I really feel for you on this one as this is something i have sort of dealt with recently.

I think it will depend on what airline you fly. I would definitely call around and see what their policies are, and if necessary make sure to purchase the additional seat ahead of time to avoid the potential scene of having to buy one at the gate.

Is there a reason people are suggesting you fly over driving? Do you have a car? It doesn't seem like it would be a very long drive, and then you would have access to a vehicle while there. I would drive personally but obviously its up to you, no one else. Do what makes you comfortable. Good luck!

Well, I'm about 5'2" & weighed probably 260-300 lbs. Not sure. So I am a much shorter person. I fit in the seat but needed an extender. I asked the stewardess, quietly, when I boarded. Sometimes they give you the belt then, sometimes they bring it to you at your seat. If you don't mind driving, I would if the company won't allow you a rental car. That's just because I would want to go site seeing if there is time. I think you will be okay, but to ease your mind, you might be able to look up seat size on line or by calling.

Hi, I hope you do not have to buy a second seat. I know how you feel. I go though anxiety when I travel. Yes I do ask for an extension when I get on the plane before sitting. I hate the plane thing. I feel like I am in a sardine can. It is awful when you have to fly for 12 to 16 hours. I live across the pacific ocean and go back home to visit here and there. Sometime I put the trip off just because of the plan trip.

I have a vacation planned in December. I am on a quest to lose as much weight as possible. I need to post a plane seat picture on my refrigerator to remind me where I will be sitting in 8 months. (smiles)

Is your business paying for the ticket? Will they purchase a business seat instead of coach seat? I think the business area is a little bigger area. I feel for you 6 ft and stuck in a cramp place. I think it is cramp even without the weight. The leg room is awful.

When are you traveling?

If you can afford the extra seat I would just buy one..I wish all the times that I was flying I could afford to do that..when I was flying alot I weighed about 260 and I am 5 5..I did not have to use an extender but I would always try to get a window seat or an aisle seat..If not I would pray that I would get to sit in between 2 skinnies.Either way an hour flight in a plane sure beats 5 or six hours in a car anyday. Only had to drive from ohio to fl once to get over my fear of flying.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and suggestions. I am traveling probably after June 1st. So i have some time to get a bit of weight off but I am still nervous. I think that i may opt to upgrade my seat to extra leg room for first class if i can. My problem is that I may be traveling for several weeks so I am not sure if I can afford the upgrade to first class. Thank you so much. I will keep everyone posted.

I look at it a different way - if the airline seats are not up to standard, it is your right as a customer to ask them for reasonable adjustments - you or your company have paid for the seat and have legal rights because of it. The fact is, airlines and also train companies have been shrinking their seats quietly for a while, in order to get more seats into a plane/train carriage. Last time I went on holiday by train I struggled to get my suitcase down the aisle between the seats, and the spaces for luggage were very small. It is all down to greed for more cash. It is very sneaky and yet people don't seem to see it and instead blame themselves or others for being too large when in fact it is the seats which are too small. It seems bad business by the airlines, as we are constantly told more and more people are obese, so you would think they would want to attract those people as customers, not make them dread flying or put them off.

If you feel more comfortable driving, then drive. Perhaps people are suggesting flying because they have a procedure for booking flights, eg with company credit card, whereas driving is more complex as you would pay initially for petrol and possibly then claim it back from them, so it is less work for them to simply book plane tickets. But I don't think they can force you to fly if you are unhappy doing it.

The trip would be from PA to NY. That doesn't sound too bad to me but I may just end up having to drive. You're right they can't make me do anything

Yup. Seats are getting smaller. I read somewhere that the average seat is like 17 inches or something, which is freakin' tiny even for a person without a weight problem. PA to NY is not a far drive at all, honestly, get a good audiobook and the time will fly by. Don't worry about flying until you really have to - and you don't need to buy an extender, they will provide one for you. I would check with the airline ahead of time to see if you needed an extra seat, some places don't require it and some do.

I just read this post, and have felt the same way. In April of this year a friend of mine and I went down to Key West Florida and we drove down (from central Ohio) because it was actually cheaper than flying. I was relieved because I did not have to worry about planes. It was an extremely long drive 22 hours just to get down there. Well about 2 weeks after we returned a mutual friend of ours informed us that he was going to pay and fly us back down at the beginning of May. My first thought was I would try to lose some weight before the flight, but I only had about 3 weeks and was not going to be able to lose enough to be comfortable in an airplane seat. All I could think about was if I would fit in the seat and if the seat belt would fit. I fit in the seat, not comfortably by any means, I was packed in tight, and the belt did not fit. The first plane the stewardess was very nice and brought me an extender and as to keep me from embarrassment said "we have been having issues with this belt not staying fastened, it really should be replaced". Yes driving takes longer, but for me, until I lose some weight I do not want to have to fly again.

Most air lines have extends available on plane. ask your company to order for plane to have set aside an extender for you.
Apparently your not the only person. I don't believe that airlines had belt made just for you.
now if a person body extends onto arm rest and/r their hips press up under the arm rest, I have a real issue with the @#$%@ air line and yes the person too.
I use to keep a chair at ea of 3 certain rest. I pre planned and made arrangements. I also brought so called men size, desk chair.
They didn't create and make the chairs just for me since I'm not the only one.
I have gotten off plane and took a different flight because of rug rats and/r
I always take snack with me because food on flights are so fatting.