best seat in airplane for people at LARGE

[bearloch]

Hello and help.

traveling soon and would like some input as to what seats to try for on air tran, there will be three of us one normal sized one kid and one large lady 3x and 6 ft tall do you have any suggestions as to what seats would be the most comfy was think bulk head but the arm inbetween don't move right? any other suggestions

thanks

 

[safetymom]

Exit row seating would give you more leg room but nothing in coach would be any larger in the seat area. If you didn't need the middle seat you could left the armrest.

Otherwise the seats in first are always larger.

 

[JesseBlue]

Airtran seems to have one of the more "Squished" in planes I've seen. They are new and boy did they pare them down! Make sure to sit next to one of the kids so you can lift the arm rest between you. That will help. Other than that I loved Airtran! They are quiet, smooth and on time.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
Exit row seating would give you more leg room but nothing in coach would be any larger in the seat area. If you didn't need the middle seat you could left the armrest.

Otherwise the seats in first are always larger.

The OP has a "kid" with her, so, not sure the exit row will probably not work.

 

[safetymom]

Thanks Gail. I forgot about the child in my post. There are some rows on airplanes behind the exit row where the exit row doesn't have a seat next to the wall of the airplane for extra leg room.

Also if you are preferred with an airline sometimes they try to block out that extra seat between aisle and window. If that doesn't work request and aisle and window in one row, and then the aisle in the row across from that one.

 

[Lewisc]

Airline seats (in general) are about the same width as a regular movie theater seat. If the lady can't fit at all you might call and see what they'll charge for an extra seat. If the fit is merely uncomfortable just raise the armrest (the'll be a family member next to her) during the flight.

 

[caitycaity]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Airline seats (in general) are about the same width as a regular movie theater seat. If the lady can't fit at all you might call and see what they'll charge for an extra seat. If the fit is merely uncomfortable just raise the armrest (the'll be a family member next to her) during the flight.

jeez, either your movie theatres are uncomfy or i must be flying the wrong airline! seats at all the movie theatres near us are WAY bigger than seats on all the airplanes i have ever flown.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by caitycaity
jeez, either your movie theatres are uncomfy or i must be flying the wrong airline! seats at all the movie theatres near us are WAY bigger than seats on all the airplanes i have ever flown.

I was not sure if a friend was going to need two seats and I called SW. They are the ones that gave me that information. I have no trouble with the seats in the movies or airlines. I think the SW seats may be an inch or 2 wider than some of the other airlines.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
The OP has a "kid" with her, so, not sure the exit row will probably not work.

Thats a good point that some people may not know. Any one sitting in an exit row must be 18 y/o or older. If you reserve your seats on-line you have to remember that when picking your seats. On one of our flights some kids were sitting there with their parents. They were kind of mad when they were told they would have to move. The flight attendents had to look for volunteers to switch seats with them. It caused a small delay and a lot of frustration for them.

 

[dznyntnh]

Southwest's seats are definitely bigger than 'standard' coach seats. Not much, but enough that a bigger person, like myself, can tell the difference. I have never had a problem with their seats, but I have been dieting for a couple months so I don't need that stupid extension belt. I always feel like they know I'm coming and shorten the belts just enough that I can't buckle it. I can get it thisclose but not buckle it, it drives me crazy. But I've gone down two pants sizes since the last tiem I've flown, so I'm ready for them, unless they shorten the belts.

 

[Artuero]

Not sure if this helps the original poster, but I am pretty sure United's policy on exit rows is 15 and older, rather than 18 and older. Otherwise seat width is the same within a given plane's cabin. The larger planes, made for international trips, can have larger coach seats, so if you can get 747 or 777 equipment (which do some domestic runs) then that might be better. As someone else said, raising the seat rests and sitting the larger person next to the kid helps.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Artuero
Not sure if this helps the original poster, but I am pretty sure United's policy on exit rows is 15 and older, rather than 18 and older. Otherwise seat width is the same within a given plane's cabin. The larger planes, made for international trips, can have larger coach seats, so if you can get 747 or 777 equipment (which do some domestic runs) then that might be better. As someone else said, raising the seat rests and sitting the larger person next to the kid helps.

