Posts: 1,357
6/8/12 8:15 P

Right now I hate flying too, mainly because I'm always uncomfortable. My last two flights were on Southwest and I had no problems (I'm 5'6 and 258lbs for the moment) I never did recall which airline had required a second seat, but I didn't have anyone say anything to me about extra seats on any airline.

current weight: 258.0

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Posts: 4
6/8/12 12:14 P

I look forward to the day when I do not have to order an extra seat for myself. I do it regularly now. It is always a hassle since you can't do it online and have to call... then sometimes things get screwed up and the extra seat gets assigned to a different spot than your real seat... now that is helpful... Note though that I am in the mid 4s right now so I am pretty sure I'd be told to buy an extra seat anyway.

Posts: 142
4/22/12 8:57 P

This was definitly helpful to me, I've been having the same concerns for an upcoming trip! Thanks!

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Posts: 13
4/19/12 3:28 A

Thanks everybody for the replies! I went on my vacation and am happy to report that the airplane seats were not an issue at all! For those wondering, the plane had 17inch seats. I fit perfectly fine even with the armrest down. My husband and I were on a 2 seat side of the plane. So it didn't really matter at all if I was "overflowing" into his seat. The first flight the seat belt was plenty big. The second it was snug but I got it cinched when I sucked in! lol! I worried for nothing. But, that's what I do! Hope this discussion topic has been helpful to others as well.

Posts: 709
4/8/12 12:58 P

Personally - I find Jet Blue has the widest seats and American the smallest. I travelled a lot for business in the last few years and I was 330 lbs. and 5'-6". I purchased my own extender from a travel gear website. It made things easier since I was a frequent traveller.

I have had all types of experiences good and bad but I was never asked to leave a plane because I couldn't fit in a seat. The best flights were when the person next to me realized having the arm down was not comfortable and they chose to leave it up. Both of us had extra hip room that way.

Typically if a flight wasn't full the flight attendants would reseat me or the person sitting next to me. I also tried to pick seats toward the middle rear of the plane - more chance of the seat being empty. I never would pick a middle seat unless I absolutely had to. I prefer window seats but would chose aisle seats for long haul flights.

Try not to fret. There are a lot of horror stories out there but most times it's not so bad.

current weight: 318.6

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SparkPoints: (426)
Fitness Minutes: (553)
Posts: 3
4/6/12 3:59 A

At the end of July I am flying with my two boys to go see my sister. I am so nervous - I read on their website that the gauge is from armrest to armrest - which is 17 inches. I measured and no why in heck am I gonna fit. Does anyone know if any other airline has more inches for my butt?
Thanks so much,
Tammy

Posts: 1,640
3/29/12 2:05 P

For anyone that is interested, here is the link to an article that MSN had on today, March 29th, 2012, about travel as a plus size person - the article includes a link (which I will include as the second link below) to a pamplet that gives a lot of information that you may find handy.

travelkit.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/1
0922098-flying-new-brochure-offers-tra
vel-tips-for-passengers-of-size

issuu.com/naafa/docs/naafa_travel_2012_v07
_screencut?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2
F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayou
t.xml&showFlipBtn=true

Posts: 22
3/27/12 10:44 P

I fly a lot for business and am around 280 lbs, 5'6". Smaller airplanes (puddle jumpers) have smaller seats. I find they are painful on my hips and rarely have armrests that move. Not very comfortable, and the people next to me hate me.

On the bigger planes, sometimes the aisle seat armrests raise which is awesome so I can be more comfortable (feel underneath and there is sometimes the latch that allows it to move). They just have to be down for takeoff and landing.

Good luck on your travels!!!

SparkPoints: (841)
Fitness Minutes: (1,330)
Posts: 2
3/26/12 10:59 P

I flew to Colorado a couple years again and I hate to fly! I dislikes the seats, I just asked the flight attend-it for a seat belt extension and didn't have a problem with it. Only real problem was being squashed between my parents.

Posts: 95
2/17/12 2:49 P

My boyfriend and I debate this all the time. We're both 6 ft and in the mid 300s. If I'm flying alone I like to get the extra seat just to be comfortable, he's more concerned about saving money and less concerned about people giving him the stink eye than me. But if we fly together I don't mind. We just squish each other. Neither of us however has ever been forced to buy an extra seat. I concur I think that's just Southwest and thus Southwest will never get my business, even when I lose the weight.

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Posts: 18
2/9/12 9:50 A

I am your size exactly, and just got back from an international trip. No problems. It was more comfortable because both going and coming my husband and I had the two seats on the side of the plane (as opposed to the 4 or 5 in the middle), and so put the armrest up.

One major milestone for me in my weight loss journey was being able to buckle the seat belt without needing a seat belt extension! I even stole one so I wouldn't have to ask for one every time I flew—I threw it away after this last trip!

Posts: 13
2/9/12 8:08 A

Thank you so much for the information! I have little more peace of mind. I can't wait til the day comes when these things are no longer an issue!

Posts: 7,821
2/8/12 11:11 P

I have flown a few times and have not had issues, but I am also thinking that that was before the policy was set in place. I would do a little more searching and see what you can find out.

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Posts: 1,640
2/7/12 4:12 P

It will really depend on what airline you fly on. I have been flying for years and I am over 300 lbs (I have been between a size 24 and 30 each of the times that we have flown). In the past 5 years, I have been on about 30 flights - including international. Each airline has their own policies on when they require someone to have an additional seat. You will need to check on the airlines website. I have flown Delta, American, Continental, and US Airways without any issue - and I always need a seat belt extension, which I automatically ask for from a flight attendant as soon as I am on the plane, and no one has ever made me feel bad about asking for one either, they have always been very friendly. Southwest is really the only airline that I have heard of people being forced to buy a second seat and because of this, I refuse to fly with them.

The suggestions that I have for flying is that I have found that an aisle seat will give you a little bit more room since you can extend into the aisle for most of the flight and you have more head room since the overhead bins are not directly above you - you will just have to move your arm/leg when people are walking by or the flight attendants come by with a food/beverage cart. Also since you are flying with your hubby, as soon as you are seated, you can raise the arm rest between you too and then it seems more like a love seat then a movie theater seat.

You can go to websites like www.seatguru.com/ and check out the specifics on the plane that you are going to be on. The seats in each airline will vary in size, but I would associate most of them to the size of a movie theater seat. What I have done in the past is take a ruler to a chair and measure the width and compare that to the size listed for the airline seat.

As to the answer to your question, I think that you will be fine - I am actually a little bit shorter then you and have always weighed more then you on any of the flights I have taken in the past 10 or so years. Just take a deep breath and have a great time in Vegas!

Posts: 13
2/7/12 11:19 A

My husband and I are planning to fly to Vegas next month. I am TERRIFIED of being told I need another seat. I have no clue if I'll be too big or not. I saw that the seats are usually 17 inches. But that really tells me nothing. I am freaking out over this. Can anyone tell me if it's likely I'll be too big? I'm 5'4 285 pounds. Any idea?