300+ Club - Anyone fly on a plane lately?

I have so much anxiety about the flight I have to vegas in about 2 weeks. I am so scared I am not gonna fit... gosh this sucks.. I keep being reassured by everyone I am over reacting and I will be fine. But anyone I have any recent experiences? Good, bad or ugly????

You'll be fine. I've flown both Northwest and Southwest Airlines several times in the last two years, and I've never had an issue. Don't be embarrassed at all about asking for a seatbelt extender either, just let them know you'll need one when you board the plane, or when they're checking to make sure the overhead baggage compartments are closed. Have a great time.

I think it really depends on what airport you fly out of and what kind of mood the people who work for the airlines are in. I have been on some flights and been just fine. Asked for a seatbelt extension and all was good. I have also been on other flights (that mind you were NOT full), and I have been escorted onto the plane to have them prove to me that my hip goes into the second seat, and therefore, I had to pay for the extra seat next to me another $300. Worst experience ever! If I fly now, i try to fly with family because they can't give me attitude about taking up space, when I'm sitting with my own family.

You will definitely fit! I only needed a seat belt extender a few times at my highest (330) and I was fine the last time I flew in September (mid 290s), and the times I did need one I just flat out asked - it's not like they couldn't tell I was fat until I asked! I've never been flat-out kicked off a plane - not even one of those awful little regional jets - which has always been a major fear of mine.

I haven't been comfortable on a plane since I was a little kid, but I was really minimally uncomfortable the last time I flew. When my husband and I fly together, we get two aisle seats that are next to each other. I am 5'10" and 285, he is 5'9" and 290 so the two of us sitting next to each other is really more like on top of each other. So if you are flying with another large person, see if they can seat you in two aisles next to each other instead of just next to each other - MUCH more comfortable!

Whew... thank you ladies. I am flying with my boyfriend and he is def. smaller than me so we should be fine. However.... there are 3 seats in a row.. I already told my bf I will at the window seat!

Dream - you'll be fine - but I find the aisle seat to be more accommodating - seems to be larger because there is open space rather than the window.

Have a great time!

I hope everything went well Dream8!

I'm flying to Vegas in April (via a regional airline at that) and I'm worried myself. In these tough economic times I wouldn't be surprised if I was charged an extra seat just for the money but who knows. lol

Dreamgyrl, I'm driving down to Vegas in April for an Avon convention. How weird is that? lol

Yes and no. I have flown somewhat recently, and on my past few flights, I have had to use seatbelt extenders. I was very sad and embarassed by it.

But you know what? I found that my struggling to get the belt closed is way more embarassing than politely and quietly asking the airline attendant for an extender. they are used to people needing them and they bring them to you very discreetly.

So, you may feel sad if you have to use one. but, the airline attendants are really helpful about it. If you treat it as you would like requesting any other thing like a blanket or pillow, etc., then you will be ok.

focus on having fun in vegas! :)

I didn't need an extension belt the last time I flew, which was last November, and neither did my husband. It probably does depend on the plane, because the last time I did need an extension belt, I weighed less than I do now. As for seats not being comfortable, I ended up with a bruise on the back of my leg from sitting on the armrest on the way back to my seat, but that was simple loss of balance and could have happened whether I was a size 2 or a size 32.

PS: Although I've heard of it, I have never been charged double and made to reserve two seats, and neither has hubby. And the way I see it, if some little skinny pipsqueak doesn't want to sit next to me because I'm fat, let THEM pay double for two seats!

For what it's worth, the last time I flew was in August and I was about 280lb and a size 26 and I didn't need a seatbelt extender, nor was I asked to purchase a second seat.

This was on Southwest, for the record.

I do agree that is all depends on the weight. After I got over 300lbs, I then needed a seatbelt extender...but just barely! I could get the metal part into the receptor, but couldn't get it to attach and close. Under 300lbs was a lot easier.

I also agree that aisle seats let you stretch your legs better and not so much spillover onto a person than the window seat. I hate it when I am intruding on others seats...it just makes me feel bigger, ya know?

I hate it when I am intruding on others seats...it just makes me feel bigger, ya know?

Agreed! Being able to fly with space to spare is one of my biggest motivations for staying on plan and watching the number on the scale continue to fall!

I have flown on 15 flights in the last year and half. I have my own seat belt extenders, I got on ebay. I fly economy and I have to lift the arm rest and squeeze up on my husband, who is not overweight.

I look at it this way, the flight is only a few hours out of the man, of where ever I am going and I am going to have fun. I am not going to lie, I stress that I am going to be 'called out' by the flight crew, because it happened once. I didn't have to pay because it wasn't sold out, but I did not fit, they said my shoulders were encroaching on the next seat, even though it would be my husband. They claim safety issues.

