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Let's talk about flying

DaydreamBlievrDaydreamBlievr
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in Plus-Sized
So, I'm having a DW and in Walt Disney World, and I'm flying Southwest to get there: I was offered 3 free roundtrip flights if I got their credit card, so naturally I took the deal. However, I've regretted it ever since because of their customer of size policy. I've flown with them numerous times, but I am TERRIFIED that they are going to tell me I need a second seat! (For the record, I fit into my one seat with the armrests down without issue, and I do not need a seatbelt extender. I carry most of my weight in my stomach, and my behind is actually quite small for someone of my size!)

Truthfully, I would just bite the bullet and purchase a second seat... but I'm going to sit next to DF anyway, and he certainly doesn't care if my thigh touches his.

Anyone else dealt with this?
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Re: Let's talk about flying

  • erin77marieerin77marie member
    10 Comments
    I carry all my weight in my hips and rear. I flew Southwest over the summer and I had no trouble in their seats-- the armrests went down all the way and the seatbelts fit just fine.

    I was nervous about that issue, too (since I hadn't ever flown Southwest before) but there wasn't any need to be.
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  • KarenofcourseKarenofcourse member
    Third Anniversary 10 Comments
    My DH just got back from a business trip and flew SWA, which we use often.  He is 6'6 and weighs 420 so he has to get two seats.  First of all, call SWA and determine if you must have two seats.  If you do, book at an odd time (like fly super early or super late in day.)  If they require you to purchase two seats and the flights is not sold out, they will reimburse you for the second seat.  My DH is putting in for his purchase refund tmwr and usually gets it within a month.  Good luck!
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  • DaydreamBlievrDaydreamBlievr
    First Comment
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_plus-sized_lets-talk-flying?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:973cdc6f-961e-4fb0-a628-bef2bb559697Discussion:82fa6b49-d842-45dc-8dc1-45b5b73076a1Post:6b76c9e3-ecb9-4d56-8f5d-5b1c3a42eb38">Re: Let's talk about flying</a>:
    [QUOTE]My DH just got back from a business trip and flew SWA, which we use often.  He is 6'6 and weighs 420 so he has to get two seats.  First of all, call SWA and determine if you must have two seats.  If you do, book at an odd time (like fly super early or super late in day.)  If they require you to purchase two seats and the flights is not sold out, they will reimburse you for the second seat.  My DH is putting in for his purchase refund tmwr and usually gets it within a month.  Good luck!
    Posted by Karenofcourse[/QUOTE]

    I would actually love to just call them and ask: but they cannot tell you over the phone, as they say the guidelines are if you can "fit in one seat with the armrest down" then you don't need two seats: so they couldn't tell me based on my height, weight, or measurements. (I have done an INSANE amount of research on this.) I know I don't have a problem fitting in one seat; however, I am concerned about a flight attendant approaching me and telling me I need to buy a second seat, as they have been known to do this, even to people who CAN fit into one seat. See, for instance, this blog post:

    <a href="http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://alltheweigh2009.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-southwest-airlines-turned-my-old.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://alltheweigh2009.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-southwest-airlines-turned-my-old.html</a>

    I've virtually worked myself into a tizzy over this, and I know I need to calm down. If I get told I need to buy a second seat, then I will, of course, I just don't want to die of embarrasment!
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  • becka717becka717 member
    100 Comments
    Wow, I read the link you shared.  I'm a tight squeeze into a plane seat but have never had a problem.  I've also never flown Southwest. 

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  • Kome2012Kome2012
    100 Comments
    It's also not always about "It's my husband sitting next to me, it's okay to have the arm rest up."  It's also about the safety guidelines, weight & balances, etc that the crew has to follow.
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  • 2010Bride2be2010Bride2be
    500 Comments
    I never had any issues thank God! But I'm always nervous right before I fly. Most recently, I went to California and had to fly Delta and United. It's bad enough that they pack people in those planes like sardines already, regardless of your size, its uncomfortable.

    I've never flown SW, however from what I read on the blog, it seems like their 'customer size' policy is ridiculous. Basically, you have ticketers deciding who they 'think' may or may not need another seat. I find that so messed up.
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  • DaydreamBlievrDaydreamBlievr
    First Comment
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_plus-sized_lets-talk-flying?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:973cdc6f-961e-4fb0-a628-bef2bb559697Discussion:82fa6b49-d842-45dc-8dc1-45b5b73076a1Post:b637609f-0ae8-4429-a5e6-eec594c07fc3">Re: Let's talk about flying</a>:
    [QUOTE]A lot of it depends on shape. I'm really heavy through the hips/butt/thighs, so airplane seats were a tight squeeze for me when I was 275 pounds (size 22). When I hit 300 pounds, I had to buy a second seat because I couldn't put the armrest down. The seatbelt was fine since my waist is so much smaller than my hips, but the armrest was pushing down on my thigh. Now that I'm 230-ish, I don't have any issues, and they never say anything. Some airlines can be persnickety even if you're traveling with someone you know. They'll argue that you're "encroaching" on that person (as if my FI cares) and say it's a safety issue, blah blah blah. FI and I usually try to fly at weird hours on weird days so we can have a three-seat row to ourselves. That middle seat is very rarely filled unless there's a last-minute traveler and it's the only seat left. More often than not, though, we end up on a commuter plane that has two rows with two seats each, so he and I just cuddle up and enjoy the flight. If you've flown with Southwest without any issues before, I wouldn't worry about it. They've had that policy for a couple of years or so, and unless you've gained weight, you'll probably be fine. One trick I used when losing weight was to find a chair with a 17" span between the armrests and use it as a test. As I lost weight and felt more comfortable in that chair, I knew it was probably okay to buy one seat again.
    Posted by burntofferings[/QUOTE]

    Thanks for this. The last time I flew SW I was, roughly... 5 pounds less than I am now. So virtually the same size. (I'm roughly a size 22.) I just hope I don't catch a grouchy FA!
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  • entropicbeautyentropicbeauty member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    If you can put the arm rest down with no issues, I would cause a fuss on the plane if they tried to make me purchase a second seat!

    I've flown at size 22 before (I have HUGE hips) and have never needed to purchase a second seat.

    Really unacceptable way to treat people.
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