Exit Row Waist Size
Jun 21, 2016, 1:49 pm
#1
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Exit Row Waist Size
I was just selecting seats for an upcoming AF flights and I got the pop-up to agree to the conditions of an exit row seat. One of the listed conditions is a waist size that does not exceed 135 cm/53 inches. Never seen that sort of thing before but it makes sense ( I fit).
Jun 21, 2016, 9:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
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I think the 53 inch figure has more to do with the seatbelt. I don't think someone with a 53" waistline would actually fit in the seat. (Data point: I have a 48 inch waistline, I can just fit into an economy seat, the seat belt fits fine, and I don't encroach upon my neighbor's space, but it makes me feel claustrophobic so I try to book/upgrade to premium cabin when I'm able to)
Jun 22, 2016, 1:24 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Indeed, even with my 32" I feel confined in an exit row seat with tray table in the armrest. Okay, not a squeeze, but I understand there are limitations and I reckon that 53" is a horrific squeeze to get into them!
Jun 22, 2016, 8:21 am
#7
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Jun 22, 2016, 8:31 am
#8
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Jun 22, 2016, 9:11 am
#9
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I was just selecting seats for an upcoming AF flights and I got the pop-up to agree to the conditions of an exit row seat. One of the listed conditions is a waist size that does not exceed 135 cm/53 inches. Never seen that sort of thing before but it makes sense ( I fit).
Jun 22, 2016, 9:26 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Jun 22, 2016, 9:37 am
#11
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Jun 22, 2016, 10:29 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Posts: 500
As someone with the waist size 40, I've done a fair share of flying in AF's exit rows (both long-haul and short-haul), and I've never had any problem with the seat width; nor did I ever experience an appreciable decrease in comfort as a result of the immovable armrests.
Jun 22, 2016, 7:27 pm
#13
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Location: Key West
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I just find it interesting that, contrary to every other airline that I know of, AF actually comes out and puts it in writing. Kind of like the signs for scary rides at Disney World, you must be this narrow to sit here. A standard like this for all seats would make things much better for all concerned.
Jun 24, 2016, 4:12 pm
#14
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I see that the FAA defines a minimum door size and I wonder if the issue might be the size of the emergency exit door and whether a person with a 53" waist could efficiently exit through it.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.807
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.807
Jun 25, 2016, 5:24 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
I see that the FAA defines a minimum door size and I wonder if the issue might be the size of the emergency exit door and whether a person with a 53" waist could efficiently exit through it.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.807
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.807
I'm not sure what size are the doors on AF equipment, but if someone can fit in an economy seat he can also exit through those doors, they are not that small...