Ask FGG: “Could I be kicked off a plane for being fat?”
What Kevin Smith’s airline experience means for the rest of us
Between the Seats by SC Fiasco
When Southwest Airlines booted writer/actor/filmmaker Kevin Smith from his buckled-in seat aboard an Oakland-to-Burbank flight on Saturday, Feb. 13, the question of passenger size vs. seat size was catapulted into headlines. Again. Some readers may remember that Southwest drew a lot of (positive and negative) attention in 2008 with the announcement that it would begin actively enforcing its longstanding “customers of size” guidelines on flights. Simply put, the policy states that anyone who cannot comfortably lower both armrests, or who encroaches on another passenger’s space while seated, may be asked to purchase a second seat and/or wait for a later flight with more space. United Airlines instituted a similar policy last year, and many other airlines (AirTran is one notable exception) maintain some rule regarding passenger size and seating encroachment.
With so much recent press on the topic, it’s no wonder many of us are more nervous than ever about flying. And yet, a girl has places to go, right? While the troubling lack of consistency with which the rules seem to be applied means that any one of us could find ourselves in Smith’s shoes with zero warning, we think the best defense is a good offense.
Be informed. Do your homework before booking a flight and select the airline with the pricing/policy/accommodations combo that makes you most comfortable. Locating each airline’s approach to larger passengers can be a bit tricky (search for links to “special assistance,” “travel policies,” or “services and information”) but most web sites have them listed somewhere. Sites like Seat Guru will tell you how many inches of seat width and leg room to expect on the many types of planes each airline employs. Southwest’s seats are a uniform 17” wide, while many seats on AirTran, JetBlue, and Midwest measure 18”. That one extra inch may not seem like much, but for those of us with wide hips (*raises hand*), it might mean a more comfortable flight.
Once you’ve selected an airline, know your rights as a paying customer. Familiarize yourself with the specific travel policies and have a plan for the day of travel, including how you’ll handle the situation if your size should come into question.
Be proactive. To better the odds of adjacent empty seats, book flights during off-peak travel times whenever possible (Monday afternoon through Thursday morning, or early morning/late night). When selecting a seat, opt for a window or aisle to minimize the number of shared armrests. For whatever reason, the size debate seems to keep coming back to armrests, the distance between them, and their ability to be lowered completely and “comfortably.” So let’s work with that: board your plane as early as possible, buckle up and lower the darn armrests for the world to see. You can always ask your seatmate to raise the shared one(s) later if it makes more sense.
If you know you need a seat belt extender, ask the flight attendant when you first board the plane. S/he will usually have several in the cabinet up front or will ask for your seat assignment and bring one to you. If you don’t realize until you’re seated that an extension is in order (don’t panic — belt lengths differ from plane to plane and sometimes from seat to seat), just press the call button or ask an attendant as they pass to do a luggage check. In my experience, every flight attendant has handled the belt situation discreetly. The important thing is to be confident and assertive, approaching the request for a belt extender the same way you would if you were asking for a pillow, blanket or extra napkin. There’s no shame or worry needed here; you’re just meeting a basic need.
Be honest. If you truly know in advance that your body’s dimensions and comfort requirements are going to significantly exceed the boundaries of a 17″ or 18″ seat, do yourself a favor and buy the second seat — preferably by calling customer service and being up front about your needs. Be clear about why you’ll require two seats together and ask how that reservation will be guaranteed and handled on your date of travel. Some airlines (including Southwest) will refund the cost of the second seat if the plane does not fill, while others (like United) will waive the standard call center fee. It’s not a perfect solution, but it will ensure your comfort and safety during the flight and it minimizes the potential for unpleasant surprises once aboard the airplane.
What say you, readers? We’d love to hear your opinions, recent airline experiences or flying tips in comments. And watch for a full-length Fat Girl’s Guide to Traveling in Comfort in the coming weeks.
- Ask FGG: What camp chairs are most comfortable for big butts?
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- Ask FGG: “Is there an easier way for overweight women to climb stairs?”
- Ask FGG: “Are There Any Padded Plus-Size Bike Shorts?”
- Ask FGG: Where Can I Find Cheap Plus-Size Pajamas?
I just found this site. I could just cry…these comments really make me feel like I’m not alone. Thank you all.
I have a Q. Say that you have to buy another seat and the plane is full to capacity. Would they make you give up that second seat in favor of that one more person that could be put on a plane? Should you have to give it up even though it was the airline that made you buy the stupid seat in the first place?
I have been invited on a cruise and I think they are using midwest airlines I think the seats are 18inches but I am afraid of them asking to make me buy another seat. My friend will be in the seat beside me. I don’t have the money for the extra seat and it is my friends parents who are paying for all of the trip. Any advice thanks.
I wanted to add in my experiences here since I recently flew to Seattle from PA. My first time flying.
I flew with Delta. Because my flight involved me taking a smaller plane to and from my airport and Atlanta, and a bigger 757/747 between Atlanta and Seattle, I dealt with both plane types. Also, because of a big issue with delays and such, I got to fly first class on my trip out. It was a 757, 3 aisles wide. To be honest, their first class was a bit less roomy than what I expected from tv shows and movies, lol.
