The Seat Belt Extender

Two weeks ago I went to Chicago for a week long work related conference.  As a bigger person, I am always pretty detail oriented when it comes to making flight plans.  I can't afford first class for personal travel and my company would certainly not pay for it, so I have to fly coach.  I always pick an aisle seat.  I don't have long legs, in fact I'm pretty short at 5'3" tall.  But the aisle seat provides extra space because you can lean toward the openness of the aisle and away from your seat mate.  My thigh is already invading their seat, I might as well give them a little more torso and head room.

For a while now, I've been just able to buckle the seat belt when seated coach.  It hasn't been too tight or unpleasant and usually I can get about a quarter to half inch of slack once I get it buckles.  Its a little embarrassing, pulling the seat belt as far as it will go in front of all those people, but hey, I can still get it buckled. 

However, after I got seated in row 17 seat C two weeks ago and went to pull the belt and it fell short.  I gave it a few hard tugs, tried positioning the belt lower on my hips, sucked in, everything, but alas the damn thing was just not gonna make it. 

I sat there for a few minutes waiting for other passengers to file on and trying to catch the super skinny flight attendant's eye.  Finally as she was checking the over head bins, I got her attention and asked very quietly for a seat belt extender.  She was friendly, said no problem and gave me a smile... very polite I thought.  Until she came back.  In a very loud voice she touched the back of my seat and thrust the offensive buckle and belt into my hands saying very loudly "here's you belt extender hun."

Ugh.  My cheeks burned with embarrassment.  The businessman next to me grunted, trying to stiffle a laugh a think and the woman across the aisle from me stared openly at the device in my hands as if she had never seen one before and was just so damn curious about it. 

For the two hour flight, I was embarrassed, trying to hide the double buckle in my lap.  For two hours I looked around to see if anyone was staring at me.  For two hours I shifted and sucked and tried to make myself look as thin as possible.

It was rather humiliating.

That experience was one of the catalysts for bringing me here.  I don't want to be that woman anymore.  I want to sit in an airline seat without my thigh spilling over to the next seat.  I want to be able to cross my legs and lower the tray comfortably.  I want to not draw attention. 

How do the rest of you feel about flying?

Oh, MissBliss,

How embarrassing for you!  Makes me want to slap that gal senseless.  I don't fly, but if I did, I would have been just as embarrased as you were.  I am glad it happened if it brought you to an AHA! moment.

Let's just move on.  Put that piece of grit down where it will do you some good.  Let that determination help you get thru the tough times.  Get a picture of a seatbelt extender and put it on the wall opposite of your toliet and look at it everytime you sit down for a bit of business!!

Hey there,

I completely understand what you went through!  That is why I always make an excuse when asked to travel for work.  If I can get there by car, I'm glad to go, but if it involves a plane - forget it!

That is one of the reasons I am also here, along with the fear of stadium seating, movie theaters and restaurant booths! 

Good luck and know that you are not alone!

I am sooo sorry that happened to you.  The last time I flue I almost thought I was going to need one but I was able to shift and not have to ask but as soon as they said we could turn on our electrical devices that belt came off.  Unfortunately I have to fly at least once a year for my company and hopefully I'll never have trouble with the belt again. 

I have to admit that reading this post and the responses made me sad.  As larger people we let society and weird things stop us from living.  We shouldn't be embarrassed to ask for that belt extender.   We are who we are and though we, well at least I, like to think maybe other won't notice.  They do, they know so why do we let our 'fat' stop us emotionally before it stops us physically?  We have the same frickin right to do things the same as others without being looked at cross eyed.

It also mad me sad because, for different reasons, we did this to ourselves and just looking at myself its so freakin dam frustrating that I can't just tell myself 'stop eating' or 'make better choices' and be thinner. I don't care if I wear plus sized cloths the rest of my life....I just don't want to be in the biggest size they carry!

I'm sorry I got off topic in my little vent.

If this was your breaking point to motivate you do it.  Milk it for everything you got but a word of advice before that memory of that flight fades or looses motivation for you find something new to get you motivated.

I wish you luck in your weight lose journey and know your not the only one going threw this.

I always fly JetBlue, and their seats are roomier with longer belts apparently, so I never had to use the seal belt extender until I had to fly into Canada about three years ago, so I had to take Air Canada (JetBlue is US only). Their seat belts were a lot shorter! I had to ask for an extender and it was SO humiliating, although luckily the attendant was low-key about it. I couldn't stand the thought of asking on every connecting flight (this was a 2-week long travel-fest involving about 8 separate planes) so I took the extender, figuring I'd return it once I was done flying. That way I could sneakily attach it without drawing attention on every flight. I got some funny looks going through metal detectors! I never wound up returning it, because I thought I might need to use it again. I still have it around somewhere! I didn't fly a non-JetBlue airline again until a few months ago, and at about 70 lb less, I did not need my extender, which was a relief! 

I haven't flown since I've gotten big, but even car seatbelts were starting to not fit me. It was quite embarrassing when I'd get into a car and no amount of squirming or struggling - especially the older models - would allow the seat belt to fit me properly, or sometimes at all.

What really pissed me off was when my husband's (now ex friend) seemed astounded that my husband could be sexually attracted to me and asked if he was some kind of chubby chaser. That bit and was more embarrassing to me than anything, even though I was not there to hear it.

Sourmena,

It must have been so much more comfortable to travel!  That is a reward in itself.   You can pat yourself on the back

Viraloracle,

Blow it off.  You can dress up some men and teach them to dance, but they are still pigs.

