Infant in exit row!
Jun 19, 2025 | 10:48 am
#17
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Jun 19, 2025 | 12:32 pm
#18
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I dont see it as pearl clutching. If I was on a future flight with this cabin crew, I would appreciate it if the OP had made AA aware of the need to re-train these flight attendants, so they dont repeat this mistake.
Jun 19, 2025 | 1:22 pm
#19
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Absolutely. There seem to be three categories of AA flight attendants - (1) those who overzealously enforce made up rules, (2) those who fail to enforce anything, and (3) those who get it right. Unfortunately, category 3 seems to be shrinking, while examples of category 2 seem to be increasing substantially. Probably due to FA concerns about being the subject of a viral passenger confrontation video. Very sad.
Jun 19, 2025 | 1:34 pm
#20
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Another, related issue I often see is elderly passengers seated in exit rows. I look at them and think, there is no way they are getting the window exit open in an emergency situation. I wonder if a passenger has ever pressed a flight attendant about this during the safety briefing.*
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
Jun 19, 2025 | 2:05 pm
#21
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Another, related issue I often see is elderly passengers seated in exit rows. I look at them and think, there is no way they are getting the window exit open in an emergency situation. I wonder if a passenger has ever pressed a flight attendant about this during the safety briefing.*
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
It was pretty funny at the time with the point being that some FAs do care.
Jun 19, 2025 | 5:08 pm
#22
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A few years back on a UA flight my husband and I were on the two aisle seats in the exit row. Between him and the window was an elderly couple and when the FA came to ask if we were all willing and able a member of the couple by the exit said, Well I dont know if I can, but my husband can if not. The FA immediately looked at my husband in the aisle and said, Youre going there, while pointing at the window seat and reseated the couple to another row.
It was pretty funny at the time with the point being that some FAs do care.
It was pretty funny at the time with the point being that some FAs do care.
I heard it was the same with the late Bette Nash in her later years - apparently would have caused too much bad publicity to have her fail.
Jun 19, 2025 | 5:49 pm
#23
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Thank you all for your comments. What I do not know is if the parent in 16D totally covered the infant with a blanket, I know there was a blanket being used but I was sitting in 17D I could not see directly in front of him without standing up during descent.. In which case the parent was actively deceiving the flight crew in a dark cabin.
Regardless, I will send a note to AA this weekend. To me this is something that needs to be reminded in training.
Regardless, I will send a note to AA this weekend. To me this is something that needs to be reminded in training.
Jun 19, 2025 | 5:52 pm
#24
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Its been a while since Ive had an infant or young child but the rules were, no held or ticketed infants and children in exit rows (for obvious reasons). You also could not have part of your party with an infant or child in a normal row with an adult in the exit row. There were also certain aircraft where infants werent allowed in the 1 row immediately forward of the over-wing exits. That might have been the MD80s, IIRC. If in read this correctly, it was probably a family on separate itineraries, but a possible goof by the GA if not. And yes, the FAs should have reseated exit row parent.
Jun 24, 2025 | 5:46 am
#25
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Its a violation of both FARs and airline policies. No child under 15 may be seated in an emergency exit row. No lap children, obviously. Most airlines, mine included, will not allow separated families to occupy exit seats. Dad cant take the exit while mom and kids sit two rows back. It should be covered when seats are assigned. In my case, we are to ensure this doesnt happen. On its surface, and without seeing everything personally, it seems to have been a failure on the part of the flight attendants.
Jun 24, 2025 | 9:14 am
#26
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I don't know how they do things over in Elmhurst, Nick.
But just to the south of you in Hinsdale, we speak up to an FA when we see safety rules flagrantly violated.
But just to the south of you in Hinsdale, we speak up to an FA when we see safety rules flagrantly violated.
Jun 24, 2025 | 9:21 am
#27
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Do you really think AA flight attendants "forgot" this safety rule?
Seriously?
Have we really reached that point in civil society where we are that frightened to call something what it is for fear of offense?
Jun 24, 2025 | 10:49 am
#28
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Another, related issue I often see is elderly passengers seated in exit rows. I look at them and think, there is no way they are getting the window exit open in an emergency situation. I wonder if a passenger has ever pressed a flight attendant about this during the safety briefing.*
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
(*I was recently on a flight where they forgot to do the safety briefing.)
Jun 24, 2025 | 11:01 am
#29
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Its a violation of both FARs and airline policies. No child under 15 may be seated in an emergency exit row. No lap children, obviously. Most airlines, mine included, will not allow separated families to occupy exit seats. Dad cant take the exit while mom and kids sit two rows back. It should be covered when seats are assigned. In my case, we are to ensure this doesnt happen. On its surface, and without seeing everything personally, it seems to have been a failure on the part of the flight attendants.
Jun 24, 2025 | 11:30 am
#30
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If this FA has a history of not following rules and not doing their job, then they should be terminated. Unfortunately, AA doesn't seem to ever do that.
Given that a lap kid isn't permitted in an exit row, is there an extra oxygen mask there? If not, this would be a safety hazard throughout the flight; decompression can happen at any time during flight, not just during takeoffs and landings (when the oxygen mask wouldn't matter anyway since the aircraft would be at a low altitude).