recitals, symphonic orchestras, chamber music, classical ballets and choreographic creations.MankoJust steps away from Théâtre des Champs is Manko, a plush Peruvian restaurant, cocktail bar and club. Decades ago, this building housed a sultry jazz club and this spirit of nightlife is still alive today. Channel the cabaret girls of the past and nightclub powerhouses like Ada “Bricktop” Smith and Josephine Baker, whether you go for the ceviche or the trendy club atmosphere.African American entertainers, following performances at Théâtre des Champs Élysées, hung out at the after-hours club to party and indulge until the sun lit their steps home. Manko, 15 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, FranceLa CoupoleLa Couple opened in 1927 and was a favorite of Josephine Baker.Alain Benainous/Gamm-Rapho/Getty ImagesBrasserie La Coupole, a true Art Deco gem, located in the 14th arrondissement, opened in 1927. La Coupole is a piece of Montparnasse’s history where the who’s who of Paris dined and came to be seen. Known as Josephine Baker’s favorite restaurant, it was here that Baker, the Black Pearl of Paris, appeared with her pet cheetah, Chiquita. Chiquita wore a diamond collar and would perform onstage with Baker, going from the stage to a waiting Rolls-Royce after her performance. Today, you can enjoy your crepes without the presence of a cheetah, but the old-world elegance is still alive in this famous Parisian brasserie. La Coupole, 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse 75014, Paris, FranceLe CarrouselLe Carrousel has lived more lives than a chat noir.Located in the popular Pigalle neighborhood, this building made its debut in 1926 as club Chez Josephine, a gift from Giuseppe Pepito Abatino to Josephine Baker. In the entrance hangs a plaque. Celebrating the rich and lasting legacy of the world-renowned entertainer, it reads, “Here Josephine Baker, music hall artist, civil rights activist, held a cabaret from 1926 to 1928 promoting the fusion of jazz and Afro-American culture.”Despite its many transformations through the years, the spirit of cabaret lives on in this contemporary restaurant. It’s now an intimate place to enjoy a drink or delicious truffle croquets with friends before partying the night away in the red-light district just steps away. Caveau de la Huchette Caveau de la Huchette opened in 1947.ShutterstockLe Caveau de la Huchette is a jazz club located in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The building dates to the 16th century and owners claim it was once used as a secret lodge for masons. If nothing else, its intimate cellar vibe lets you know it had a life long before it became a Paris hotspot. Opened in 1947, energetic clubs like this one kept jazz alive as musical tastes shifted overseas. In Paris, African American performers were still able to enchant the city’s crowds and make a living with the riveting sounds. Today, the club continues to be a prominent spot for Parisian nightlife where big names in jazz and up and comers take the stage nightly. Filmmakers also find inspiration here; the club was recently showcased in the Oscar-winning film “La La Land.”When asked, “Why did you choose France?,” James Baldwin responded, “It wasn’t so much a matter of choosing France — it was a matter of getting out of America. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me in France, but I knew what was going to happen to me in New York.” We now know part of what happened in the City of Light was a legacy of freedom and creative expression, still alive today.

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(CNN) — A 17th-century door has just been discovered under London’s House of Commons. On February 26, the UK Parliament announced the discovery of a previously-hidden entrance that had been built for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661.”We were trawling through 10,000 uncatalogued documents relating to the palace at the Historic England Archives in Swindon, when we found plans for the doorway in the cloister behind Westminster Hall,” said Liz Hallam Smith, a professor and historical consultant for the project, in a statement.From there, the team was able to locate the hinges of two wooden doors measuring three and a half meters (eleven and a half feet) high each, with a small room between them.Dendrochronology, a field of science that determines the ages of trees, was used to verify that the wood on the ceiling of the small passage was chopped down in 1659. The passage was part of a longer pathway that would take people from the former location of the House of Lords into the hall where the king and queen sat. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, poses inside the newly-rediscovered doorframe.UK Parliament/Jessica TaylorThe room’s existence wasn’t the only surprise. Inside, there was handwritten pencil “graffiti” left there by bricklayers who had helped to restore the building after fire damage in 1834. It somehow managed to survive despite the delicacy of graphite.One of the messages, believed to be written in 1851, reads, “This room was enclosed by Tom Porter who was very fond of Ould Ale.” The House of Commons is part of the British government complex in the city of Westminster, along the banks of the Thames.It and the House of Lords are both within the Houses of Parliament, the building perhaps best known to tourists for being the home of beloved clock Big Ben.Number 10 Downing Street, home to the British Prime Minister, is just a few minutes’ walk away.The coronation of Charles II, like that of other British monarchs, was held at Westminster Abbey. He reigned until his death in 1685 and was succeeded by his brother, James VII.”The mystery of the secret doorway is one we have enjoyed discovering — but the palace no doubt still has many more secrets to give up,” said Mark Collins, who is the Estates Historian for Parliament.He added that he hopes it will soon be a feature of the building tours, which are taken by hundreds of thousands of travelers every year.”We hope to share the story with visitors to the palace when the building is finally restored to its former glory, so it can be passed on down the generations and is never forgotten again.”

