Originally Posted by
firstlight
As a habitual exit row passenger I have to admit discreetly pointing out an errant bag below another exit row seat a couple of times as it is a mandatory issue: there are two classes of passengers here; those who really don’t know the rules; often people placed in the middle seat next to me when the TS block fails. The other category is someone who knows the rules but makes an effort to hide their small bag away from the crew.
In the first category would be people who may not realise the rules can differ between airlines and countries. Bags are allowed (and encouraged) to be placed under seats in exit rows in the US, for example.