Worried about flying!! Any advice??

jlea826
jlea826 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Chit-Chat
Okay, so my weight has always been a huge concern of mine. Not just because of health but because of me trying to fit into small spaces.. Like a 17 inch seat on an Alaska Air flight. My hubby and I are visiting family in November and I'm terrified that I will be too big to fly. I'm 5'4 and about 330lbs. Last time I was on a plane I was about 290lbs. Am I going to need an extra seat?? I was able to sit in it last time and the seatbelt was tight. I'm hoping that I'll just need a seatbelt extender??
Any encouraging words or ideas to make this as easy and not embarrassing as possible??

Replies

  • jlea826
    jlea826 Posts: 4 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    I also don't like to fly so I just don't fly. Problem solved. Let "family" visit you and deal with the misery of airplane travel if they're so inclined. When push comes to shove, "family" who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away won't be there for you when you need them anyway. Families used to stay in close proximity to each other so they could actually function as a family, but no longer. When someone ups and moves hundreds or thousands of miles away, there is no more tangible family dynamic. So there should be no pressure to force what was forfeited.

    The "family" is actually my in-laws. My husband and I are both from Alaska but now live in the Lower 48. Both our families split when we were younger. And Alaska is actually one of our favorite places to go, I'm just dreading the flight 😞
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited August 2018
    This link should help you figure out whether an additional seat would need to be purchased:
    https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/seating-customers-of-size

    qswk8m.png

    From memory, they will likely measure shoulder to shoulder at widest point. Not your circumference. Your arms are meant to be within the 17" or 21" allowed per passenger. Arguing like an uncle of mine that his arms should be allowed within the spatial allotment of the arm rests will be futile. The extenders aren't generous either. I can share that he was livid flying from the islands to LAX > SF and back, paying for 2 seats each way.

    Eta:. Any other distended body part MUST NOT encroach upon the neighbouring seat either.
  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,808 MFP Moderator
    It depends on the plane you'll be on, as mentioned above.

    If you're on one of the narrow planes with a 2-2 configuration you're stuck with 17" unless you buy a second seat. If you're on a bird with a 3-3 configuration, you and your spouse could deliberately buy one aisle and one window seat and leave the one in the middle open and take the chance that no one would fill that seat. Or on the planes that offer first class, consider that for a few extra inches of seat width? Depending on prices a first class seat might be less expensive than two economy seats.

    If you think you'll be really uncomfortable and it's causing you anxiety, go ahead and buy the extra seat or pay for the upgrade if available. Your sanity and comfort are worth it.

    By the way - premium economy on Alaska Airlines only gives you extra leg room, not extra seat width.

    Safe travels! :)
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,786 Member
    Despite big-budget Hollywood films' depictions of plane crashes, flying is actually the safest mode of transportation. In fact, the odds of a plane crash are one for every 1.2 million flights, with odds of dying one in 11 million. Your chances of dying in a car or traffic accident are one in 5,000.
  • jlea826
    jlea826 Posts: 4 Member
    777Gemma888 wrote: »
    This link should help you figure out whether an additional seat would need to be purchased:
    https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/seating-customers-of-size

    qswk8m.png

    From memory, they will likely measure shoulder to shoulder at widest point. Not your circumference. Your arms are meant to be within the 17" or 21" allowed per passenger. Arguing like an uncle of mine that his arms should be allowed within the spatial allotment of the arm rests will be futile. The extenders aren't generous either. I can share that he was livid flying from the islands to LAX > SF and back, paying for 2 seats each way.

    Eta:. Any other distended body part MUST NOT encroach upon the neighbouring seat either.

    This ia great!! Thank!!:)
  • jlea826
    jlea826 Posts: 4 Member
    sugaraddict4321 wrote: »
    It depends on the plane you'll be on, as mentioned above.

    If you're on one of the narrow planes with a 2-2 configuration you're stuck with 17" unless you buy a second seat. If you're on a bird with a 3-3 configuration, you and your spouse could deliberately buy one aisle and one window seat and leave the one in the middle open and take the chance that no one would fill that seat. Or on the planes that offer first class, consider that for a few extra inches of seat width? Depending on prices a first class seat might be less expensive than two economy seats.

    If you think you'll be really uncomfortable and it's causing you anxiety, go ahead and buy the extra seat or pay for the upgrade if available. Your sanity and comfort are worth it.

    By the way - premium economy on Alaska Airlines only gives you extra leg room, not extra seat width.

    Safe travels! :)

    I would definitely pay for the extra seat since they'll usually refund it, it sounds like. Sadly, my husband's dad is using air miles :( I just don't want to make an issue of it for him or have to cancel our flights. I carry most of my weight in my stomach so I'm hoping my hips haven't gotten too wide. Lol
This discussion has been closed.

Categories