Was This A Violation re Exit Row Rules
Jul 28, 2015, 12:35 pm
#1
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Was This A Violation re Exit Row Rules
Short version: Pax who neither speaks nor understands English is seated in exit row. Is this a violation?
Long Version:
On a short hop yesterday aboard a 717. I was in an exit row in seat 20b. There were Delta FA's in 19b, 19c, 20c & 21b. So, lotsa expertise at handling emergencies if one should arise.
The flight was full and 2 standby passengers come on board just before door is closed. One of the remaining seats was 21D (middle seat exit row).
The on duty FA comes by and asks the late arriving passenger if he realizes he is in an exit row and is willing and able to perform the necessary duties. The guy just looks at the FA with a quizzical look. So, he repeats the question and it then becomes apparent he doesn't speak English. They determine he speaks Portuguese. The FA who was questioning the gentleman walks back to the galley...presumably to figure out what to do...maybe to find a pax willing to switch(?)
While he is back there, the FA in 20C, a Spanish speaker who, as it turns out, can speak a bit of Portuguese, turns to the young man and asks him if he is willing to sit in an exit row. He agrees to do so. The FA in 20C then gets the attention of the on duty FA and gives him a thumbs up indicating everything was good to go.
We button up and have an uneventful ~40 minute flight.
Now, if ever there was a flight in which the exit rows were capably manned, this was it. 4 of the 6 over wing seating sections had an FA. But, this section (21C-21E) with the non-english speaker wasn't one of them. While clearly he was physically capable of performing the task (he was a young, athletic looking guy with a skateboard as his carry-on), and presumably could have deciphered the graphical display of how to remove the window/door. However, he clearly could not understand crew instructions or give oral instructions to deplaning pax in an emergency.
So, was this a technical violation of the exit row seating?
FTR, I only want information. I'm not reporting it to anyone or complaining.
Long Version:
On a short hop yesterday aboard a 717. I was in an exit row in seat 20b. There were Delta FA's in 19b, 19c, 20c & 21b. So, lotsa expertise at handling emergencies if one should arise.
The flight was full and 2 standby passengers come on board just before door is closed. One of the remaining seats was 21D (middle seat exit row).
The on duty FA comes by and asks the late arriving passenger if he realizes he is in an exit row and is willing and able to perform the necessary duties. The guy just looks at the FA with a quizzical look. So, he repeats the question and it then becomes apparent he doesn't speak English. They determine he speaks Portuguese. The FA who was questioning the gentleman walks back to the galley...presumably to figure out what to do...maybe to find a pax willing to switch(?)
While he is back there, the FA in 20C, a Spanish speaker who, as it turns out, can speak a bit of Portuguese, turns to the young man and asks him if he is willing to sit in an exit row. He agrees to do so. The FA in 20C then gets the attention of the on duty FA and gives him a thumbs up indicating everything was good to go.
We button up and have an uneventful ~40 minute flight.
Now, if ever there was a flight in which the exit rows were capably manned, this was it. 4 of the 6 over wing seating sections had an FA. But, this section (21C-21E) with the non-english speaker wasn't one of them. While clearly he was physically capable of performing the task (he was a young, athletic looking guy with a skateboard as his carry-on), and presumably could have deciphered the graphical display of how to remove the window/door. However, he clearly could not understand crew instructions or give oral instructions to deplaning pax in an emergency.
So, was this a technical violation of the exit row seating?
FTR, I only want information. I'm not reporting it to anyone or complaining.
Jul 28, 2015, 12:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
Yes it was a technical violation.
But I think we've all seen people that look like they would have trouble lifting a gallon of milk much less an airplane door in the exit row.
I would like to think of it more as a testament to how safe air travel has become overall. If the FA's thought there was a more than .0000001% chance of an incident for any given flight I bet you would see a lot of different people in exit rows.
As in they are no longer preferred seats for Medallions but always assigned at the gate by the GA who can "size someone up" to see how fit someone actually is.
But I think we've all seen people that look like they would have trouble lifting a gallon of milk much less an airplane door in the exit row.