I know what you mean, I vacation about 2x times a year and usually have no problem with the belts (as they just reach), however I had to ask for an extender last year (southwest) and I was lucky the gentleman was very discreet when he got me the extender and said the belt was probably just twisted or something, which I had to believe due to this being the last flight (2 going and 2 coming home) and had not needed one on the previous flights.  After that I was so embarrassed that I found a place on line that sells them and bought my own (Airplane Extenders)  This year when I flew, it was the same thing, out of 4 total flights, I only had to use the extender once. 

I can definately relate to your issue of flying. I live in New Jersey and go to see my mom who lives in Florida quite frequently... The last time I went to visit her was in May of 09 and I needed to have a seatbelt extender. I stayed there for 4 months and on the trip home I did not need one. I was so happy..... Nothing like having your own seat on a flight.

PS i lost almost a hundred pounds on ww in about a year and a half

OH MY GOSH! that is one of the reasons why i hate traveling!!! i am soooo embarrassed by the fact that i need an extender, i ask my boyfriend to ask for one and i usually sit very low in my seat. He is rather skinny so they give him an odd look until they look down at me. ITS SOOOO EMBARRASSING!

But that is one of my reasons why im trying to lose all this weight! I hate the fact that other BIG people on the plane dont need one but i do. They seem to fit...but i dont. Its just not fair!

But whatever the problem, lets all get rid of this weight and keep it off!

WE CAN DO THIS!!! KEEP AT IT!

Phayth,

If that motivates you to lose, then you can keep that image before you.  before long your image can change to one in which you wear your nice swimsuit after a long seat belt extender -less trip to some exotic port!

hey Miss welcome to the group,

all I can say is what goes around usual comes back around to bite us in the butt, so lil miss stew might not want to be so judgemental!  GL with your journey :)

We were on Southwest with open seating and my GF wanted to sit in the emergency row for a little extra room. I sat down knowing I would need an extender, but not knowing the rules. As soon as I asked for an extender, the flight attendant politely pointed out that I could not sit in that row if I needed an extender. Embarassed and kind of pissed off, I moved seats. I read the back of the safety card and sure enough, it was a rule printed in black and white. That made me feel a little better knowing it was really a rule, and not something fabricated. Anyway, that was my wake up call and found this place about a week later. Last time I flew, didn't need and extender outbound, but did need one just barely on the way back. Heck I was too happy about the first trip to worry about the return trip =)

That is great Kimchee, 

So nice to reach a milestone like that.  My best one so far is smaller panties!

I've had this problem. I flew to Germany last year to see my best friend and the eighteen hours of travel were not kind to me rear end. Tiny seats, feeling like you just would rather stand than be stuck behind a tray table for another second, and the best was when I did the transatlantic leg of it I stuck with a seatmate who was also a rather large fellow...and a drunken scottsman. At least we kept each other warm and he kept me amused with drunken stories.

I certainly understand your dilemma, as it’s also happens to me.

In fact, that’s one of my main reasons to want to lose weight and inches.  Overall, being more comfortable will be a nice thing, as well as being more healthy, living to enjoy having fun with my grandchildren and a few other great reasons. But if the airplane seating is not #1, it’s right up there.

As we are approaching some big feast days now, with TG & Christmas soon upon us, the challenge of eating sensibly and enjoying the family will go hand-in-hand.  Now, don’t get me wrong, we don’t usually have big knockdown, drag out fights, but a few snide remarks are always on hand. One of the last events was on Halloween, when we went out to dinner to celebrate a birthday for one of my 3-year old grandsons. As everyone was combing through the menu to come up with some tasty morsels, I found a nice entrée of salmon on a bed of spinach. The group thought I was kidding, but when it was served, it looked good, it tasted good & gosh darn, it was good for me. The cool, clear water, with a wedge of lemon completed a meal that most would not expect to see Big John consume. A few of our 12 guests thought I must be saving up for a big dessert, but I was satisfied just being there and letting the dessert remarks fall away, as water off a duck.

Now, here’s the plan - I’ll share this with you in private.  After 40 ½ pounds have been dropped since October, my fear of flying has also been lessened. So, the plan is to go to Hawaii in Feb. My wife is to retire in January, so this should work out just right. Not sure what I’ll do with all that extra belt, but guess it will just have to flop around as my ‘ribbon of achievement’!

This might be too much to ask, but if the tray table would be able to be lowered without hitting me right in the gut, I may be tempted to let out a cheer - Hope we have a friendly flight crew. Also, if you're sitting in the seat ahead of me, please don't recline your seat when I am trying to use the tray table - Thanks!

That’s some time off, but this will help me during those holiday celebrations and the weeklong cruise in December. Might have to skip the chocolate buffet if they have one aboard Voyager of the Seas. At least there is no flight involved, just a 70 mile drive to Galveston. Bon Voyage!

Cindyn244

    I was so shocked that you could buy your own seat belt extender.  Does one size fit all or do you need one for each particular airline?

  I hate to ask for the extender.  I had lost some weight in the spring and was so pleased that I got on the flight and the belt fit.  I was feeling pumped about it really.  But then on the return flight, a different airline, it wouldn't go around me.....and no I didn't gain weight on vacation.  It felt so defeating.  Some attendants are ok about it but I have had some who seem to get a kick out of emabarrassing you.  The last time I flew, it was the first time in nearly 30 years I had gone alone.  When I fly and my husband is there I try to get the window seat so I have him between me and someone else.  

When I was alone I was blessed to have had a tiny little old lady beside me.  I just got it out in the open and told her I would do my best to stay in my own space.  She was nice about it.  Some people look at you as though you shouldnt be allowed on the plane.  Just goes to show thin does not come with manners or kindness.