Flying alone, Pooh-sized?

[Jerusalem Gal]

This is kind of off topic and I posted the question in the "Everything Pooh-sized thread" in the Disney World Tips forum, but I figured maybe someone here will be able to help me.

I'm leaving for my first Disney solo trip in two weeks!
I'm so excited but also so nervous about flying alone!!
I'm extra Pooh-sized and worried about sitting next to strangers on the plane. It's not the same as squishing your travel buddy. These are long international flights!
I've requested aisle seats and will try to make sure I don't invade anyone's space, but am still nervous.

Any tips from anyone out there?

 

[rwdavis2]

This is a touchy subject, from someone (me) who used to be morbidly obese, I barely fit into a coach airline seat. 10 more pounds and I probably would have needed to buy a second seat. Having wide shoulders, even now I sit on the aisle and lean that way just to make sure I'm not crowding the middle seat. I made every effort to not crowd them as they are entitled to their entire seat. I'm not sure what kind of tips you're looking for.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Thanks. I've never needed a second seat but I use a seat belt extender. The seats are a tight squeeze and the tray tables don't open as well as they should but I manage.
Not exactly sure what kind of tips I'm looking for. I guess just assurances from people who've been there. I'll do my best not to crowd anyone but it's my first time flying alone so I'm nervous.

 

[Nhebron]

I can relate and am always nervous to fly.

I always fly on flights with assigned seats. What I typically do is check seat assignments and try to move when possible to a seat with an empty seat next to it....even if it means having to pay to sit in one of those preferred seats. Obviously only works if flight isn't full.

I also try to board early and get settled...usually with a window seat.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

I can relate and am always nervous to fly.

I always fly on flights with assigned seats. What I typically do is check seat assignments and try to move when possible to a seat with an empty seat next to it....even if it means having to pay to sit in one of those preferred seats. Obviously only works if flight isn't full.

Thank you for your answer. I've requested aisle seats for all 6 flights (!) which is the most I could do at this point. One of those 6 isn't open for seating yet so I don't know where I'll be placed. I'll also check to see if there are any empty seats on any of the flights.
If I could afford it I'd pay for two seats. Or business class

 

[BigAlsGal]

I'm going to share my experience sitting next to someone extra pooh sized. Please don't be offended by this but know this was my experience.

I was in the middle seat and she had an isle seat. When I sat down she was so large she was sitting on my seatbelt. I basically had to dig under her to get it. She was 1/3 of the way sitting in my seat. There was no way for me to separate us because the arm rest would have slapped down on her hip. The guy to my left was in no mood to be kind to me by letting me have the armrest to his right so he took both.

So there I was completely squished with NOWHERE to put my arms and allowing someone to basically "share" my seat. Luckily this was only an hour and a half flight. It was almost an hour and a half too long. I'm not sure how pooh sized you're talking about but I'm going to implore you. If you are too large to bring the arm rest down and allow the person next to you the full amount of their seat to buy an extra seat. It's terribly uncomfortable for ALL parties involved and if you're talking a multiple hour international flight you might have someone raise a stink before take off. Good luck.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I sat next to a larger gentlemen on my SWA flight Monday. The flight was full but the airline had issued him a pass that said "Seat Reserved" on it. They pre-boarded him so he was able to choose an aisle seat, and put the "reserved seat" pass in the middle seat next to him. I had the window seat, so he didn't crowd anyone. He said he didn't ask for the accommodation, SWA just issued it to him at no extra charge.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm going to say this as kindly as I can--if you think you will squish whoever is next to you at all, you need to buy 2 seats, or upgrade to a different class.

 

[pooch]

Had one flight with a gentleman of size in the middle seat. He was literally the last person to board and the middle seat next to me was the only seat left. And he was Vince Wilfork sized. Such a nice man but there was really no way he could make himself smaller. I picked up the arm rest between us to give him a little more room but I spent the flight pushed as far into the aisle as my seat would allow, not fun.

 

[js]

Do you all think the aisle is the best. My dh is vey pooh sized and he has a solo flight in March to watch my ds play baseball. He first said aisle but I booked him the window since I told him it curves (the wall) and he could lean in that way. We sont usually have to think about it since he usually sitting next to me or the kids.

Should I change him from window to aisle?

Thanks.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'm going to say this as kindly as I can--if you think you will squish whoever is next to you at all, you need to buy 2 seats, or upgrade to a different class.

Yes please.

I remember a flight from Baltimore to New Orleans. I had a window seat. A large woman sat in the middle seat. As she sat down, she lifted the arm rest. No comment to me at all. Not even a "Hello."

Sorry, but at least talk to the person next to you, especially if you are taking some of of their space.

 

[bumbershoot]

So there I was completely squished with NOWHERE to put my arms and allowing someone to basically "share" my seat.

Imagine how SHE felt. I guarantee she felt a million times worse than you.

Do you all think the aisle is the best. My dh is vey pooh sized and he has a solo flight in March to watch my ds play baseball. He first said aisle but I booked him the window since I told him it curves (the wall) and he could lean in that way. We sont usually have to think about it since he usually sitting next to me or the kids.

Should I change him from window to aisle?