I would like to think of it more as a testament to how safe air travel has become overall. If the FA's thought there was a more than .0000001% chance of an incident for any given flight I bet you would see a lot of different people in exit rows.
As in they are no longer preferred seats for Medallions but always assigned at the gate by the GA who can "size someone up" to see how fit someone actually is.
Jul 28, 2015, 12:53 pm
#3
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When you try to select an exit row seat, here's what Delta says (emphasis added):
You've selected an exit row seat
Federal regulations require that passengers meet a set of criteria in order to be seated in an exit.
You must be able to understand and speak English
You must be able to comprehend instructions for operating the emergency exit, including locating and operating a window exit or exit door and directing others to the exit
You must not be under 15 years of age and not have a condition that might cause you harm if called upon to open an exit
You must be physically able to open an exit door and lift and stow a 31-52 lb. window exit
You must be able to quickly activate the evacuation slide and help others off to it
You must not require the use of a seat belt extension due to the hazard of entanglement
You cannot be traveling with a child restraint seat
You cannot be traveling with a pet in the cabin of the aircraft
Federal regulations require that passengers meet a set of criteria in order to be seated in an exit.
You must be able to understand and speak English
You must be able to comprehend instructions for operating the emergency exit, including locating and operating a window exit or exit door and directing others to the exit
You must not be under 15 years of age and not have a condition that might cause you harm if called upon to open an exit
You must be physically able to open an exit door and lift and stow a 31-52 lb. window exit
You must be able to quickly activate the evacuation slide and help others off to it
You must not require the use of a seat belt extension due to the hazard of entanglement
You cannot be traveling with a child restraint seat
You cannot be traveling with a pet in the cabin of the aircraft
Jul 28, 2015, 1:46 pm
#4
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Clearly this is not what DL wants with respect to pax sitting in in exit row. That being said, I think I'd rather have a non-English-speaking passenger who is fully capable than someone who looks like they would be unable to lift a feather.
Jul 28, 2015, 2:17 pm
#5
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Notice how English is pretty much required 1 & 2 on the list
Jul 28, 2015, 2:49 pm
#6
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These rules are binary and they are carefully thought through. There is always close to a nil possibility that a passenger will be called on to assist crew with an emergency exit door, but it's not nil.
This isn't about the whiners who want miles because the thread count on the hot towels isn't high enough or because the FA only have them 2 ice cubes with their drink.
Every study ever done about safety shows that slavish adherence to the rules is what saves lives.
I would unhesitatingly report the violation to DL and to DOT. The FA doesn't need to be terminated, simply counseled.
This isn't about the whiners who want miles because the thread count on the hot towels isn't high enough or because the FA only have them 2 ice cubes with their drink.
Every study ever done about safety shows that slavish adherence to the rules is what saves lives.
I would unhesitatingly report the violation to DL and to DOT. The FA doesn't need to be terminated, simply counseled.
Jul 28, 2015, 3:05 pm
#7
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If I am reading this right, the non-English speaking passenger was in row 21? This is not an exit row on the 717. The passengers responsible for opening the window exits are in rows 19 and 20.
Last edited by Navig8R; Jul 28, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Jul 28, 2015, 5:29 pm
#8
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Sounds like this passenger didn't select the emergency exit seat, so those rules wouldn't have done any good. OP said shortly before departing 2 standby passengers came on board, one of which was the non-English speaking passenger who was seated in the emergency row. Sounds like he was just sat there by the GA. So technically wouldn't he/she have been the one who should have confirmed they could speak and understand English?!
Jul 28, 2015, 6:41 pm
#9
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http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Del...Boeing_717.php
Jul 28, 2015, 7:57 pm
#10
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Sounds like this passenger didn't select the emergency exit seat, so those rules wouldn't have done any good. OP said shortly before departing 2 standby passengers came on board, one of which was the non-English speaking passenger who was seated in the emergency row. Sounds like he was just sat there by the GA. So technically wouldn't he/she have been the one who should have confirmed they could speak and understand English?!
Jul 28, 2015, 9:08 pm
#11
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Jul 28, 2015, 9:22 pm
#13
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The rules are the same either way; DL puts the language on its website to try and head off any issues, but it is ultimately the flight attendants that should have removed the passenger from the exit row when it became clear he did not meet the exit row seating requirements. Yes, the GA could have proactively addressed the matter and reassigned seats, but the buck stops with the FAs.
