Row 7 is held for airport control because it's the bulkhead and they've gotta put the babies somewhere. (and it's for handicapped as well)

I'm not sure why Row 8 is held for airport control, but in my experience, you don't want to be close to Row 7 if it's occupied.

BULKHEADS = BABIES!


(If I'm in Y on the S80, I like to try to get 7D because it has more legroom than any other seat on the plane, including in F. But I ALWAYS ask the GA to make sure that the other seats in Row 7 aren't full of families with kids.)

(not to mention the fact that babies are walking/crawling/oozing germ factories, and I don't like to get sick)