Starting to get Paranoid about being POOH size!!

[BETTYDISNEY]

Okay here is where I am at now. I have gotten over the fact that I have to travel w / powerchair, but know I am scared about fitting in my plane seat I am so trying to l;oose weight but when you are paraplegic and have arm strength problems it can be hard. My DH is sitting in the front row with me and my DM (yes she is going for those of you who have read my previous posts! ). but I am so freaking out now . Any thoughts from other sized folks and their experiences. I am not too scared with the transfer to the "teenie" aisle chair cause DH and DS are strong guys to lift me up and over. I dont even know if Delta employees help with that, I know Southwest does. I dont let on to my extremely excited family so who do I turn to YOU GUYS!!!

Please thoughts, advice or any of your ever so comforting ideas is very much appreciated.

 

[jerseygirl81]

I believe all the inside arm rests go up I don't think the ones facing the aisle do, so that would give you a little more room if you need it. And at least your sitting with family so if your thigh or backside should reach over to the next seat at least you won't have to feel as uncomfortable if it was a strangers thigh you were up against. Good luck with the weight loss it is much more difficult when you can't exercise. Linda

 

[mechurchlady]

First of all contact Delta to find out the seat size and if they offer extender lap belts. I am a size 24/26 and it was tight but I made it on Delta. American Airlines does have disabled seating where the arms can be moved.
http://www.delta.com/help/faqs/special_needs/index.jsp

Passengers with disabilities may be seated anywhere in their ticketed class of service for which they are qualified and in compliance with FAA safety regulations. You should ask your reservations representative or ticket agent about special seating accommodations if you are traveling with a service animal or an attendant who assists you with certain functions during flight, if you have a fused leg, if you need a seat with a movable aisle armrest, or if you use an aisle chair to reach your seat

That lead me to another page
http://www.delta.com/planning_reser...sabilities/accessibility_assistance/index.jsp

Movable Aisle Armrests

Depending on the aircraft, we provide movable aisle armrest seats so passengers who use aisle chairs to board the aircraft can more easily transfer into their seats. The number and locations of movable aisle armrest seats may vary by aircraft type.

If you should find that your seat doesn't have a movable armrest, our gate agent or in-flight personnel will be happy to determine if another seat with a movable armrest is available on that specific aircraft.

http://www.seatguru.com/
try them, some interesting stuff like on one plane the back rows have narrower seats.

The worst they can do is charge you for an extra seat if you are really large. Stop worrying and call Delta. I have been fat all my life and flown many times and never had a problem once I found out about the moveable armrests, wheelchair services and other disabled stuff. I have more recently flown on Song and Delta with no problems except dented luggage.

An hun them aisle chairs may be teeny but if you could walk you still would have to get up the aisle. They are called narrow as they are made to fit the aisles and in normal life would not be comfortable or practical as far as I am concerned.

 

[BETTYDISNEY]

Thanks for the info! I am not to concerned about the aisle chair because they have sat us in the front row with noone in front. I guess if I overlap it will be onto my DH so I dont think they charge me an extra seat?

I also have always flown song with DH and never had problem while I was ambulatory, but now I have gained probably 30 lbs since my last trip in 2005 At that point I was about 275lbs and had no real issues "fitting in my seat".

 

[SueM in MN]

One good thing - on the trip back, you will know what to expect and will know things went fine!

 

[BETTYDISNEY]

Now I am really freaking out the seats in bulklhead do not have moveable arm rests I just saw it on the website I was given by mechurchlady for "seat guru" Now I really dont know what to do

 

[SueM in MN]

I would call your airline and ask. Seat guru is usually right, but not always.
When we have sat in the bulkhead seats, the tables were usually in the armrests, so it is possible that the armrests are not moveable. On the other hand, we've also sat in the bulkhead with moveable armrests and the seat was close enough to the bulkhead that the tables came out of the wall.

 

[mechurchlady]

call Delta and explain the situation. They usually are very nice people. Read the section I posted as that has lots of info.

Passengers with disabilities may be seated anywhere in their ticketed class of service for which they are qualified and in compliance with FAA safety regulations. You should ask your reservations representative or ticket agent about special seating accommodations if you are traveling with a service animal or an attendant who assists you with certain functions during flight, if you have a fused leg, if you need a seat with a movable aisle armrest, or if you use an aisle chair to reach your seat

I have to go to San Antonio next week and need a new purse, clothes, and omg what am I going to eat while there. If you want we can pace the chat floor. I can keep chewing on pens and worry but in the long run I know that by reading the sites and gathering info that I WILL SUCCEDE. I still think I am going to fall into the river but that is me lol.

YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU WILL DO THIS.

Talk with the airlines and see what they can do. I have seen where attendents ask people to move and the guests do move. Big hugs and remember that a lot of info is online IF you stop worrying and look. Thanks for helping me find seat guru. I can now tell parents with autistic kids about that site that I found because of you. It will help them plan on where to sit like the engine is in the middle on some planes and the back on others.


Chin up and have some cyber chocolates, they are sugar and sin free but so yummy.

 

[BETTYDISNEY]

I have talked to 3 differerent agents all different stories! 1.) they dont have removeable on row 10 or movable for the rest of row because of tray table 2) yes movebeable even w/the traytable in arm rest and 3.) not removeable or moveable take your pick! By the way thanks for the guru sight and I have read all those Delta sites but it is still daunting when you cannot get straight answer from their own staff. I will keep trying!

 

[mechurchlady]

I have talked to 3 differerent agents all different stories! 1.) they dont have removeable on row 10 or movable for the rest of row because of tray table 2) yes movebeable even w/the traytable in arm rest and 3.) not removeable or moveable take your pick! By the way thanks for the guru sight and I have read all those Delta sites but it is still daunting when you cannot get straight answer from their own staff. I will keep trying!

Then demand a seat change and to speak to management. Let them know your limitations and that you know that the arm is not moveable and that the snack tray takes up needed space in the seat. Bulkhead is bad as it means you have the lavatory, closet or galley in front of you and you may have no place to store stuff when taking of or landing. You cannot stretch your legs under the seat in front of you either as there is none. You are going to have to demand to speak to someone in charge. Stand firm as they should know the answer and be able to do as promised online and in other places. They promise to help disabled guests who need arms that move but then cannot even tell if the arms move. Seat Guru could be wrong but probably is not as planes are made like cars in one generic type like the Boeing 757 then customized to their client's specifications thus all Boeing 757s are alike except for minor changes. I would trust Seat Guru as they are an established site and people would have told them that they are wrong.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
GO TEAM BETTY GO
you can do it


Cheering from an ECV woot go team go you can do it.