Notwithstanding the rules violation, I was impressed that they went back to get the SB Pax when they saw they had two empty seats.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:00 pm
#14
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Was This A Violation re Exit Row Rules
Why I can't sit in the exit rows? How come? I just want to sit there. I have a long legs. They have more legroom.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:05 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Short version: Pax who neither speaks nor understands English is seated in exit row. Is this a violation?
Long Version:
On a short hop yesterday aboard a 717. I was in an exit row in seat 20b. There were Delta FA's in 19b, 19c, 20c & 21b. So, lotsa expertise at handling emergencies if one should arise.
The flight was full and 2 standby passengers come on board just before door is closed. One of the remaining seats was 21D (middle seat exit row).
The on duty FA comes by and asks the late arriving passenger if he realizes he is in an exit row and is willing and able to perform the necessary duties. The guy just looks at the FA with a quizzical look. So, he repeats the question and it then becomes apparent he doesn't speak English. They determine he speaks Portuguese. The FA who was questioning the gentleman walks back to the galley...presumably to figure out what to do...maybe to find a pax willing to switch(?)
While he is back there, the FA in 20C, a Spanish speaker who, as it turns out, can speak a bit of Portuguese, turns to the young man and asks him if he is willing to sit in an exit row. He agrees to do so. The FA in 20C then gets the attention of the on duty FA and gives him a thumbs up indicating everything was good to go.
We button up and have an uneventful ~40 minute flight.
Now, if ever there was a flight in which the exit rows were capably manned, this was it. 4 of the 6 over wing seating sections had an FA. But, this section (21C-21E) with the non-english speaker wasn't one of them. While clearly he was physically capable of performing the task (he was a young, athletic looking guy with a skateboard as his carry-on), and presumably could have deciphered the graphical display of how to remove the window/door. However, he clearly could not understand crew instructions or give oral instructions to deplaning pax in an emergency.
So, was this a technical violation of the exit row seating?
FTR, I only want information. I'm not reporting it to anyone or complaining.
Long Version:
On a short hop yesterday aboard a 717. I was in an exit row in seat 20b. There were Delta FA's in 19b, 19c, 20c & 21b. So, lotsa expertise at handling emergencies if one should arise.
The flight was full and 2 standby passengers come on board just before door is closed. One of the remaining seats was 21D (middle seat exit row).
The on duty FA comes by and asks the late arriving passenger if he realizes he is in an exit row and is willing and able to perform the necessary duties. The guy just looks at the FA with a quizzical look. So, he repeats the question and it then becomes apparent he doesn't speak English. They determine he speaks Portuguese. The FA who was questioning the gentleman walks back to the galley...presumably to figure out what to do...maybe to find a pax willing to switch(?)
While he is back there, the FA in 20C, a Spanish speaker who, as it turns out, can speak a bit of Portuguese, turns to the young man and asks him if he is willing to sit in an exit row. He agrees to do so. The FA in 20C then gets the attention of the on duty FA and gives him a thumbs up indicating everything was good to go.
We button up and have an uneventful ~40 minute flight.
Now, if ever there was a flight in which the exit rows were capably manned, this was it. 4 of the 6 over wing seating sections had an FA. But, this section (21C-21E) with the non-english speaker wasn't one of them. While clearly he was physically capable of performing the task (he was a young, athletic looking guy with a skateboard as his carry-on), and presumably could have deciphered the graphical display of how to remove the window/door. However, he clearly could not understand crew instructions or give oral instructions to deplaning pax in an emergency.
So, was this a technical violation of the exit row seating?
FTR, I only want information. I'm not reporting it to anyone or complaining.
The Exit is not some rocket science. In fact Airlines show the Emergency Film in different languages so why would this preclude someone who spoke French on Air France? Seems like an odd rule to me. In an Emergency who the hell has time to worry just open the damn exit and get out of there . Its not rocket science to know not to open the exit if you see smoke and if the slide does not inflate to pull the red handle.
Just my 2 cents.