Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 Meant for the list.... ************************************** In a message dated 1/4/2004 7:03:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, mchev@... writes: > > Cindy, I flew a few times at my top weight of 320 pounds and 5'7 " . > When Southwest airlines came out with a press release about charging > obese people for 2 seats, I was terrified about being told at the > gate I couldn't board unless I bought a second seat. It never > happened. I needed a seatbelt extender and I learned to ask the > flight attendant discreetly and most of the time they were pretty > discreet about giving it to me. I traveled with my hubby and we > raised the arm rest between the seats and I spread into his seat a > bit (he has a tiny hiney). The tray table probably won't come down > all the way comfortably, be prepared. And you'll be cramped. But > you probably won't need a second seat unless you'll feel better > getting one. It depends on the airline, too. Southwest is probably > the most cramped, they are a discount airline so every inch counts. > My MO daughter just flew United and they have recently added room to > their economy calss - calling it economy plus. > > I hope you have a pleasant and safe flight. > > Michele > Open RNY 12/5/02 > Dr. ti > 296/180/160 > > > I'm going round and round with myself about whether > > or not to buy 2 plane tickets because of my size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 In a message dated 1/4/04 5:29:44 PM Central Standard Time, sabine@... writes: > I'm going round and round with myself about whether or not to buy 2 plane > tickets because of my size. I'm 5'4 and weight a little under 300. ------------- Cindy, Whether you will " need " more than one seat really depends a lot on how you carry your weight. People who are extremely bottom heavy and appear to be almost a " normal " weight on the top half are much more likely to find themselves in a situation of needing more than one seat. If you are reasonably proportional, I do not think you will have too much difficulty with your airline seat, but I think you should plan on not being very " comfortable " -- God knows they have made the airline seats smaller and smaller each year it seems. I doubt that you will have any " issues " or scenes arise when you board the plane if you only purchase one seat. Southwest Airlines is the only airline that announced an intention of requiring (or requesting) large passengers to buy more than one seat. Many of the other airlines said that they would not do so -- but would leave it entirely up to the passenger to decide for their own comfort. In fact, it is MORE likely that if you DO buy two seats, you will draw undue attention to yourself. If the plane is full, or nearly full, the flight attendants will attempt to " fill " your extra seat with an over booked passenger -- you would be forced to explain to them and all of the people nearby that you had paid for the extra seat and it was unavailable. Personally, I would save the money and not buy an extra seat up front. Yes, there is a possibility that you may end up needing to buy an extra seat if confronted by the gate agent, but is it really worth the extra $200 to $400 just to avoid that conversation? Wouldn't it be worse to have paid the money and then have to publicly explain why you have an extra seat -- not only would you be out the bucks, but you would still have the embarrassment. There is also the high probability that there will be empty seats on the flight and you will not have anyone next to you -- thereby eliminating the need for an extra seat purchase. And there also is the high probability that you will fit into the one seat and be just fine without anyone giving it a second thought. Just remember, practically NO ONE is comfortable on airline seats! Beth Houston, TX VBG - Dr. Srungaram 05/31/00 - 314 lbs. 11/01/02 - Abdominoplasty 11/29/02 - 160 lbs. 5'10 " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 You will do just fine. One thought, don't sit in the exit row or the first row just past the first class section. Ususally these rows have narrower seats and arm rests that don't go up....Found out the hard way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 Cindy, I flew at over 300 pounds and sat in one seat. Did sit with hubby and I did spill over a bit and need a seat belt ectender. I swore if I ever flew again at that weight I would go first class where the seats are larger. If money is not an object, I would go 1st Class! Rev. Pam Open RNY 12/11/02 318.5/182.5 Flying > Ok my dear friends....I need advice. I have to get plane tickets for my > trip to Washington. I'm going round and round with myself about whether > or not to buy 2 plane tickets because of my size. I'm 5'4 and weight a > little under 300. The airline has been no help. I don't fly very often > and have a lot of anxiety about it to begin with, I just want to avoid > problems once I get on the plane with someone telling me I'm to big. > Fairs are cheap right now so it won't kill me to get 2 tickets, that's > the least of my problems, but I could be using the money for other > things, like bills that will pile up while I'm not working. Anyone > willing to share their experiences on this subject? > > Thanks, > Cindy > > > Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG > > Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 I flew to Hawaii from the mainland at 366# (I'm 5'6½ " ). I was miserable, but I didn't have to get two seats. Would have been miserable with two seats, also - it was my knees that suffered the most, from not being able to stretch them out. --- 365/194/160 Lap RnY, Distal - Dr. s Vanderbilt University Hospital Surgery date June 3, 2002 > I'm going round and round with myself about whether > or not to buy 2 plane tickets because of my size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 I travel all the time for business and I was 310 lbs. pre-op. You can fly on any airline except Southwest and purchase just one ticket. You will probably need a seat belt extension, simply ask the flight attendant for one. Also, when you make your purchase ask for a window or aisle seat. I was always aware of the thin people next to me that hating sitting next to me. So by purchasing the window seat I was able to sit uncomfortably sideways as not to bother my neighbor. I made sure I didn't need to go to the bathroom for obvious reasons, so I never drank much before or during the flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 Good point. One time I fly US Airways and was on the Exit Row. They made me change seats with another passenger because they said I was weight handicapped and wouldn't be able to assist other passengers exit easily in the event of an emergency. I was sooo embarrassed! Also, forgot to tell you that when you check in for your flight, always ask the ticket counter person if she can put you in a row where it's not full as you don't want to bother the person next to you. They acommodated me many times on that request and were very nice about it. > You will do just fine. One thought, don't sit in the exit row or the first > row just past the first class section. Ususally these rows have narrower seats > and arm rests that don't go up....Found out the hard way. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Many airports now have touch-screen computers at check-in, so you can chose your own seat. Pretty cool. in NJ ************************* > Also, forgot to tell you that when you check in for your flight, always ask the ticket counter person if she can put you in a row where it's not full as you don't want to bother the person next to you. They acommodated me many times on that request and were very nice about it. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 I flew several times in the mid-300s but always on AA and never bought two seats. ) Cyndi in Tennessee 45 Years Old -- 5 Feet 5 1/2 Inches (Fobi Pouch) Vertically Transected, Silastic Ring Banded, Roux en Y Gastric Bypass with a Gastrostomy and a Gastrostomy Site Marker [TSRBVGB] -- Proximal 12-30-02 - Dr. Baptist Hospital - Nashville, Tennessee 363/218/Goal-140ish 145 Pounds Gone Forever -- Re: Fwd: Re: Flying I flew to Hawaii from the mainland at 366# (I'm 5'6½ " ). I was miserable, but I didn't have to get two seats. Would have been miserable with two seats, also - it was my knees that suffered the most, from not being able to stretch them out. --- 365/194/160 Lap RnY, Distal - Dr. s Vanderbilt University Hospital Surgery date June 3, 2002 > I'm going round and round with myself about whether > or not to buy 2 plane tickets because of my size. Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 get one ticket janice Flying Ok my dear friends....I need advice. I have to get plane tickets for my trip to Washington. I'm going round and round with myself about whether or not to buy 2 plane tickets because of my size. I'm 5'4 and weight a little under 300. The airline has been no help. I don't fly very often and have a lot of anxiety about it to begin with, I just want to avoid problems once I get on the plane with someone telling me I'm to big. Fairs are cheap right now so it won't kill me to get 2 tickets, that's the least of my problems, but I could be using the money for other things, like bills that will pile up while I'm not working. Anyone willing to share their experiences on this subject? Thanks, Cindy Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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