New to Flying Question

[Kandra]

Hi everyone. I usually travel by car and the last time I flew (Delta) the seatbelt just barely connected if I didn't enhale much...and that was about 30 or 40 pounds ago (on a 5'2" frame that really ups the girth/width factor).

I have to fly to a family function in May so I booked with Continental since they had a good rating at What airlines treat big people well? (http://www.grandstyle.com/airlines.htm) . But that data is 7 years old and any updated comments on what to expect from them would REALLY be appreciated.

I just checked seats guru (http://www.seatguru.com/) and found out my seat is only 17.2 inches wide in regular seating and 21 inches in first class. Well I'm a size 24/26 and no way I can squeeze into something 17 inches wide unless I'm in a well-oiled wetsuit first..and maybe a girdlle first.

The plane is a Continental 737-500. The trip has four legs and I could only afford to upgrade two legs of it to the bigger seats. But after checking with the rules for customer size I think that if I don't cough up more cash I'm going to pay almost the same for an extra seat in standard seating or end up paying even more if I have to buy it right there at the last minute.
I've Googled the rules Continental has for requiring me to buy an extra seat and they are: Must only need one seat belt extension (the inches vary but up to 25 inches) and fitting in your seat with both arm rests down.

While doing the Google search, I read some pretty horrifying experiences people have had and am really starting to feel apprehensive about this trip. If I get all my ducks in a row I can relax. I hope some of you are willing to help me on this because I am not sure what to do here. Do you think my sized 24/26 butt is going to make it? Or should I bite the bullet and upgrade the other two legs of the trip to first class? (It's $300.00 more per leg, which is $600 dollars. $300 per 1.5 hours of flight!! That's a lot of Jack. I wonder what they do for the extra 3 large ... give massages, foot baths?)

What do you think, will they make me pay for another seat on Continental? When they say 17 inches on the 737 is there really more room than that between the armrests? Think anyway in heck that I'm gonna fit?
Thanks for your help.

[Greenwitch]

Hi Kandra,

Well, I know I flew United last year at my size (26) and I needed an extender, but was able to put the arms down. They were really nice about the extender being handed to me discretely. I'm pretty well in even proportion (5'9", hourglass) so I didn't have too much of a problem. My girl friend is about a 24 and very bottom heavy (very pear shaped, large bottom and thighs, you know the shape) and she had an awful time with her seat on Southwest. On southwest I didn't need an extender. Idon't know why. Maybe it's a seat difference. I do know I always ask for an aisle seet. They seem wider than the window seat for some reason. I haven't flown for about a year but like you I am always wondering about whether or not I'll be turned away or be forced to buy a 3rd seat. In fact, dh and I are flying to Hawaii in the fall and weight success or not, I'm going to try to buy a 3rd seat for the long journey so we have room. Dh is a big man,too. I can't imagine 9hrs cramped. I'd rather not go if that's the case. The extenders are LONG, that much I know. Like for me, I just needed 3 more inches and I'd have been able to do that buckle up. Just 3 more inches! It was sooooo close!!

I don't know your financial situation, but I know that if I had the extra money i would go for the wider seat just for the piece of mind that would go with it.

This is true: I was on a flight once where I struggled so hard to do up my seatbelt and finally got an extender. I saw a woman a few rows ahead of me, on the other side of the plane, struggling to do hers up. She finallygave up and rather than ask for an extender, she pulled her sweater down over her buckle. She never did up her seatbelt. She faked it for the whole flight and you know when the attendants walk down the aisle checking everyone, they never REALLY checked her. I didn't say anything. Maybe I should have for her safety, but I couldn't bring myself to. I felt so bad, yet I understand.

Anyway, I know this isn't a great help to you, but I want you to know I share your worry and concern. Please let us know what you end up doing and how your flight goes.

You do have all of April and whatever part of May before you go. You'll at least know you'll lose more weight by then. :)

[Greenwitch]

Hey Kandra, looks like Continental might be a good choice. this article says they were considering a size-friendly policy, but I cant find if they actually did it. http://www.elliott.org/archives/000965continental_off.php

[Kandra]

Hi Kandra,

Well, I know I flew United last year at my size (26) and I needed an extender, but was able to put the arms down. My girl friend is about a 24 and very bottom heavy (very pear shaped, large bottom and thighs, you know the shape) and she had an awful time with her seat on Southwest.

This is true: I was on a flight once where I struggled so hard to do up my seatbelt and finally got an extender. I saw a woman a few rows ahead of me, on the other side of the plane, struggling to do hers up. She finallygave up and rather than ask for an extender, she pulled her sweater down over her buckle. She never did up her seatbelt.

