Plus Size Travel Tips
Spring, Summer, and Fall are the perfect times to travel and take a much needed vacation before it gets too cold. Taking a break from the daily grind can be fun, but traveling when you’re plus size comes with different perspectives on your body. Sometimes people can be rude and mean just because of your size. Yes, it’s totally ridiculous and shameful. No one should feel uncomfortable traveling. There have been horror stories from numerous plus size women about how they were treated when flying or when they’ve traveled abroad.
Tried & True Plus Size Travel Tips
Today, I am going to give you some helpful tips on traveling when you’re plus size. Traveling shouldn’t be a horrific experience for plus size people. It should be positive.
Here are some body positive plus size travel tips to help you have a better traveling experience on your next vacation.
Do Research
We might not think about it all the time, but its important to research which airlines are plus size friendly and which flights have roomier seating. Some airlines will charge a plus size person for two seats, so that’s something you may want to know ahead of time. Seatguru is a site you can checkout if you need to look at airline seat maps. You can also get seat comparisons for different airlines. Cool, right?
Photo credit: Tnooz.com
Thoughts about plus-sized people are different in other countries. In some cultures, being extra curvy is widely accepted, while in others it’s not quite as positive. Doing research before taking off can ease your anxieties about going abroad and make your vacation much more enjoyable.
Choose An Aisle Seat
When booking your flight, try to get an aisle seat. Aisle seats can offer a little more arm and leg room where you don’t feel squashed. Some people prefer a window seat but it can be a pain crossing over people when you have to use the bathroom. An aisle seat is much more convenient.
Buy a Seatbelt Extender
If you’re flying and you’re anxious about needing to ask for a seat-belt extender, why not bring your own? Being prepared in advance reduces stress and allows for a more relaxing vacation. You can find a seat belt extender on Amazon for about $17.
Wear Comfortable Light Weight Clothing
What you wear to the airport can help make your trip a bit more comfortable. I’ve found that wearing comfortable, stretchy, and light weight pieces help me to glide in the seat better. In addition, the overall feel more relaxed when traveling.
I suggest going for a jersey style or cotton dress. If you’re going to do pants, go for leggings or jeggings. In my opinion jeans can be very restricting. Especially when going to that small bathroom. Personally, a dress is easier to lift and squat in than pulling down jeans and squatting.
You can obviously wear whatever you want but the ride is so much better when you are comfortable.
Move Around
Sitting for a long period of time can cause stiffness in your joints as well as something called deep vein thrombosis. That’s when a blood clot forms in your veins. Typically in your legs. When the captain turns off the seatbelt sign, try to get up every 2 hours or so to stretch your legs.
Be Confident
If you’re traveling to a place where you are going to be on a beach, don’t be afraid to wear a swimsuit. You’re on vacation and this is the time to be your most confident self. Who says you can’t wear a two-piece bikini?
Or what about that one-piece swimsuit that you’ve been dying to wear? Try not to allow other people’s egativity affect how you feel about your body. What you wear on vacation is your choice. As long as you feel comfortable, what everyone else says does not matter. Strut around in that bathing suit with your head held high.
Just remember, a vacation is meant to reduce stress and escape from the struggles and stress of everyday life. Embrace your curves and your spring break could be one of the best vacations you’ve ever had!
What are some of your tips on traveling while plus size?
This article was originally posted on June 4, 2018
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Arm rests on aisle seats can be raised on some planes.
Luggage with rollerblade wheels–so much easier to maneuver. You can roll it and not have to pull it.
Great tips — can you recommend some outfits for travel? I always try to wear a blazer, because I trend to travel more for business than vacay. Travel outfits for us would be a great blog — not just summer travel, but international travel as well… Also can you do a blog post on packing–I struggle with overpacking even for work trips… just a few suggestions– keep the info coming!!!
Great tips but I have one comment. Seat belt extenders can vary by airline so be sure to check the item description before you purchase!!
@A Marie Thank you and yes, such a good point. When I ordered the seat belt mentioned in the post I realized that it wan’t going to work for every airline.
Delta uses a Type B extender so if you fly with them frequently buy that one. Also I know everyone raves about the aisle but after a recent trip the aisle was irritating as everyone headed to the restroom brushed against me so that kinda sucked. I much rather be tucked away by the window. I’m pretty tall and while legroom on most flights wasn’t an issue, I will admit bulkhead seating or wing seating offered the most legroom.
The stewardesses are very discreet about the extenders and palmed it to me on the sly like a grandpa tipping a valet. I liked having the freedom to breathe.
Bottom line flying sucks for everyone big or small… Better to slam a cocktail then get on with it.
Southwest was horrible about it. Was traveling for work and my extender didn’t work. They were very inconsiderate and I will never fly with them again because of it. I don’t mind on my own, but was with two people from work
Wow! That’s crazy. So sorry that happened to you. Situations like that is why I brought my own seatbelt extender.
Hi Yessi,
You have re-affirmed the fact that plus size women are beautiful, lovely and affectionate and the whole world knows about them. It is just that they have believe in yourself and be confident in order to feel happy, blessed and awesome for nature has made them unique in the whole world which should be enough of motivation for you towards living life to the fullest.
I highly recommend compression socks also a large scarf is very versatile. Somehow my body shape is not comfortable with the height of the armrests, I like to have a large purse or backpack in my lap for a more comfortable resting of my arms, may not apply to all.