Non-NSV-Air Travel-I Can't Lie

very well said!!!! I think people should have just a little more empathy.
 

 
I thought I was pretty clear on my position and was VERY empathetic......

This is real stuff that pertains to us all......either before. after or in between......

Your post does say it's not to criticize me..... but it also has the perception that I'm not or was not sensitive to the situation.....

frisco

When I was larger my best friend at the time was also large. I am 5ft 1 and I was more large front/stomach and back/butt . My friend was 5.7 and large everywhere especially her arms, hips and legs. I was lucky to fit into my own seat and keeping my arms folded not spill into the other seats. I can definitely remember flying with her, sitting at the movies with her and concerts and hating sitting next to her BC she was mostly in my seat and I was so uncomfortable. When we flew they told her to buy another seat BC of her size. She of course was very upset- we boarded early and sat down and she kept going on and on about how she fit in the seat and should not have had to buy another seat. I held my lip but she clearly took up more than her seat and I totally understand how uncomfortable it is to sit next to someone of that size- AND I WAS HUGE MYSELF! Big or skinny I do not want to sit and be uncomfortable either.

 I have only flown a few times since my surgery.  I never thought I'd be happy to LOSE my Diamond status on Delta.  BUt YAY.  I have yet to be seated next to someone who was my old size or bigger.

That aside, I noticed when I see the MO, or SMO, on airlines I always feel sorry for them.  I remember what it was like when I was flying every week for two and three years at a time.  Flying while obese can be dehumanizing and degrading.  The reaction of other passengers can range anywhere from pity to outright hostility.

On the worst flight, I had someone refuse to sit next to me.  HE made a huge stink with the flight attendant.  Another passenger, trying to defend me, made it an even bigger stink and threatened to fight the first passenger.  I just wanted to sink through the floorboard.

To Sleevgirls point above defending Southwest.  I WOULD NEVER fly Southwest.  I have seen them deplane obese passengers, deny them boarding, and treat the shabbily.  The few times I did fly that Piece of **** airline I always wondered when it would be my turn.  Their undertrained, uneducated flight staff seems to delight in torturing and belittling passengers in general, noy just passengers of size.  I don't need to pay anyone for that kind of anxiety.

 WOW THAT WAS THE BEST POST I READ IN A LONG TIME  THANKS....NOW I THINK BACK WOW WAS THAT ME AT ONE TIME ,IM SURE IT WAS ..

I don't fly Southwest because I want to pick my seat. I want the aisle, there's no way I'm getting in the middle.

Yes I'm the SMO girl. I'm very conscious of how I look navigating the airplane. But my ass does fit in the seat. I do need the seat belt extender but my butt fits between the armrests. And no my fat doesn't pool over the edge of the arm rest. But my shoulders and arms will extend into someone elses seat if I just sit straight so I always have my arms pulled in and crossed so I don't take the back of someone else's seat.

It doesn't seem to matter. I've had gate agents tell me I need to buy an extra seat even when I prove I can fit in the seat. I've had gate agents even adjust my seat so I don't have someone next to me if possible. I've had gate agents decide that all of the SMO people on the plane should sit together and torture each other. And then the lovely flight attendants do their best to actually balance out the load.

My gratefulness is to the flight attendants that come to me and slip me the seat belt extender without my having to ask. The ones that recognize my eye contact and hand motion when I walk past them and they get me the belt. The ones that when they see a middle seat and an aisle seat available will switch me around by asking me if I will do them a favor and please move to a different seat so someone else can have my seat. Their kindness is very welcome and I am always thankful and appreciative.

Thankfully I haven't got a body odor issue or I think I'd never leave the house. I also wear clothing that covers my skin. Even if my arms are over my head my belly will NOT be in anyone's face. That would just be humiliating. And if I bend over, my butt isn't in your face either (had that one on my last flight.

What I do mind is the people that you have to sit next to that are just rude. They huff and puff even if you aren't touching them. They glare at you. And in one case the guy spent the whole flight elbowing me in the side as if somehow that would get me to move over even more (as I'm leaning into the aisle). He had already appropriated the arm rest.  I can't put my seat tray down. it's not gonna happen and if someone in front leans back, their head is going to be in my cleavage. I hate flying, but at least I fit. I think if I didn't I would just walk.


Now that surgery is done I look forward to lessening my humiliation at being the fat girl on the plane.

I appreciate your honesty.

It's not easy to think that we might think and feel the same way. But I'll be honest, I've caught myself thinking that way and I've had to remind myself that I am a former fatty.

Just yesterday I was walking into Walgreens behind a SMO woman and I started to get irritated. I had to calm down and remind myself that could have easily been me if I'd kept on the same path I was on before surgery.

It's a good experience to have. IMO, it's a good checks a balance for us all to have to work through.

 

 Frisco, sometime last fall I was on a southwest flight. I had an aisle and a petite blond had the window.  I sat there thinking bout all the years the terror music would start playing in my head as I walked own the aisle. I just knew that everyone was praying I wouldn't sit next to them.  This time around, a guy that looked to be around 6'3" asked if he could sit in the middle seat. It was my first indication that I was starting to pass as normal sized. I wanted to kiss the guy, but didn't!

When I flew from San Diego to Vegas a month ago there was a guy that sat in the seat in front of me that pre boarded. He clearly purchased two seats nd used ever inch of them. He was quite jolly, but I thought I had a pretty good idea of how he was really feeling.  The sad thing was that I was flying with a friend that just got sleeved in Mexico.  I wanted to stick my little face between the seats and tell him all about WLS, but I didn't for the reasons you mentioned.

We are so much the lucky ones to have had surgery!

I appreciate such an honest post.

Just as we share our struggles when we fight against falling into bad eating habits, when we mention how difficult certain situations are during our weight loss journeys, this is certainly very much a part of it.  You made it very clear how empathetic you were to her situation, how hard you tried to NOT be the guy with a chip on his shoulder. 

We're all learning together, step by step.