So, I’m on a plane today. Here’s what I did to prepare to fly as a very fat person. (Thread.)
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
The rest require purchase of a second seat. If I don’t buy one in advance, I’ll be charged the day-of price. Today, that’s $800 one way.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
Even if I buy a second seat in advance, the airline may still sell it to another passenger. If they do, I won’t be notified or refunded.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I brought my own seatbelt extender, so I wouldn’t have to ask for one. Sometimes my extender is confiscated by the TSA. Today it wasn’t.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I’m worried that hearing me ask for an extender will prompt others to complain. If they do, it starts a domino effect of trouble for me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
Over the last 2 yrs, about 50% of passengers in my row complained about me. So, my body is regularly discussed in my presence w/o my input.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
And no matter what happens, if someone complains, my body will be discussed loudly, with open revulsion, without regard for who hears it.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I also checked my bag so I wouldn’t give any other passengers another reason to be irritated with me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
Although I bought a first class ticket, and despite being ~60 lbs smaller than I used to be, the tray table doesn’t fit around me.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I also won’t request anything so the flight attendant doesn’t have to reach over me, again prompting my seat mate to complain.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
Today, I was lucky–I boarded & the flight took off without incident. I hope I’m so lucky on my return flight.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
And this isn’t about emotional fragility. I’m vulnerable, but I’m tough.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I was complained about for the first time about six years ago. I will never forget it. I was on an oversold flight, moved to a middle seat.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
He got up several times to talk to a flight attendant, pointing angrily back at me. My stomach sunk as I realized what was happening.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
The FA looked at him blankly and said “no it’s not. Someone else will be sitting here.”
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I spent the rest of the flight with my arms & legs crossed, humiliated and alone. No one spoke to me or made eye contact.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
No one said anything. No one interrupted him or reached out to me. I was invisible.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
“I wouldn’t do that to someone who was pregnant or in a wheelchair,” he said. “I know,” I said. “That’s what makes this so awful.”
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I fly now because I love my family, who live about a thousand miles away. I don’t know what my life would be without my niece & nephew.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
I fly because my life is my own, and others’ preconceptions of me & my body won’t control it. But they can make it much, much harder.
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
Also, I wrote about this & more about flying as a very fat person here: https://t.co/Wx9RrK1CB3
— your fat friend (@yrfatfriend) July 17, 2017
