No Plane For You!
Ugh. A size twenty-two woman was harassed by Southwest Airlines, who told her that she needed to buy a second seat because she was too fat to fit in just one. Size twenty-two? I've been a size twenty-two and I could certainly fit in a damn airplane seat. I don't know where the line should be drawn here, but size twenty-two is certainly not it. I can only imagine how humiliated I would have been had this happened to me.
Link via Big Fat Blog.
Link via Big Fat Blog.
posted by mo pie at 12:39 PM
20 Comments:
I'm an 18 and could barely squeeze my fat butt into the seats on the United flight I took to JournalCon; the seatbelt strap was at the very, very end, and I still had to suck in my gut to clip it shut. I was terrified I'd be called out, so I just tried to look as comfortable as possible! I seriously thought I was doing okay as far as my diet and stuff, but apparently I have some work to do!
See, that's very sad to me, lisa-marie, that you think "I must be doing something wrong" at size 18 and beat yourself up because the airlines have this skinny-seat standard. I don't know what the answer is, but you feeling bad about yourself when you thought you were doing well... that's not it!
Oh how I hate this airline deal. I sort of understand it, but I HATE it. My husband is a pretty big guy. We were flying back from San Diego a few months ago and on the first leg of the flight, the seat belt did not fit. Not even close. And it made no sense because on the way out there, we had no problems with the seat belts fitting. Well, he didn't want to ask for an extender because that's embarrassing and also, he was worried they'd make us buy another ticket (I think we were on United.) So he just kind of hid the buckle under his shirt so the attendents wouldn't see it wasn't buckled. On the second leg of our flight home, no problems at all.
But I hate knowing that in the very moment he realized the seat belt wouldn't fit, he just wanted to get sucked up in a black hole to avoid the embarrassment of it all.
Lisa
Man- I have to admit- I am torn here. I am a bigger woman- working hard at becoming a smaller woman, but I hate it when I sit in a seat at a movie theatre or airplane and the person sitting next to me is also in my seat. I just went to the movies, and two really large women were sitting each in their own seat, and then sharing a middle chair (had their arm rests up)-well, this movie was sold out and a couple came up and asked them to sit next to each other to make two seat available next to each other (one seat was open to the side of one of the larger women)- they both refused saying they would be uncomfortable- so the man had to sit between the women - seriously- on a third of that seat-the middle third- while his wife had to sit on the other side. I will mention that at this theatre, the seats are very generous in size. Who should have accomodated who?
On a recent flight, and it was a looong one- I was sitting against the window and the person in the middle was seriously over the armrest- especially the top half of him- I could barely move my left arm and his knee was hitting mine the whole way as well- I was so cramped- and I have arthritis- that when I got off the plane I damn near cried in pain. Is that fair? I will say here, the seats are already painfully small for the average size person- who should accomodate who? The airlines? The largest person? What about the person sitting next to the large person? What are their rights as a paying ticket holder?
I am a size 16- and I swear to god, my legs are pressed against those damn armrests on the plane unless I fly first class- I don't go over and I can lift it or leave it down- but damn!
Oh, Mo, don't be sad! Yes, it was horrible and embarassing at the time, but I'm over it. I no longer see this as a negative experience, but as a positive one. I consider it a real eye-opener. A challenge, even. My goal: to fit comfortably in an airplane seat by next year's JournalCon!
Something is screwy here...I'm a size 20 and I've never had any problem with airplanes at all. Even on the little puddle jumpers. Maybe I'm flying planes with more generous seats and seatbelts? But I think it's ridiculous that the airline personnel felt the need to call this woman out in front of God and everyone. 'Cause that's good customer service right there. Things like this make me mad.
-Kim
It's amazing that our society is shocked by political incorrectness about racial slurs or religious castigation, but those of us who are much, much larger than the Hollywood waif ideal are still treated as nothing better than "things," and it's accepted! I recently put on 60 pounds because of hormonal abnormalities. I was about a size 14-18 before and a 22-24 now. Recently, I went to an amusement park with my husband and could not fit on a roller coaster. I truly wanted the earth to open and swallow me right then and there because of the embarrassment. The ride attendant was downright rude about it and rolled her eyes. I have a Master's degree, I'm a teacher, kind to animals and children, talented, witty, and brave, and yet I am made to feel inhuman because of the size of my thighs? That is wrong, wrong, wrong. Who determines what is "normal" size and what is "plus" size? Who should decide to weight us by the quantity of our jeans instead of the quality of our hearts? Big girls, unite! I refuse to be treated as less than human because of my size ever again!
well, in all fairness, your paying for space; if you occupy two seats, pay for two seats. it is not an 'injustice' that you have to pay for two seats. a four year old doesnt take up the whole seat, and yet they have to pay for the whole space; so should all of you "larger ladies".
