Flying when fat - help!

[FattyAirways]

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!

What size are you. I’m a 20/22 and I was fine.

I'm also scared that someone will be in my window seat and will refuse to move! I've heard the airline staff aren't great at dealing with this sort of thing! Can't you tell I have severe anxiety?!

I have just seen that two people have booked the seats next to mine

Maybe one of those two seats are a window one, and you’re in the aisle due to your fears etc?

maybe all three of your seats are nearer the exit cutting down time disembarking?

YABU

Hi @Allthestarsabovemyhead thank you for your message. I'm a 24. I don't want to be touching the people next to me!

Ah apologies you just confirmed you’re the window seat - please disregard

If they’re in your booked window seat, they will be told to move.

is it a situation where you’re going to need more than one seat? Please book the space you need, don’t assume it’s ok to use someone else’s space. Being crushed by someone else’s body is really uncomfortable and does nothing for a smaller person’s flight anxiety.

Hi @SavoirFlair , I booked the window seat so I can squash my fat up to the wall rather than on someone else/pour out into the aisle!

Hi @FattyAirways got you - and that’s super considerate etc..

im going to honestly say nothing but hugs and hope you make your flight ok and it’s not difficult

However you have arrived at being the size you are, it is immaterial. You’re anxious and this deserves compassion etc.

Could you not change your seat now to an empty row and possibly book two seats? If you genuinely think your weight is going to cause that much of an issue that you will be encroaching on the person next to you, then this is likely your best option.

Aww, thank you @SavoirFlair I really appreciate that.

Hello @Iguanainanigloo I don't think i'll spill over onto the person next to me. I just think that there'll be one person on the flight at least who hopes I'm not sat next to them! I do find it really weird why two people have booked right next to me though, despite there being loads of seats available.

I am sorry that you are feeling so anxious. Perhaps you could turn this around and think of positive solutions to problems you are anticipating to try to lessen your anxiety. If someone is sitting in your window seat how will you politely tell them that you booked that seat ? How long is the flight ? Perhaps you can go to the bathroom just before you get on the plane to lessen the embarrassment of having to ask people to move etc. I used to be size 22 and I know you can me made to feel an inconvenience to others. But you have tried to find a solution by booking the window seat which is a good move. I hope it all goes well for you

24 isn't that big.

You will be uncomfortable but mainly in your own space.

Can't imagine why anyone would book those seats when others are empty!

Airlines usually insist in everyone sitting in the correct seat for take off and landing but otherwise are usually OK with you moving to any vacant seats.

Hope your fight goes well and you enjoy the following time.

OP, I’m a size 28 and I have flown 5 times this year.

Personally I go for the aisle seat so I can spill out into the aisle and not encroach on others. Much easier to get in and out and I can stretch my leg in the aisle.

Don’t be embarrassed about asking for a seat belt extender, the crew are happy to provide them.

The key issue I have is the meals as the fold down table/pop out table usually don’t fully fit. So I’m creative and use the seat back pocket to hold some food and eat the things I can’t easily store first.

At a size 22 you will be fine.

I'm a size 20 and travel with my sister who's slightly bigger. We fit in 2 seats of a 3 seat row without encroaching on the third persons space or each others. If the flight is quiet then once you've taken off you'll be able to move somewhere with more space. I actually prefer an aisle seat for space.

There was a thread like this recently that became very divided. There were lots of overweight people telling the OP that it would be fine and she would fit in her seat no problem, and lots of slimmer people saying that it very much wasn’t fine and that they were made to feel very uncomfortable by people who didn’t fit properly into their seats because they didn’t like touching their neighbours or having them spill out of their own space.

YABVU to question why people would book into seats next to you when there are plenty of valid reasons!

For people saying book the other seat next to you how does this work? Do you book a complete flight for a named person?

Hi @Seemslikeaniceday. You are a frequent flyer!

Do you find you spill over into the other seats? I'm going to wear most comfortable clothes so all my fatty bits are evenly distributed.

Make sure you keep the seat bar down the whole time. Next time book an additional comfort seat.

@Sunshineandrainbow no they are called comfort seats you don't pay as much because you are not charged for luggage etc.

@ClocksGoingBackwards What reasons would they be though? I cannot fathom why when there are lots of other seats to choose from!

@LilacPoppy I surely will do.

If you’re large enough to spill over into the seat next to you or even be worried at all rhay someone has booked the seat next to you on an empty flight, then you should perhaps book a second seat. Imagine if 3 larger bodied people all opted out of buying a spare seat and all ended up being in the same row. Could happen.

I’ve been in situations when flying and having the person next to me overflowing into my space. It’s uncomfortable.

You can’t book two seats on a flight.

Of course you can!