A Benefit of Losing Weight: Fitting Into an Airplane Seat
I generally dislike traveling via airplane. Sitting in the same position for too long isn’t something I enjoy. I also don’t like uncomfortably sitting in a seat that’s made for someone half my size. I don’t know if it’s me, but are airplane seats shrinking? It seems like every time I take a new flight the seats and aisles are smaller and narrower.
I recently took a few flights and am happy to say that I actually fit comfortably into the seat of the airplanes I took. That was a major relief for me because I dread not fitting into airplane seats. I also dread sitting in the middle of a row, in between two people that can’t stand the “fat guy.” That always happens to me, it’s just my luck. Having lost some significant weight since my last plane ride has paid off big time. I can now fit into a seat, buckle my seat belt with out using an extender or pretend to have the seat belt buckled because I’m too embarrassed to ask for an extender.
This may or may not be true, but I have heard of obese people having to pay for two seats since they take up a lot of extra space. The airline companies would lose a customer if they allowed a fat person to only pay for one seat, but take up two. It has to be true since it makes sense. Also, airline companies have started to charge for EVERYTHING. I booked a flight and was charged a fee for selecting my own seat!!!! Then on the flight, they tried selling me $2 cheap earphones. They were also selling $8 ham and cheese sandwiches. It’s pretty ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I may fit into a seat now but my shoulders and arms are still too wide for the narrow spacing of the seats. I still overflow into the other seats due to my abundance of width, but I don’t care that much about that. I’m just glad my butt doesn’t get numb anymore from being stuffed into a tiny space.
I usually get stuck by the unruly children or crying babies. But what if three overweight people all had to sit next to each other? Who is going to be inconvenienced?
My husband’s tall. We usually ask for his seat to be an aisle seat. It sometimes means we don’t seat together but for his comfort and to not take up room from the person next to him because he has to spread out his legs, why should someone else who fits in their seat just right be inconvenienced?
It’s no secret that seating is tight on planes. If you are overweight don’t blame the aircraft makers.
Sorry this sounds harsh. But who is more likely to make the change…the overweight person or rebuilding airplanes to accommodate them?
I forgot to mention the tallness factor as well. The legroom is pretty ridiculous on airplanes, unless you are in an exit row. Even if I wasnt fat or tall, I would still think airplanes needed to be made with more accommodating seating. Oh wait, they are, it’s called first class.
It’s not harsh at all Kimberly. It’s just the same view people have of fat people, which is that they are the problem.
Travel is stressful enough. No one should be embarrassed or worried about airplane travel or fitting in their seats.
That is one of the reasons why I started selling airplane seat belt extenders at my site for the major airlines. Our motto is “Live large. Love large. Travel large.”
To all tall people: Sorry! I wish I could help figure out a way for more legroom. The situation is ridiculous!
Congrats on your weight loss!
Some would see you as a helper of fat people, some as an enabler, some even as an exploiter… lol. Thanks for commenting.
Heh…I’ve had the same experiences – both the too big and the fitting again. It’s pretty good to be normal sized.
I mostly have problems with the legroom. But I’m 6′ 5″ so I don’t think there’s an easy solution to that, other than go for exit rows, aisle seats etc. I also have a problem with seat width mainly because I’m fairly broad across the shoulders so its a problem if I get another big person next to me.
I don’t have a problem with airlines charging really obese people for 2 seats if thats what they take up.
I think i will start trying first class to see what the difference is.
I flew to Corpus Christi from Vegas a few months ago for a friends wedding. It was the first time I flew since I came over from Hawaii when I was 9. Man was that a rude awakening. When I flew from Vegas to Houston, that wasn’t all to bad. Yeah, it was a tight fit, but I had an aisle so I could spill over into that I need be. But when I had to take that small charter plane from Houston to Corpus Christi, I’ve never felt so bad for a person than the one that had to sit next to me. Those small connector planes are horrible.
Oh yeh, those tiny planes are bad. I can’t stand up straight in them, and I’m not very tall.
Yeah Unfortunately it is true that some airlines are charging the Obese for a second seat. I know that Southwest Airlines does it, as well as a few others. Although I an not sure which ones they are.
When I fly I always Fly United, and have never had an issue with them. Although I am not obese, just a bit over weight, however I am working on that issue as well.
Have a Great Day!
The Muscle Bound Geek
David Shorb
Cool site name, it goes perfect with my logo.
people shouldn’t be rude to each other about their weights no matter what, i do think that the people ont his forum werent being rude, but im still throwing it out there, just chilll