Pooh Sized on SW Airlines

[johde]

I am a pooh sized male. So, I may carry my weight differently. I do fit in the seats with the arm rests down and I don't need an extender. That being said, when I travel, especially solo, I try to be proactive about my comfort and the comfort of those around me. I don't buy an extra seat, but on south west, I normally pay for advanced check in. That way I have a great choice of seats. I normally go for an aisle seat towards the back of the plane. By taking an aisle seat, my broad shoulders extend in the the aisle and not into the person next to me.

 

[Lewisc]

So I am pooh sized..3X in most things. I am flying SW at the end of the month and am full of anxiety that they are going to make me buy a second seat on the plane and humiliate me in front of everyone. The last time I flew SW I could barely get the belt fastened. I am afraid to ask for an extender because then I think I will be drawing attention to the fact that I am big. Any thoughts?

I understand that. I don't know how I will fit into the seat. Honestly, the last time I flew, one way I barely could buckle the seatbelt --there was no one next to me so it wasn't an issue, and the the return flight I had no problem buckling up. It wasn't roomy, but I buckled just fine.
.......
I just want to go on a trip with my family, and not feel like crud about myself or be full of anxiety

You can discretely ask a FA for a seat belt extender. No reason to buy one on E-Bay.

A poster gave you details regarding Southwest's policy regarding ***. Passengers who don't fit in one seat are required to purchase a second seat. You get to a card to indicate the seat next to you is paid for. You preboard. Under many circumstances the cost for the second seat is refunded.

I don't understand the sentence I bolded. You mean you're not sure if you'll fully fit in the seat with the armrest down? or Do you mean you don't know how you'll possibly be able to fit in one seat. Did you gain weight since your last trip?

If you know you have very little chance of fitting then you should buy the extra seat. You know the policy. Passengers who know the policy and don't purchase the seat will be embarrassed. Almost like getting to the checkout counter without a credit card and without enough cash.

(I've read sometimes when there is a problem with a seat belt maintenance will cut off a piece and then attach a new buckle. Could be the reason for the difference coming vs going.

 

[McKelly]

Are you traveling with someone else? I would pay for Early Bird seating and try to sit next to that person, then you if you do spill into the next seat, it's just against someone you know. I don't find SW to be any smaller than any other airplane, so if you fit on other airline seats, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm a small person (a size six) and I need every inch of seat, I can't imagine being a larger person - as Gracie said, if you are going to spill over, it isn't fair to the person next to you - unless they are related. My husband is a little larger, he sits next to me and I don't mind being cuddled and squished a little by him. We put one of my small sized children (they are teens now, but both of them are smallish) in the third seat and he has room by inconveniencing only his family ....

Or he gets upgraded - he's a frequent flyer so that is always a possibility that I'm back in cattle class with the kids and he's up in first having free drinks in a wide comfy seat

WHAT? Everyone knows when the husband gets an upgrade, he gives it to his wife! If that were my husband, there would be no more "cuddling" for a long, long time

 

[pandamom]

I'm pooh sized and had the same concerns the first time I flew Southwest. I need the extender but do not "spill" over into the other seats with the arm rests down. I have now flown with them many, many times and have never had an issue. I ask for seat extender when boarding and they have always been extremely discreet.

 

[DebbieB]

if you think you'll be too big, then you probably are.

One time a friend of a friend was joining us on a trip. My friend & I were flying SW, her friend was flying AirTran. All from the same airport, about the same time. I asked my friend why didn't she fly SW with us, she said it was because she was worried about her size. I was shocked when I met her, she was only like a size 18. She would have been fine.

 

[MAJPLO]

I do appreciate the encouragement from everyone, really. very much. but I don't want you to think that I have not lived a full and happy life as a fat person.

It makes me angry I think, that I let it interfere with things sometimes. This is the first thing in a very long time that has brought me anxiety about my size. I am fat. I have always been fat. I have learned to accept myself for wh I am most days. I am a loving, happy, giving, hard working, blessed wife, mother, daughter, sister, small business owner and too many other things to mention. I am not an axe murderer because I ate 2 cupcakes instead of one. hahaha I just have a big butt. I will have a great trip, my plan is to bring the extender, (even though not FAA approved) discreetly use it if needed and enjoy being with my family

Sometimes things we don't do very often or haven't done in a long time (flying) cause the worst anxiety. Take a deep breath and have a cocktail onboard. Smile

 

[wendow]

I know it is hard for someone to understand who has never had a weight problem. I have battled this my entire life. I have alternately felt shame, humiliation, anger, frustration, and sometimes victory when I am doing well in losing weight. Then I take my eye off the ball for a few weeks and it climbs right back on. It has truly been the most difficult, long term, non resolved thing in my life.

