Apparent lax cabin safety
 

Recently I took a CO TATL flight where I observed unusually relaxed safety procedures about emergency exits. I don't know whether I am overthinking this, so you guys tell me your opinions.

I was sitting in an exit row, window seat. Here are the problems I observed.

1. While still on the ground, I pointed out to a FA that my AVOD was not working. She reset it. It was still rebooting when they played the safety video, so I, sitting in exit row, did not have the opportunity to watch the safety video on my screen. (I did watch through my neighbor's screen)
2. Next to me sat a young teen. He did not appear to be 15 yo (the minimum age to seat in an exit row), but I did not know it. I thought surely the cabin crew would ask him during the pre-takeoff safety briefing at the exit row. However, that briefing never happened.
3. While serving the meal, a FA asked the teen his age. He said 13. She was visibly worried, and relayed that info to 2 other FAs. I thought surely they would remove the teen prior to landing. However, that did not happen, and the 13yo landed in the exit row.

At the end of the flight I communicated my observations to the captain and the cabin lead. The captain seemed genuinely concerned. The cabin lead had explanations for what happened. I thought his explanations were lame, but what do I know. His explanations:

1. "You could have watched the safety video from your neighbor's screen, which you did, so no problem there."
2. As for the lack of a safety briefing at the exit row, "I thought they did the briefing at your row. I sure did the briefing at my row. Are you sure you were not asleep or distracted when they did the briefing?" That does not seem like a good excuse. If I was asleep they should have awakened me to ask if I was willing and able to assist. They always ask. Not this time.
3. As for letting the 13 year-old sit in the exit row after knowing he was under age, he said they asked the parents who were sitting further back, and the parents told them the kid was 15 but did not speak good English, and that was the reason he answered wrong. I told him if you have conflicting info about age you should ask to see ID to clear it up. He told me kids are not required to carry ID. I told him they are, this is an international flight and everyone has passports. He then said he has to take people's word for it, because if he asked for ID he would be implicitly calling them liars. Then I said that another requirement to sit in the exit row is to understand and speak English. He had evidence, introduced by the parents, that the kid did not speak enough English to understand a simple question about his age, so he should have removed the kid on those grounds. He said they can't, because the kid spoke some english, and who is to say what is enough english to sit there. He says people pay more for these preferred seats, and would get really mad if moved from them. He gave an example "if I see someone limping down the aisle, I can't tell them they aren't quite fit to sit there, what if they paid extra for that seat?"

What do you guys think? Did I do well to bring it to the captain and the lead FA's attention, or was I too paranoid? Or did I not do enough, and should report to CO and/or the FAA?

sounds like mistakes were made, but really, the chances of any of this being the difference between life and death is pretty minuscule. it seems like you have way too much time on your hands. Just let it go,

I don't want the following people in exit rows: 1) Kids (check the passport), 2) geezers who can't handle the weight of the door, 3) porkers whose ability to fit through the opening is debatable (or would have a heart attack trying).

The kid should have been required to show proof if age was debatable.

It seems Continental could cross-reference with Secure Flight before selling ELR seats. Youngsters in exit rows are certainly a "security" risk.

Issue #1 & #2 are fairly subjective, and you could make the case either way.

Issue #3 the ball was dropped on 2 points (age and poor communication from the child). The ELR "excuse", was just that... an excuse (a poor one IMhO).

If you have time, e-mail CR. CC (or after the response) DoT if you feel the need.

I just sat in an exit to and from FRA in the last week and never got an exit row safety briefing. I just don't see that done on CO that often on any of their flights. I do experience it on other airlines.

The the OP. Seriously, just let it go. I have been doing multiple flights every week for the past 3 months and I have seen so much crap go down. Unless they are going to bring down the plane or going to cause harm to others, I just let it be.

You would have freak the ___ out on my flight last night. I have seen some piss poor behavior on planes but the two people in the exit row across from me brought it to a new level. I felt so sorry for the F/A. One guys so drunk. This was from IAH to DAL. F/A gave up. He didn't wear a seat belt had his feet up on the window and allover her the whole flight and obnoxious as hell. He was like in his 60s and his GF was in her 20s. It was like Jerry Springer for an hour flight. As bad as it was I let go. They couldn't throw him out in the air and the plane was full. I got two short days home before off to HKG. If took the time to write CO about all the things that ppl have done or gone wrong on my flights, that's all I'll be doing. Life is too short, I just let ppl be.

If the plane had some kind of emergency, and you had died because this clown was unable to assist, would your loved ones be so forgiving?

I'm sorry, if someone is so drunk that they cannot obey simple and direct commands to buckle their seatbelts, then they become a danger to themselves and, more importantly, others. If the plane was full, they should have moved him to another seat, locked him in the rear lav, hogtied him and left him in the rear galley...any of the things they'd do if he ran up and down the aisle screaming he had a bomb.

I can do without my PDB of choice, but sobriety in the exit row is something else entirely...

I wanted him off the plane. His GF said she take care of him and throw him off the plane if need be. I bet she really wish she could. So she could get all his money. Just picture the late Anna Nicole with her Billionaire husband. That's what these two clowns looked like. It was the oddest thing. The poor F/A never come back here cause he said all kinds of nasty (sexual) things to her. It was most unbelievable 40 minutes I have ever seen. It's a short flight IAH to DAL and diverting somewhere prob take just as much time as the flight. I think if he was by himself they had cops waiting. Since he was with his GF they did nothing. I not even get into what was going in those seats. No one should have to witness that. Good thing I sat at the other exit door. His GF was like 6'3 and was 5'2. Sure she would throw him out like she said.

OP...Get a life.

Your a Busy Body..:rolleyes:

+1 ^^

OP: #3 is unacceptable, do take it up with CO..

OP - Make it simple - FAA and cc CO Insider.

We know that in the sky, FAs are kings and queens.

It is simply a lame excuse - FAA regulations do provide the airlines the authority that to ensure the person is compliance for assistance during emergency.

Gary you sound a bit bitter. Rejected FA?

Or rejected by a FA? :p