Travel advice for larger people

Travel of all kinds can prove challenging for people who are in the obese or bariatric classification.

For general travel around local areas a mobility scooter can be a great solution. However, heavy duty mobility scooters are not foldable or easily transportable, so this means that they probably need to be hired or rented if you are staying away from home.

Train travel may require advanced arrangements to be made if a mobility scooter is to be taken on the trip, and then there are the issues with seating in commercial and public transport.

Seating on planes etc

If you are very large and you intend travelling on a plane you need to make some enquiries to the airline in question about the policies that they have for larger people.

Why should you do this?

There are two reasons, one because you do not want to encounter a problem when you try to embark and two, because you do not want to incur additional charges if there is a problem seating you.

When it comes to airlines, all have some kind of policy for very large people. However, because this is a sensitive issue it is not always easy to get a full explanation without speaking to someone at the airline company. Here are some general guides that will put you in the picture of how things work and the potential problems that you may encounter.

Firstly, the FAA regulations state that you must be able to snap closed a seat belt (with or without the extension) or you will not be allowed to fly. This applies to all airlines and all flights. In short if you cannot wear a seatbelt you cannot fly.

The second issue is one about which there is frequently no direct formal guidance and it relates to being able to fit into a single seat without preventing an adjacent seat from being compromised. In short, this means that if you book and pay for a seat you can only use that (one) seat and your body must not interfere with either of the seats next to the one that you are sitting on.

Unfortunately the responsibility for determining this in advance is yours and if you cannot fit into the seat, or if you require two seats, you may be either refused boarding or charged for a second seat.

Some airlines have genuinely tried to provide clarification on this matter, however in so doing they have been accused of being discriminatory. The result of this is that the matter of dealing with very large people is one that is typically resolved as an when it arises – often by staff who are inexperienced in this area. This means that it is up to you determine if you can adequately fit into the seat that you have reserved. If it turns out that you cannot, then you may be refused permission to fly, or (if an adjacent seat is available) charged for any additional seating that you may require.

Airline seat planning - advice

Since the last thing that most larger people want is for there to be an "attention attracting" drama around them, forward planning is a good idea. As a general rule if you are around or over 250 pounds there is the possibility that you may encounter some seating problems. So what should you do

To start with, if you think that you may fit into a single seat take a look at some of the different airlines and the seating that they offer – they are not all the same. Some airlines offer seating with more space and wider seats and others have certain seats that you can pay a little bit extra for that are larger than average. This could be a good option.

Secondly, speak to the airline in advance and approach them with an attitude of “requesting assistance”. What you are doing is not only making the process easier for you, but also easier for them. If there are unsold seats on the plane you may be offered two seats at a discount or sometimes given the second one for free.

Always remember that an airline can refuse you boarding, so do not allow a trip or vacation to be ruined simply because you did not check out the practicalities of flying.

Flying and health

A final thought about flying is that compressed cabins and being constrained in a small area without the ability to move around can result in health issues, e.g. like deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that people with a greater body mass are more susceptible to some of these flying associated health problems.

If you are a very large individual, speak to your doctor before you consider flying. You doctor will be able to fill you in on any risks that flying may or may not have on your health.

Special stockings and seated exercises can be helpful in reducing the occurrence of DVT, cramps and other medical problems associated with flying.

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