Originally Posted by dapastaguy
I did forget to mention, and I don't think this can be passed off on anything other than FlyI, the only flight I did not have an exit row seat the women seated at the exit came on the aircraft in a wheelchair. Now, how does that make you feel? The flight attendant came to give her spiel and asked the usual questions, made the comment about the wheelchair, and said there was nothing she could do about it. Any comments on this issue?
I'm not sure how this is FLYI's fault again. One of two things probably happened, the lady in the wheelchair either did not specify on her reservation that she had a special need and the computer didn't know any better than to assign her that seat, or (more likely) she purposefully picked that seat when she checked in and selected her seat online. I don't know what the FAA guidelines are for refusing a person an exit row based on perceived inability to perform the duties, but I am assuming that if the flight attendant asked if she was able to perform the duties (and I assume that she was mobile enough to walk herself onto the plane) and she said yes there isn't too much that FLYI could do about it.
I agree that if this lady had to use a wheelchair to get to the plane, I wouldn't want her in the emergency exit row on my plane. But that being said, I'm sure airlines have to be extra careful at these sort of situations to avoid discrimination claims.