Originally Posted by
relangford
Or, "how handicapped is handicapped"? I use a cane for balance since I have metal inplants in my leg, coupled with chronic pain in my ankle. I was removed from an exit row seat on a recent flight when the FA said "You are handicapped, and must move". I am perfectly able to assist in an emergency, but, yes, I do use a cane. I tried to find the FAA regulations on sitting at an exit row, and it seems I can meet all the listed requirements (over 18, able to hear and speak in English, open or lift the door, not travelling with a child, understand crew instructions, etc.). My favorite seats on most aircraft are at the exit rows. It now seems I can't get into them again. BTW, I did hide my collapsable cane and got the seat I wanted on a couple of flights; still, I would like to use the cane and get my seat. So, how handicapped does one have to be? Is this up to the FA?
As noted above yes it is up the crew. The full CFR with criteria is
here. I'd not several additional items such as:
(b) No certificate holder may seat a person in a seat affected by this section if the certificate holder determines that it is likely that the person would be unable to perform one or more of the applicable functions listed in paragraph (d) of this section because--
(1) The person lacks sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands, and both legs:
(i) To reach upward, sideways, and downward to the location of emergency exit and exit-slide operating mechanisms;
(ii) To grasp and push, pull, turn, or otherwise manipulate those mechanisms;
(iii) To push, shove, pull, or otherwise open emergency exits;
(iv) To lift out, hold, deposit on nearby seats, or maneuver over the seatbacks to the next row objects the size and weight of over-wing window exit doors;
(v) To remove obstructions similar in size and weight to over-wing exit doors;
(vi) To reach the emergency exit expeditiously;
(vii) To maintain balance while removing obstructions;
(viii) To exit expeditiously;
(ix) To stabilize an escape slide after deployment; or
(x) To assist others in getting off an escape slide;
...
[emphasis added]
Are you able to meet those criteria (among others)? Since you noted a difficulty in maintaining balance without the cane, that alone sounds disqualifying based on (b)(vii). I'd wonder about some of the other tasks as well based on your description.
Exit row seating has qualifications for a reason, it isn't (or shouldn't be) a perk for comfort. Though the airlines are at least partly to blame for promoting this mindset with selling exit rows as preferred, ELR, E+, etc, etc.