southwest airlines seatbelts

[rhodeislandj]

alright i have a quick question. im a big person but i do believe i fit in one airplane sear. ive measured out the 17 inches the seat is and my butt fits within the mark. i fit in movie seats no problem. my question is seatbelt length.

im a size 22/24 (medical problem, working on a healthy diet and excersizing) 5'6, maybe 5'7 on a good day. 285 as of five minutes ago (after eating today)

do you think i'll have a problem. it's been stressing me out and im getting myself sick on this

 

[uva185]

alright i have a quick question. im a big person but i do believe i fit in one airplane sear. ive measured out the 17 inches the seat is and my butt fits within the mark. i fit in movie seats no problem. my question is seatbelt length.

im a size 22/24 (medical problem, working on a healthy diet and excersizing) 5'6, maybe 5'7 on a good day. 285 as of five minutes ago (after eating today)

do you think i'll have a problem. it's been stressing me out and im getting myself sick on this

Well, they do have seatbelt extenders. I don't know if they make you buy an extra seat if you require the extender.

 

[rhodeislandj]

i dont believe they make you buy another seat but, i dont know. i dont want to be embarrassed as im going with my friend and her family.

 

[stopher1]

Seatbelt extenders are free to use. Just ask a FA for one.

 

[CJN]

From your statistics, I think you'll be fine. Don't stress. If it turns out you do need a belt extender just politely and matter-of-fact ask. We've found FAs to be very professional and never had one yet who was out to embarrass us. And, for the most part, I don't think people around you even know what's going on - they're usually too busy settling in themselves.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, they do have seatbelt extenders. I don't know if they make you buy an extra seat if you require the extender.

No they don't.

Hubby was 5'10" and 340 with a belly, and needed to use the extender and he was fine inside the seat. Especially b/c he sits with us, and we can accomodate any "extra" his shoulders take up, they really do not care.

 

[Fire14]

I'm a 22 waist and I fit in seat with regular seat belt and even have extra. DH is 42 waist and fits in seat with seat belt.

 

[Vijoge]

I'm a 22 waist and I fit in seat with regular seat belt and even have extra.

 

[dgaston]

I think Fire14 means she's a size 22 waist and easily fits in the seat and has extra left. That is also true for me.

 

[crashbb]

I'm not sure that it applies on Southwest (but it probably does), but not all seat belts are the same length. I was on a flight last week and had a really short seatbelt. I asked the FA about it and I was told that, sometimes, if the end of the seat belt is damaged, they'll cut the end off and move the latch bit down (and remake the end). When they do this, the seatbelt is thus smaller.

So, seat belt tightness can differ even for the same person if you are in different seats. I'm not sure how often this happens and I don't think it makes a huge difference, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[inkkognito]

It's very common for people to ask for an extender, and that isn't what triggers the need for buying another seat. That will happen if you are unable to fit into your seat with the arm rests down. If all you need is an extender, no worries.

 

[carolina_yankee]

This is Southwest's Customer of Size policy. As stated, the issue is whether the armrests can fit down.

Dirk

 

[evaready51]

alright i have a quick question. im a big person but i do believe i fit in one airplane sear. ive measured out the 17 inches the seat is and my butt fits within the mark. i fit in movie seats no problem. my question is seatbelt length.

im a size 22/24 (medical problem, working on a healthy diet and excersizing) 5'6, maybe 5'7 on a good day. 285 as of five minutes ago (after eating today)

do you think i'll have a problem. it's been stressing me out and im getting myself sick on this

You will be fine, you'll probably just need a seat belt extender and they won't let you sit in an emergency row, if you use an extender.

 

[Taja]

I can vouch for seat belts being different lengths--particularly on SWA.

I sat in my selected seat and fastened the seatbelt. Or attempted to fasten it. It was about 6" too short! I moved to the center seat, and that was more than long enough.

I flagged down a flight attendant and requested an extension for my selected seat. I was just a bit flustered at first--I fly SWA regularly and never have had any other issue with a seatbelt! *LOL*

 

[rhodeislandj]

thank you all so much, i'm trying hard to put my mind at ease, haha. but hopefully all will go well!

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

alright i have a quick question. im a big person but i do believe i fit in one airplane sear. ive measured out the 17 inches the seat is and my butt fits within the mark. i fit in movie seats no problem. my question is seatbelt length.

im a size 22/24 (medical problem, working on a healthy diet and excersizing) 5'6, maybe 5'7 on a good day. 285 as of five minutes ago (after eating today)

do you think i'll have a problem. it's been stressing me out and im getting myself sick on this

I have the same stats as you except I'm a few inches shorter. I only fly SW & have discovered that there are certain seats where I absolutely have to have an extender. Just ask a flight attendant for one. They'll be discreet about it. There's no extra charge or anything.

 

[aribelle]

Ok....I'm also 5'7...and I weigh slightly more than you do (oh my god did I just admit that in public, lol)....and I've not had any problem sitting in Southwest seats.....I do ask for the seat belt extender because I don't like things tight across my belly....and regular belts fits but it's uncomfortable.

Now....I also travel with my skinny children....so I always make them sit on either side of me....so I get a bit of "spill" room. When I've travelled alone I have been a little embarassed by that spill...but I've never had anyone complain or make any indication that they were annoyed with me. I think it's more my own personal issue about "space"......I don't mind touching my kids, but strangers, no so comfortable.

If you're traveling with someone.....have them sit next to you, and you take the aisle seat. That way a little spill is towards the aisle, and any touching will be against someone you love, lol.

I would never consider myself large enough to be required to pay for a second seat. My spill is really more about personal space than actually taking someone else's seat space.

 

[Delta Jane]

My husband is large and one time the agent told him that he might have to purchase a second seat. She whispered to me, put the armrest up and he will be fine. That's what he did , so try that. You and I are about the same size. I've never had a problem.

 

[pbharris4]

I needed an extender (all weight is in my belly) and didn't need an extra seat. I also got the arm rest down. I believe that if you are big and I mean pretty big in the hips/thighs that you may need the extra seat. More than likely not though. I bought the extra seat last year (heck..we paid $29..so why not). We enjoyed the extra room and I sat on the aisle and I did not spill over. I almost didn't need the seatbelt extender but I guess I ate too many nachos or something that week! You'll be fine.

 

[rhodeislandj]

i have skinny thighs and hips. my weight goes out in my belly because of PCOS. you guys are being extremely helpful and i want to thank you all