Most people nowadays will try to find the best rates for travel, whether it is lodging, vehicle rental, train, bus, plane or cruise through a discount online service. Names live hotels.com. Expedia, Travelocity and a slew of others are usually at the top of the list when trying to plan either a business or personal trip. But are these “discount” sites really better? And here’s and even better question: as a big and/or tall person, are this sites right for you?

Problems Big and Tall People Have Traveling

The stories are out there. One of the more famous is of actor/writer/director Kevin Smith. On February 13, 2010, Smith was ejected from a Southwest Airlines flight because they deemed him too fat to fly. He had been flying Southwest for years and this was the first time it happened. He was later allowed to fly on a later flight, but on that later flight, a large female passenger was told to ask him if it was all right that she was sitting next to an empty seat he had bought between them, and it was suggested by Southwest staffers that she may need to purchase an additional seat due to her size, even though she had been placed next to an already-purchased empty seat. Another story includes a man flying from Chicago to Florida who had to stand the entire flight because he was too tall to fit into the seat. At 6’ 7” his legs were too long to fit his long legs in the seat area. He was actually in back row of the plan, despite this, Spirit Airlines flight attendants would not let him keep his knees in the aisle, but they would allow him to stand.

With stories like these and others as well as hearing issues with other airlines harassing passengers of size (as they are referred to) and even airport security is there any hope for someone who is fat or tall who wants to travel?

In the two and a half years since I started the original format of this site, I have been looking for that answer. I do not travel if I do now have to. It is too much planning and just too much hassle. Even driving long distances can be painful for me due to issues with my legs. But I recently came across a solution that I mentioned on my blog Big and Tall Shorts. I was surfing the web, as I often do trying to find content, and I came across a site called Tripology.

Help for Big and Tall People Wanting to Travel

Tripology is NOT a discount site like Hotels.com, Travelocity or Expedia. Tripology is a travel agent referral service. Now before you start thinking that travel agents are too expensive or that you don’t travel enough to use a travel agent, consider these facts (most of which do come from Tripology’s website):

• You can always ask an agent upfront what their fees are and decide for yourself if it’s worth it. Some travel agents will even drop the fee or offer a discount once you have finalized your trip with them. Remember that a lot of online booking sites, charge a booking fee as well.
• Travel agents can arrange car service, personalized tours and activities, in addition to all the basic travel services they provide. They are also excellent sources of information concerning local information about your destination.
• Travel agents have access to all of the same outlets you would use when looking to book travel, they also have access to exclusive pricing and package deals that are most times not available to the public. Travel agents also has more leverage in situations such as hotels claiming to be booked, (in fact they may still have rooms available that are on hold specifically for travel agents reservations). So when everyone else is telling you “No” your travel agent can help turn that to a “Yes.”
• Travel agents can act on your behalf to see that proper restitution is made.
• Travel agents will be able to inform you about expenses you will incur on your trip, even ones you might never expect.
• Travel agents can help you find somewhere to stay when you are left helpless at an airport overnight due to flight delays.
• Travel agents can talk directly with the airline to arrange for you to get the seats with the most leg room, seats that might not otherwise be released until the day of the flight.
• If you have already booked your trip but want to change some details your travel agency can help get all the necessary steps done, leaving you without the headache and confusion.

With all this in mind and after reviewing the site, I contacted Tripology and discussed the issues big and tall people have with traveling and they agreed, so Tripology and Huge Comfort have partnered to help you with your travel needs. Tripology has a special site for those with special needs who need to travel. After our discussion, they recommend that we start using the special site for big and tall people. It is focused on those with disabilities, but these agents specialize in getting easy access for people, and after all, that’s what we need.

Personal Travel and Business Travel for Big and Tall and the 2011 TCI and NAAFA Conventions

So I invite you to click on any of the Tripology banners on the site to plan your next trip or, if you are going, you trip to either the 2011 NAAFA Convention in Washington, DC or the 2011 Tall Clubs International Convention in Seattle Washington (or any other convention you may go to!)