A man has accused Qantas crew member of “fat-shaming” him when he was booted from an exit row seat because he was too large to sit there.

Darren Beales said on The Today show he specifically booked a seat in the emergency exit row on the Melbourne to Brisbane flight so he could have extra leg room.

But a flight attendant told him he couldn’t sit there due to “air regulations”.

When he questioned the rule, he said the flight attendant suggested he buy two seats in future.

Mr Beales said he felt “bullied” and was forced to spend the flight in an ordinary seat. He maintains he would have been able to help in an emergency.