I, too, have taken the window and the isle, they both have advantages and disadvantages. The isle, I was having to squeeze back over so the cart wouldn't hit me, which it did a few times. I could get up and move though easily.

However, the window seat gave more lean-over room off my husband, but when I had to go to the bathroom everyone had to move and I had to smoosh out... I still, personally, take the window.

I have had great stewardesses that are discreet about the extender and others that have yelled five rows away with it in their hand, asking if I need it and am I belted in. They always want to know, since I brought my own. I just know this is how it is going to be.

When I was 300 pounds I could sit with no extender, at 320 I needed one, at 350, I am really squeezed in. I have a flight to Europe this summer and I am in the Biggest Loser contest at the gym, solely for the purpose of fitting into that seat without be cramped.

You will have a great time. Once you are off the plane, you forget about it. I was on an 11 hour flight when we went to Egypt and that was Luftansa with NO leg room even for the skinny folks, so after that flight I just accepted whatever it was going to be and enjoy the fun part of the trip.

I do know people told me not worry, but you do. I still stress getting on. I see people looking at me, like 'not here'. I was getting off a flight in Germany and I was the last one off the plane, and two people sitting waiting as well, waited til I went by and said, 'Germany is having an earthquake'.

Geez, people grow up. We sent to Salem, MA in October for Halloween and my husband was in the middle seat and the man on the isle was a little bigger than me, so DH looked really small & squished there. A man waiting for the bathroom had to say to him, "poor you, too bad you couldn't move."

I was embarrassed, I am sure the guy on the other side was embarrassed, but it is what it is. As long as I am with family, I don't care once I am sitting down.

United had a great gate attendant, who took a look at me and actually moved out flight up so we could have a row all to ourselves. She was nice and just said, why get on a sold out flight if you can make the gate right now, I can get you a whole row to yourself, to spread out.

You might find you aren't on a sold out plane either and just that one seat between you will make you comfortable.

Have fun!!! Don't sweat the plane stuff, it is only a small part of your trip!!!

The highest weight I ever flew at was about 330, size 28/30 and I didn't need an extender. This was on Southwest and I ended up in a middle seat on the way back between 2 big college guys. We were dreadfully cramped but hey, it's only like 3 hours out of your life so, don't lose sleep over it. :)

omg Shan! what a horrific experience!

I dont really know how big you are, dream, but you'll most likely be fine. Iflew to Thailand when I weighed about 300 lbs and didnt have a prob...it was cramped though...

I flew twice this month, both on Southwest. I have to say that whether or not you'll "fit" depends on a number of things, one being how your weight is distributed.

I have "thunder thighs" and a big ole booty ;)

This means I "spill over" into the other seats and the arm rest will NOT go down.

Southwest has a clause online about "customers of size" that states that if the arm rest does not go down, the customer may be required to purchase 2 seats, the cost of one which will be reimbursed if the flight is not full.

Like many, I fly with family or friends most of the time and choose the aisle seat to allow my saddlebag on one side some space as I cozy up to my friend or family next to me in the middle ;)

For the first time ever, I needed a seat belt extender. :(

The unaltered seat belt *did* fit but kept coming open, so I bit the bullet and asked for an extender and was glad I did, as it was more comfortable that way.

I refuse to fly Southwest because of their policy toward fat folks. It is unevenly enforced - often in a mean manner. Even though I fit just fine, I won't use SW. :nono:

When choosing seats, I always check out 2 sites that offer information (sometimes conflicting) about seats for every airline:

Seatguru http://www.seatguru.com/
Seatexpert http://seatexpert.com/

Sskar, I agree that is is unevenly and even meanly enforced! I had one bad experience (not these 2 last flights, but the one time I flew by myself recently) where the flight attendant was horribly rude (and it wasn't even a full flight). It was appalling and I let her know about it. :mad:

I have so much anxiety about the flight I have to vegas in about 2 weeks. I am so scared I am not gonna fit... gosh this sucks.. I keep being reassured by everyone I am over reacting and I will be fine. But anyone I have any recent experiences? Good, bad or ugly????


Dream, I just went to Vegas last weekend and was absolutely terrified to get on the plane! But all went well. I flew AA and was fine on the bigger planes. I used just about all of the belt available but I didn't need an extender or anything so that was a relief. On the small (three seats wide) commuter jet, I really had to work to get the belt buckled. That was so not cool, but it did fit.

Vegas was AWESOME! Have a great time!:dizzy: