Am I Too Fat Too Fly?!
By Link
@BambooPanda13 (867)
United States
April 22, 2010 2:04pm CST
Well I already a discussion about this before, but I have some pics. Please no rude comments about my weight, I obviously know I'm fat DUH, I obviously know I need to exercise, which I do! So no need to tell me, I already know! If you don't like looking at fat people then don't look at my pictures. I don't like looking at ugly people so I don't look at yours.
Anyway, most people answer that if you can fit comfortably in a plane seat then you aren't too fat to fly, well no duh! But how do I know how big the plane seat is and if I fit in it okay before I get on the plane?! I know people would be upset if airlines sent out "measurements" that would be appropriate to fit comfortably in one seat without having to buy another like the measurement of the seat to measure yourself and know if you fit or not, but it would help and people could avoid being embarrassed in public if they did. I'm fat and I think it would just help people from being embarrassed to be told to leave the plane or buy another ticket, that way you know before you get there and have spent your money, because I doubt they will give you a refund. There are different levels of being overweight. You can be chubby, you can be obese, overweight, morbidly obese, overweight but you carry it well etc. Some people have small waists, legs, arms etc but all of their extra weight is literally in their hips, so are they overweight? They wouldn't be able to sit in just one seat. So anyway, my question is below are some pictures of me, do you think I am too fat to fly on a plane or not? Yes or no will suffice, be honest because I'd like to take a plane trip soon but I don't want to go through some ridiculousness or be embarrassed.
I know it is a little revealing but if you don't like it then just look away, I could only post one pic and here you can see me at a side angle
3 people like this
17 responses
@maezee (41997)
• United States
29 Apr 10
Honestly, those flight chairs are incredibly SMALL! I'm overweight.. By about 40 pounds (I weigh 180, and I'm 5'9) and I found it incredibly uncomfortable. I had like an inch of space between my hips and the arm chair. Not comfortable. I was jealous of the tiny 90-pound-chick in the chair next to me, who could practically sit cross-legged without any struggle in the seat next to me. It's like, what? I'm sure that you could fly, but it was uber uncomfortable for me.
What I've seen a lot of bigger people do is fly first class or business class - because the chairs are so much bigger, comfier, and you're allotted much more space than you are in economy.
You might be able to call customer service of whatever airline you're planning on flying - and ask them personally about their policies and possibly ask for measurements and compare them to your own. It can't hurt, and I'm sure you're not the first person to ask.
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
23 Apr 10
To be certain if you can fit in a airplane seat you can call the air lines and ask for the dimensions of the seat. Then you can measure your body and calculate to see if you can fit in one seat. If you require two seats to sit down then the airlines might charge you for the second seat to make up cost for losing one seat. Judging by your photo I say you can probably fit in an airplane seat.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
23 Apr 10
I just called my brother-in-law, who is a pilot on a commercial airlines. The rule is, the seatbelt HAS to fit and buckle, if it does not than yes, you have to purchase two tickets, one for each seat. As others have stated there is an extension, but that uses the end of one from one seat and the end of another in the next seat. The seat size is not the issue, nor is comfort really, it is the issue of the seatbelt being able to go across and buckle securely.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
23 Apr 10
I did notice that plane seats are standardized. I mean, they only fit certain sizes and not all. The last time I took the plane though I noticed that I was able to sit comfortably although the space provided is too small for comfort. I suggest that a portion of the plane should cater to people who are quite big so they will not have problems like this.
@Petranka74 (77)
• Bulgaria
23 Apr 10
Intially when i read the subject line for your discussion i thought you were talking about actually learning fly.In my opinion its not our weight or sze that is a problem.I see your picture and i don't think do you are too fat to fly.You are super girl!
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
23 Apr 10
In my opinion, its not our weight or size that is a problem (I am also plus size by the way). Its the size of the seats themselves. Can anyone honestly say that people twenty years ago were smaller? I always have this problem with my daily commute because seats here in my country seem to get smaller and smaller. Why? Because smaller seats means that they can seat more. So I don't thinks its the size of the passenger, but the size of the seats. Of course, airlines will not admit that they are doing this. The blame is always on the big guy or girl because they can't fit in their seats.
