I have avoided airplane travel for years but I have to fly next week. 2 planes each way. One jet, one turboprop each way. Delta. Will I fit in the seat? I am 5' 6'' and weigh 312. I carry most of my weight in my stomach. I wear size 32 pants (womens). If I do not fit, what happens? I am sick about this. Please help me to know what to expect.

Thank you so much.

If you carry most of your weight in the middle, you may not fit. However, I have traveled with a larger woman and what most airlines have is an extension that can be added to the seat belt so it will fit.

Good luck.

I just flew in May on AirTran and I asked for a seatbelt extender. I was 380 and I have a big belly too. I was also lucky enough to sit next to my skinny friend and we put the arm rest up between us. No one said anything, but I was sick about it too. My brother used to fly first class because they have larger seats. I've never been in a Turboprop, so I'm not sure what to expect there. Good luck!

I was wondering, since she seems so nervous about it, maybe should she ask the stewardess for the extender in advance (as she approaches her seat) so as to avoid any embarrassment? I think that's what I would do.

The problem is not the seat belt. They have extensions, just ask, it's no big deal, I ask an attendant as I walk onto the plane.

The problem is fitting in the width of the seat especially with the arm rest down. If you are sitting next to someone you know who is not themselves oversized, this may be no issue if you get a little squishy. If you are traveling on a plane with unfilled seats, it may be no big deal. I used to ask attendants when I got a seating assignment if they could try to sit me next to any empty space so I would not make the person next to me uncomfortable.

However, if these two things are not in place, then it really comes down to the "width" of your body not the depth. A giant stomach isn't really an issue, there is room out front. Width is the issue. If you are traveling alone on a full plane and you are wider than what the attendant thinks can fit in one seat, they will ask you to buy another ticket.

Now I buy two by default. This makes corporate travel impossible. One 2-day trip to HQ cost me hundreds out of pocket as our corp won't pay for 2 tickets. I recommend you take cash in case it is necessary so you are not stranded at the airport. (Assuming they have an extra seat.)

The problem with two seats is that seats curve up at the bottom and in at the back/side. And they are hard. So your entire body weight will be pressing against that the whole trip. And if part of you is up on the edge of the seat, you'll be sitting unevenly. I'm generally almost crippled by the time I get off the damn plane. However, nearly all my weight is in width in hips and thighs so it's different for me.

Be sure to use the bathroom in the airport. Airplane bathrooms are tiny even to normal sized people. Though again, if you're not very wide, this may not be as big an issue.

Best,
PJ

I don't know if this is helpful but I flew Delta here to ATL this week and the seatbelts were the longest I have ever seen and the seats were the widest I have ever seen. I weigh 200 with all my weight in the belly. and I only used half the length of the seatbelt (I wear a 20W). Your plane might not be the same but I'm crossing my fingers for you!

I may be too late to add to this, but the airlines do provide the seat width in inches on their websites. Unfortunately, the seats on most planes are small and there is no getting aound that fact. I fit just barely at 295 pounds, but much better at 238 pounds. My weight is all in my middle.

I have an aunt who is 5'4" and weighs about 115, and her husband (my uncle) is 5'6" and weighs about 125. They have said they will *never fly again* because the seats on planes are so cramped and crowed that they are miserable. When I hear that from them I can't imagine getting on a plane, and in fact have not been on one since 1994.