To dread flying because of my size?

[annauk1]

I am going on holiday in a few days. I should be really happy but the flight is really making me not want to go.

I flew last year and needed a belt extension which was fine, wasn't much of a problem, but the thing that petrifies me most is that DP and I won't be able to sit together and if I end up sitting next to a nasty person who is ' a fat-phobe' and huffs and puffs at me the whole 3 hours for taking up more than my (tiny) seat space. I am flying with Monarch who are notorius for their tiny seats. I am a size 26 btw.

OP. I am a plump size 16 and certainly not a 'fat-phobe' but i admit i would huff and puff if someone really large was spilling over into the seat space i had booked and paid for. I think it is unreasonable of you to hope that won't happen.

I would like to suggest, ever so gently, that maybe once you return from holiday, or even while you are away, you might start to think about how you could lose some weight so you never have to worry about this again?

OP may be on steriods or have other problems that make her large. It isn't always as easy as dieting.

Littlewhitebag has said what I was thinking.

I think I would dread the idea of this so much, the thought of being so uncomfortable and potentially causing others discomfort it would galvanise me into doing something about it.

I get really claustrophobic on planes and once had a panic attack when flying while I was pregnant. Even now I would hate someone encroaching on my space although I would try not to show it.

I hope you get some decent seats together.

I've had to sit next to a large person on a flight. I don't like strangers touching me, so to have a big bloke squished against me really wasn't nice. I'm not 'fat phobic', I just think I am entitled to my own space.

I am big and occasionally need a seatbelt extender. I usually try and sit by the window, so I can sort of lean into the window, rather than out into the aisle and noone needs to pass me etc. I also sometimes ask for the extender on the way onto the 'plane and they bring it to me (rather than have to press the button and wait and then say what I need.... Cringe). Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy yours hols!

I was just thinking that gimcrack...about the touching thing.

I've read many times on Mumsnet that some people freeze when someone squeezes past them in a shop, and touches their shoulder or waist because they hate the contact.

I would have thought having someone pressed up against their shoulder/leg on a 3 hour flight, would be far too intimate for them.

Odd isn't it that everything is getting larger to pander to the increasing size of folk generally (fashion, portions etc etc) but airline seats if anything are getting smaller.

I think the very overweight ought to have to buy two seats each. I also think people ought to be weighed with their luggage - us slim folk have the same 23kg bag restriction as fat folk who can easily weigh more than 23kg more than we do. Buying two seats would allow double allowance.

I sat next to a very large person on a 24 hour flight once. (2 x 12 hours). It really was very unpleasant, and I was stiff and sore for days afterwards from sort of contorting myself into the space I actually had. I am a touchy feely person to people I know, but not to strangers!

OP, I do feel for you, but please do not think nasty thoughts of anyone who does have to share their space with you. You may be uncomfortable (physically and emotionally), but they are too.

"I also think people ought to be weighed with their luggage - us slim folk have the same 23kg bag restriction as fat folk who can easily weigh more than 23kg more than we do."

That wouldn't really work. What if you were a muscular and heavy 6 foot 6 man (or woman)?

OP, I feel for you, it sounds awkward and embarrassing. Hope you have a good holiday.

sorry, but yabu. Yes, seats are tiny on economy flights, but everyone is entitled to their own seat space. I have no problem sitting next to a fat person as I am obese myself, but I would have a real problem if the person next to me encroached into my space, I wouldn't dream of encroaching into theirs.

I am a size 14, so do just about fit into airline seats, but if I was much bigger then I would book two seats for myself.

And I wouldn't "huff and puff" if someone was spilling into my space, I would ask them politely but firmly to keep to their own seat.

Have a great holiday, get to check in dead early and tell the check in person you're worried and why. Go for window or aisle.
It's horrible isn't it, one of the reasons I had a gastric bypass. Seems like an impossible amount of weight to lose.
Enjoy your holidays x

So, each of those seats is not enough space for your arse, and you think that someone else sat next to you is a 'fat-phobe' because they aren't happy to be expected to do the flight with even less space? I might huff and puff and be generally pissed off if some stranger was touching me throughout a flight, if it was a long enough flight, I'd ask for a different seat.

Arriving early and asking to be with your DP is good advice, as is booking two seats. I would suggest getting an asile seat acutally, that way once you've taken off, you can lean out that way, and not be touching the person sat next to you. It's not nice to be touching a stranger. It's not nice to not let them have their own space.

Why did you book with a company you know has even smaller seats than usual if your size is going to be a problem for the poor sod person sitting next to you?

You sound quite entitled tbh.

I don't understand how you can be a 'fat phobe' for not wanting a total stranger taking up part of your seat.

Tbh I've experienced it once and would demand I was moved seats rather than spend an entire flight squashed in the seat I paid for with a sweaty man touching me. Would you accept it in a restaurant? No. So why should anyone accept it on a flight?

That's a bit harsh moody.

harsh but fair

Monarchs seating and seat pitch is probably one of the more generous lower cost carriers to be honest. On many aircraft they have a few rows at the front with more space. You could try to book seats in this section.

Op you should be able to book this online. Don't spend anymore time worrying about it ruining your hols

moogy1a - Just Rude!!!

There are other people on here, that are so rude!!!!
Mean bastards

When did you book this?

I agree with the majority here, book 2 seats.

booking three seats between two seems an excellent solution, and will cost a bit less than two seats each.

sorry, but none of us are entitled to inconvenience others like this. Except small babies who can't help it.

enjoy the holiday, OP.

I'm not sure the 'territory of hugeness' is an actual thing

I am sure that being that rude makes you a wanker.

I recently flew back from Atlanta next to a very fat person.

I am certainly not a 'fat-phobe' and no, I didn't 'huff and puff' at him.

But it was the most uncomfortable flight of my life. He sat in the aisle seat and slept for the last 5 hours and I was well and truly stuck and squashed by him.

I agree with the 2 seats idea. It's pretty unbearable for all concerned, not just you OP.