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(CNN) — A Tennessee spa is designed to have you feeling like you’re at Hogwarts, the famed school attended by Harry Potter and his friends. Other decorative elements include tapestries like the ones seen hanging in the Gryffindor common hall in the movies.”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the first film in the eight-part franchise, was released in 2001.Warner Bros.A portrait of the Fat Lady hangs on one door as a replica of the portrait that guarded the entrance to Gryffindor Tower in the blockbuster films. Harry Potter-themed spells and potions also protect the perimeters of some rooms. “It was very important for me to not have it be gimmicky or hit you in the face when you walk in like you’re in a retail store,” Piedad told WTVF. “I wanted it to be soothing and something that would cater to both Harry Potter fans and non-Harry Potter fans alike.”Inspired by magicPiedad has been working in the spa industry since 2006 but has always been intrigued by all things magical, including the TV show “Bewitched” and the movie “Practical Magic,” according to the spa’s website. That’s why she opened Wand & Willow in 2018.Piedad has no affiliation with “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling or Warner Brothers Entertainment, the films’ distributor and one of its production companies. (CNN and Warner Brothers share parent company WarnerMedia.)For many of her customers, it’s also their first time visiting a spa. “I get a lot of first time visitors,” Piedad said. “[After], they always feel more in tune with themselves and happy they’ve had their self-care.”She says more than half of her customers visit her spa because they share her enthusiasm for the world of Potter. “A lot of the die-hard Harry Potter fans will come decked out in Harry Potter clothes or their house crests’ colors,” she said. Pick from Harry Potter-themed spa packages. The Marauder and the PhoenixCustomers can pick from Potter-themed spa packages:The Marauder, named after a group of Gryffindors, includes a full-body massage and facial. The Philosopher urges guests to “experience the therapeutic benefits of skincare and massage therapy focusing on your areas of concern” through an hour-long massage and facial, the website says. The Phoenix offers the ultimate spa day: a 60-minute massage, 60-minute facial and 60-minute body wrap are offered to rejuvenate guests from head to toe. The spa also offers skincare, cosmetic and hair services, and apothecary products. Not J.K. Rowling approvedThe first official Harry Potter flagship store, which is authorized by Warner Brothers, is coming to New York this summer and will be located next to the Flatiron building in Manhattan. But many fans like Piedad have turned their zeal into businesses without officially affiliating with J.K. Rowling or Warner Brothers.Coffee MUGG(le), a Harry Potter-themed coffee shop, opened in Texas in 2018, offering magical drinks and decor inspired by Hogwarts. Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Georgia, hosts an annual Harry Potter Night in February where patrons come in their wizarding robes and costumes to enjoy themed cocktails, beer and snacks.Piedad said sharing her trade and the love for the Potter series is her goal for the spa. “[To] just make everyone feel welcome and at home and let everyone believe there is a little magic inside of us… that’s what keeps people coming back,” she said. CNN’s Amanda Jackson and Lauren M. Johnson contributed to this report.

