The world’s tallest woman has revealed she is forced to pay for six plane seats when travelling as she’s required to spend the entire flight strapped down to a stretcher.
Earlier this year, Rumeysa Gelgi, who stands at 7ft 0.7inches, revealed her plans to visit each country after celebrating her 28th birthday.
Sadly, for the Guinness World Record holder, travelling by plane, car, or any other form of transport, is not as easy as it is for others.
Rumeysa, who lives in the Karabük province of Turkey, typically gets around in a wheelchair or with the aid of a walker.
Having spent most of her life being too tall to fit in regular plane seats, she’s now able to travel the globe thanks to Turkish Airlines, which tore out six seats onboard one of its aircraft and replaced them with a specially-made stretcher.
In September 2022, Rumeysa took to the skies for the first time, flying from San Francisco to California.
The freelance web developer has since flown at least once per year, and only with her national airline as they’re one of the few airlines to offer the stretcher service.
Though she’s ticked off a number of countries on her bucket list, including Spain, Italy, the US and the UK, her quest to experience new places hasn’t come without its fair share of obstacles.
Since she can’t sit down regular airline seats, Rumeysa has to be stretchered onto the plane and spend the entire flight lying down
She must also arrive four hours before her flight to meet with medical staff and pay for the space the stretcher takes up, which is typically six seats.
Rumeysa is yet to travel by bus or train; though she hopes to fulfill this in the coming months.
Transportation aside, one of the most challenging aspects of travel for Rumeysa is the lack of accessibility when visiting historic or notable buildings and sites.
“At times, it’s upsetting to hold myself back from visiting remarkable places and experiencing the richness of history,” the content creator told Luxury Travel Daily, as reported by What’s The Jam.
She added: “It can be frustrating knowing that the only thing standing in the way is the lack of accessibility. My top priority is always safety; not just to protect my wheelchair, but also to prevent any harm to myself.
“With spinal implants, even a minor fall could be extremely dangerous. Unless proper access is available, I choose not to take any unnecessary risks.”
Though Rumeysa hopes to explore East Asia next – more specifically Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai and Seoul – her one wish is to to visit the ancient monuments in her hometown, Safranbolu.
She said: “One of its most famous areas is the Old Town, where visitors can see well-preserved Ottoman-era houses, mansions and bathhouses.
“Sadly, even though I live very close, I haven’t been able to visit there. It’s not very accessible.”
Rumeysa noted that when she visited old churches in the past, navigating the site proved to be physically challenging.
She added: “Historic sites are often left in their original condition, which I completely understand and respect.
“In most cases, people and staff are kind and willing to help. While I truly appreciate their intentions, the solutions aren’t always the safest or most practical.”
Rumeysa hopes for more innovative ways to make historic sites accessible to visitors with “limitations,” adding: “Everyone deserves the chance to connect with the past, regardless of mobility.”
Her huge stature is the result of a condition called Weaver syndrome, which, among other things, causes accelerated growth
