Is it feasible for a Big & Tall man to fly coach?

[mom2boys]

We are taking my father on vacation with us this year. I am making the airline reservations for all. He's a big guy - 6'3" tall and 280-300 lbs. Will he have trouble fitting in coach? What are the options for a larger person on a flight?

 

[smb6]

He could buy a second seat if you feel it is needed.

 

[BKMETV]

My DH is a big guy too...300 lbs. He will fit in coach...he has to request the seat belt extension...but is definitely more comfortable in business class. If we can bump up for a reasonable price we do.

 

[cluvsdisney]

DH is a big guy. We fly Jet Blue b/c their seats seem bigger and we pay extra to sit in the rows with extra leg room. He always sits on the aisle to get even more leg room (he's 6'6") and it's nice that Jet Blue doesn't use those drink wagons so he doesn't get slammed in the elbow with those. He's not super comfortable but he manages.

Some airlines sell first class seats at the terminal for a low rate - you could check into that. Not all ticket purchases are eligible for an upgrade so I suggest checking before purchase.

 

[mommasita]

He will fit..yes

Will he be comfortable...NO

I agree, ask for the extension for the lap belt. If this is a longer flight than 3 to 4 hrs, I would upgrade him

Is this an airline where you can reserve your seats in advance? If so, do this. If he is fully able, then I would request an exit seat, or an aisle. The bulkhead would be nice, but normally the armrests don't raise inbetween the seats, as this is where the food trays are.

 

[horseshowmom]

He will fit..yes

Will he be comfortable...NO

I agree, ask for the extension for the lap belt. If this is a longer flight than 3 to 4 hrs, I would upgrade him

Is this an airline where you can reserve your seats in advance? If so, do this. If he is fully able, then I would request an exit seat, or an aisle. The bulkhead would be nice, but normally the armrests don't raise inbetween the seats, as this is where the food trays are.

This ^.

I like AirTran because you can upgrade to Business Class for a reasonable fee. It used to be when you got to the airport, but I think they changed it to 24 hours in advance.

If you have seats that are side by side, that will help, but if it's a long flight, he's going to be uncomfortable.

 

[woodkins]

That is my dh's exact size and we fly Southwest all the time with no problems. He does not use a seatbelt extender, it fits just fine (although 300lbs looks different on diff. people). I wouldn't say he is comfortable, but another seat wouldn't help him too much with legroom.

 

[disneyhand]

My husband is tall and he is ok till the seat in front of him reclines. He tries to get the exit row whenever possible.

 

[teskak]

Ask this question on the Podcast board. A couple of the Podcasters are big guys and when they fly Southwest there is some way you can pre-pay for an extra seat - they preboard early and "claim" the extra seat.

Then after the flight, if the flight is not sold out, ie there is a spare seat anywhere, they get a voucher for the cost of that extra seat.

As I said, the Podcast guys are also travel agents, so they are the best ones to explain what they do & how they do it.

 

[MAH4546]

He will fit..yes

Will he be comfortable...NO

I agree, ask for the extension for the lap belt. If this is a longer flight than 3 to 4 hrs, I would upgrade him

Is this an airline where you can reserve your seats in advance? If so, do this. If he is fully able, then I would request an exit seat, or an aisle. The bulkhead would be nice, but normally the armrests don't raise inbetween the seats, as this is where the food trays are.

On major airlines, the advance of assignment of the exit rows and bulkheads is reserved for elite status customers only.

 

[Darcy03231]

DH is 6'4" and 220 lbs and DS is 6'3" and about 240 lbs. Both fit in coach seats, although not comfortably. I always get the aisle seats and, if possible, the exit row seats (sometimes I have to pay a bit extra for them).

 

[mommasita]

On major airlines, the advance of assignment of the exit rows and bulkheads is reserved for elite status customers only.

This is why I asked. I know where I work, ANYONE can pay for either. The exit row is so long as you are willing and ABLE to help during and emergency. There are only some restrictions on that.

 

[RachaelA]

DH is 6'5 and 270ish. He has a lot of trouble with regular coach seats. He used to always request the exit row or the bulkhead, but now almost every airline charges (a lot!) for it. I wouldn't mind paying an extra $15 for a 2 1/2 hour flight but last time we went to Disney it was $30+ each way which was insane when you have to pay for two people (since I wasn't going to sit alone). And I'm cheap!

Whoever is in front of DH cannot recline their seat. Its not physically possible because his knees stop it from moving. He had a girl repeatedly slam into her seat to try and move it back. She then told him it was unfair she couldn't recline her seat (on a hour flight!). He was like "um... do you want me to cut my legs off?"

 

[shortbun]

I think the better question is 'how will the people next to him feel about him being in coach?' Probably a good idea to get two seats or search for an upgrade. Two coach tickets is probably much cheaper.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Whoever is in front of DH cannot recline their seat. Its not physically possible because his knees stop it from moving. He had a girl repeatedly slam into her seat to try and move it back. She then told him it was unfair she couldn't recline her seat (on a hour flight!). He was like "um... do you want me to cut my legs off?"

If that's the case, perhaps you should consider upgrading your husband, or at the very least offer to buy the person in front of him a couple of drinks since he is infringing on their (paid-for) space.

 

[katesorad]

My DH is 6'3, but only 195 pounds, so he's not "big" necessarily, but he is super tall. We don't ride coach, but even in first class, his legs were cramped.

I think that your father can fit in coach, but he definitely won't be comfortable.

 

[Rora]

The guy you describe sounds just like my dad. He doesn't need an extra seat but he is REALLY uncomfortable flying coach for more than a 2 hour flight. He always tried to get the exit row seats or bulk heads.

 

[RachaelA]

If that's the case, perhaps you should consider upgrading your husband, or at the very least offer to buy the person in front of him a couple of drinks since he is infringing on their (paid-for) space.

He's not infringing on their space. No part of his body is in the seat in front of him.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

He's not infringing on their space. No part of his body is in the seat in front of him.

If he's not infringing in her space, then why is she unable to recline? I'm assuming it's because his knees are in the space her seat would occupy if she were to lean back (which is a seat function/position for which she has paid).

For an hour-long flight, yeah, it probably wasn't necessary for the other woman to get worked up about it. However, I do think that preventing another passenger from reclining is little different than spilling over the armrest into another person's seat.

 

[stepmommyof1]

I agree, sorry but when you fly you pay for a seat that is supposed to have the ability to recline. That's something you're paying for. If I was in front of a larger person and I found myself unable to recline my seat, I would probably ask to be moved to another seat. (Although I do agree that it's silly to get worked up over a one hour flight, I mean it's not like you can really get a good sleep in an hour- but nevertheless, it was her paid for seat so if she wanted to recline the seat and rest then she should have been able to do...however silly it may seem). I think if people are tall enough or large enough that they infringe on others, then they really should just purchase an extra seat, whether that seat is next to them or in front of them. It may seem unfair to expect them to purchase an extra seat for something they cannot control (height etc) but it is hardly fair for them to inconvieniance others with their girth or knees poking into seats, etc