The world’s tallest woman has opened up about the unique and costly challenges she faces when traveling by plane — including the need to purchase six seats so she can fly while strapped to a stretcher.
Rumeysa Gelgi, who stands at 7 feet 0.7 inches tall, recently announced her goal to visit every country following her 28th birthday. However, as a Guinness World Record holder, travel by plane, car, or other common forms of transportation is far from straightforward.
Living in Turkey’s Karabük province, Rumeysa typically moves with the help of a wheelchair or a walker. Due to her exceptional height, she cannot fit in standard airplane seats. Thanks to Turkish Airlines, however, she has been able to travel internationally — the airline removes six seats to install a custom stretcher for her during flights.
In September 2022, she took to the skies for the first time, traveling from San Francisco to Istanbul. Since then, the freelance web developer has flown at least once a year, exclusively with Turkish Airlines, one of the few carriers offering such accommodations.
Despite crossing several destinations off her list — including Spain, Italy, the U.S., and the U.K. — Rumeysa’s journey has been far from easy. Because she cannot sit upright in a regular seat, she must lie on a stretcher throughout each flight. This requires her to arrive at the airport four hours in advance to coordinate with medical staff and to pay for the space occupied by the stretcher, which typically amounts to six seats.
She has yet to travel by bus or train but hopes to do so in the coming months.
Beyond transportation, Rumeysa finds that one of the greatest challenges of travel is the lack of accessibility at historic landmarks and cultural sites.
“Sometimes, it’s upsetting to hold myself back from visiting remarkable places and experiencing the richness of history,” she 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 unnecessary risks.”
While she hopes to explore East Asia next — including Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai, and Seoul — her greatest wish is to visit the ancient monuments in her hometown, Safranbolu.
“One of its most famous areas is the Old Town, where visitors can see well-preserved Ottoman-era houses, mansions, and bathhouses,” she said. “Sadly, even though I live very close, I haven’t been able to visit. It’s not very accessible.”
She also recalled that visiting old churches in the past posed significant physical challenges.
“Historic sites are often left in their original condition, which I completely understand and respect,” she said. “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 that more innovative approaches will be developed to make historical and cultural landmarks accessible to those with mobility limitations.
“Everyone deserves the chance to connect with the past, regardless of mobility,” she emphasized.
Her extraordinary height is caused by Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that leads to rapid growth and other developmental characteristics.
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