Flying While Fat? Get the Seatbelt Extender!
With Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel holidays during the year, we're tackling the long time controversial topic for those flying while fat; the seatbelt extender. While others may cringe at even needing one, others say it loud and proud “seat extender needed for 31A.” My girls Sharon, Kaydra and I are three different sizes and we all carry weight differently. I brought the topic to the table for some good ole “fat chat.”
From left to right: Sharon, Kaydra and Iya
I’m currently a size 16/18 however, there were times where I was an 18/20 and even a 22/24. At a size 22/24 I remember the shame I carried even having to ask for one. I don’t feel the shame came from the act of asking, but more so the fact that I was unhappy with myself and unhappy with my size.
This led me to pose the question to the group, are we ashamed of the actual question? Or are we ashamed of our bodies. Kaydra pointed out the she’s not ashamed at all. Her size is her size, she is aware that she may need an extender and she will make her needs known for her own safety. She then informed us that one of her travel buddies is the exact opposite and prefers to fly unbuckled as opposed to asking for one. In many of my travel groups, I realized there are many women like this willing to forgo their safety as opposed to asking for an extender.
Sharon stated that it doesn’t happen to her that often being that different airlines and even flights have different seat sizes. Sometimes she fits and sometimes she doesn’t. The regional flights are typically on smaller planes with smaller seats. Larger newer planes tend to have bigger seats and in those cases, she doesn’t. However, in the event that she needs one, then she’s not afraid to ask.
All three of us agree that how the flight attendant responds is also important. Some are discreet and will slip it to you on their way to wherever they’re going. Others are less discreet and will even make an announcement as they lean over to hand you the belt of shame and say, “Seatbelt extender needed?”
What I would like all those to know is, especially those that forgo the extender, you are risking your lives! Are you going to allow an insecurity potentially be the cause of an early death? Although plane crashes and/or emergencies don’t happen often, they do happen which is the reason seatbelts are mandatory int he first place. And being that the airlines have not kept up with America’s growing waistline, travel is not always comfortable for those at the larger end of the spectrum. Thinking of bringing your own to avoid the embarrassment? We don’t recommend that either.
In July of 2012, the FAA banned personal seatbelt extenders on commercial flights because they are not comprehensively tested for safety. Extenders provided by the airlines undergo rigorous testing and are considered safe by FAA regulation. Event with this measure, there will be some trial and error. The length of both the original seat belt and the extender still varies by airline. For example, Aeromexico’s seat belts are 51 inches and the extenders are 22 inches, while United Airlines’ belts are 31 inches with 24-inch extenders. Know before you go and call your carrier to ask exactly what length its seat belts and extenders are.
In short, get the seatbelt extender. Nothing is worth potentially dying or being injured over. I then recommend exploring your reluctance behind not wanting to ask in relation to how you truly feel. Some things are best worked on from the inside. As stated above, I projected my own insecurities into the experience. Once I became more accepting of myself in the moment, I was then able to accept everything that came along with that reality. Say, yes to the seatbelt extender.
