If you’re a plus-size passenger, you know that the tray tables on airplanes can be a real pain. More often than not, they don’t go down all the way, which makes it difficult to eat or work on your laptop.
In this blog post, we will provide a guide for plus-size passengers on what to do when their tray table doesn’t go down.
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What to Do When Your Tray Table Doesn’t Go Down
- Don’t sit in any of the front rows. The tray tables are in the armrest and so they end up reducing the amount of space you have overall.
- If your tray table doesn’t go down, try putting your armrests up to give yourself a little more room.
- As you have to have your seat in the upright position during food service, the best way to create a little more space is to sit as far back in your seat as you can. It’s likely to be uncomfortable, but it will give you a bit more breathing room to eat.
- Once you have let the tray table down, place it under your stomach and move around to find a comfortable position. This may not always be possible, but it’s worth adjusting things a little to see what works for you.
- If you’re travelling with a companion, ask them if you’re able to use their table once they’re done, you’ll be able to rest your food on theirs (this doesn’t help when it comes to a laptop, however).
- If you know there are a couple of seats left on the flight, speak to flight attendants to see if you can move to a place where there is a spare seat. This way, you’ll be able to use the tray table next to you.
- Make use of the tray that comes with your food on a long haul flight. If you have a footrest, use it to raise your knees up so they act as a make-shift table.
- If you have a tray table that folds in half (British Airways have these) then make use of that function and balance your food tray on the table when it’s folded. Or you can ditch the food tray altogether to avoid the balancing act.
- Similarly, you can try to balance your laptop this way too.
- If you want to use your tablet or rest your phone somewhere that you can see it, invest in one of these to avoid needing a tray table altogether. They are LIFE CHANGING.
- Remember, if your tray table doesn’t go down and you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to ask flight attendants for help. They want you to be as comfortable as possible and will always be happy to help you. If you’re unable to get their attention during food service, try grabbing them beforehand by pressing your call button.
We hope that this guide has been helpful! Remember that there is no one perfect way to deal with a tray table issue – you need to experiment and find what works best for you.
Don’t forget to enjoy your flight too – after all, you’re on vacation!
For more tips on travelling as a plus-size passenger, check out our other blog posts. To catch up on the rest of our Flying While Fat series, head to this page here.
