Airline Seats: Why So Small (and will I fit)?

[BebeZed]

So I finally have the chance to go on a "bucket list" trip - I've always wanted to go to Alaska and I just decided out of the blue to go while I'm on spring break from school and not really working much. I'm going to fly up to Fairbanks where my best buddy lives... in the "peasant section" because I am on a tight budget for this little outing and can't justify first class. I have a window seat on the way up there and I know I can squash myself into the window to give the person sitting next to me more room... but on the way back I have one of those accursed middle seats. I honestly do not know if I will fit yet with both arms down.

I'm wearing a size 20 or 22 pants and my daughter says I'll fit but then she followed it immediately with a story about how she got put off a plane once for being too fat... *sigh* I think I would die of embarrassment if that happened! I am going to try to upgrade the seat to first class on the day of the flight but I may be stuck there in the middle. Any thoughts? It would be nice to know in advance if I'm going to fit or not...

 

[southernlady]

So I finally have the chance to go on a "bucket list" trip - I've always wanted to go to Alaska and I just decided out of the blue to go while I'm on spring break from school and not really working much. I'm going to fly up to Fairbanks where my best buddy lives... in the "peasant section" because I am on a tight budget for this little outing and can't justify first class. I have a window seat on the way up there and I know I can squash myself into the window to give the person sitting next to me more room... but on the way back I have one of those accursed middle seats. I honestly do not know if I will fit yet with both arms down.

I'm wearing a size 20 or 22 pants and my daughter says I'll fit but then she followed it immediately with a story about how she got put off a plane once for being too fat... *sigh* I think I would die of embarrassment if that happened! I am going to try to upgrade the seat to first class on the day of the flight but I may be stuck there in the middle. Any thoughts? It would be nice to know in advance if I'm going to fit or not...

I used to fly often...at a size 22/24 and never worried about fitting and never needed a belt extender. I wasn't truly comfortable being stuck in a seat but I did fit.

 

[BebeZed]

Thank you - that's encouraging! I remember the last time I tried economy class I couldn't put the arms down and I can't remember what size I was or how much I weighed at the time. I think I may have been a couple sizes and about 40-50 pounds heavier so I'm hopeful... very, very hopeful I did notice that when I flew to have the surgery, I was within 2-3" of not needing a seat belt extender so I'm pretty sure that won't be an issue (I've lost 12" off my hips since surgery!!).

 

[Clematis]

Some budget airlines have impossibly narrow seats. Go to seat guru.com and check the seat width of the specific plane you'll be on.

 

[BebeZed]

Some budget airlines have impossibly narrow seats. Go to seat guru.com and check the seat width of the specific plane you'll be on.

Thanks! I am flying on Alaska Airlines... I didn't think about checking seatguru for info. Looks like the seats are 17" in economy and 21" in first class. I was ok fitting in the first class seats when flying to/from my surgery with a bit of room to spare, so I should be fine in the smaller seat. Maybe. LOL

 

[southernlady]

Thanks! I am flying on Alaska Airlines... I didn't think about checking seatguru for info. Looks like the seats are 17" in economy and 21" in first class. I was ok fitting in the first class seats when flying to/from my surgery with a bit of room to spare, so I should be fine in the smaller seat. Maybe. LOL

Get a piece of cardboard. Measure out the 17 inches...then sit on it and see if another person can see the lines on each side.

 

[BebeZed]

What a great idea! I grabbed a piece of cardboard and measured the 17"... and the line kind of got covered by my butt. BUT... then my son made a seat mock-up with a 17" cut-out representing the seat with the arms on either side. I fit! It was close right around my widest part (I have a big caboose! lol) but by golly, I fit.

I can't remember the last time I actually fit into an economy cabin airline seat...

WHEE!
Thanks for the support, @southernlady and @Clematis
I know it seems like a stupid thing to obsess over but it was really worrying me. Now I know for sure I'll be ok... and I'll most likely lose 6-10 more pounds before I fly.

YAY!

 

[bearmom]

Can you go online and see available seats, or if it's completely full? If you can see a seat next to an empty (usually closer to the back of the plane) select it now. The few empties that often remain on a flight are always near the back. Maybe not possible, but worth a try.

The other thing I have gotten lucky with a few times, is when I check in, if they ask if I may be open to getting bumped. Say yes. You arnen't agreeing to being bumped, and they may not even bump anyone, but if things come up, it means they ask you.

Last time I flew, I arrived early, agreed I would be willing to talk if they needed to bump people, so I was the first person they offered a different flight to. The flight they offered, left EARLIER (I was already there, checked in early) had one fewer stopover, arrived at my destination hours earlier, AND they would give me a voucher for $300 for my next flight with them. It was a win/win all the way around. I've also been bumped from coach into business, so it's worth getting on that list early just in case. If nothing comes up, or you don't want what they offer, you say no, and have committed to nothing. It's worth a shot.

 

[BebeZed]

I already have assigned seats - window seat (yay!) for the flight there, middle seat (boo!) for the flight home...there were only 5 seats left and ALL of them were middle seats. Yuck. I may or may not be able to finagle a paid seat upgrade to first class like I usually do - but with a flight so full there may be a chance for the bump. I'll definitely agree to that - I don't have to be home until a few days later anyway. They only have 3-4 outbound flights per day so getting bumped may mean another night in Alaska (yeah, like I'll complain about that!) ... and may also mean a nice window seat. Plus more time with my BFF

Thanks for the suggestion - I will keep that in my arsenal of tricks to use to try to get out of that doggone middle seat situation

 

[Clematis]

And always look 24 hrs before online. They almost always open up some seats.

 

[BebeZed]

And always look 24 hrs before online. They almost always open up some seats.

I always do. In fact, I check in just as soon as it hits the 24 hour mark so I know I've got my seat assignment and to finagle an upgrade if it's available. Oh how I love those upgrades!

 

[Clematis]

I set my alarm so I check at the earliest second -- even if I have a good seat, sometimes I can get a better one.

 

[southernlady]

I envy you your trip...we wanted to get to Alaska this coming summer but it looks like the earliest we can do it is the summer of 2017. But then we will be driving up (we have a 38 ft. Dutch Star Diesel Pusher motorcoach).

Take pictures and please share if you don't mind.

 

[Clematis]

What are you going to do in Alaska?

 

[BebeZed]

@southernlady - I will definitely take pictures, and my bff has informed me that I will NOT escape being in pictures. I will post pics when I get back

@Clematis - I'm going to go visit a close friend in Fairbanks. I've been wanting to go to Alaska anyway, and since she's there I figured it was high time I go visit her. We're planning to do a lot of cool things... one plan is to go to Chena Hot Springs and soak in the hot springs and hopefully watch the northern lights dance above us. I am going to be up there four nights so I'm hoping I'll get a chance to see the lights. If not, it gives me an excuse to go back but if I do... that would be most excellent!