How would you know, ahead of time, if you are TOO BIG to fit in an Airline Seat?

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gromit801

It really impossible to tell. Different people carry their weight differently.

I would suggest sitting on a dining room chair, and measuring the outside distance of your body at the widest point. If it exceeds 25", you might have a problem.

Cindy: Having a large person buy an extra seat if they cannot fit into one, isn't making the airlines any more money. The total number of seats in an airliner keeps the airlines at the ragged edge of profit. Several went out of business last year if you will recall. Look at the bright side, losing weight is a good thing for ones own health.

Eclipsepearl

Check with United as their seats can be different but basically, they're around 17" to 18" wide, depending on the aircraft. You need to be able to put the arm rests down. Please note this is much narrower than the seats in a car.

It's not necessary to put the armrests down if the big person is flying with family members. Just make sure that this individual is in between two of their companions since they wont complain about the bigger person "spilling over" into their seats as a stranger would.

I have a large husband and we have flown charters, notorious for tiny seats. There were three seats together on each side so he sat between the two older children while I was across the aisle with the youngest. He couldn't use the tray table though.

It's not a strict height vs. weight issue either so it's not like they can print a chart. People carry differently. My dh has a beer gut but relatively skinny legs so he's more likely to fit than someone of the same statue (more likely a woman) who carries more in her hips and less in front. He doesn't even need a seat belt extension since he can attach his belt under his belly. Does that make sense?

When alone, my dh coughs up the money for a business class ticket. He usually is flying on business so the cost is less an issue. If not, he usually has enough points to upgrade.

He also takes the train a lot but where we live, it's very convenient.

Another option is to find out if the flight is full and try to book when that's unlikely. First flights in the morning are usually not as booked as those later in the day. Trust me, if someone large is next to an empty seat and not bothering anyone, no one will check to see if they paid for the extra seat or not.

Some airlines, like United, have roomier seats in the front of economy. Sometimes they give out "deals" to get one of these seats. They aren't wider but with more space, the person next to the big person is less likely to be bothered.

The airlines just want to make money so the more passengers they can jam into as many seats, the better for them, worse for us. Don't hold your breathe for emptier flights!

The rule of thumb (and the formal rule on Southwest and perhaps a few other airlines) is if you need a seat belt extender you need to pay for a second seat.

That generally means that if your width is over 17 inches, you'll be paying for a second seat. If you are wide but not protruding, you might be OK. If you are way beyond, it'll be two.

And that is fair -- other passengers pay for an entire seat. I have flown next to people who overflowed onto my seat and was in a lot of pain by flight's end. There have been lawsuits but I don't know what happened with them.

Tara

If you can fit into the front seat of a car then you should be fine. If not, then buy a second ticket.

I agree, It sucks but if the airline is going to loose money because you take up two seats then it only makes sense for them to charge you for both.

jackson

They did have food in the 30's.

This debate is not a new thing and has been going on for decades. But I as well wonder how they will go about this. Who is going to make the judgment call? Check in, the steward.... who? My bet is that any employee of the airline will not want to even touch this issue.

So to be better safe than sorry they will just bump the person up to a class that has bigger seats. Again it is too much of a judgment call. How will it go?

But on the other side there are some serious flippin fat people who fly. Sitting next to a person who looks like a giant marshmallow is no fun at all.

cindy

Boy I am glad I have lost 41 lbs. lol lol But really I think it is crazy what these Airlines are trying to do to make more money. The way they are going no one will want to fly anymore.

That One Girl

I read an article that said if you can't put the seat belt on even with the seat belt extender then you are too big.

For comparison reasons, I looked further into that. An old family friend was 6'1" with a size 42 pants weighed 330 +/- pounds. He could fit into the seat belt with out using the belt extender. He could barely walk.

So it would take more than that to have to purchase another ticket. I was really mad when I found out about it. But after reading the requirements, it makes since. You can't safely fly with out a seat belt. Every requirement they had would cause a safety hazard such as the seat belts.

Mmmattyyyy

Loose Weight? - It's The Cheaper & Easier Option

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