FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - In exit row but was not told about safety and asked for a verbal response
Old Dec 7, 2016 | 1:01 pm
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Originally Posted by Somnifer
A few years ago I flew CSX to SHA (Shanghai Airlines, I believe, but I could be wrong) and the FA, thinking that I can't speak Chinese, just gave me a blank look and the necessary info to the person next to me (it was just the two of us).

I thought it was hilarious.
Was the ability to speak a local language a requirement to sit in the exit row?

I never select exit row on an airline where I know or suspect English won't be widely spoken. Although it's the language of international aviation, I just assume that FAs may only know it minimally and would be more effective speaking their native language in an emergency (to another native operating the exit door, if necessary).

Plus I always assume a country could require local language fluency to sit in the exit row on their domestic flights.
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