You do have all of April and whatever part of May before you go. You'll at least know you'll lose more weight by then. :)

Thank you for your comments Greenwitch. Yeah, I do have April to work on it and will work out a little harder and give up the little luxury of cream in my tea.
I'm still not sure what to do since you and your friend had such differing experiences. I read a letter here (http://www.complaints.com/complaintofthedayJanuary152001.5.htm) where the person said that the only airline they have to use extenders on is Continental. Seat guru says that different aircraft have different sized everything like seats and seat belts.

Do you happen to remember what type of jet your's was? Did it have just two rows on both sides of the plane or the third in the middle?

Also in that letter (link) is a simalar story about a man who didn't ask for the extender like the woman you saw and they guy gave some horrible thoughts about what could happen Yikes. YES I will ask for one, no problem.

Greenwitch for a nine hour flight I would do the same. That is just waaaay too long to be stuck in a tiny little space. You will feel more rested when you got there. It sounds like a dream vacation, and I hope you enjoy every minute of it.


....would be moot if the airlines put real-size seats for real-size people on planes.
That article was really good and I wish that all of the airlines would use that policy. It is not Continental's current policy, but I agree with the quote...I mean come on 17 inch seats? I just held up my tape measure and thought forget those of us who are XL, only young men would fit fine, but most women would be in a tight fit.

[bellybuton]

Its been a few months since anyone has posted on this thread...but you might want to check it out Kandra. :)

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=316564

[Greenwitch]

Hi Kandra,

I'm not sure of the type of jet, but it had two seats on one side, and two seats on the other.

The Southwest flight had 2 seats, 6 seats, 2 seats across. I believe their seats are 18.5" wide. I THINK.

Bev

[MizKitty]

I just flew Southwest in January, at 5'7", 260 pounds, and size 24/26 jeans. I was able to get the seat belt on without an extender and the tray table all the way down.

Greenwitch, in the past, weighing in the 300's, I confess to doing what you saw that woman do. I held the buckle-end of the seat belt across my tummy (coming from the right) and placed my left arm to block the view and fact that it was not buckled to anything. I was just too embarassed to ask for an extender.

[Kandra]

Thank you Greenwitch and MizKitty. Based on your information I'm going to just stick with my current tickets and take my chances. I really appreciate you telling me your experiences. I don't think that I'll get 600 dollars worth just for 3 hours in the air. I'll scrunch and squeeze. MizKitty, I just wanted to cry when I read that you'd done the same thing with the seatbelt because you're always so nice and encouraging here at the forum. It's so horrible that society makes good people feel bad about themselves that asking for help becomes an act of humilation (or has the potential to be one).

I freaked today when I Googled it and started reading all these HORROR stories of how people have been treated and appreciate that I can turn to you all for help. I still need to work on those fears then I'll be ready to face whatever comes, or at least be better equiped to handle whatever comes my way. I wish I had the wit and humor of PotatoFree, but I'll remember things from the 'snappy come backs' thread :D Stand back. Look Out, BBW coming through. :lol: So There!!

BellyButton thanks for that link. I followed all the other links within it, since Wa'il combined two threads within it. It was so interesting to see the attitude changes over the past 5 years. In 2002 there was so much more passion against buying the extra seat, which I totally agree with since people with broad shoulders or long legs aren't made to buy a second seat and they also invade other passenger's space. It's just a terrible situation all around because they make those seats too small for the average person (in the US anyways) to begin with.... 17.2 inches... I still wonder about how the law suits against SoutWest Air ended.

If anyone else has more information or wants to share their story about flying I am very interested to know as much as I can about this. Thanks again.

If they ask me to buy another seat, I will protest and mention many of the things that I read on those other posts.

[Meggen]

In december, weighing in at 305 pounds on my 5'5" frame I flew on British Airways. Was the first flight in 3 years where I didn't have to ask for an extender because the belt actually did up. I usually fly cross atlantic about 2-3 times a year (9 hour flight) and even when I have needed an extender MOST airlines are nice and discreet about it.

Then 2 weeks later I flew American Airlines and had a terrible experience. I asked for a seatbelt extended they told me they couldn't give me on til after the safety instructions were given because they needed them to demonstrate how to buckle a seat belt. then afterwards I had to remind them to give me one and they didnt til AFTER takeoff, so I had to endure take off with NO seatblet on. I am afraid of flying anyways but with no seatbelt, it was horrible, then they practically threw the extender at me without a word and went on their way. The seats were VERY small, I could BARELY squeeze myself into one, and of course the flight was jam packed with the new rules of not being able to fly flights that are less then 85% full. They cancel flights and overbook the next one going out so it is 100% full.

I fly quite frequently and have never even had anyone glance twice at me about buying a second seat etc, however that doesn't mean it will necessarily be a comfortable flight. I usually end up spending my 9 hour flight trying to contort myself into all kinds of odd positions to take up less space and not inconvenience my neighbors. Wish some of them would do the same thing. I always get the guys next to me who like to sit with their legs as far apart as humanly possible in front of me and their hands behind their head so I can't sit back either. But I just have bad luck.