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The ride takes passengers on an adventure through the world’s exotic rivers with a humorous skipper as the guide. But around noon, one of the boats started taking on water while passengers were on board.Matthew Vince, who was on the ride, said more than a foot of water flooded the boat. The boat “went from floating to sunk in about a minute,” Vince told CNN affiliate WPTV. “Everyone was fine and we were rescued in about 20 minutes.” A spokesperson for Disney confirmed to CNN affiliate WFTV that the boat took on some water, but added that everyone was able to get off the boat safely. Firefighters with the Reedy Creek Fire Department responded to the scene, but no one was transported to the hospital, a spokeswoman with the department told CNN. The ride reopened around 2:30 p.m., according to WPTV. The Jungle Cruise, which opened in 1971, is a fan favorite and one of the park’s most iconic rides, o the incident naturally got Twitter stirring. Some speculated it was a publicity stunt to promote Disney’s upcoming “Jungle Cruise” movie featuring Dwayne Johnson. Others jokingly worried for the fate of the guests because of all the dangerous “beasts” they could encounter. Disney said it worked with the people who were on the boat so that they could enjoy the rest of their day at the park, according to CNN affiliate WESH.

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(CNN) — With new cases of novel coronavirus reported daily in countries across the globe, many travelers are wondering if they should cancel or postpone existing plans and hold off on booking trips.”Should I cancel my trip to Rome and Florence?” one CNN reader is wondering. “What is the threshold for rethinking domestic travel plans?,” another asks.Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s very much an individual calculation, experts say, taking a number of factors — the traveler, their companions, the destination and more — into consideration.In a situation that’s unpredictable and evolving quickly, solid information is key.”Find a very small number of sources of information that you trust, and you trust them both because they’re competent and because you think they’re working on your behalf,” advises Baruch Fischhoff, a psychologist and professor in the department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Regularly updated advisoriesMonitor those “closely and regularly,” advises Dr. Henry Wu, director of Emory Healthcare’s TravelWell Center.At this point, travel to China and South Korea is highly discouraged, and precautions should be taken for travel to destinations such as Italy, Japan, Iran and Hong Kong.”In the absence of specific advisories, travelers should still consider that situations can change rapidly,” said Wu, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases.Researching your destination and paying close attention to restrictions or other public policies around coronavirus adopted by those countries will also help inform decision-making. “In general, travelers should always assess the importance of a trip, as well as their personal risk tolerance for health dangers and hassle,” Wu said.Personal risk assessmentThat’s exactly what Fischhoff, who is a decision scientist by profession, is doing about a trip he has scheduled to the United Kingdom in March.Since where the virus will turn up is quite unpredictable, he has accepted that every place comes with some degree of risk.But if the risk were no larger than it is now, he said, the probability of dying is “very, very low” and the probability of getting sick is “vanishingly small.”The probability of being seriously inconvenienced — stranded by a closed border or quarantined in a hotel or ship — is “considerably higher,” Fischhoff said. “Right now it’s still pretty low in absolute terms, and it’s not clear how quickly it’s moving.”Fischhoff will continue to assess the situation as his trip approaches, he said, but he is willing to walk away from sunk costs if he decides not to go.He encourages the same framing for other travelers: Would you be better off going or not going, regardless of the cost?Factors at playElderly travelers or those who have other conditions should consider that they might be at higher risk for complications of infections, Wu said.For Angel Wilson, her mother’s age is a factor in the travel decision she’s wrestling with right now. Wilson in leaning toward canceling a trip to Japan in March with her daughter and mother.”It really doesn’t make sense to go now when we can always postpone it and go later when we know everything is safe,” said Wilson, who is an Indianapolis-based travel adviser at Dream Journeys.A traveler’s responsibilities at home are also a potential factor in their decision-making, Fischhoff said. Those caring for young kids or elderly parents might have a lower tolerance for unexpected delays in returning home.And some people worry more than others. If you anticipate the situation may drain the pleasure out of a leisure trip, it might be worth changing your plans, he said.Protecting your tripWilson has also considered the possibility of getting stranded in Japan if the situation there worsens and travel grinds to a halt. Japan had more than 900 cases of coronavirus as of February 27, with eight deaths