Too fat to fly?

i_wanna_save_money!

I've travelling to London next month and have the option to fly. I've just had a mega panic thought that I'm too fat to fly

What are the average seat size on airplanes and what is the average seatbelt size, I've tried googling but a lot seems related to the US where people are bigger anyway.

I'm a size 20, is that too fat to fly?

balletshoes

no, size 20 is most definitely not too fat to fly.

browneyedbazzi

I know people a lot bigger than a size 20 that fly. You'll be fine. Charter/low cost airline seats are often narrower than seats on airlines like BA but I don't think a size 20 would be a problem even on them. I've been size 18-20 in the past and never had an issue.

kloana

i_wanna_save_money! wrote: »

I've travelling to London next month and have the option to fly. I've just had a mega panic thought that I'm too fat to fly

What are the average seat size on airplanes and what is the average seatbelt size, I've tried googling but a lot seems related to the US where people are bigger anyway.

I'm a size 20, is that too fat to fly?

People 'too fat to fly' really do need to book two adjacent seats.

But at size 20, you're nowhere near too fat to fly

The seatbelt should fit absolutely fine, though you can implement a seatbelt extender. Assuming it's a relatively smooth flight, you'll be able to leave your belt unfastened for most of the flight anyway.

marisco_2

You will be okay, being size 20 wont stop you being able to fly. Even on budget airlines the seating size can accomodate you without a problem.

A colleague of mine many years ago, who was a considerably larger size than you, had the same fear and decided to take the train instead of flying. Reasoning that it would be cheaper to buy two seats on a train than an aircraft. He arranged it all through a travel agent and thought no more of it. Got on board the train on the day of travel to discover the muppet agent had booked seats opposite to rather than adjacent to each other by mistake. Fortunately he saw the funny side and people were willing to move seats to accomodate him.

i_wanna_save_money!

Thank goodness for that! I had visions of being embarrassed and being kicked off the flight, & I'd be so uncomfortable asking for an extender in front of everyone

ronmiel

I used to be size 26 and flew many times without any problems. except I used to have to ask for a seat belt extender on some planes, not all. I had no problems with seat size but couldn't always get the table down but as I don't eat on planes this was no worry. If, for any reason you do need an extension for the belt, you just have a quiet word with one of the attendants and they are very discreet. I am now size 18/20 and everything is fine.

kloana

i_wanna_save_money! wrote: »

Thank goodness for that! I had visions of being embarrassed and being kicked off the flight, & I'd be so uncomfortable asking for an extender in front of everyone

You won't necessarily have to ask (as you may not need it), but it'd be provided to you (if you needed it) anyway. Don't worry, it wouldn't be announced over the tannoy - cabin crew must check that all seat belts are fastened for take-off (and landing). If yours isn't fastened, they'll make it so it fastens, by the hook or by the crook - and hopefully discreetly

i_wanna_save_money!

Thanks for easing my mind What size would be classed as too big to fly just out of curiosity?

kloana

i_wanna_save_money! wrote: »

Thanks for easing my mind What size would be classed as too big to fly just out of curiosity?

No idea exactly, but just from a rough guesstimation (having flew somewhere in the region of 50 times, on various airlines), I'd say a female size 30+ (or male equivalent size) would begin to run into trouble. But it'd depend entirely on the size of the seats, and so on.

I think you'd have to be absolutely ginormous - the kind of person who can't leave the house - before flying would be a downright no. As if you're too big for one seat, you just purchase two (or more :eek:), though I guess most people in that situation would obviously be very much aware of it, and wouldn't expect to just hop onto a plane and take up one seat

Moomum

I flew when I was a size 30! Had to have a seatbelt extender and was squished with certain airlines and as a pp said couldn't get the table fully down. Is certainly a much more comfortable flight now I'm a size 14-16.