‘They Weighed Her Suitcase And Her’: Dallas Woman Books Cheap Flight, Sees The Size Of The Plane. Does Shein Really Sell Flights?

A woman documenting her friend’s bargain flight from Shein got a shock when she saw just how small the aircraft was.

The plane was so tiny that passengers could reach the pilot’s water bottle. Now they’re wondering whether it’s safe to fly in such a small plane and if the price was worth it.

Plus, does Shein really offer flights now?

Friend Documents ‘Shein Flight’

In a viral video with more than 197,000 views, TikToker Ash Mercer (@ashmercer) shared photos of her friend’s experience flying on what she jokingly called a “Shein flight”—referencing the budget shopping app known for rock-bottom prices.

“Never order ur plane tickets off SHEIN,” text overlay on one Snapchat photo reads.

The image shows Mercer’s friend sitting close enough to the cockpit that she’s only an arm’s length from the captain, an unusual sight since commercial airline cockpits are typically blocked off and far away from passenger seats.

The series of photos showed the friend checking in at a fairly small airport. The aircraft itself wasn’t one of the big commercial planes passengers usually fly on. Instead, it looked like something that could seat around 10 people based on the number of windows visible.

One photo indicated it was a connection flight from Williamsport Regional Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, shown on iflysouthern.com.

In a text message, the friend shared a photo of a large green water bottle sitting in a seat next to a backpack.

“The pilot just reached and took a sip from his water bottle and then slide it back next to me I’m literally crying,” the text read.

“Dropping my friend off for her SHEIN flight at DFW………..they weighed her suitcase and her,” Mercer wrote in the caption, adding a crying emoji and hashtags for Dallas-Fort Worth airport, cargo, and flight.

Because these aircraft are so small, the experience is drastically different from flying on a commercial jet.

Passengers board by walking directly onto the tarmac, and the cockpit is clearly visible—and accessible—from passenger seats.

Weight and balance is critical on small planes, which is why passengers get assigned specific seats and why both luggage and passengers may be weighed before boarding.

Does Shein Offer Flights?

Despite the viral joke comparing budget flights to the discount retailer, Shein does not actually sell plane tickets or operate flights. BroBible found no mention of flight services on Shein’s website, and no news sources have reported the company entering the aviation industry.

The comparison appears to be internet humor, equating the bare-bones experience of flying on a small regional aircraft to Shein’s reputation for ultra-budget products since they’re known for selling inexpensive fashion, home goods, and accessories online.

Are Small Regional Aircraft Safe?

Small planes—defined by the FAA as aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less—are held to high safety standards regardless of size, according to LifeLine Pilots.

Every flight goes through a safety check before leaving the ground. And all airplanes must undergo an annual inspection by a trained professional.

The FAA holds these small commercial planes to strict regulations for scheduled passenger service, which means rigorous maintenance schedules, pilot training requirements, and safety protocols.

While small aircraft meet strict safety standards, general aviation does have higher accident rates than commercial airlines. However, the type of flying matters a lot.

Corporate aviation and scheduled commuter flights—like the one Mercer’s friend took—are much safer than private recreational flying.

Between 2012 and 2021, corporate flights saw just 0.48 fatal accidents per million flight hours. Personal recreational flights had 21.1 fatal accidents per million flight hours.

Commenters React

“First off, SHEIN has flights?????” a top comment asked.

“It’s giving icarly movie when they flew to japan,” a person said.

“She flying private lowkey,” another pointed out.

“I’ve done this exact flight over 30 times I promise it’s safe and the staff are some of the sweetest people. Best flying experience,” a commenter wrote.

BroBible reached out to Ash Mercer via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.