Southwest and Pooh Size travellers

[gokenin]

I think you CAN compare the discomfort of someone in front of you reclining their seat all the way back. I was very uncomfortable on a SW flight due to this. I am not Pooh sized ( 5'10, long legs, lg chest) but felt as though I had no leg room. I was unable to use my tray table due to this. I feel this is ALOT more uncomfortable that someone next to me hanging over slightly due to their size. At least they are soft I wish they would disable the reclining feature in all seats.

Try being 6'5 and pooh sized you would hate to be stuck behind someone that reclines in the row in front of you. I fly jetblue only because they will give you the option of buying seats in a row provides extra leg room. I also buy a second seat and would even if i didn't need it after having a drink spilled on my on one flight by the person next to me.

 

[NotUrsula]

Honestly, I wish that all airlines would allow you to buy a second seat for whatever reason you like. I've often wanted to do it on overseas flights just for the comfort (I'm overweight; not big enough to physically require two seats, but big enough that airline seats make me feel a tad claustrophobic on long flights.).

The thing is, you can't do that; they will force you to give it back if you try, unless the airline employees deem you big enough to "need" the seat.
That's all about revenue; they are force-refunding an advance purchase seat in order to give the space to a last-minute full-fare passenger. That is ridiculous -- if I paid for the space I should be able to do what I like with it, so long as I'm not transporting anything that is potentially dangerous in it, or inpinging on another passenger's comfort.

 

[gokenin]

The thing is, you can't do that; they will force you to give it back if you try, unless the airline employees deem you big enough to "need" the seat.
That's all about revenue; they are force-refunding an advance purchase seat in order to give the space to a last-minute full-fare passenger. That is ridiculous -- if I paid for the space I should be able to do what I like with it, so long as I'm not transporting anything that is potentially dangerous in it, or inpinging on another passenger's comfort.

I don't know if that is true in none of the 5 times that I have bought an extra ticket was I ever told that they could force me to give up the extra seat that I have paid full price for. Every time I have bought a second seat I have simply used XST as the first name with my last name and no one has ever said anything about it.

 

[seashoreCM]

Try being 6'5 and pooh sized you would hate to be stuck behind someone that reclines in the row in front of you. I fly jetblue only because they will give you the option of buying seats in a row provides extra leg room. I also buy a second seat and would even if i didn't need it after having a drink spilled on my on one flight by the person next to me.

Just a point of information. Some taller folks will find they have more legroom if they don't slouch. Some folks will find that extending legs under the seat in front keeps the kness form hitting the seat in front.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't know if that is true in none of the 5 times that I have bought an extra ticket was I ever told that they could force me to give up the extra seat that I have paid full price for. Every time I have bought a second seat I have simply used XST as the first name with my last name and no one has ever said anything about it.

That's wonderful; I'm thrilled to hear it. Every time I've tried it I've ended up on a sold-out flight, and every single time, I've had the airline insist that I take a refund on the ticket so that a standby passenger could be accomodated.

 

[uncle duck]

Interesting thread. next time i fly i plan on doing the 2 seat thing. although my lower end fits just fine, my shoulders do not.
I do have one question. do most pooh sized flyers have their own seatbelt exstenders or just use the airlines?

Thanks Don

 

[goofy4tink]

Just a point of information. Some taller folks will find they have more legroom if they don't slouch. Some folks will find that extending legs under the seat in front keeps the kness form hitting the seat in front.

Hard to do if you have carryon under the seat. That's where a lot of us prefer to put our bag, if it's small enough. Much easier than fighting for overhead space..especially if the bag fits on the floor.
My dh, dd and I all have very long legs...it's a huge deal to try to fit our legs in, without cramping them after about 2 hrs in flight. But, perhaps we can just start taking up that valuable room in the overheads!!

 

[gokenin]

Interesting thread. next time i fly i plan on doing the 2 seat thing. although my lower end fits just fine, my shoulders do not.
I do have one question. do most pooh sized flyers have their own seatbelt exstenders or just use the airlines?

Thanks Don

I use the airlines there are two different types of seatbelt connectors so its just easier to ask for the one they have instead of buying one and being restricted to the airlines that use just that type of buckle.

 

[gokenin]

Just a point of information. Some taller folks will find they have more legroom if they don't slouch. Some folks will find that extending legs under the seat in front keeps the kness form hitting the seat in front.

the only problem with that is if you have a window seat in order to have decent leg room you have to fly with your head up against the bulkhead curve.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I flew Southwest as a Pooh size traveller in October, on my trip down to WDW. I bought the second seat. I had three flight segments to Orlando and two home. On four of those segments, the plane was full and I had people giving me dirty looks because of my empty second seat. Because of the sold out flights, I wasn't able to get a refund for the second seat, but that's okay. I bought it for my comfort, because I was concerned about not fitting, and also because I was concerned about someone complaining and my being asked to leave the plane if someone complained.

All told, while it's expensive, it was worth it. Checking in was difficult at Midway, but because the agent didn't know how to do it and had to call for help. Checking in at Orlando was very easy. At one point on the last segment home, another passenger pitched a fit that I wasn't letting them sit next to me (despite the clearly visible reserved sign on the second seat) and got the FA. The FA explained to the other passenger that I'd paid for the seat and had been on the plane since it originated in Orlando and she wasn't going to make me move.