Thanks.

DH, after many flights, realized that the window worked better for him because it curves out.

And flight attendants can be total jerks about slamming the cart down the aisle and into elbows without warning.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Thank you everyone for your comments- I appreciate it.
I'm very self-aware and have a pathological need for people to like me so I will do everything in my power not to crowd the person next to me and I'll always be friendly.
The arm rest can be down between us, no problem, and I'm sure I'll be leaning towards the aisle for most of the flight(s) just to give them as much space as possible.
My only wish is to be seated next to other friendly people because one nasty comment can ruin the trip for me.

There are so many Pooh-sized people out there, I wonder how everyone manages....

Do you all think the aisle is the best. My dh is vey pooh sized and he has a solo flight in March to watch my ds play baseball. He first said aisle but I booked him the window since I told him it curves (the wall) and he could lean in that way. We sont usually have to think about it since he usually sitting next to me or the kids.

Should I change him from window to aisle?

Thanks.

I think you need to take the plane and seating structure into consideration. I'm used to flying on large aircrafts with 3 seats on each side + 4 seats in the middle. So if you're by the window, two people will have to get up if you want out. I once sat by the window on a long flight and didn't get up at all until both the people sitting next to me got up. I never once asked them to let me out because I was too embarrassed. I'd rather sit by the aisle and have them ask me to get up 20 times if need be. Anything rather than me being the one asking.
So if it's a small aircraft- no big deal, but if it's large, I'd choose aisle.

 

[Wishingspell]

I am always nervous about this as well. I'm a 16 but trying to slim down for my trip in February. I haven't had an issue flying yet but I don't want to *make* one either. Have you looked at the seat widths for your flights? That may ease your mind a bit

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Imagine how SHE felt. I guarantee she felt a million times worse than you.

I think people don't always get that. It's mortifying to know you're squishing someone and have nothing to do about it. On the bus I'd rather just stand, but on an airplane you have no choice but to sit..

I am always nervous about this as well. I'm a 16 but trying to slim down for my trip in February. I haven't had an issue flying yet but I don't want to *make* one either. Have you looked at the seat widths for your flights? That may ease your mind a bit

Y'know, for a while I was trying to slim down a bit just for this trip. But it doesn't always really work that way, does it?
I'm about 300 lbs and have no problem fitting in any of the rides or anything (and I've seen people much larger than me enjoying themselves) but this flying alone thing has me worried.
I haven't looked at the seat widths- they've all always kind of felt the same to me.

 

[Wishingspell]

I think people don't always get that. It's mortifying to know you're squishing someone and have nothing to do about it. On the bus I'd rather just stand, but on an airplane you have no choice but to sit..


Y'know, for a while I was trying to slim down a bit just for this trip. But it doesn't always really work that way, does it?
I'm about 300 lbs and have no problem fitting in any of the rides or anything (and I've seen people much larger than me enjoying themselves) but this flying alone thing has me worried.
I haven't looked at the seat widths- they've all always kind of felt the same to me.

Yeah, i think it's gonna depend on dimensions rather than weight (much like us rides) but you can also check the seatbelt length for peace of mind. I am well aware of how difficult it is to trim down, life definitely gets in the way. I hope you have pleasant flights and a wonderful trip.

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

Yeah, i think it's gonna depend on dimensions rather than weight (much like us rides) but you can also check the seatbelt length for peace of mind. I am well aware of how difficult it is to trim down, life definitely gets in the way. I hope you have pleasant flights and a wonderful trip.

A few short years ago I discovered the seatbelt extender. I'm eternally grateful to the person who invented it and the person who brought it to my attention!
Thank you so much and I hope you too have an amazing trip!!!!!!!

 

[sam_gordon]

It's mortifying to know you're squishing someone and have nothing to do about it.

But don't you have an option... buying a second seat? And I'm sorry, I don't believe for one moment than EVERYONE who is encroaching on another's seat feels bad about it.

Let's use BigAlsGal story, does it really matter how "bad" the "pooh sized" person felt?

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

But don't you have an option... buying a second seat? And I'm sorry, I don't believe for one moment than EVERYONE who is encroaching on another's seat feels bad about it.

Let's use BigAlsGal story, does it really matter how "bad" the "pooh sized" person felt?

Yeah, in theory you could buy a second seat, assuming you could afford it.
And ok, maybe not everyone feels bad, but I bet a whole lot of them (us) do
It kind of matters if the person felt bad- I think if they didn't it would make things a lot worse. But you're right that if you're uncomfortable because of the person sitting next to you you'll still be uncomfortable even if the person feels bad about it.
Hence the reason why I brought this subject up in the first place. Because I'll do everything I can to make sure they're ok with me sitting next to them.

 

[rwdavis2]

Thanks. I've never needed a second seat but I use a seat belt extender. The seats are a tight squeeze and the tray tables don't open as well as they should but I manage.
Not exactly sure what kind of tips I'm looking for. I guess just assurances from people who've been there. I'll do my best not to crowd anyone but it's my first time flying alone so I'm nervous.

That's pretty much what I did. Tight squeeze but I was able to stay on my side. Don't worry about flying alone. it will be fine.