Drunk passengers in emergency / exit seats
Apr 27, 2019, 12:30 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2003
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If there are a couple of drunks sitting in the exit row, the time to tell the FA is when it happens. It's potentially a problem, and worth telling the FA but not worth compensation since the FA may not have known.
For example, I was sitting in an exit row several months ago, and the 20 something pax next to me clearly did not speak English. He refused to acknowledge the FA, I looked at her closely and communicated silently. She then kept pushing him to acknowledge her instructions and then moved him. In another example, I was sitting next to a little old lady with a cane. She clearly had difficulty getting into her seat and should not have been sitting there. She knew better and not sure if the AA noticed or not. I didn't say anything. What's the difference? Perhaps I was tired and annoyed that she knew better but figured she wouldn't be an impediment if I needed to crawl over her and deal with the door. The other guy was bigger, was playing games with the FA, and wasn't confident he wouldn't be an impediment.
So ... if we see someone in the exit row who shouldn't be there, we should speak up at the time.
For example, I was sitting in an exit row several months ago, and the 20 something pax next to me clearly did not speak English. He refused to acknowledge the FA, I looked at her closely and communicated silently. She then kept pushing him to acknowledge her instructions and then moved him. In another example, I was sitting next to a little old lady with a cane. She clearly had difficulty getting into her seat and should not have been sitting there. She knew better and not sure if the AA noticed or not. I didn't say anything. What's the difference? Perhaps I was tired and annoyed that she knew better but figured she wouldn't be an impediment if I needed to crawl over her and deal with the door. The other guy was bigger, was playing games with the FA, and wasn't confident he wouldn't be an impediment.
So ... if we see someone in the exit row who shouldn't be there, we should speak up at the time.
Apr 27, 2019, 1:08 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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Posts: 9,883
So you decided to say nothing, in regards to a situation that could have caused you injury or death, and decided to fly anyway, and then asked for compensation? Do you value your life, and that of your fellow passengers so little, that a few hundred frequent flyer miles would make you happy? Man up next time, and do the right thing, and say something while it can still have an impact.
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OP, let me turn the tables on you !
If you could ( suppose only YOU) could tell they were incapable of performing the duties of an Exit Row pax. You then jeopardized the safety of ALL. You owe them all compensation.
Next time please speak up in time. You may save lives including yours.
Apr 27, 2019, 1:09 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 591
On the TV show airline, back around 2004-ish .... I remember several episodes that included WN gate agents denying boarding to drunk passengers, regardless of where they were going to sit. Has anyone seen AA do this? I haven't..
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Apr 27, 2019, 2:06 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Apr 28, 2019, 2:50 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
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Being anti-alcohol doesn’t warrant compensation.
I guess you’ve never flown international J/F where some passengers regularly get sloshed on 15 hour transoceanic flights. Some of these premium cabins have exit rows. It’s a safe bet that very few FAs would cut people off specifically because they’re sitting in an exit row. It just doesn’t seem to happen.
Apr 28, 2019, 3:03 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2011
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OP will get a generic canned response.
I have a feeling some people think there should be breathalyzer tests at the gate.
Apr 28, 2019, 3:43 pm
#41
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Texas
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HUGE Respect for JDiver!! God bless him!!
Apr 28, 2019, 3:53 pm
#42
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Honestly, if you're uncomfortable with the behavior of passengers during a flight or before a flight, you need to tell an FA. After the fact, it's pretty irrelevant. If the FA did nothing after you brought it to their attention, then that would be something to report to AA or the DOT.
Apr 28, 2019, 4:40 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold, Mariott Gold, AMEX Plat, US CP
Posts: 273
Also, exits rows are labeled as MCE show people sitting in them get free unlimited drinks... so complain about a drunk person sitting in a row where they free drinks. What if someone comes on sober and then has several drinks in flight as a listed benefit of being in MCE.
Apr 28, 2019, 6:41 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
my dad was refused boarding on AA in SJO because he was drunk and rebooked the following day.
Apr 28, 2019, 7:01 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Also, exits rows are labeled as MCE show people sitting in them get free unlimited drinks... so complain about a drunk person sitting in a row where they free drinks. What if someone comes on sober and then has several drinks in flight as a listed benefit of being in MCE.