Page 2 | Flying when fat - help!

FattyAirways · 2022-09-10T13:41:32+00:00

I'm due to fly soon and i'm overweight quite significantly. I have lost some weight but won't lose enough to feel confident on the plane by time I go. Has anyone recently flew who is overweight who can offer words of reassurance? What has made me even more nervous is that I anticipated it might be a quiet flight (early evening) and I have just seen that two people have booked the seats next to mine despite there being a number of seats that are in the lines of three still vacant. Why oh why would anyone do that? They're not even the premium economy seats!

whynotwhatknot · 12/09/2022 16:26

glad you got to try one enjoy your trip

TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater · 11/09/2022 21:35

Well yes if I was flying alone I would book two seats ! My last flight was so uncomfortable I made up my mind never again and have joined slimming world. It was the straw that broke the camel's back for me never again

Thanks for being considerate.

And also good luck with the weight loss.

arthurfowlermood · 11/09/2022 21:17

RampantIvy · 11/09/2022 20:54

Can I ask - if you buy a second seat for comfort, don't you still have to have the armrests down for take off and landing?

What happens if someone can't fit in the seat?

I think most people can fit in the seat but there is overhang with and without the armrests. Not comfortable for either party I would guess.

RampantIvy · 11/09/2022 20:54

Can I ask - if you buy a second seat for comfort, don't you still have to have the armrests down for take off and landing?

What happens if someone can't fit in the seat?

SummerBummers · 11/09/2022 20:52

People on Mumsnet can really be revolting. And I don’t mean the OP.

ReneBumsWombats · 11/09/2022 19:52

Today I got to try a plane seat which is the same width as I will be sat in and I fit absolutely fine.

Where was that?

arthurfowlermood · 11/09/2022 19:49

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Toebeams · 11/09/2022 19:42

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forgotoldusername · 11/09/2022 19:34

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FlimsySteve · 11/09/2022 19:26

FattyAirways · 11/09/2022 19:21

That is not good! Did you get a refund?

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Of course but it was a waste of my time and money booking them, and sorting out the admin for the refund.

IWishIWasABaller · 11/09/2022 19:23

TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater · 11/09/2022 00:26

But @IWishIWasABaller if flying alone - especially on Ryanair where you say the seats are smaller than average - would you not book a comfort seat next to you to avoid this embarrassment to yourself and the inconvenience and awkwardness (at best) to the passenger next to you (at worst, as a PP highlighted, potentially causing them distress)?

I really don't understand the mentality of anybody who wouldn't just book the extra seat if they knew this was an issue and would not be sitting next to a family member or friend whose consent for impinging on their personal space they could seek in advance.

Well yes if I was flying alone I would book two seats ! My last flight was so uncomfortable I made up my mind never again and have joined slimming world. It was the straw that broke the camel's back for me never again

Original poster

FattyAirways · 11/09/2022 19:21

FlimsySteve · 11/09/2022 19:17

I've bought a second seat twice and both times they have sat someone in it so I don't do it anymore.

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That is not good! Did you get a refund?

OP posts:

Original poster

FattyAirways · 11/09/2022 19:20

@piffle123 I don't want to out myself and where in the country I am but although it was a cosy fit, my body was all within my own seat! I was grinning from ear to ear. It's definitely a push to lose weight though.

OP posts:

FlimsySteve · 11/09/2022 19:17

forgotoldusername · 11/09/2022 09:19

Unfortunately OP has decided she'll be "fine" so she won't book a second seat. So so unfair towards the unfortunate person sitting next to her. I would make some annoyed noises to be honest - and imagine her having to go to the loo (thankfully the Ryanair seats in front can't recline). I have an issue with one of my joints and that's why I mostly travel business or at the very least I choose and pay for an aisle seat on the left side of the plane to accommodate my joint.