I am traveling with my husband and two kids next week, we are going to Disney World, and I am honestly dreading the trip. I cant think about anything but the flight and possible humiliation I may face as a large person. I have been thinking about buying a second seat, just in case I am "called out", it wont be an issue, but the flights are already sold out.
I know I need to lose weight, and have tried so many times. I think I start a new diet every single day. I just want to evaporate, just disappear forever sometimes. I am a size 24/26. I am only 5'3".
i think its ridiculous! im going on holiday to america in a couple of weeks, and while my skiny friends who im ging with cant wait, all i can think about is weather the seat belt is gonna do up on the plane, its really worrying me i contacted delta airlinrs which is who we r going with and they said the3 seatbelt lenght is 35- 38 inches long so i just hope it does up!!
I say....Take a Train! that's what i am gonna do. It may take longer , but the seats are more comfy and no complains or calls you out.
im travelling with avro airlines and im a 20 to 22 sized woman and i was just wondering if anyone knew the seat sizes?
ok i was a size 22 but i am a 20 now....wow last year i still was 22 and i could fit in an airplane seat that people are so mean if they make fun of her..i mean she is so gorgeous which means
outstandingly beautiful so a size 22 can fit in an airplane seat..love ya nikki
Great article! Thanks.
Thanks for interesting article.
Excellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!
hi, ive just returned from a trip to new york and we flew klm. im a size 24/26 and nearly 6 feet tall. i was worried sick about my seat/seatbelt but have to say i was absolutely fine/ i had no complaints with seat seatbelt or the tray. i hope this will help. this website helped me before i went. thanks
Thank you for the heads up about he seats on the plane. I have to fly to florida next week for a girlfriend getaway and four of us are plus size. I know who I am and i'm comfortable with the way God made me and I would not be emarassed to ask for an extender. It's better than sitting uncomfortable for two hours and hurting myself just because I'm afraid of what "people" might say. I love me.
to the person that said that we larger ladies should pay for another seat. Well maybe you are right but you must get some kind of satisfaction in making plus size women feel bad. It does'nt work on me because like I said before I love who I am and how i look. Plus I know somebody that likes it. Must take a lot of courage to down others and then have the guts to be anonymous.:-)
My most recent flight across the US for the first time ever I didn't fit the seat belt. I was a size 24/26. The last time I flew I was a 20/22 and I fit just fine. I was completely nervous and cramped in the seats as well- no "pouring over" but totally cramped and embarrassed all the same. I didn't ask for an extender, I just through a blanket over me pretending I was cold (I was sweating underneath). I wanted to die.
I was depressed. When I got home, I did the math. I gained 100lbs in the past 7 years. I eat organic and all natural and I don't drink pop or eat junk food. How did I get here? I wanted to know how much I must be eating that is too much, so I calculated how much average extra I must be eating. Do you know how much it takes to gain 100lbs in 7 years? 140 calories a day. That's an extra effing glass of OJ each day from a normal persons diet. WTF. I'm so pissed that thin people think they are so much better, they are not, they're a glass of effing OJ better.
So, I got home 2 weeks ago, and I have another flight on Thursday. For the past 10 days, I've been working out nonstop and eating less than 1000 calories a day. My scale is broken, so I just took measurements.
Well, here I am nervous again. I googled the length of seatbelts, and delta (35-38) and united (31) are the smallest. I'm flying VirginAustralia, and virginUS is just over 43inches, so I'm hoping they are atleast the same (may be bigger as it's newer and international though). I'm also flying AlaskaAir, which is thankfully one of the largest at 46in.
So, I hope all goes well, and I want you all to know that you are beautiful woman who go through persecution that many others no very little of. It is NOT always a matter of self control, a glass of effing OJ aday extra is not a self control issue. Sorry, it's not. I hope the best for all of you with upcoming travels as well. xx
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