airline seats and the larger lady....

[chloeb2002]

Hey and odd question but even though ive travelled long haul alot im still not totally sure on this. I have a friend who wants to join us on our annual jaunt back to Aus next year. My concern is that she is larger than average? im not petite waif, say size 14/16 and my my butt 'fits' in an airline seat. not too much room to wriggle if you know what i mean. This friend will be a size 22/26 ish and short. so
a/ do you think she will fit into a seat? i know singapore seats arm rests dont lift anymore.
b/ how do i get this concept across to her? I have tried saying just think if you do lose all this weight you keep talking about doing you will be able to come.not worked, i think she doesnt beleive me.
help

Know what you mean, trouble is I've still got prego brain and my last pregnancy was 15 years ago!!

ok so to clarify....
my friend and she a friend, is always planning on one diet or another.... hence why i sugessted the idea that it would be an added plus to her. Id love her to come with us but i would feel dreadful for her if she got to departures and had to either pay for an extra seat, top up for raffels class or anything similar. I also know people who have been charged excess weight for themselves. I am aware she has never traveled long haul and and its been a long time since she flew to europe. the idea that her size could be a problem wouldnt cross her mind. I am cetainly not fatist but do care that if she plans to come she will be able to get there with no stress and humiliation.

My v good friend, who is a size 20-something, has twice been horribly humiliated on planes. A well-intentioned check-in peson will alllocate her a 'roomy' seat. Once on the plane, this turned out to be alongiside an emergeny exit door, and the cabin staff moved her because she is considered not nifty and manouverable enough to open the door if needs be. (you will also be moved from these seats if you are judged unable, in any other way, to open the door - old, infirm, disabled, or can't read the instructions).

Chloe - put this in your friends hands - and warn her not to accept a seat by the emergency door.

which is why I suggested that you find out from the airline how they accommodate larger passengers and do it before you book; presumably you have a choice? It may be, if the flight is not full, that you will be able to have a row of three seats between 2 of you and raise the armrests. Choose the airline that will take yout friend in the mosy comfort.

Tell us, tell us, tell us your other story Ronniebaby!

22/26 isnt that large imo. my mum is about an 20-24, as am i, but dont have problems fitting in seats.

...as she got up, and went to the loo, she had the moulding/imprint of the seat on her back & arse...

And I'm sure the woman was in total agony for the three hour flight and was equally humiliated for having to hold her partners plate and horrified that they were squashing you...but what else could they have done?

I am large but my sister is absolutely huge and stopped being able to fly a few years ago after a trip, with me, to Greece, where she had to stand the entire time near the toilets crying because of squashing me and a fellow passenger. Airplane seats is just one in a long line of humiliations that she has to go through on a daily basis.

There is a big difference between a size 20 and 26, if she is the latter then you should mention the seating arrangements as it will be far more embarassing for her if, like my sister, she is given a seat that she can't fit into and then has to ask other passengers to swop seats.

Misdee, it must be in the bodyshape as I am a 18 and I can't fit in the emergency seats with the rigid arms...I also am extremely uncomfortable in normal seats if the arms aren't raised

I thought I read a while back that airline companies are now making seats bigger as a rule because this is an increasing problem?

Your poor sister Artyjoe .

I got VERY big towards the end of my second pregnancy (very overweight anyway when I became pregnant). Phoned the airline to discuss it and they arranged a particular set of seats for me and dh. I was very grateful.

They treat you differently when pregnant, which is great because I'm enjoying that element myself being 32 weeks pregnant, but my sister is so obviously not large because she is pregnant, so I'm afraid she doesn't get treated like a human being very often

I think you're right to be concerned about your friend, Chloe. I've just done a long-haul cattle class trip and I found it uncomfy even though I'm only a size 12. My mum is around a size 22/24 and tbh, she simply wouldn't be able to get into an airline seat. Her weight is concentrated round her bottom and legs and I could envisage her developing DVT very easily. Would your friend be able to pay for two seats or upgrade so she could have more room?

your probably right about the body shapes artyjoe. i dont have huge bum or thighs, but carry a lot of weight of my tummy and chest area. in fact my legs are in pretty good shape considering.

I am no stick, but not obese either (size 14-16) but there has been great pressure put on me to lose weight because of high blood pressure and the risk of diabetes. Although not a fatist, health problems are inevitable with being overweight, not to mention discrimination, humiliation, expense and worst of all, really, incidents like the lady who spent the flight crying by the toilets! It's heartbreaking. If only there was an easy way to lose weight! It is easy in theory, but putting it into practice day after day requires an enormous amount of dicipline and determination, especially if you're stressed, tired and are running around after children.

Dogwalker - it aint that interesting, it was on the way back this elderly, (not old but maybe mature) were sat at the front seat by the emergency exit, as they both had walking sticks, the air steward asked them if they could manage the emerg exit door, the woman, looked horrified and said NO way, but the man assured the steward he could, but he really didnt look like he had the energy, the steward wasnt happy and said he really should move them, but the couple werent having any of it as they had all that leg room (surprise), but to top it all off, they then went on to buy about 4 drinks each from the mini bar, which actually horrified a lot of the passengers as they were gonna be in charge of opening the door if the steward wasnt able to.

Thankfully behind them was my Dh and nxt to me were my 2 mates who would have been capable.

Thank you for your comments... she is more towards a 26 than a 22 in size and i have rung singapore airlines and they have stated that she would need a raffels class seat as they say the mega top planes dont have raising arm rests due to the phones and tv remotes. now feel real bad as she is a student nurse with me at the mo and has been warned by her last placement that her weight is affecting her ability to peform her job. she doing mental health and had hoped she wouldnt need to be any fitter as she doesnt do the running that us adult lot do in a and e etc. so now i feel that i just dont want to bring it up and cause her more stress. I think ill have to let her book her own tickets but suggest she rings singapore herself to confirm.

Chloeb2002-I don't think you had any intention of "hurting" anyone's feelings and that you are a good friend. Larger people have real problems and lots of companies don't always do their best to help. BUT, if your friend has been warned aboutwork etc, can she try to lose weight or is it a thyroid prolem? Maybe a push like this would help her and there would be nothing worse, IMO, than to get to an airport and be more humiliated. Sorry, larger ladies, but I think she's right and I know how you feel, believe me. Note-I am not saying how large I am..XXXXXX

chloe, do all the airlines have fixed arms or is it just singapore? Have you tried the others?

I think most of the new planes do have solid seats, its becasue you can drive your own tv and use the phone ....if you have won lotto recently.. I know again this is going to sound selfish and i aplologixe now because i dont want it to but i have a 2 yr old and have always traveled with singapore airlines... call it loyalty i guess but i know changi airport well, and can make the transit with ease, minimal stress etc. Again ill be shot down but my friend wont be able to help to much with DD, she has an 11 year old who is also overweight and unfit. When it comes to moving DD, her hand luggage, my hand luggage and the posibiolty of the stroller not reappearing in time isenough grief without getting stressed out navigating a new airport. The cabin crew on singapore are all angles and do their total best, nothing has ever been too much for them, baby pom covered in sick after an emergency landing... getting consent for a me and 8 week DD to saty on board during a transit in mombay...taking DD so i could get a chance to eat in peace... just amazing crew...