Portly Stories

Thunder Thighs

March 25, 2010

in Portly Stories

On a flight from RDU to MCI, the seat next to me on the CJR was empty. I thought nice, no travel companion. However, before the door closed, “THUNDER THIGHS” entered the aircraft, moving sideways down the aisle, and took her seat next to me. She said yes, that is my seat; I got up […]

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On a recent (long haul) flight, I got stuck in a center seat between two larger sized men. I am a very small framed female, so thought I would try to make the best of it. Why is it that men have to sit in those tiny seats with their knees spread apart as far […]

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After a long boy’s weekend skiing in Colorado, I was flying home to San Diego on America West. The flight had a non change stop in Vegas on the way. It was a Sunday evening, and the crowd that boarded in Vegas was typical. Many people wearing sunglasses at night, looking like they had slept […]

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On one of my regular business trips between Detroit and Louisville, I suffered the unfortunate but occasional layover at Chicago’s Midway International (pre-renovation). It was typically a short stop with just enough time to pick up a magazine and stroll to the next gate. On that stroll, I saw something passing the other way that […]

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I was so beyond excited to go to Florida and see my grandparents. I got on the plane, found my seat, and sat down to enjoy the first leg of my flight. Everyone who has had an empty seat next to them knows this feeling. You’re watching the faces of every single person get on the […]

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Hefty & Hirsute

March 3, 2010

in Portly Stories

My story is relatively tame, or appears to be so until you put yourself in my shoes. I was on a transatlantic flight from the Middle East to the USA with a layover in Germany. Right after I boarded in the Middle East, some guy weighing at least 300lbs and the hairiest guy I have […]

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Gear In The Rear

February 15, 2010

in Portly Stories

My GF and I were returning from LA to NYC on a Jet Blue flight out of Burbank. Prior to boarding, we learned we had been “Randomly selected by the computer” for a bag check. Whatever, nothing like having your dirty undies strewn about for some TSA agent to rifle through, but I digress. The […]

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Every non-obese flier has a story about the obese person who ruined their flight. I’m a normal sized woman who flies on lots of transatlantic flights. Recently on a flight from Paris to Atlanta, I was seated in the center seat of the three seat center section of a 767. On either side of me, in […]

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Upon boarding an Alaska Air plane for home from Seattle to Los Angeles just after Christmas of 2008, I sat in my aisle seat and put my belongings away ready for take-off. A husband and wife came along to take their seats in my row as well, whereupon it took the very, very large woman […]

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I have traveled overseas fairly often in my young life and have discovered many interesting things about myself. I enjoy plane food, but I hate pretzels. I really like old movies like National Velvet. But my favorite experience was when I discovered that I was claustrophobic. I was unfortunately given the seat in the exact […]

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Fried Chicken Lady

December 26, 2009

in Portly Stories

This is a long one (especially from my perspective) but worth the read: So I’m on this Continental flight from Houston to Kansas City sitting in the middle seat waiting for the rest of the passengers to board. I am 6 feet tall and weigh around 250 lbs. but easily can fit between the arm […]

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I was on a Canadian Regional jet from Toronto to Charlotte. I was sitting in the exit row. This very large lady came on board and promptly announced that the seat next to mine was hers. I knew I was in trouble when she asked “does that arm rest come up?” Thankfully the armrest didn’t […]

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