gunhed57

Airline travel can be a nightmare for the large person. Small seats and
aisles, the long walk from the check-in area to the gate, and the frequent
insensitivity of passengers and crew can all contribute to an unpleasant
flying experience. But with careful planning, your flight can be safe and
enjoyable. Follow the guidelines listed below in order to maximize your
comfort while flying.

BOOK CAREFULLY - Book your flight carefully, avoiding "rush-hour" air time.
Take advantage of "red-eye special" deals, where the plane is less likely
to be full . The chance of the seat next to yours remaining empty is 0% if
you are flying out of LAX at 0 600 on a Monday morning.
EMPTY SEAT - Tell the airline that you are large and ask that the seat next
to yours remain empty if at all possible. The worst the airline can do is
say "No", but most airlines will at least attempt to accommodate.
BELT EXTENSIONS - Request a seat-belt extension when you book your flight,
and/or ask for one when you board the plane. Do not wait for the flight
attendant's animated safety speech to discuss this need.
SEAT SIZE - When you book your flight ask specifically for the seat
measurements of the plane you will be on. Explain your need and ask for the
largest seat in your section of the plane. Even one inch can make a big
difference.
AISLE OR WINDOW - Request a seat assignment for the aisle or window, where
you will I have a little more room, and make sure that you don't have a
bulkhead seat. While you have more leg-room in bulkhead, the armrests in
the bulkhead do not raise, and the tray tables come out of the armrest
across your lap. Supersize flyers might wish to request an aisle seat in a
row where the outside armrests are movable, making it easier to slide into
the row.
PRE-BOARD - Even mid-size people have trouble squeezing down the
micro-sized center aisle of most planes, and this task is even more
difficult the plane is already plump with passengers. For this reason, you
should preboard the plane with the rest of the passengers who need extra
time in boarding. The gate agent probably won't hassle you, but if she
asks, just say that you're a large person and need a little extra time.
ARMREST UP - When you get to your seat during pre-boarding, raise the
armrest between seats. This may give you the inch or two of extra space you
need. The chances are that the passenger who will be seated next to you
won't say anything; if he does, smile pleasantly and say that you'll both
be more comfortable if the armrest is up.
RESTROOMS - Use the airport restroom before boarding your plane. Ask when
booking your trip if handicapped facilities are available on your
particular flight. If not, you may want to change your plans and fly on a
plane equipped with an accessible restroom.
TRAY-TABLE - If you cannot bring down the tray-table, have the flight
attendant ask the passenger in front of you to put their seat to the full
upright position for mealtime. If this doesn't help, set a pillow on your
lap, and your meal tray on the pillow.
DO THE BUMP - Consider being bumped voluntarily. Not only can this be
extremely profitable for fat frequent flyers (see related article), but
your chances of being re-assigned to a partially full plane are greatly
enhanced. You won't mind the inconvenience of an odd departure/arrival time
if your next trip by air is at a greatly reduced price.
SECOND SEAT - If you have purchased a second seat for comfort, be sure to
let the flight attendant know as you board the plane. This will avoid
embarrassment, as an ignorant flight attendant may try to fill your second
seat.
EXIT ROW SEAT - The exit-row seats over the wings of most planes have
considerably more leg room than the rest of the seats in economy class.
While FM regulations state that exit-row seating may be denied to fat
passengers, requesting an exit-row seat may be a viable option for fat
people who are tall and those with reasonably good health and mobility.
GATE TRANSPORTATION - It's usually a long walk between curbside check-in
and the gate, or between gates when you have connecting flights. When
making your reservations, make sure to tell the agent if you will need
special services, such as the airport tra m or an armless wheelchair and
attendant.
The most important thing to remember is that you have the right to fly
anywhere you want to go. Your needs deserve to be met, but it may be up to
you to remind them of this simple fact. If you experience problems despite
your precautions, write a letter of complaint to the airline. Remember, you
have a right to accessible transportation.

Contributors: Jean Soncrant and Lynn McAffee


-- Steve
º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤º
Steve Chaney
gunhed57@vegetus.pacbell.net
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derek mcbryde

On 25 Aug 2003 08:35:12 +0200, gunhed57@vegetus.pacbell.net (Steve


With just as much careful planning to lose weight and take some
exercise your life could be more safe and enjoyable.

Derek

sparks maker

Now that would be a judgement, wouldn't it, Derek and you don't want
to be judgmental, do you? Of course, you replied to a flame-baited
crosspost to diametrically opposed ngs for the expressed purpose of
creating conflict.

It would certainly require someone to purchase their tickets several
years in advance.

devil

Seems like these guys missed the right way to handle this: buy two seats.

evelynvogtgamble(divamanque)

Spoken like a young person who has never had a real weight problem!
It's probably true that ANYONE can lose weight, but there can be many
factors (required medications, physical disability, etc.) that make it
exceedingly difficult for some. (And losing large amounts of weight -
100 pounds or more - probably takes more dedication and determination
than the average human being is capable of sustaining for the length of
time required.) Few of us attain the "anorexic" look that seems to be
de riguer for comfort on some airplanes nowadays, but most of us are not
SERIOUSLY overweight, and losing a few pounds before a vacation is
generally desireable, anyway (especially if one enjoys food, and looks
forward to sampling the cuisine of one's European destination). But
please remember that not every really "fat" person is so from choice,
his/her reason to travel may not be for pleasure (and is most certainly
not just to inconvenience YOU), and realistic advice about making their
trip less miserable for them is not something to be scoffed at.

jc der koenig

Uh, yeah. It wasn't your choice to be a fat ****ing pig. Elves came into
your room at night and forced a funnel down your throat and filled you up
with gravy. Yeah. That's the ticket.

bob ward

And what's your excuse for your ignorance? Elvis ****ed your brains
out through a straw?

jc der koenig

I'm ignorant because I don't believe your pathetic excuses for shoveling
more slop into your gaping maw than was good for you?

evelynvogtgamble(divamanque)

As age and obesity overtake you, may you live to eat those uncharitable
words! (Few really heavy people "choose" to be so - only the truly
ignorant assume that it is ALWAYS gluttony that makes them so!) And no,
FYI, I am NOT among the seriously obese - I just have a little more
education about nutrition that you do, obviously.

jc der koenig

I'm already 42, and I can say with almost absolute certainty that obesity
will never overtake me. I also seriously doubt that you know very much about
nutrition. Fatty.