Generally speaking, the armrests must be lowered and you need to fit in that space without encroaching significantly — usually 1 inch or more — on the person or people sitting next to you. Fair enough. At my current weight, I don't encroach on anyone else's space, but it can be a tight squeeze and a bit uncomfortable sometimes with the armrests lowered. Tips for traveling as a passenger of size Be aware of aircraft type and seat width There is a stigma that comes with purchasing an extra seat or asking for a seat belt extender on a plane because you are plus size. For this reason, most plus-size passengers will choose to carry their own unregulated and, in most cases, unapproved seat belt extenders or pretend as if the belt fits properly. Both of these options are unsafe and risky should something happen. To make things a little bit easier for you when asking for an extender from the flight attendant, we have the following tips from you. Boarding If you are worried about receiving the extender when everyone is watching, sitting in an aisle seat makes this discrete for you. When requesting an extender, do not focus on the embarrassment but on your safety. Will I need a Seat belt Extender On Southwest? Inflight sleep products like these, have become a natural part of our cabin baggage, shared out to friends to try too, and have a degree of influence over which airlines we now choose to fly to some destinations.

In the same way it is polite to defer to pregnant women on the bus or subway and give up their seats for them, allowing them extra comfort on a plane seems natural. It may, thus, be worth your time to “practice” connecting and using your seat belt extender before you use it on your next flight. Get a feel for how tight is tight enough, and the best way to make your particular model as comfortable as possible. Large-sized and overweight people who have problems fitting the standard seat belt and feel embarrassed to ask for an extender. A nice quirk of these seat belt extenders is that they are designed to match Southwest’s interior with their dark blue color scheme. This can make them seem more innocuous and make it less obvious that you are using extenders. The Type A Airplane Seat Belt Extender fits on a wide variety of airlines and will lead to a hassle and stress-free flying experience. If you are flying Southwest, please try the Type B Airplane Extender.The below image is the seat configuration of an American Airlines Embraer ERJ-145 operated by Envoy Air. On a small, cramped plane like this one, a passenger of size may be better off selecting an A seat with no seatmate. Seat width is 17 inches. A seat belt extender is an extra piece that goes between the ends (male and female) of a standard seat belt to provide more room by adding a different length to it. Overweight people and pregnant women, in most cases, require these extenders to grant them utmost comfort. No matter the reason for the flight and the destination, you will mostly need this piece. The airplane seat belt extenders were initially designed for obese and oversized people to find the comfort they wanted, especially in those long transoceanic flights. Economy class airline seats are notoriously narrow. This can be a huge problem if you are pregnant, overweight, or otherwise need more space than economy class airline seats typically allow.

For a guide to asking for a seatbelt extender, you can visit our post on when to ask here, as well as our top three tips here. What Is A Seatbelt Extender? All airlines that permit the use of the BedBox, PlanePal, FlyAway et al, do have certain requirements about their use, and where they can be used. For example, they must not be used on an aisle seat. Other rules include: (but are not limited too) RULES FOR USING AN INFLIGHT SLEEP DEVICERemember, most airlines do not allow using extenders unless those provided and approved by the airline. Like in the case of Southwest Airlines, a customer is only allowed to use a Southwest seatbelt extender that is provided and approved by the airline. Unfortunately, not all airlines design their seats and seat belts the same way. In particular, Southwest Airlines stands out for having a different design than their contemporaries. This means that seat belt extenders that work for other airlines may not work for them.

If you're tired of asking flight attendants for a seat belt extender, worried that the crew may run out of belt extensions and wish you could bring your own extender to save the hassle and embarrassment, then this is the perfect product for you. I know that there is not an easy solution to this and that I don’t know the answer as I understand seatbelts are the length that they are so they’re not a tripping hazard. I also recognise that this is just another way to make plus size people feel like a burden on society and I hate that we’re made to feel this way when asking for accommodations. Yes, planes like Southwest 747-800 offer seatbelt extensions for customers who need them. The only airplane seat belt extensions that can be used are those provided by Southwest Airlines. Customers are not allowed to carry their extensions to the plan; it is against the airline’s policy. If it is necessary, please request an approved seat belt extender from the flight attendant. However, most customers feel it is embarrassing to ask for the extensions and therefore prefer to carry their own. How To Get a Seat Belt Extender On Southwest This is the only one I haven’t tried, but I have friends who have. It not only converts an economy seats into an inflight bed, but also acts as ride on suitcase with some extra storage space inside. (It also houses the mattress.) With the straps you can pull a 3 year old along around the airport or offer them somewhere clean to sit whilst in a queue. It's incredibly unfortunate this information wasn't clearly communicated in advance to the passengers but, once at the airport, the airline could not break this safety rule. The women could fly in economy because the seats did not include airbags, and so the airline could provide seat belt extenders to ensure safe travel for their passengers.

Can I use my own seat belt extender?

This is yet another great example of a seat belt extender that is specially made to work with Southwest’s unique seat belts. They fit like a glove, snap into place, and stay there for the duration of the flight, ensuring that you can fly with comfort and peace of mind. Seat Belt Extender FAQ Editorial Team Airplane Seat Belt Extender Types Why Does Southwest Have a Different Type of Seat Belt? Most airlines in the US and UK use Type A, except for Southwest which utilizes Type B seatbelts. Can I bring a seat belt extender on a plane?

While many seat belt extender options have these features, this offering sets itself apart with the quality of the case. If you are looking for a sturdy carrying case and seat belt extenders that are no less durable, these would be a great choice. Best Airplane Seat Belt Extender for Southwest Only (Type B) 7. Airplane Seat Belt Extender (Seat Belt Extender Pros) However, airports do not sell seat belt extenders. If you need an extender on the plane, you can ask the flight attendant on board.

to help you

It's best to buy an extra seat in advance. If you wait until you board the aircraft and there's an issue, there may not be two available seats next to each other or the cost for a last-minute seat may be exorbitant. (That said, I've seen flight attendants do their best to move passengers around the cabin to ensure everyone's comfort.) Before buying any product, conduct due diligence to make sure it complies with the FAA safety regulation. One fundamental FAA rule is that the seat belt should not interfere with adjacent seats. However, the FAA is not clear about what constitutes significant interference of a seatbelt extender. This seems intentional as it gives airlines the leeway to choose the type of seat belt extender they approve for use.