Airplane Seat Belt Extender: What You Need to Know
Flying can be uncomfortable regardless of your size.
But for plus size passengers it can be intimidating as hell. Especially if you’re not an experienced traveler.
Will you fit in the seats? What if you can’t get the seat belt done up?
…that’s where an airplane seat belt extender comes in.
Here’s what you need to know about using one of these handy little devices (and why you shouldn’t feel embarassed about it!):
Image: Amazon
Plus size on a plane
The biggest culprit for airplane travel discomfort is the seat itself.
They’re often not big enough to fit a plus size body comfortably, and the seat belts never seem to fit!
I’m here to tell you, you are absolutely not too fat to fly.
There is an easy(ish) solution for this problem: the seat belt extender.
By extending the length of the belt, you won’t have something annoyingly digging into your stomach the entire ride or pinching your sides.
Extenders can make air travel more comfortable and safe for the plus size traveler.
Not to mention, you’ll be safely and securely tied in should you come across turbulence along your journey.
But how do seat belt extenders work, and what do you need to know about using them as a plus size passenger?
What are seat belt extenders?
Seat belt extenders do exactly what the name indicates — they extend the length of your seat belt.
They’re simply an extra seat belt that clips into both ends and gives you a little extra room to work with.
Believe it or not, you’ve already seen a seat belt extender if you’ve flow before because they’re used for the safety demonstration at the beginning of flights.
The extra length provided by the extender allows you to more comfortably and safely fasten the seat belt around your waist.
Image: Amazon
Why do plus size passengers need to use a seat belt extender when they fly?
Not all plus size passengers need to use a seat belt extender.
Likewise, you might not need to use one on every plane.
Seat belt extenders are there to provide you extra room when you can’t clip the built-in seatbelt closed.
Or in situations where you can close it but it’s incredibly uncomfortable because it’s too tight.
Passengers who can’t comfortable using the regular seat belt need to use an extender because it will help to keep you safe during the flight.
The extra length provided by the extender allows you to comfortably and safely fasten the seat belt around your waist.
In situations where turbulence is experienced, it helps you to stay in the spot you’re supposed to be.
If you’re not properly buckled in, you risk hurting yourself or even other passengers!
Image: Amazon
How do you use an airplane seat belt extender?
Using a seat belt extender is really easy.
To properly use an extender you want to make sure that both ends of the extender are clipped into the belt and the buckle that’s already built into your seat.
This means ensuring that the metal tongue of your seatbelt is clipped into the extender securely.
And also making sure that the metal tongue of the seatbelt extender is clipped into the seat buckle.
From there, simply pull on the extender until it’s tight and comfortable around your waist.
The extender should lay flat against your body — if it’s not, you may need to adjust it.
Image: Amazon
Can you bring your own seat belt extender on an airplane?
You can absolutely buy a seat belt extender on Amazon for relatively cheap.
But there’s no guarantee that the one you purchase will work on the airplane seat you’re sitting in — there is no universal seat belt.
Plus, most airlines aren’t cool with you using your own extender for safety reasons.
Yes, there are passengers that successfully fly using their own airplane seat belt extender.
And, no, I can’t make the decision for you when you can pick one up for less than $20 and not have to deal with telling anyone you need one.
But it’s highly recommended that you use one provided by the airline. Especially considering some airlines, like Southwest, have different buckles than the rest and yours might not fit.
Airlines provide extenders for a reason – they are made to fit the specific type of seat belt found on their planes.
If you use an extender that is not manufactured for the type of plane you are flying on, there is a risk that it will not work correctly.
The best way to get your hands on a seat belt extender is by asking the flight attendant while you board.
Most flight attendants (the good ones, anyway) will discreetly bring you the extender after you’ve been seated.
If you forget to ask when your board or don’t realize until you sit down that you need one, simply as the attendant as they walk by.
They should be able to provide you with one without any issue.
Image: Amazon
How do you know if you need a seat belt extender on your next flight?
It’s pretty easy to tell when you sit down whether or not you need a seat belt extender.
If it doesn’t buckle up at all or it’s extremely uncomfortable when it closes, then you need an airplane seat belt extender.
But some travelers want to figure out beforehand, which sadly isn’t possible.
Now you can check on an airline’s site to see their seat size and even sometimes their seat belt length BUT that’s not a guarantee.
When a seatbelt gets damaged, they simply cut off the broken part — they don’t actually replace the seat belt.
That means that two seat belts on the same type of aircraft or even the same plane might bet different.
Your best bet is to ask for an extender if you think you’ll need it as you board.
Even if you don’t know if you need an extender, it never hurts to ask!
Image: Amazon
Do airlines charge for seat belt extenders?
Airlines do not charge for seat belt extenders.
They’re there to provide you with a comfortable and safe flying experience, so they don’t cost anything extra to use.
You can ask for one without worrying about being charged!
Image: Amazon
Using a seat belt extender is nothing to be ashamed of
Seat belt extenders are often the difference between having a comfortable journey and a bad one.
Don’t let someone else’s possible judgement hold you back from making your journey the most comfortable for you.
You shouldn’t feel ashamed for needing to use one, they’re there for a reason.
If you find that your standard seat belt does not fit comfortably or at all, ask a flight attendant for a seat belt extender.
You’ll be mighty glad you did!
