Originally Posted by elvislover324:
Thanks Joe. The last time I flew it was Southwest too and they didn't say anything to me about my size (only the flight attendant asked about the seatbelt so I lied :D ). I'm assuming the TSA won't appreciate me asking to just go through for a minute to try a seat out (lmao, I wouldn't really go to the airport and do that!). I guess I have that much more incentive to keep my butt on my diet, huh??

I've flown SW when I could barely fit in the seat. I would get on as quick as I could, get an aisle seat, and PRAY that (1) the flight wasn't full and (2) nobody sat in the middle row. Believe me, when people saw the size of me, they'd pick ANY other seat on that plane to keep from being wedged between me and the passenger in the window seat. Luckily, I was never asked to leave the plane or have to buy the additional seat for "Customers of Size." You think its embarrassing to have to ask for a seatbelt extender? Just think how embarrassing it would be to have to do this:

Again, from the "Customer of Size" FAQ:

Can you ensure no one takes the seat beside me if I've secured a second seat?

The Customer who has secured more than one seat must be an active participant in preserving his/her additional seat. We encourage Customers of size to preboard to locate adequate seating and place the Seat Reserved Document in the adjacent seat. Our Ground Operations and Inflight Employees communicate about Customers’ needs, and if a Customer of size needs seating assistance, he/she should ask an Employee for help.

If you need a seatbelt extender this time I'll eat my hat. I pretty much exclusively fly southwest and could easily fasten the seatbelt at 252. No worries, sweetie! Enjoy your trip! :)

I haven't read through the whole thread so I don't know if you've gotten your answer or yet not, but chill out! I'm 5'6, weigh 289lbs, and carry the majority of my weight in my hips and thighs. I flew Southwest two months ago closer to 300lbs and had ZERO problems. The seat wasn't as roomy as I'd have liked, but it wasn't by any means uncomfortably small - there was no issue with the belt at all though and I was a hundred pounds heavier than you! You shouldn't have any problem with the seat or belt :)

Originally Posted by joefla70:
Oh, so you'll have PLENTY of time to get down under 195! :p

LOL that's what I said about 199 and I stayed at 200.8, 200.6, 200.2 for a month!!!

Originally Posted by joefla70:
I've flown SW when I could barely fit in the seat. I would get on as quick as I could, get an aisle seat, and PRAY that (1) the flight wasn't full and (2) nobody sat in the middle row. Believe me, when people saw the size of me, they'd pick ANY other seat on that plane to keep from being wedged between me and the passenger in the window seat. Luckily, I was never asked to leave the plane or have to buy the additional seat for "Customers of Size." You think its embarrassing to have to ask for a seatbelt extender? Just think how embarrassing it would be to have to do this:

Again, from the "Customer of Size" FAQ:

Can you ensure no one takes the seat beside me if I've secured a second seat?

The Customer who has secured more than one seat must be an active participant in preserving his/her additional seat. We encourage Customers of size to preboard to locate adequate seating and place the Seat Reserved Document in the adjacent seat. Our Ground Operations and Inflight Employees communicate about Customers’ needs, and if a Customer of size needs seating assistance, he/she should ask an Employee for help.

I never want to live in that situation ever again. I always took the window side so no one would have to dread sitting next to me. They always got my husband and he's normal sized.

Originally Posted by merilung:
If you need a seatbelt extender this time I'll eat my hat. I pretty much exclusively fly southwest and could easily fasten the seatbelt at 252. No worries, sweetie! Enjoy your trip! :)

LOL @ eat my hat. Thanks merilung!

Originally Posted by thinkfit:
I haven't read through the whole thread so I don't know if you've gotten your answer or yet not, but chill out! I'm 5'6, weigh 289lbs, and carry the majority of my weight in my hips and thighs. I flew Southwest two months ago closer to 300lbs and had ZERO problems. The seat wasn't as roomy as I'd have liked, but it wasn't by any means uncomfortably small - there was no issue with the belt at all though and I was a hundred pounds heavier than you! You shouldn't have any problem with the seat or belt :)

Thank you, thinkfit. I get so paranoid!

Guys, I think we could make a FORTUNE if we created an airline that catered to "Customers of Size."

I am 5'9" and at my heaviest I was 350 pounds. I don't know that I ever flew at top weight, but I know there were several times I flew at over 300 pounds. It sucked, but I've never needed an extender, even at my largest. I carry ALL of my weight in my stomach. I figured out that if I buckled my seat belt while 1/2 standing and sucking it in, I could just barely make it. Then sit and pray for a quick and smooth flight! At 270 pounds, I had a centimeter of slack in the belt.

The next time I will be flying, I should be around 155-165 pounds! I think I'll be swimming in the seats. And asking random strangers to take pictures of me so I can prove it! lol

Chris

elvislover, from last August to April, I was working in a job which included twice monthly travel. I was most often on very small commuter planes with smaller seats and shorter belts. I'm 5'7" and when I started traveling, I weighed over 235. I fit in the seats just fine and had slack in the seat belt.

You're going to be just fine. :hug:

Thanks everyone!!

I just thought of something else...what about swollen ankles?? I had them so bad once I went to my doctor thinking I had a blood clot. I guess this time could be different since I don't drink alcohol anymore (haven't had even a sip since last August) and my sodium is less than 2500 a day. It was so embarrassing though. Like having 2 tree stumps for legs. :(

Uh, can't help you with that one. I always retain water like the Hoover Dam when I fly. The only thing I can do to ameliorate it is, and I know this is counter-intuitive, drink lots of water. That means more trips to the bathroom but it does reduce the swelling a bit, at least for me.

Oohhhhh...I might even fit in the bathroom and down the aisle you mean?! :)

Seriously it's going to be a huge NSV trip!

You're still in the mindset of "fat Elvis." You'll be fine. The last time I flew I was around 180, so only 10 pounds lighter than you but 4 inches shorter. Seating wasn't an issue.

I think you'll be alright elvis! Last time I flew I weighed about 275 and I didn't require anything extra, although I was quite uncomfortable! I flew SW as well, coach (so cozy!...not). :)

Originally Posted by elvislover324:
Thanks everyone!!

I just thought of something else...what about swollen ankles?? I had them so bad once I went to my doctor thinking I had a blood clot. I guess this time could be different since I don't drink alcohol anymore (haven't had even a sip since last August) and my sodium is less than 2500 a day. It was so embarrassing though. Like having 2 tree stumps for legs. :(

There will be some water retention, no good way around that though I find I have many less issues with this eating the way I do now (low carb, essentially no sugar or starch) than when I ate a more standard American diet. Plenty of water can also help, but if you're prone to it you're prone to it. Bummer :(

Originally Posted by Missy Krissy:
You're still in the mindset of "fat Elvis." You'll be fine. The last time I flew I was around 180, so only 10 pounds lighter than you but 4 inches shorter. Seating wasn't an issue.

Originally Posted by Lecomtes:
I think you'll be alright elvis! Last time I flew I weighed about 275 and I didn't require anything extra, although I was quite uncomfortable! I flew SW as well, coach (so cozy!...not). :)

LMAO @ fat Elvis!! You are right, I just can't grasp it. It's like I need to do it to know I can, you know?

Thank you both so much. I don't expect it to be comfortable, I just want to release the anxiety!

When I saw her refer to "Fat Elvis", I couldn't help but get an image in my head of Elvis Presley in his later years. . .

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgdL1XJCFJ.../old_elvis.jpg