Some people tell me that I'm not "big enough" to need two seats, but I tried to sit with the armrest down because a friend on my PTR had asked me to see how I'd fit, and I was extremely uncomfortable with the armrest down. It was worth it to me to buy the second seat. I'm going to DLR in May for my birthday, so I'll be buying two seats on Southwest when I get my tax return, and will likely be flying Southwest when I go back to WDW in December.

But I do agree that the people who complain about plus size passengers being so big and then complain about them following the rules and buying two seats need to stop complaining or find something else to complain about. I followed the rules Southwest had laid out, and still people complained, even though I knew they wouldn't have wanted to sit next to me anyway.

But I can't tell you how many people walked right past the third seat in the row, not realizing they would've had a little more room

 

[Lassie Lynne]

But I can't tell you how many people walked right past the third seat in the row, not realizing they would've had a little more room

Yep....they do. The secret is out for all of you single travelers, look around for a middle seat with a little "ticket" on it .

I usually (when traveling by myself) pick out a larger older/senior person traveling by themselves walking down the aisle and quietly invite them to sit in the aisle seat (I always take the window), pointing out that the seat between us will be empty since I bought two. I have never had anyone turn me down, and usually have an appreciative traveling companion.

 

[cm8]

Hire Dexter as a consultant. With the right "tools" 20 minutes should be very doable.

, yes he would, yes he would

 

[seashoreCM]

It's PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for a Customer of Size to occupy seat 12A and seat 19E..

(dreaming) Teleportation, as exemplified in the Stich ride. The left half of the person is moved to the other seat.

Why does this remind me of a cartoon (Harvey, not Disney). Katnip is fishing and it is either Herman (the mouse) or Buzzy (the crow) hitching the line to Katnip's tail. Katnip reels in the line and it seems like an infinite amount. He looks down and finds his lower half unraveled up to his waist (not left half versus right). (The next scene has him knitting himself back into existance and the fur pattern comes out funny.)

Back to the teleportation. We could just reconstruct everyone regardless of size at his destination and not even need airplanes.

...I had people giving me dirty looks because of my empty second seat ...

He might be smiling for a moment if he were allowed to have that seat but not after the armrest is raised and he is told he could not touch you under penalty of duct tape.

* (Harvey's best known character is Casper the ghost)

 

[ToddyLu]

I am 5'4" and weigh 222#, DH is 5'8" and weighs 270# with huge shoulders. My MIL is 5'5" and weighs 150#. We fly SW out of New Orleans and always purchase the Early Bird option. We shove laughing her next to the window, which she likes and then I sit in the middle with DH on the aisle. He and I jab each other in the belly until we reach our destination 1:45 minutes later. She is well rested, he is as comfy as possible on the aisle seat and I have had 1:45 minutes enjoying my Disney music on my Ipod. Are we wonderfully comfy? no. Would I be if DH and I had a seat between us, no. Airplanes were not meant for comfort IMHO. Can we look in the mirror and see ourselves and know that this may be a problem?Yes...would it embarrass me to purchase another ticket at the gate due to size? no. DH and I realize that this is a possiblity and why. It just has never happened.

MIL takes the window beside two pooh sized people she loves very much, then gets a free SV studio at AKV ...DH only has 1:45 minutes in the air to get to his destination.... and I don't have to sit next to someone fidgeting for 9 hours in a car... as a threesome it is a Win-win-win for us.

DH and I are pricing tickets now for a trip in May...will we purchase an extra ticket? No. Will we need purchase one at the gate. I don't know We will see what happens when we get there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

DH and I are pricing tickets now for a trip in May...will we purchase an extra ticket? No. Will we need purchase one at the gate. I don't know We will see what happens when we get there.

Just be alert, if you read Southwest's policy carefully, you could (at some point) each be required to purchase an additional seat.

It is, or should be*, based solely on whether one can sit with the armrest fully down and without spilling over into any adjacent seat.

*"should be" = Southwest's definition, not mine

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is no way I would want my 4 year old to be seated next to a stranger for "a few hours".

Quite frankly, there is no way I'd want your 4 year old sitting next to me for a few hours either.

If you don't like SWA's seating policies, chose another airline. Simple solution.

 

[Lewisc]

Check the print. Most airlines will let you purchase a second seat (but without SWs refund if the flight isn't full policy). Only certain circumstance. A musical instrument that won't fit under a seat or in the bin is one example. Buy an instrument case.

Honestly, I wish that all airlines would allow you to buy a second seat for whatever reason you like. I've often wanted to do it on overseas flights just for the comfort (I'm overweight; not big enough to physically require two seats, but big enough that airline seats make me feel a tad claustrophobic on long flights.).

The thing is, you can't do that; they will force you to give it back if you try, unless the airline employees deem you big enough to "need" the seat.
That's all about revenue; they are force-refunding an advance purchase seat in order to give the space to a last-minute full-fare passenger. That is ridiculous -- if I paid for the space I should be able to do what I like with it, so long as I'm not transporting anything that is potentially dangerous in it, or inpinging on another passenger's comfort.

 

[ToddyLu]

yep I got it....it is what it is and we will definitley pay if the airlines feel we are people of size and need to EACH get a second ticket.