It is a FAA rule and I believe it is 17.

 

[Regina]

You have to be 18. We just sat in exit rows for our flights and the first thing that the flight attendant asked was if everyone was at least 18 years of age. (DD turned 18 in April.)

Width wise there's no difference, but leg room is very nice.

 

[Artuero]

I checked. The FAA's rule requires a person to be 15 years old in order to sit in an exit row. United's policy conforms to the rule. Perhaps the other airlines impose their own rule on top of the FAA's in order to comply with the other requirements, such as that persons in exit rows need to be able to perform the necessary functions.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Artuero
I checked. The FAA's rule requires a person to be 15 years old in order to sit in an exit row. United's policy conforms to the rule. Perhaps the other airlines impose their own rule on top of the FAA's in order to comply with the other requirements, such as that persons in exit rows need to be able to perform the necessary functions.

I stand corrected and UA's rule is another reason I won't fly them
I don't want a young teen being responsible for my life. Nothing wrong with young teens but, they do get a little flighty in an emergency. I like 17 and up.

 

[Pinnie]

This site is the most comprehensive site on airplane seating that I have ever found:

http://www.seatguru.com


pin

 

[mcnuss]

Pinnie, I love that site. I use it all the time when I am taking long-haul flights to decide which one to take. The only caution is that these days the airlines are switching around their equipment like crazy, so sometimes even the best planning goes awry.

The thing about airplane seats is that each airline chooses width, pitch, etc... and even within one carrier's line of say, 737s, there will be huge variations depending on the age of the plane, etc... IMHO, on SW's newer planes, you are squished like a sardine. On the older planes, the seats are a bit better. But you won't know which one you've got until you get there! I fly anywhere from 125-150 segments per year, and the variety of plane configurations is astounding.

I am 5' 1" on my tippie toes and on the petite side, and I have to say that there is no coach seat as wide as a movie theater seat. In my life, I have never had a problem in a movie theater, but even at my size, I have been in planes were I can barely move. And let's not even start on the subject of the lavatories. I feel so bad for the larger people on the plane, bc most of the time, I barely fit.

 

[figment27]

Hi,

Did not read the prior posts carefully enough. The information I provided was posted by someone else. Sorry!

You may find this website helpful. It provides information on seat size, pitch, etc. for most airlines and types of aircraft. It will give you some GENERAL ideas at any rate.
Hope it helps somewhat.
www.seatguru.com
Figment

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mcnuss
Pinnie, I love that site. I use it all the time when I am taking long-haul flights to decide which one to take. The only caution is that these days the airlines are switching around their equipment like crazy, so sometimes even the best planning goes awry.

The thing about airplane seats is that each airline chooses width, pitch, etc... and even within one carrier's line of say, 737s, there will be huge variations depending on the age of the plane, etc... IMHO, on SW's newer planes, you are squished like a sardine. On the older planes, the seats are a bit better. But you won't know which one you've got until you get there! I fly anywhere from 125-150 segments per year, and the variety of plane configurations is astounding.

I am 5' 1" on my tippie toes and on the petite side, and I have to say that there is no coach seat as wide as a movie theater seat. In my life, I have never had a problem in a movie theater, but even at my size, I have been in planes were I can barely move. And let's not even start on the subject of the lavatories. I feel so bad for the larger people on the plane, bc most of the time, I barely fit.

SWA's newer planes have a bigger pitch than the old ones by about 1.5 inches. the average seat is between 19 and 20 inches wide. I am 5'7.25" with a 34" inseam and have yet to feel cramped or squeezed in. Perhaps it is because the newer planes are bigger than the 737-200 and 737-500 and it give the illusion of being squished. BTW, Dee is 6'1" with a 34" inseam and he can even cross his legs comfortably. go figure.

 

[lawgs]

the sign on the wall in the exit rows on SW say "15" also...

on most SW planes, the "exit" seats on the left side as you board actually are "two rows"....one with two seats and then the row behind it with 3 seats as well as one row of three seats across from it...