Too big to fit in an Airplane seat!

I never had to have a seatbelt extender but it was a tight squeeze pre-surgery.  The relief of getting in that seat with the seatbelt on, extra belt available and room on both sides of my azz was a NSV like no other. 

Airplanes are not comfortable, period.  Especially in the cheap seats.  I dated a guy that was 6'6 that always had to pay (expensive) for first class because he could not sit comfortably in the coach section.  There was no accomodations for him, period.

The reality (pull up the Caddy for me too) is this...Smokers pay extra for health insurance every month while obese people don't, extra tall or extra short aren't getting any special accommodations--obese people shouldn't either. 

oh boy don't let that deuce drive off.....i'm totally sympathetic but not to the point of forfeiting my own comfort. 

p.s. the actual rule is that if you can't fit in the seat with the arm rest up AFTER a belt extender, they're charging more......

it prolly is closest to the smokers debate:  the same way a smokers right to smoke in a public place cancels out a non-smokers right not to, your right to be comfortable shouldn't eclipse mine.   

it's not fair.  the airlines should make first class seats available at a discounted rate as an option not a requirement.   

why isn't obesity one of the protected classes under the disability act? are all those classes considered permanent/unchangeable/involuntary? what? 

Whooo!  I'm rolling two deep - hang on ladies - I drive a lil fast...... LOL

I feel you - having been on BOTH sides of the coin - totally different perspective.

It's not my story but my father had an incident before his surgery that actually encouraged him to have WLS.  He and my mother were flying together somewhere and usually, my father has the aisle seat.  This time, something happened and he was unable to get the aisle and ended up in the middle.  He gets in and there was a lady sitting next to him on the aisle seat.  My father automatically lifted up the arm rest.  The lady pulls it back down and says to him "I want this arm rest down" and rolled her eyes.  My father is the kindest person you could ever meet.  He didn't say a word and he just sat there in that very familiar position that most heavy people have when sitting squished in an airplane seat.  He sat with his arms folded and leaning mostly towards my mother for 3 hours!!  He as in so much pain when he got off of the flight.  I cried when I heard the story.  He and my mother didn't switch seats because he didn't want to be by the window in case he needed to get out and go to the bathroom which is another issue!!  Basically, Airplane travel for big people is just so unfair. 

So I understand everybody being comfortable and all but give me a break.  If you have to pay for an extra seat, do they have to embarrass you?  Would it be a better idea for them to ask your height and weight when you are booking the ticket and at that moment stating that based on your weight, you will need to purchase 2 seats?  I don't know what the solution is but I don't believe in embarrassing anyone. 

Someone made a comment about some big people stinking. Well, I've sat near some skinny people who smelled like they didn't know that the stores sold soap and body wash. I'm saying that to say that  It's the point of being respectful of each other.  When you are big, that is the first thing that people look at, the first thing that they notice.  I have sat near small people who because they were small, ,they felt they could put their legs up in the seat or take up all of this room just because.  I don't mean to go on and on but because I still think like a big girl, I am so sensitive to this situation.  The airlines can do what they need to do but they have to do it with compassion and unfortunately, I don't think they will be compassionate.  Quite sad....

Well...I think that as long as they put the rules UP FRONT then all is fair.  Being able to fit into an airplane seat was one of my motivating factors for wanting to lose weight....I love to travel.  Perhaps it might in a round about way...help others as well.  But I will tell you one thing....once I reach my goal.....They best be ready to to handover my discount or give me a waiver for the weight of my extra luggage. 

This reminds me why am trying to loose as much weight as possible before we move to Germany this july. That is going to be a long flight and I want to be normal size.

I had to use a seat extension the last time I flew in Sept. I'm 6'1" so I like to sit in the aisle with the emergency exit because it has more leg room. the flight attendant said I couldn't sit in that aisle because I used a extension. He got somebody to change seats with me but it was embarrassing. I was fling with my nephew who had never flew before and didn't understand what was going on.

THATS CRAZY!!!

Charlene!

I heard this on the news as well this morning, and i was like WOW! this is sad.  I travel A LOT and i have never had to use an extention, but i can truly feel how heavier people must feel . I recall me and a couple of friends of mine went to California (all big gurls) and one of us was MUCH bigger than all of us, she had to ask the steward if she can have an extention my dumb self asked her what is an extention????... lolwhen the lady came back with the extention i was soooo outdone like oh my God , number one they actually have something you can make a seatbelt bigger?? and number two, wow girl you have to use it??? i was sooo embarrased for her and then i was a bit pissed!

I have mixed feelings about this and i do not want to step on any toes with what i have to say but it really ISN'T comfortable for EITHER person.  I think if that person will have to pay for two seats they should be able to take someone else they know personally with them so that they (heavier person) will not feel like they are being discriminated against or singled out, nor feel like they are wasting there money.


If they cannot come up with anyone to travel with them then make sure the flight they are getting on is a bigger plane in which either way will result in them paying almost 2 fares, but at least it would not seem as cruel. 

I know i always walk my fat self in the airport like im standing on something....lol like LOOK like you want to say something to me because they always look at big people TWISTED and in DISGUST , but hey that's how it is when you are in the public eye. 

I personally think they should accommodate MO people by having a section that have larger seat and seat belts and that should clear up this problem, if this is an added expese to the airline they should charge an additional fee for these special seats, it is a lot less embarrasing than putting people off plane...that's crazy...