I booked a trip on Copa, and saw the exit seats are available to select at no extra charge. Two quick questions:

1. I am taking an overnight flight on the 737-700 and seats 18A and 18F are available (see seat map). I usually prefer aisle seats to be able to get up without disturbing anyone, but window seats have the perk of being able to lean against something. Does anyone know if I would be able to get out of row 18 without disturbing the aisle and middle passengers, or perhaps walk up to row 17 and walk out there if the leg room is larger. If so, that would be the best of both worlds!

2. Similar question on the 737-800. Is the leg room in aisles 17 or 18 large enough to permit window/middle passengers to get out without having others get up?

Thanks!

I like 18A and 18F on the 737-700, since you have unlimited leg room. However, your seatmates in the center and aisle seats only have normal economy seat pitch. There is no way to leave A or F without them having to get up. You could go in front of row 17, since they do have extended leg room. You would still be disturbing them, but they probably don't have to get up.

On the 737-800, 18A and 18F have extended leg room and your seatmates in the center and aisle do too. You can probably exit without them getting up, but it is unlikely you could do it without disturbing them.

Keep in mind that row 17 does not recline, so it's not good for a long flight. Also, you need to speak Spanish to sit in an exit row seat on CM. See this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...g-spanish.html

More or less have to speak Spanish. The last flight I was on to MBJ the FA was explaining the safety instructions in english to one passenger.

This is key.

If they boot you from the exit row for not speaking Spanish well enough, it will happen at the gate, and you may wind up with a really crappy seat.

Do you need to have any kind of status to book Copa exit rows???

I'm *G and could choose them without a problem, but i was just wondering. What are my chances of complimentary upgrades? If that even exists on Copa??

Anyways, i was just wondering those 2 things.

Flew with them last year IAD-PTY-SCL and back, and was able to choose exit row seats at time of booking. I don't have any kind of status, and the tickets were deep discount economy.

They do take the Spanish-speaking thing seriously - luckily my Spanish is decent, but my friend unwittingly responded "no" to the question about whether he spoke Spanish, and they promptly moved him to a middle seat near the back of the plane!

I think Copa has a bid-to-upgrade scheme, but doubt you'd luck into a free upgrade unless you're a Copa elite.

Oh all right, i thought it was something special i could get exit rows as most of the people booked on the aircraft are in the bulkhead and first rows of coach, but not single soul is booked in any of my 4 flights in any emergency row. All fill the first 2-3 rows of coach?

For the Spanish thing please do not worry. Spanish is my native language. Me thinks FA's will likey me.

I'm finding that most typical people (read: people who have never heard of Flyertalk) seem to prioritize sitting towards the front of the plane above anything else. They must all want to get off quickly . I flew a flight last week on Southwest, where seating is unassigned and boarding is by an assigned number (with exceptions for through passengers and those needing extra assistance). I was #42 to board, in effect, but nearly everyone in front of me just kept going aisle and window into the first available row. This left the exit row seat with no seat in front of it 5 rows further back open for me, and I promptly took it . Even for a 2 1/2 hour flight, I'll take the extra legroom .

And I guess I had better brush up on my Spanish if I want to sit in the exit row!

the only Y seats on Copa flights that are blocked off are the first 3 rows (5,6,7), which Copa Elites can choose at booking.

Exit rows are nearly always available whenever I book flights. Most Copa flyers I guess would never do online checkin or change their seats. A ton of people buy their tickets from the Copa desks/shops around Panama, who just assign them seats from 8 back, skip exit rows and then 22 back (737-800s).