The majority of people here is telling you to buy a second seat - please do the decent thing and buy it - people will breathe a sigh of relief on the plane I can guarantee you. And next time book business which means the middle seat is vacant and you can spill there

I've bought a second seat twice and both times they have sat someone in it so I don't do it anymore.

piffle123 · 11/09/2022 19:14

FattyAirways · 11/09/2022 19:06

I have some great news! Today I got to try a plane seat which is the same width as I will be sat in and I fit absolutely fine. No hang over of my body on the next seat. I am so happy! I do carry most of my fat on my arms and belly, and really I've always been happy with myself width-ways, it's just the belly and flabby arms that I have a problem with.

How??

Original poster

FattyAirways · 11/09/2022 19:06

I have some great news! Today I got to try a plane seat which is the same width as I will be sat in and I fit absolutely fine. No hang over of my body on the next seat. I am so happy! I do carry most of my fat on my arms and belly, and really I've always been happy with myself width-ways, it's just the belly and flabby arms that I have a problem with.

OP posts:

TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater · 11/09/2022 15:40

Clouds? 🤣 Crowds, rather.

TheSpringyGuyAndTheCheeseEater · 11/09/2022 15:39

Day20 · 11/09/2022 11:33

@TirisfalPumpkin with all due respect if you have sensory issues are you sure an airport and plane are the most ideal way to travel? Public transport is just that public. Ones needs does not trump another.

I do not know how a person with sensory issues would cope with the airports currently long ques, standing within close proximity to people, people going ahead of the queue despite you being there before them.. and the delays.

You cannot just discriminate whatever the reason may be.

Adjustments can be made in the airport so that, while it's unpleasant, people with sensory issues can cope. Ear defenders, sunglasses, special assistance will even take people straight through to avoid the clouds. The person should be able to breathe a relative sigh of relief once they reach their seat and their personal space is restored. To tell people with sensory issues that they should just not fly because an inconsiderate and entitled stranger may take up a significant proportion of the personal space that they have paid for on the plane - when unlike autism, sensory issues or any other disability, this is totally avoidable by booking the extra seat so the entitled person is inflicting this on the other passenger by choice - is appalling.

There is no need for one person's needs to "trump the other". The overweight person can simply avoid trampling over other people's perfectly reasonable needs to have the space they have paid for to themselves.

arthurfowlermood · 11/09/2022 14:54

Justrealised · 11/09/2022 13:56

A person sat next to you with ld or severe autism may well touch you whether you like it or not, a body builder could be huge much bigger than the poster and may very likely want the arm rest up and to put at least some of their leg in the foot area of the next seat, large infants on a lap can take up alot of room babies do also grab, if said child falls asleep in the inside of the parent/ carers elbow that elbow will likely be on the arm rest, a physically disabled person may have to sit in a way where they do rest to one side, the others are examples of inconvenient/ problem causing behaviour and yes that includes people dressed ridiculously for a flight. Smoking happens more than you think, just because you don't think you've experienced doesn't mean it hasn't. Crew have physically check the toilet areas regularly and their are extra extinguishers in them.

If you want so much space guaranteed maybe you should pay for the comfort area for yourself. How would you manage in a theatre if you were in this situation or a train?

If the op fits the seat, can fasten a belt even if extended and get that armrest down she has as much right to be there as anyone else.

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Ridiculous comparison.

So the person who is not overweight should pay for extra space in case the obese person who has not paid for extra space pours over to their side? Don't be ridiculous.

If the op fits the seat, can fasten a belt even if extended and get that armrest down she has as much right to be there as anyone else

Wrong. If you get the armrest down and the fat that is pushed up because you don't actually fit comfortably spills over onto my side.....that is NOT ok. Why should MY seat be made smaller? Why should I have to be uncomfortable? If you have spillage where your body is touched another person you need 2 seats. End of. NOBODY should have to put up with that.