But in regard to your question, no. I don't think you are too fat to fly. Airlines should make seats available for us because people aren't made the same way. Some a re tall, some are thin. And some are made like the way we are.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr 10
Initially when I read the subject line for your discussion I thought you were talking about actually learning to fly! Without being disrespectful in anyway I know that if you are learning to fly then weight is definitely an issue! I only know this as I'm interested in learning to fly myself and I know there's a maximum weight of around fifteen or sixteen stone. However, as you are talking about commercial airlines then I'm not sure about their policy but I wouldn't think that it would be a problem for you. I think some airlines are now trying to be more accommodating towards overweight passengers. From looking at your picture I would say that you are ok yes, there are extra pounds but you shouldn't let this get you down or anything. Anyway, I wish you luck with your plans in trying to lose weight if that is what you are trying to do. Andrew
@piya84 (2581)
• India
23 Apr 10
I see your picture and yes you are fat but i dont think so you are too fat to fly.I have never been in this situation so dont know rules about it.Probably airline staff might tell yo to pay for two seats.So have a chat with them and see what they say.There are lot of people of your size.Why dont you getting touch with some of them and discuss if there is any solution.Some of them must know about it.
@benny128 (3615)
•
22 Apr 10
well to be honest I am sitting on the fence am neither going to agree or dis-agree with you he he he
I look at it from both points of view as my uncle was a very large guy (being as diplomatic as I can be).
He is no longer with us but when ever he flew he would tell the airline and would pay for 2 seats himself, the reason he gave was that it was unfair to the person next to him if his size was causing the person next to him to be uncomfy etc etc
so I guess that's the way I view it, no one is ever too big to fly but there does come a point where the person may have to pay for 2 seats so not to cause discomfort for the person sitting next to them and indeed for the big person aswell.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Apr 10
I don't think that you are. From the picture that you've shared with us, you look to be about the same size that I used to be and I flew to Italy when I was at my largest. Yes, it is somewhat uncomfortable to be in the seat of the plane, but it was something that I really wanted to do.
Now, if there is still doubt in your mind you might be able to call an airline and find out if they can give you some sort of measurements as to what size will fit in the seats of the plane.
@standbymeforever (887)
• Australia
22 Apr 10
Girl you aint fat!! You are curvy like real women should be. Dont let them get to you. i dont think that should be true.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
23 Apr 10
For me I don't know if the plane allow you but first you call the number of flight if it allowed you.
@kenruno (35)
• Kenya
23 Apr 10
What do you mean too fat to fly? Unless you are bigger than the aeroplane, the you can fly....I like your attitude about yourself. Most guys would hate themselves,not you. Some people cant slim. Its that easy. If you cannot get slim thats okay with me. I dont understand the world's fixation with slim...watch the movie Phat Girls. You will realize that it is only in europe and America where there is too much fuss on slimness.
@RachelleNH (1396)
• United States
22 Apr 10
I honestly don't think you're that big...but then again, I don't know what their policies are. I think there was a lot of ruckus about that and they changed some rules...like if you're a certain weight or if you can't fit in the seat. I say if you're a paying customer-what does your weight have to do with it? It's discrimination! But-I haven't flown in years, what I would do is call the airlines ahead of time, call several and get the straight up facts-that way you'll know where you stand.
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
22 Apr 10
Your picture does not make you appear to be too large to fly but I will give you these recommendations when choosing a flight. Choose an aisle seat. If you are flying on a larger plane you certainly do not want a center seat and a window seat may crowd you more than the aisle seat would. Also consider looking at first class seats for your comfort. Those seats are a little wider and have more leg room. You should be able to contact the airline to find the dimensions on their seats also.
I can tell you, I have flown with a few people that appeared to be much larger than you do and they only used a single seat. And yes they do offer extenders for the seat belts, in case you were concerned about that.
@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
22 Apr 10
No, I don't think you are, but don't take my word for it. As far as I know you should speak to the airline you plan to book with and ask them what their policies are for overweight passengers. it could be that you have to book and pay for more than the one seat, I don't know, but the best thing to do is get answers from the people who do know.