reported.American Airlines has agreed to waive the fee for returning the loyalty miles Wilson used for their airline tickets to her account.Some of her clients haven’t been so lucky. While Wilson specializes in the Caribbean, Hawaii, cruising and all-inclusive vacations, a couple of her bookings have been impacted by the outbreak.A March 1 sailing on Sapphire Princess in Asia was canceled, and while their cruise costs will be refunded, her clients are out their non-refundable airline tickets and hotel.At this point, Wilson encourages travelers to pay more for refundable airfares and hotel rooms. She is also advising clients to pack an extra two weeks’ worth of medication, just in case.She recommends purchasing Cancel for Any Reason insurance policies. It’s the only type of travel insurance that applies in this scenario, she said.The coverage tends to be about 30% more expensive than other types of travel insurance, according to Wilson.Vendors have their own rules about how their policies work. Some offer up to about 80% cash back, while others may offer future booking credit only. Some suppliers are starting to update their policies. AmaWaterways is now offering a Travel Waiver Plus to give clients more piece of mind when booking, Wilson said.”They’re offering this to guests who are already booked, as well as new bookings,” she said.Health precautionsWhether it’s from coronavirus or influenza, travelers should always take precautions to protect themselves from infection.”I am unaware of any documented cases of COVID-19 acquired during flights, but I would advise travelers on flights take the usual precautions to prevent respiratory illnesses, including handwashing and refraining from travel while ill,” said Wu.Flu vaccines are recommended as influenza is also spreading, and flu prevention could also prevent symptoms that will raise novel coronavirus concerns, Wu said.Ultimately, each traveler’s risk calculation will be different.”A trip may be fine for some travelers, while the same itinerary can cause significant worry and stress for others,” Wu said.

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(CNN) — Earlier this year, a family of three women from New Zealand — a mom and her two adult daughters — made headlines around the world when they were denied the business class seats they’d paid for on a Thai Airways flight because they were too big to fit into them. Ironically, the family — Huhana Iripa and daughters Tere and Renell — had purchased business class seats because they’d assumed those would be bigger and more comfortable. But because Thai Airways’ plane seat models made it impossible to put seatbelt extenders onto business class seats, the three women were moved into coach class and given seatbelt extenders.While the Iripas’ story went viral and resulted in a refund from the airline for the difference in cost between the business seats they’d paid for and the coach ones they ended up flying in, stories like these are not anomalies. As airplane seats continue to shrink, more and more people around the world find themselves unable to fit — or else subject to invasive comments, touches and other humiliations by both airline employees and their fellow passengers.Adding to the challenges, there is no universal standard in seat sizing for the airline industry. Every airline has different guidelines, meaning that even the best-informed consumers have trouble keeping up. But there are ways to make flying — which can be anxiety-producing for even the most mainstream traveler — more humane for everyone on board, no matter what their body looks like.The goalposts are movingAnnette Richmond is a body-positive activist and the founder of Fat Girls Traveling, a digital community that provides women with support, advice and resources about traveling with different body types.As a self-described “digital nomad” with no official address, she has clocked thousands of hours in the sky and has dealt with a range of situations on board. She’s also plus size herself.Though her own number-one piece of advice is to do as much research as possible about your flight, carrier and seat ahead of time, she admits this can be challenging. The rules are frequently changing and not always posted in an easy-to-find place. “(Airlines) intentionally make it difficult and make sure it takes time and money and effort for you to travel comfortably as a fat person, because they’re there to make a profit,” Richmond says. Some countries have specific regulations about body size and air travel rights. For example, travelers flying on domestic flights within Canada who need two seats can get the cost of the second seat refunded if they have a doctor’s note. In Australia, the Australian Consumer Law prohibits airlines from charging passengers different amounts based on their body sizes.Colorado-based startup Molon Labe Seating is developing a staggered seating design for commercial airlines which they claim provides passengers with more room and larger seats.But in the United States, it’s a gray area.AirHelp.com is a US-based website that helps consumers take action against airlines in situations like these. The company’s chief legal officer, Christian Nielsen, says that passengers who have had negative interactions with airlines regarding seat size have to deal with regulations that change