Airplane seats, am I right?

May 10, 2022 3:04 AM

I haven't been in an airplane since before the pandemic began, but now I might have to fly somewhere. I've gained weight. Will the airplane seat fit me?

I'm a woman, 5'4'', 275 pounds. I wear a size 22, usually.

The flight won't be particularly long, maybe 2 hours at most. I'm not too worried about my comfort, provided I can get the armrest down and not spill into the next seat.

I know different airplanes have different seat sizes. I might be flying Southwest Airlines, but I'm not sure yet. I know some airlines are better about fat passengers than others. Are there other factors I should consider?

posted by anonymous to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

You can use seatguru to scope out seat sizes and configuration of the plane for specific flights.

Until very recently I was your approximate dimensions. Given the standard seat dimensions in coach chances are that you will spill over unless you buy a companion seat. That's nothing to be ashamed of - the airlines determine the layout of the plane. And at some point they decided it was acceptable to fit planes with standard seats and a number of rows that does not accommodate a very significant share of the public. An average height man also sits there with their knees pressed against the seat in front. A person with normal weight but broad shoulders is also going to extend beyond the standard seat width. Best you can do is minimise by getting a window or isle seat because both give you extra space on one side.

You may also need a seat belt extension. Ask the flight attendant nearest to your seat when boarding - they are used to the request.

Depending on where you carry your weight you may find it difficult to fold down the tray table fully, even if the person in front of you doesn't recline. Plan to sleep or else do things that don't require use of the table like read a book or listen to music.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:45 AM on May 10, 2022 [4 favorites]

Oooh, oooh. I can speak to this.

I highly recommend requesting to join the Facebook group Flying While Fat. It is SO helpful and if you do a search you can find info on specific airlines.

I fly a lot and always ask for an extension as soon as I board. Initially I was a bit awkward about this but now I give no fucks.

Be prepared for your tray not to fold down fully. Best is if you can buy an extra seat beside you as you can use the tray table on that one. Some airlines provide that, I believe (from reading the Flying While Fat group) that Southwest have a customer of size policy that will allow you to do that. I'm not American/don't use American airlines, so can't comment further.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:59 AM on May 10, 2022 [4 favorites]

Here's Southwest's extra seat policy. If you buy an extra seat when you book, they will refund the cost after your flight.
posted by amarynth at 5:01 AM on May 10, 2022 [4 favorites]

Whether you need an extra seat will depend a bit on how you carry your weight and what you consider to be an issue with the next seat. At your weight you can *probably* get the arm rest down (I'm a little heavier than you but also a little taller and I carry most of my weight in my thighs, and I can now get it down on most airplanes now except really small ones) but that doesn't mean your arms won't run over the line a bit if you have fat arms or that your torso won't sit on the arm rest if you have more fat in your middle.

Seatguru is really a godsend for this sort of thing, though, because you can pick airplanes that you will fit on better. The difference between a 17 inch seat and an 18 inch seat is huge in terms of what it will accommodate.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:37 AM on May 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

You're smaller than me. I recently flew Southwest and didn't have any problems.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:41 AM on May 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

I am your weight with a few more inches in height and I've flown Southwest many times with just one seat. I always get a seat belt extender, but that is it. I'd pay for early boarding to give yourself time to get situated and grab a window seat. I've also sat next to people who use the entire armrest because of their size. It is a normal thing on airplanes and since I had the window seat, I gave them the whole armrest.
posted by soelo at 6:41 AM on May 10, 2022

On some smaller planes, the window seat actually gives you less room as the wall of the plane curves inwards, cutting into your shoulder space, so that is also something to consider.
posted by sardonyx at 7:27 AM on May 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

i am 5'6" and have flown when i was over 300lb. i need a seat belt extender (i have my own, as planes only have one or two per plane and if you can't buckle you have to get off the flight). i have flown delta and united and others that used to exist but no longer do, down to the little puddle jumpers. i carry my weight in my belly. i have always been able to get the arm rest down. aisle is always more comfortable than window, due to the sometimes extreme curvature of the plane. never get middle, because then you might have two assholes mad at you. the puddle jumpers are uncomfortable and tight but they're usually pretty short flights.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:05 AM on May 10, 2022

I carry enough weight to make bringing down the tray dicey, but more importantly my shoulders stick out two inches on either side of a standard seat. I always get an aisle seat so I can lean out a bit and not dominate the shared armrest.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:37 AM on May 10, 2022

There actually isn't much difference in seat width from airline to airline and plane to plane, even Spirit has 17.8" seat width. My guess is it will be tight as to whether the armrest goes down. Definitely look into SeatGuru, that will help you avoid seats where the tray folds into the armrest, which most people love for the extra space but obviously fat people hate. We've flown a decent amount and have never had trouble with availability of the seat extender, but sometimes the crew is extremely slow providing it.

As far as I know, Southwest is the only truly humane airline when it comes to people who don't fit in the "standard" seat, since they will refund the extra seat if the flight isn't full. If the flight is really less full, you can make sure you board early, sit near the back, and no one will take that middle seat. It's not fair, and you'll be with all the kids, but at least it doesn't cost extra. You can also look into using miles to upgrade, though that has become extremely difficult with some airlines, like United, which basically has zero availability. Good luck.
posted by wnissen at 11:22 AM on May 10, 2022

Reading the extra seat policy amarynth provided a link for above, Southwest will refund the extra seat even if the plane *is* full.
posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2022 [1 favorite]