DuckInAPuddle · 11/09/2022 14:35

BuildersTeaMaker · 10/09/2022 19:36

It really does depend where you carry your weight

if you are apple shape at size 24 you will fit into seat no probs - but you may need to ask for a seat belt extension. You can do this as you get onto the plane with the steward at door. They won’t bring it immediately, they’ll hand to you just before take off, in a fairly discreet way. By then everyone is seated and no one will see who it’s being given too.

don’t think about arm rest being raised- it won’t help as you have to have them lowered at takeoff and landing - and it’ll really really annoying y people next to you if you raise them to spread over their arm space

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Completely agree, body shape really matters in this context. I'm 5'11", so airline seats are already uncomfortable due to height and as a pear shape I carry most of my weight in my hips, bum and thighs. When I was a size 20/22, there were definitely lots of economy seats (especially on budget airlines like Ryan Air!) I didn't properly fit into. Seatbelt length was always fine, but my hips and bum were just too wide. In my case this was less of a problem as I always had family members sitting next to me, so raising the armrest / touching the other person slightly wasn't an issue. In any other situation I would have bought an extra seat.

I used to find the SeatGuru website quite helpful to look up seat width and pitch in advance for your actual flight number:
www.seatguru.com/findseatmap/findseatmap.php

Of course there can always be last minute changes and a different plane will be used or you end up on a different flight due to unforseen cirumstances, so not 100% reliable either.

notimagain · 11/09/2022 14:21

a body builder could be huge much bigger than the poster and may very likely want the arm rest up and to put at least some of their leg in the foot area of the next seat,

Not sure about all body builders but by virtue of where I live I see and occasionally end up on flights seated next to some of those who play for the local rugby major Union team - we're talking Heineken Champions Cup players, not local league. I think by most definitions these guys could be regarded as huge but nevertheless they can fit into an economy seat on a short haul flight, sometimes with two more of their mates in the same row, same side of the aisle.........when they do that it looks a bit tight around the shoulders but they don't overflow.

Given that I suspect think there is at least some virtue in @arthurfowlermood 's argument that it's not just size, it's shape that matters,

urgen · 11/09/2022 14:16

Having travelled extensively I know the overweight people are stating it’s really OK but it’s not. I have had many experiences of people breathing a sigh of relief when they see they are sitting next to me.

They often make a few jokes about the size of the seat but it always means I have to move myself into uncomfortable positions as their fat literally has nowhere to go. Sorry to be so graphic but it really is the pits for small people

figmaofmyimagination · 11/09/2022 13:58

I think anything size 18 and over you WILL be encroaching on other seats, no matter how much you convince yourself otherwise.

Justrealised · 11/09/2022 13:56

arthurfowlermood · 11/09/2022 13:40

A body builder would NOT take up as much room as someone who was size 24, they would not have fat spilling under arm rests. Noise or flapping is not touching, physically disabled people are not touching, Stags and hens are not touching, people swearing, arguing, playing loud music, people not dressed appropriately?? are not touching, never seen anyone smoke on a flight but even by some miracle they did, they are not touching.

Someone who is grossly overweight who tries to wedge themselves into a seat that is too small and in doing so takes over some of MY space and makes My travel uncomfortable due to them spilling over to my side is something else entirely.

Show quote history

A person sat next to you with ld or severe autism may well touch you whether you like it or not, a body builder could be huge much bigger than the poster and may very likely want the arm rest up and to put at least some of their leg in the foot area of the next seat, large infants on a lap can take up alot of room babies do also grab, if said child falls asleep in the inside of the parent/ carers elbow that elbow will likely be on the arm rest, a physically disabled person may have to sit in a way where they do rest to one side, the others are examples of inconvenient/ problem causing behaviour and yes that includes people dressed ridiculously for a flight. Smoking happens more than you think, just because you don't think you've experienced doesn't mean it hasn't. Crew have physically check the toilet areas regularly and their are extra extinguishers in them.

If you want so much space guaranteed maybe you should pay for the comfort area for yourself. How would you manage in a theatre if you were in this situation or a train?

If the op fits the seat, can fasten a belt even if extended and get that armrest down she has as much right to be there as anyone else.

whynotwhatknot · 11/09/2022 13:50

to answer the questions i do consider others i usually book an aisle seat and lean outwards