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!

@Aprilx yes you can

If you are a 24 you might feel a little bit tight but you will be fine. Airplane seats are never overly comfortable anyway! We have flown several long haul flights and I am a similar size to you and I have been fine. I used to have the window and my partner the middle but one time our flights got changed and I ended up in aisle, I would say moving forward I would pick the aisle over the window as it felt more roomy!

At a size 24 you really don't need a comfort seat op. My friend who is a similar size usually books an aisle seat just because it's easier with getting out to the loo etc but you'll be fine in the window seat. Try to relax, you'll be fine! If you think you'll need an extender seat belt you can ask for one on boarding if you want to be discrete but it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I hope you have a lovely trip 😀

You can book two seats in a flight but I'm confident I won't need two. I just hope another overweight person isn't sat next to me.

I am slim, fly a lot ( often long haul) and overweight people spilling into my e space is the least of my problems. Usually I am annoyed by screaming babies, whiny children, people talking loudly on their phones or dropping bags on me, eating noisily and so on. But I tolerate all these because you know, everybody deserves to fly. I feel sorry for OP feeling anxious.

people do not in my experience sit in the wrong seat on planes (not like on trains where people do sit in other peoples’ reserved seats!), so you really don’t need to worry about that.

Ok so yes I guess you can, but you would have to invent a person to do so. And then when the imaginary person doesn’t turn up, the airline is free to use the seat as they see fit. So perhaps I should have said, it won’t achieve anything.

There are 2 main problems you'll have. The first as someone has already mentioned it the tray table.. and the second is going to the loo especially if the people in front have reclined their seats....

The people next to you might not have chosen their seats, it could be that the travel agent has put them there or the airline might have assigned them (often happens when there's a group booking).

I don’t actually spill out as I fit within the seat, even those with full sides so you can’t enchroach! That is partly due to where I carry my weight - that’s why I find the table difficult.

I also wear loose fitting clothes for the same reason.

Ahh @katscamel that would make sense. It's Ryanair I'm flying with so they might have been automatically assigned.

I am size 24 ish and also have poor mobility so need assistance around the airport meaning I often board first. I always book a seat with extra leg room or premium economy seat on short haul flights. As I know I would not be allowed to sir in a emergency exit row it does mean I have to book my flights as early as possible or be flexible with the flight times.

On long haul I fly business class, I’d rather have fewer long haul holidays than fly economy! When younger I tried to go on a long haul holiday every two years, now I might go every five years as I have to save up a bit longer.

I dread needing the seat extender but so far I’ve managed to use the regular seat belt - I need to lose the lockdown weight gain though before I fly again!

Maybe they like a particular row, or disliked the other options. Maybe the other options were over a wing or too near the back or whatever. They clearly wanted an aisle or a middle if you booked the window, so maybe they wanted to book two seats together next to a single to reduce the chances of being asked to move.

When it comes to checking in, go to the desk rather than doing it online. At that point, you can mention that you noticed people booked the seats next to you and ask if they can switch you to a less crowded row. Usually they can, if the flight isn’t full. It isn’t a guarantee of an empty seat next to you (because someone else could switch their seat for whatever reason), but it at least increases the likelihood!

Maybe look at the options depending upon the airline eg if BA, consider upgrading to Club (shouldn’t be too expensive if flying in Europe and then there’s no-one in the middle seat), a comfort seat if RyanAir etc. I’m sure you could at least change seats to an empty row, perhaps one with extra legroom.

Children have to be sat with their adult. That can be the seat behind, across the aisle etc but I've found they always allocate us in a row whether it be Ryanair, EasyJet or whatever. They always put DP somewhere random because I don't pay for seats.

It'll be a child you're sitting next to.

It could be that they are a family of four, so booked the two seats next to you, and the two adjacent, or in front, so they are all near/next to eachother? This is what we do, as easier to have a parent per child than one with two, and one with none.

Ha yeah no, that's not how comfort seats work.

Kind of like the idea of inventing a person though. Mine would be Schubert Ramsbottom.

And you definitely can book an extra seat. I've done it before when breastfeeding my baby, and not wanting her legs dangling over a stranger/feeling uncomfortable. Just booked two seats in my name 🤷‍♀️ and had the row to myself and baby, husband sat opposite with toddler. Not saying you should have to book two seats op, but if it would make you more comfortable it is always an option.

Countless list of reasons why aisle/middle have gone, including people wanting to sit near the front in the hopes of a fast disembarkation.

@FattyAirways -as far as worrying about somebody being in your seat..if it happens (and it sometimes happens by accident, seat row numbering isn't sometimes that clear on some aircraft) politely point out to whoever is sat in your place the seat number on your boarding card. If there is still any reluctance to move it's an issue for the cabin crew to resolve, not you.

Good Luck.

There are many reasons: some like to be near the exits; near the loos; not near the loos; front of plane; rear of plane; over the wing, etc.

Until very recently I was a size 24/26 and flew often. I never encroached on anyone else's seat and I'm sure you won't either. The seats are wide enough to accommodate my hips, anyway!

I only ever had to use a seat belt extender once (thanks, EasyJet 🙄). I found it was usually best to lengthen the standard belt as far as it goes before sitting down, then fasten it across your hips, not your belly. This gives you more wiggle room. Usually it did up with a little bit to spare, but don't be embarrassed if you need an extender. No one else cares, honestly.

I usually book an aisle seat so I don't have to shuffle past anyone to get to the loo, but I can see the window seat would work too so long as you stay put.

If you have a problem with the tray table, just pop the meal on your knee and eat the hot part first.

Everyone saying you need two seats is entirely wrong. Only the most extremely fat would ever need to do that.

And don't be embarrassed - I'd much rather sit next to a polite, considerate fat person than someone smaller but objectionable! I've sat next to people who stink, who are aggressive to cabin crew, who are having loud arguments with their family, or who will not shut up! All those are much much worse!

This seems slightly hypocritical.

I don’t think that 24 is likely to be large enough that you’ll spill over into a neighbour’s seat.

I’ve been next to someone on a transatlantic flight who did, but I think they were far bigger than a 24.

People talking loudly on their phones on a flight?

I'm a size 24/26 but tall as well. I have flown twice this year with no problems. Didn't need the seat belt extender
It was tight but not to uncomfortable. I always book an aisle seat so l can put my legs out if l need to and l get claustrophobic if I'm not able to leave my seat. Change your seat to an asile seat. Also once the plane has taken of you can move to an empty row if you like as long as you return to your seat for landing