I just want to go on a trip with my family, and not feel like crud about myself or be full of anxiety

I hope you have a fabulous trip!

 

[beansmom]

You can purchase from ebay but is not FAA approved to use it.

maybe not but i have used my own extender for a few years and no one has ever challenged me on it. As long as I'm buckled in, no one seems to care.

The FAA can eat my shorts.

 

[aprilgail2]

Jetblues seats are bigger than the seats on southwest- southwests seats are among the smallest I have ever seen.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Last year my mom was close to 300 lbs and 5ft2in, she wore a size 3x or 24.

She was always able to fit in the seats on Southwest without a seat belt extender; sometimes without any problems and room to spare, sometimes just barely but it always went on. However, she did spill over into the seat next to her (not a big deal since she was traveling with family) so that might be a problem if you are sitting next to a stranger.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Jetblues seats are bigger than the seats on southwest- southwests seats are among the smallest I have ever seen.

Southwest's seats are 17" wide, which is about average for coach seats on US airlines.

 

[dawnball]

Why not just buy a second seat? Southwest is now refunding it for everyone after their flight. If you don't have the available cash to float an extra ticket, you can ask a customer service agent at the gate and they'll get you an extra seat. The second option means someone might get bumped from the flight, so it's less desirable, but better than getting on the plane and discovering that you don't fit.

Just being proactive seems a lot better than worrying between now and then.

 

[bedogged]

I saw last week on TV that SW is in the process of changing their seats to SMALLER seats. I can attest to that as the plane that I flew to Orlando in September had larger seats going than coming back. Apparently, they can get more seats in by reducing the size.

 

[maxiesmom]

Last year my mom was close to 300 lbs and 5ft2in, she wore a size 3x or 24.

She was always able to fit in the seats on Southwest without a seat belt extender; sometimes without any problems and room to spare, sometimes just barely but it always went on. However, she did spill over into the seat next to her (not a big deal since she was traveling with family) so that might be a problem if you are sitting next to a stranger.

Depending on the flight attendant it may not matter who you are sitting next to. If the arm rest doesn't go down then technically you need to buy a second seat.

 

[meajuly5]

Was on sw today. Totally full flight. Sitting across the aisle from someone who needed extender. It was clear she would but nobody mentioned anything. She asked for an extender and it was given very discreetly. The seats felt much larger than usair.


One tip is to sit in front row. Extra leg room helps everyone spread a bit

 

[SashaFarce]

I am a 2x-3x depending on size of clothes - to be precise, I'm about 5'7" and I weigh about 235. I have weighed much more in the past and fly SWA frequently. I carry the majority of my fat in my belly and have never had an issue on the plane nor been asked to buy a 2nd seat. I fit just fine with spare room with the armrests down. For someone who carries their weight more spread out, I think issues are more likely.

 

[firemist]

I never thought to buy an extra seat but from the comments it might be easier for the dh. So with all airlines do you buy a regular seat or a child seat or is there an extended seat selection? With sw you can get a refund if they are not sold out? Like if the plane is not 100% seated then you can request a refund? Am I understanding the posts correctly?

 

[lauti]

I never thought to buy an extra seat but from the comments it might be easier for the dh. So with all airlines do you buy a regular seat or a child seat or is there an extended seat selection? With sw you can get a refund if they are not sold out? Like if the plane is not 100% seated then you can request a refund? Am I understanding the posts correctly?

You can only get a refund on SW IF the flight is not full, it is not guaranteed. You purchase an additional adult ticket.

 

[mbrocker]

YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PURCHASE A SECOND SEAT. Their policy has changed. They request that you do, for seat counting purposes... But they will refund you EVERY time, full flight or not. If purchasing a second seat isn't possible... They will GIVE you a second seat, no charge, at the airport upon request, inventory permitting.

We bought our ticket on miles, therefore could not purchase a second (per their guidelines). So we will ask for one from the ticket agent.

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=extra_seat_policy