AIBU?
Flying when fat - help!
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 14:41
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!
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
Livinginanotherworld · 10/09/2022 16:27
Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 14:57
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.
Please don’t “ spill out into the aisle” ….have you ever tried getting the heavy trolley down it ? Think of the other passengers and crew and either book 2 seats or take the window.
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 16:28
Herecomestreble1 · 10/09/2022 16:08
This seems slightly hypocritical.
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 15:13
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 didn't mean it in a horrible way, just imagine if another overweight person is sat next to me and our hips or side fat are touching!
Genegenieee · 10/09/2022 16:40
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 14:52
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.
Why don't you move your seat? Serbs a simple solution
Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 16:40
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 16:28
I didn't mean it in a horrible way, just imagine if another overweight person is sat next to me and our hips or side fat are touching!
Herecomestreble1 · 10/09/2022 16:08
This seems slightly hypocritical.
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 15:13
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.
OP YABvU you wanted reassurance about being OK to fly. You have been given this.
If you don’t want any physical contact between you and another passenger then as pp have stated contact the airline and book the seat next to you.
Tabbouleh · 10/09/2022 16:58
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 16:13
People talking loudly on their phones on a flight?
LobeliaBaggins · 10/09/2022 15:14
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.
Before the flight takes off or immediately after landing.
Marvellousmadness · 10/09/2022 17:01
"At a size 22/24 you will fit fine."
Haha thats delusional pp
I hardly fit
And i am a size 10/12
'It’s a shame that airlines don’t offer some wider seats for an appropriate premium. It could avoid much anxiety and discomfort."
A shame? From them?or a shame that obesity is such a pandemic.
Iwonder08 · 10/09/2022 17:03
If it is a short haul flight people will suffer through. I am size 6-8 and I don't think there is a lot of room in a standard economy seat even for me. If I were size 20+ I would have booked a bigger seat for my own comfort. If it is not an option please love yourself to the Isle seat at least. Please don't consider this as anything anti larger people, I really am not. I would give a similar advice to someone very tall
BlooberryBiskits · 10/09/2022 17:09
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 16:28
I didn't mean it in a horrible way, just imagine if another overweight person is sat next to me and our hips or side fat are touching!
Herecomestreble1 · 10/09/2022 16:08
This seems slightly hypocritical.
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 15:13
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.
^ hi OP - as long as you prebook a window (or preferably aisle) seat I think this is v unlikely
I fly several times a year: at my largest have been a size 22 (now a size 16) but never had an issue with comfort/fitting in my seat. I come from a large family and some of them have had to use seat belt extenders/arguably SHOULD pay for an extra seat but I don’t think you are in that territory
I strongly suggest you book an aisle seat as then any ‘overspill’ is in the aisle not your neighbour, and if you can afford premium economy or extra space seats that might be more comfortable.
My personal experience is that it can be v annoying/frustrating to be wedged in next to a large person (I have had this with family, but also strangers and it can be height/large frame not just weight) but as PP have said there are many annoyances with flying & this is just one. Keep the seat rest down to be fair to anyone sitting next to you
Which airline are you traveling with?
rookiemere · 10/09/2022 17:19
It is possible to buy an extra seat with Ryanair for exactly these circumstances:help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360017825038-Extra-Seats
BrokenMatress · 10/09/2022 17:24
Aprilx · 10/09/2022 15:11
You can’t book two seats on a flight.
Iguanainanigloo · 10/09/2022 14:49
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.
Yes you can- you book a 2nd seat it is cheaper as there is no air passenger duty.
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 17:25
Tabbouleh · 10/09/2022 16:58
Before the flight takes off or immediately after landing.
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 16:13
People talking loudly on their phones on a flight?
LobeliaBaggins · 10/09/2022 15:14
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.
So not on a flight then.
notimagain · 10/09/2022 17:30
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 17:25
So not on a flight then.
Tabbouleh · 10/09/2022 16:58
Before the flight takes off or immediately after landing.
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 16:13
People talking loudly on their phones on a flight?
LobeliaBaggins · 10/09/2022 15:14
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.
FWIW Industry definition is a flight commences at push back/first move off stand and ends on arrival on stand.....
seashant · 10/09/2022 18:06
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.
SnowDear · 10/09/2022 18:07
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 16:28
I didn't mean it in a horrible way, just imagine if another overweight person is sat next to me and our hips or side fat are touching!
Herecomestreble1 · 10/09/2022 16:08
This seems slightly hypocritical.
FattyAirways · 10/09/2022 15:13
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.
this is why you need to book a 2nd seat for yourself. Why didn’t you?
SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 18:10
Crikeyalmighty · 10/09/2022 17:53
I've never had a problem until last 2 flights on EasyJet- I'm a size 18 - seat belt barely did up and tray couldn't pull down flat- I think they've crammed xtra seats in - I usually book emergency exit but couldn't this time
I think that once you’ve got to this size then unfortunately you do just have to accept that you start to become limited in what you can do, and that flying is one of the areas that you’ll feel the effect first.
The economic model of most economy seats / airlines now is based pretty much entirely on price, so they need to pack people in like sardines.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.