constantly or are difficult to articulate. “There are not many laws to protect people who do not fit into shrinking airline seats,” Nielsen tells CNN. “There is no law currently in place (in the United States) to protect passengers who are bumped from their flight due to their size.”When Lauren Haber Jonas founded Part + Parcel, a community platform and online retailer for plus size women, she was determined to make sure her company’s values for her employees matched the ones they were instilling for their customers. She vowed that any Part + Parcel employee on a work trip would be accommodated in their seat and travel preferences — whether that means two seats, using extenders or anything else that a person of size would prefer to make flying more comfortable.But she found that it was hard to know what the guidelines were in order to follow them.”It’s a disaster,” she admits. “Every airline has different configurations and policies, but every airplane has different seats. The age and the model of the plane, and if the model has been remodeled, and and and. I have found myself spending many hours looking at widths and dimensions of first class versus business class versus coach on every plane you can possibly imagine.”It’s not just about the seatOne thing is for sure: conversations around body size and airplane seat sizes aren’t going away.But while bigger bodies are everywhere, that doesn’t mean that social attitudes have changed.”I feel like when you live your life in a marginalized body, a fat body or a disabled body or an older body, something that’s outside of the generalized norm, you get used to being othered all the time and you have to walk through the world with an additional armor,” says Richmond. The term “microaggressions” is used to explain how little slights that might otherwise not seem like a big deal accumulate over time to turn into an issue. For plus-size people, it’s not just about one particular seat on one particular airplane.Despite being an activist, Richmond can often get so worn down by the nonstop questions and comments — from cabin crew, from fellow passengers, and even from total strangers — that she just gives in. In one case, when she says was asked by a crew member to move out of an exit row seat despite being able to fit safely into the seatbelt, she just said yes to avoid a conflict and because she didn’t want to have to “prove” her body was an acceptable size. Richmond feels that the reason there hasn’t been a significant movement to make travel more comfortable for people with larger bodies is because we live in a society that considers fatness a moral failing and something that doesn’t deserve sympathy. On the other side, for example, it’s considered a positive trait to be tall — so tall passengers who complain about lack of leg room are seen as having a more valid complaint. “There are statistics all the time that say that 80 percent of people (in the United States) hate plus size people,” says Haber Jonas. “In being a plus size person, it’s the sense that you did this to yourself. You made yourself fat, you created this body, it’s imposing on me and it’s your job to make yourself smaller.”And tensions that could be resolved easily on the ground become urgent issues in the air, when there’s no way for people to get away from each other and avoid sharing space.Being stuck in a flying tube together often can turn a mildly uncomfortable situation into a crisis.”The fact that [air travel] gets worse and worse over time means that people are more and more pissed off. You enter the experience unhappy — there are no plugs at the gate, the boarding experience is miserable, it’s no wonder that you get upset.If you get upset about a person of size, it’s about how it affects you and your life and your day, you don’t think outside of yourself.” Ultimately, it’s much easier to get annoyed at a fellow passenger instead of pulling back and thinking about the structural issues in the aviation industry affect all travelers. After all, you can’t yell at a structural issue. What happens next?Unless there’s a huge transformation of the airline industry, seat sizes and configurations aren’t likely to change soon.The time and cost involved in building aircraft mean that changes happen gradually, sometimes over years. And in-flight comfort is often sacrificed at the altar of the lowest fare.For those in cattle class, enlisting a high-profile ally can often be a support.Smith went on a rant against the airline, which he posted in a series of tweets. “Dude, I know I’m fat,” he said at the time. “That’s not why I was truly thrown off that plane, because I fit perfectly in the seat … I am not fat enough to eject off a Southwest flight.”Later, Southwest changed its policy, citing Smith’s experience as part of their reason why. And, six years later, he flew the airline again with no issues.Richmond also advocates for the power of community. Often, if a member of Fat Girls Traveling has had an issue with a specific airline or travel company, members will back each other up online.And it’s not just about getting a refund — it’s about knowing they’re not alone. “Sometimes there’s not a solution, but there’s strength that can be brought from feeling like someone understands,” says Richmond.

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