I am a size 22, 5’4″ and 280 pounds. I have a very round-in-the-middle body type, the sort where my gut sticks out as much as my large chest. This made it a bit difficult to use the trays on any of the flights. It was not always easy to get it to go all the way down.
I was very sore (I have a bad back, too) from my fights….because I kept trying to make myself smaller. Squeeze in my arms to keep from bothering the person next to me. I had to ask for a seat belt extender on every flight. Thanks to this article though I asked the moment I walked into the plane. I had aisle seats, except for the first class bump bc I had no choice. Trying to get into the window first class seat actually wasn’t easy. They pile the free stuff onto the armrest and I knocked it all off twice, to my embarrassment. thankfully though, the dividing armrest in first class is fixed and goes all the way down to the seat bottom so I didn’t infringe on the guy next to me. I was a bit pinched at the hips, though. On the regular flights, I did have a little issue with the arm rests. They went down…..but it was a tight fit and if I shifted around, they started to come up.
I’m normally a very shy in public sort of person, and even if I weren’t large I would have avoided using the bathroom if possible. As it were, I did my damndest to stay in my seat. Even though some of my flights were 5 hours.
One thing that I tried to do, but wasn’t able to do well enough, was remove everything I might need during the flight from my handbag and stash it in the seat pocket in front of me. Why? With my gut, bending over while seated to reach something on the floor is damn near impossible. So keep that in mind, as well.
I don’t know what other airlines are like, but I imagine that they’re going to be similar. I know that I can’t afford to get first class on all flights. I’d only have felt more comfy if it had been my (skinny) husband sitting next to me, but he didn’t accompany me on the trip.
My final thoughts? Unless it’s life or death….I’m not flying again until I lose weight. It was just too embarrassing, uncomfortable, sometimes painful and all around unfun.
I always purchase two tickets together as a courtesy to other passengers. I don’t see it as a problem as I don’t expect special treatment. However, the last time I paid for two together, the flight attendant brought a guy who was flying standby to sit in the seat next to me (obviously without bothering to check). I had to explain to her, in front of the guy (who was smiling because he thought he was getting on the flight) that I paid for two seats. I would like to assume that, because these airlines all have policies about purchasing two seats, they would, at the very least, check to make sure the seat that looks like an extra seat is actually extra. They didn’t. It was embarrassing and disappointing.
At 5’3″ and 240 pounds last time I flew, I’ve never had anyone at Southwest ever make any sort of comment about my weight. I’ve also never had to use the extension on their flights, either, unlike Delta (HATE!), United, and Continental. Southwest is my “go-to” travel choice and I highly recommend them.
After Kevin’s fiasco I have completely rethought flying. After watching the story on a local news channel (I work at the station) and hearing the anchors laugh and carry on about the incident. “We’ve all been there on a plane, it’s always such an annoyance to sit next to people like that.” And the comment that I heard (in the hallways) that really sent me over the edge; ” fat people shouldn’t fly at all, the extra weight may mess up the planes balance and cause it to crash.” I feared the worst for people like me- at a size 22, healthy woman who exercises 3 times a week, and living in a very fit state, I battle the “unhealthy” stigma everyday. All I wish is not to have fat discrimination perpetuated. I maintain that it is just as uncomfortable to be next to someone snoring, wearing too much cologne/perfume, someone so tall they put their legs into your foot space, or someone talking your ear off about their health problems. would the airline tell someone who is talking too much to leave the plane? Flying is always uncomfortable, some people are skinny, some people are short and some people are fat. Have some compassion and treat people as you would like to be treated, airlines.
Thanks for the info. Very informative. I frankly have not traveled just because of this issue. It is hard to explain to friends. Your advice is helpful and logical…set belt extenders…good info.
If the airlines were smart they would adapt and fill the need for a niche market. Cater to the larger size people. Where is the logic?
When you purchase another seat do you have to pay full price?
thanks!!
It is scary, flying and buckling in. I always get there early, take the window seat and ask for the extension. I have been uncomfortable in my seat, but always able to put the arm down. I don’t know what the answer is here…aside from becoming smaller. The world is designed for one size. It’s a dilemma. No easy answers other than follow the guidelines in the article and the obvious one, of course. Adjust your size to the rest of the world. Argh.
Even if he wasn’t “too fat to fly” this DID scare me. At a size 22, am I going to be forced to buy 2 tickets? Will I get humiliated if I don’t? I already have a huge fear of flying but was going to brave it to go see a friend on the other coast.
All I know is, I’m not going to chance it with SouthWest.
Thanks for reading, Amy, and good point! Despite the verbiage used by airline employees at the time of his removal, Smith has maintained from the beginning (from his earliest tweets to his SModcasts 106 & 107, and including the blog link in the above story, which you also mention) that he met all the requirements for safe travel and something else was afoot.
We may never know the exact reasons behind the series of events that day, but I wanted this piece to address the very real fears many of us still have as a result, without wading into the he said/she said dialogue on the issue. I’ll leave that for other sites… and possibly my own blog later tonight.
Actually, Kevin Smith’s ejection had nothing to do with size – http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=394 *WARNING ON LANGUAGE* – but yes, it did bring it back into the headlines and make everyone nervous, including myself.