Morale of the story??? Good luck, and don't fret cos you may get the wonderful BA flight (i hope you do) or the terrible AA flight but either way worrying will only cause wrinkles and white hair.

Oops there goes another one..... *plucks out another white hair*

[elreydelos]

Kandra,

I always fly American and can sit in coach using one extender and can get the arms down. A few pounds ago I could use the regular belt but just barely. Like you, I thought that if I upgraded to first class I'd have an easier time. I actually had a harder time in first class. It was like the seats were wider but the belt was shorter.

I hate to ask for the extenders. Silly, but I do. Here is a aite that you can buy your own.

http://www.extend-its.com/extenders.htm

Have fun on your trip!

[Greenwitch]

Now there's a nice idea! Buying your own extender! I love it! That right there would take away so much fear of humiliation.

[Kandra]

Thanks elreydelos, I saw that website yesterday but found them cheaper on eBay. Check out these bargains (I do love a good sale) eBay Auctions for Airline Seat Belt Extenders (http://search.ebay.com/seat-belt-extension) If you go to the site that elreydelos told us about they tell you what type each airline uses, most of the major US ones (except Southwest) use Type A.

Thanks for sharing your experiences Meggen. AA was a nightmare girl. Glad you kept your dignity, I might have blown a fuse and been tackled, on the 6 o'clock news...head covered with jacket being lead me off in handcuffs :lol: . I hope that ALL of our flights are like your BA one from now on.

From now on I'm going to check online for the flight that I want atExpedia (http://www.expedia.com) or similar and get what type of jet that flight will be. Then go to seat Guru (http://www.seatguru.com/) and find out what size it is. That way I'll have some idea of how small the seat is before I actually book. I'd rather switch to another airline and pay 30 or 40 dollars more for the comfort of a larger seat.

Of course there's nothing you can do to head off a situation like the raw deal ya got with AA. I would write a letter and complain and see if they'll give you some upgrade certificates or a free ticket or an appology or something. Being made to go through a take off without a seatbelt because of the failure of the FA should be a legal violation, then there's the stress they caused. Sheez Loueez, what are these airline companies doing to us??

I'm still not sure how the 17.2 inch seat is going to work, but I don't think that I ought to pay extra if the long legged person who will fold his legs in my space doesn't have to pay more. I tell ya I gave up cream in my coffee and walked an extra 15 minutes this morning just thinking about the tight squeeze. I may have found my motivation :D ...

[Greenwitch]

I tell ya I gave up cream in my coffee and walked an extra 15 minutes this morning just thinking about the tight squeeze. I may have found my motivation.

Isn't that the truth!

I thought about our trip and YOUR trip too on my morning walk!

[Kandra]

I thought about our trip and YOUR trip too on my morning walk!
LOL The curse-ed airlines are actually being of assistance. How nice that we can turn the negative into a positive. :lol:

[Greenwitch]

We need a weight ticker that counts off inches lost with a goal of 17.5" for those seats!

**********ticker**********
...2" lost! 15.5 to go..............17.5"

[Kandra]

We need a weight ticker that counts off inches lost with a goal of 17.5" for those seats!

**********ticker**********
...2" lost! 15.5 to go..............17.5"


ROTFL!!! :lol: Well I decided WhatTheHay I'm gonna do one up at the ticker site. Well I measured myself where the seatbelt will go while sitting and its like 58 inches...gulp. :eek: The good news (??) is that I'm wider front to back than side to side by a small margin. I guess that's good news. :confused: LOL Forget the measuring. My hips when standing are totally different than the sitting measurements. I can't find a way to measure side to side very well as I keep getting different measurements. Oh well. As long as I'm still losing inches in the hip area I'll call it a win.

[Dorr185]

You should know how to adjust the seat belt already provided. I felt kind of stupid, because I always asked for an extension, but one day I adjusted the seat belt already on the seat and it was plenty roomy.

[Kandra]

You should know how to adjust the seat belt already provided. I felt kind of stupid, because I always asked for an extension, but one day I adjusted the seat belt already on the seat and it was plenty roomy.
Yeah, I noticed that the seatbelts are the '0ld Fashioned' type like they used to have in cars.

[stacy0912]

i'm with you greenwitch. we have had the same problems on the plane. i too once hid the fact that the belt didn't fit w/out an extender...but after seeing the way the flight attendants were looking at me i'm sure they knew too. they fly enough to spot out the ones that will need an extender...hey that could be a fun game for them. after that i would just ask for one when walking on to the plane when they say "hi" they're right behind them so it's pretty discreet.

i've always had luck with southwest. they're seats seem to be wider, the ticket is cheaper, and they never said anything about me flying and having to buy 2 seats even when i was over 330. i do love them.