Tomorrow I get to fly again. As many of you know, flying isn’t my favorite thing, due 99% to my size. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and downright embarrassing. Yet, I fly several times a year, because time is valuable too. Besides, who really wants to drive cross country a couple of times a year?

So, there’s an airline whose fares are typically lower than others, and it flies pretty much wherever I want to go. It also has a credit card that allows me to earn points toward my flights. For those reasons, I usually use said airline. Well, this particular airline doesn’t assign seats, just boarding groups based on when you check in (you can check in 24 hours in advance of your flight). Travelers, you know who I’m talking about.

Well, the airline came up with a plan to allow folks to get an earlier check in position by paying an extra fee. At first it was $12. Okay, for me it was worth it, especially if I was traveling with a companion. Finding two seats together once the plane starts filling up is tough. Then the fee went up. Now it’s $25 and I still pay it. Why? Because I’m fat.

If I can get on a little sooner, I can be sure to get a seatbelt extender with little drama. No flight attendant will tell me she/he has to track one down and then deliver it to me. Then I can slide into a window seat (where I can squish myself into the corner for the duration of the flight) as unobtrusively as possible. I can also avoid the looks of dread from people who see me coming and think to themselves, “God, I hope she doesn’t sit next to me.”

Well, today it happened. I checked in to my flight, after paying the extra fee, and I’m in the B group. NOOOOO. That means after all the A group and family boarding I will finally get my chance. And I’m in the middle of the B group at that. So much for my $25 buying me some peace of mind. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I checked in exactly twenty-four hours before my flight.

So, wish me luck tomorrow. Hopefully I get a window seat. Hopefully there’s a seatbelt extender readily available (or available at all… perish the thought!). Hopefully I’ll get a seat mate who is skinny and not sick and doesn’t put her bare feet on the seat (that was my last flight…ew) and is just generally kind (and maybe not too talkative). Hopefully we have a smooth flight, otherwise those five hours are going to be torture.

And Airlines, don’t mess with the early check-in stuff. If you don’t have anymore available, don’t sell them. I wish I had my $25 back.