Contact your airline for the most up-to-date rules. Many airlines have rules that require a larger passenger to pay for a second seat if he or she can't comfortably fit in one seat with or without a seat belt extender. When it comes to air travel, the term "passenger of size" is used for anyone who's overweight or too large to potentially occupy one seat on an aircraft. You can read a flight attendant's advice for passenger of size here, but here's what you need to know, as well as my tips from an actual passenger of size.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. Over the years, I've accumulated some handy tips that ensure my flight will be comfortable and that my seatmate won't have an issue sharing space with me. That's why any passenger of size, like me, has to do more research and due diligence when booking travel. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System study, "Adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in nine states, 30% in 31 states and 25% in 48 states." So, we'll likely hear more about these types of issues in the future. The women could fly in economy because the seats did not include airbags, and so the airline could provide seat belt extenders to ensure safe travel for their passengers.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.Ī rule like this can blindside someone when they least expect it. It's incredibly unfortunate this information wasn't clearly communicated in advance to the passengers but, once at the airport, the airline could not break this safety rule. This type of restraint cannot be used by anyone with a waist over 56 inches. On this particular aircraft (likely Thai's 787-9), the business-class seats the family purchased were equipped with seat belts that have airbags. While I'm sure that was a painful and embarrassing experience, the airline was not singling them out. Last week, three Auckland women of size were denied boarding when staff from Thai Airways explained they were too large to sit in the business-class seats they'd booked. And I've seen how the attitudes - and patience - of the people around you differ depending on your weight.Īnd, sometimes, it may just feel like you're being singled out because of your size. I know from firsthand experience how just 20 or 30 pounds can make a difference in comfort on an aircraft. Flying while overweight can be uncomfortable, not just for the plus-size passenger but sometimes also for seatmates and aircraft crew who might need to reinforce certain rules and safety procedures.Īs a frequent traveler and someone who's been both heavier and lighter than I am today, I have experienced flying at different weights and sizes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |