Emeraldcity

Oh God yes! Sigh.....


I fly first class. I just don't want to have that person come down the aisle rolling their eyes that they are next to the "fat person". So I fly up front or if I have to fly coach, exit row window.

phillyjoe

Several people in this thread mention window seats in coach as a good idea. I am really interested in this because I find the window really a poor choice. Usually, the curve of the plane takes a bunch of my shoulder space and makes for a really rotten flight. I like the ibuprofin idea, though.

My best seat choice is an exit row aisle. You really have to be careful, though. (God bless SeatGuru for this info). Some rows are marked exit but are actually anything but. Like Row 10 on AA 757's.

I also travel on my own dime. It hurts to get the slings and arrows of other threads who basically say that I should pay for the second seat. I wonder how many of them pay their own fares.

phillyjoe

If you can be "nerd", I can be either tall or "vertically enhanced". I prefer tall and fat. It is the truth.

Next week, I am flying with Mrs. PhillyJoe to a conference in SFO. We go PHL/DFW and then DFW/SFO. We have regular (no-exit) seats on the first leg. If you are going PHL/DFW on Wednesday and see a tall and fat guy with a dishy looking wife sitting behind you, please recline gently!

phillyjoe

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro
Didn't know you were a big guy too..

We should start a big and tall FT group.. just to give us big guys some support..
Great idea! Let's make it, the group, FT XXXXL, happen!

This was actually my idea when I started the thread. For what it's worth, I seldom see a biggie who acts rude or "entitled." I do, however, often see a lot of normal sized folks who take rude to a new level. I wonder if they would rather a polite biggie or a regular sized person whom you can smell four rows away with a great talent for passing gas.

phillyjoe

I travel a lot internationally. I actually try to get a Boeing plane. I feel that Airbus seats are made for skinny European butts and not for proper American wide butts.

Rebelyell

It does seem to me that the airlines could charge a 50-percent premium to guarantee an empty adjacent seat on a three-across seating plan. Most really huge flyers still don't take up more than 1.4 seats, so it would provide plenty of room for both the aisle and window passenger. And having an empty seat won't magically create leg room, but it will let you kind of put your legs sideways a bit, which should provide some relief.

jwhite4304

And then make the available seat a premium seat and charge the complainers a 50% up charge for the space they seem to want or desire!

WillCAD

FTXLT. It's gonna be huge! Er, no pun intended...

In my case, I like the window seat because it allows me to lean into the wall. One of the difficulties I have with my size is the many aches and pains that I've developed over the years, including horrible neck pain from degenerative disk disease (3 herniated disks in my neck), knee pain from an old sport injury, and rather massive pain in my butt from another old sports injury - I cracked my coccyx playing paintball. Once you stop snickering over the word "coccyx", you realize that having it cracked once will provide you with a lifetime of the most annoying discomfort and pain, because you'll never be able to sit still for long periods of time, no matter how comfy the seat might be.

I also like the window because it guarantees me at least one armrest. I try to be considerate and leave the center armrests to the person occupying the middle seat (I fell that it's only fair), but I like having at least one that I can lean on. Leaning on an armrest takes some of the weight of my upper body off the spine, relieving my neck pain. Somewhat.

I side with those who say, if you take more than one seat, pay for two (unless the flight is not full and the seat was going to be vacant anyway). I've been fortunate that I haven't been large enough to need a second seat, and I have been dieting to avoid that eventuality, but if I were big enough that I didn't fit in one seat, I'd feel it was my obligation to pay for two.

Rude people saying nasty things to you is a fact of life; I hate it, but it's there, and if you don't figure out a way to deal with it in your own mind, you're going to be miserable for the rest of your life. So let them call me names, let them be jerkholes. I feel better when I imagine how they'd react if I ever met them in person - all 6'4" and 260lb of me.

rjque

Actually, the coach seats on Airbus aircraft are slightly wider than many coach seats on Boeing aircraft. About 18" wide on a 320 vs. 17" on a 737. I book the 320 over the 737 any chance I get.

not_the_walrus

6'11 - 325 here... fly exclusive AA.

Flying is not fun - its tolerable up front with an isle (bulkhead on the MD80).

I have pretty good success rate for upgrades (70%ish 2 GLD hope for better with PLT) or go to the aiport 24 hours in advance to snag and "express seat" (I live near DFW so thats not an issue).

SO yea... I feel ya all. I am usually the one getting the "oh no - not him - not next to me!" looks. Sorry - I go out of my way to stay out of the other passengers space - if anything I give them some of mine when possible but people could care less. Something about walking onto an airplane gives people a sense on entitlement that blows my mind.

Emeraldcity

I am short, so for me the window is great because there is just that bit extra from the seat to the wall.

[quote]I travel a lot internationally. I actually try to get a Boeing plane. I feel that Airbus seats are made for skinny European butts and not for proper American wide butts.[quote/]

OMG. I flew on one of Delta's international planes (Airbus). Was flying domestically but it was connecting out of the country. I was in first class and absolutely cringed when I went to sit in the first class seat and I didn't fit.
I looked around and I was not the only person having issues with the seats. Standard size people were rather cramped as well. Even coach never squeezed me this badly on a flight. I noticed too it was an Airbus. I have never been so uncomfortable in first class ever.

Cloudship

I think it depends on the aircraft. For some, particularly the MD88s and regional jets, the curve is rather bothersome. For the 6 across planes - again particularly the airbuses - the widest part is placed just at the shoulder level, so it actually feels like you have that little bit more room - there is no one fighting with you over the arm rest. and, you can lean to that side without getting ht by the cart or anyone walking by.


OK, how to put this one delicately... What has been your experience going through the new body scanners? I have had several cases now where I have had to go through again because of "anomalys" on the scan. Now, they have never said exactly WHAT those anomalys were, but I have suspicions. In any case, I make sure when I do go through them to suck in my gut and hold my breath, and that seems to work better.

Ancien Maestro

I like window seat as well for the same reason.. With little room to move, leaning up against the wall is a great feature for big guys' like us.

Not the greatest comfort for big guys.. but more comfortable than aisle, or middle seat imo.. Plus I like the fact I don't need to get up everytime someone wants to get out..

phillyjoe

I haven't had that happen yet. But in Europe, they often seem to want to check that my equator is actually me and not something I'm trying to smuggle onboard. I actually haven't had a TSA person "go for my gusto" yet; I'm not really sure how I would react. In LHR, they just seem to be non-offensive about it.

Jinxy

5 foot and fat! I much prefer the window seat also as I feel like I'm not intruding as much and can lean over and put my head to the wall when trying to rest etc

It's rare that I don't travel with someone else and no problems with me getting the window seat every time.

Domestic flights within Oz can be painful at times especially the LCC's which I avoid at all costs...

Best for me internationally is MH who have a pretty good seat width for Y