Seat Blocking/Disability Override
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDT
Posts: 101
Seat Blocking/Disability Override
Bit of a grey area here so I thought I would ask the people of FT.
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MSP
Posts: 164
I would suppect if you are requesting disability seats, whether or not your specific condition is a disability, the phone Rep is going to default to you can't sit in an exit row. If you were to change it online it's unlikely anyone will notice unless you've got a wheelchair request, infant in arms, or a few other SSR's on your record the system won't inhibit you from the exit row, if you have the status to get them. (Or pay for them)
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDT
Posts: 101
I would suppect if you are requesting disability seats, whether or not your specific condition is a disability, the phone Rep is going to default to you can't sit in an exit row. If you were to change it online it's unlikely anyone will notice unless you've got a wheelchair request, infant in arms, or a few other SSR's on your record the system won't inhibit you from the exit row, if you have the status to get them. (Or pay for them)
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,039
Bit of a grey area here so I thought I would ask the people of FT.
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
That said... while the agent would've documented your PNR to justify seating you in the bulkhead, it's unlikely anybody at the airport will read those comments; DL doesn't police seat assignments. Ultimately, DL expects its passengers to act honestly and ethically.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDT
Posts: 101
Federal regulations require that passengers meet a set of criteria in order to be seated in an exit.
You must be able to understand and speak English
You must be able to comprehend instructions for operating the emergency exit, including locating and operating a window exit or exit door and directing others to the exit
You must not be under 15 years of age and not have a condition that might cause you harm if called upon to open an exit
You must be physically able to open an exit door and lift and stow a 31-52 lb. window exit
You must be able to quickly activate the evacuation slide and help others off to it
You must not require the use of a seat belt extension due to the hazard of entanglement
You cannot be traveling with a child restraint seat
You cannot be traveling with a pet in the cabin of the aircraft
You must be able to understand and speak English
You must be able to comprehend instructions for operating the emergency exit, including locating and operating a window exit or exit door and directing others to the exit
You must not be under 15 years of age and not have a condition that might cause you harm if called upon to open an exit
You must be physically able to open an exit door and lift and stow a 31-52 lb. window exit
You must be able to quickly activate the evacuation slide and help others off to it
You must not require the use of a seat belt extension due to the hazard of entanglement
You cannot be traveling with a child restraint seat
You cannot be traveling with a pet in the cabin of the aircraft
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
#7
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,834
You had to get an agent to unblock a seat that is designated for people with a disability. Seems you are trying to justify it by saying you explained it and the agent made the call when an agent will never question your level of disability - if you say you need it, they can not and will not challenge you on it. And the agent did, in fact, tell you that you can't then have an exit row on the following flight for exactly this reason.
I think you know it is ethically questionable and are trying to justify it to yourself.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDT
Posts: 101
This. Exactly. You want to have your cake (disabled enough to want the blocked, better seat on one flight), and eat it too (not quite disabled enough to disqualify you for the better seat on another).
You had to get an agent to unblock a seat that is designated for people with a disability. Seems you are trying to justify it by saying you explained it and the agent made the call when an agent will never question your level of disability - if you say you need it, they can not and will not challenge you on it. And the agent did, in fact, tell you that you can't then have an exit row on the following flight for exactly this reason.
I think you know it is ethically questionable and are trying to justify it to yourself.
You had to get an agent to unblock a seat that is designated for people with a disability. Seems you are trying to justify it by saying you explained it and the agent made the call when an agent will never question your level of disability - if you say you need it, they can not and will not challenge you on it. And the agent did, in fact, tell you that you can't then have an exit row on the following flight for exactly this reason.
I think you know it is ethically questionable and are trying to justify it to yourself.
For the record, it was blocked for airport use which gives the GA's discretion to allocate to passengers. It wasn't blocked on the return route. The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg. It seemed to be a process issue on their side.
In any case if they do want to challenge me on it, I have the proper ID and carry it with me just in case people do decide they know what pain I do and don't experience.
EDIT: and another thing, this "better seat" thought process is off the mark. I was hoping for a two seat pocket on the long route because I've had my knee and elbow bumped by other passengers before which can be painful - this means my wife is the only one next to me. I was hoping for the exit row on my other leg because I can keep my leg stretched out to reduce cramping (and it also happens to be a two seat pocket).
Last edited by callsignapollo; Jun 13, 2017 at 3:32 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
OK, let's simplify this. Let's not worry about what seats you want, or why you want them. Let's not worry about how any disability affects you. Let's boil it down to one simple question: are you disabled?
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
OK, then you shouldn't sit in the exit row.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,834
No one "wants" to be disabled. Disabilities impact people in different ways.
My word. I forgot how toxic the FT community is. I don't need to justify anything. My question was fairly straight forward.
For the record, it was blocked for airport use which gives the GA's discretion to allocate to passengers. It wasn't blocked on the return route. The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg. It seemed to be a process issue on their side.
In any case if they do want to challenge me on it, I have the proper ID and carry it with me just in case people do decide they know what pain I do and don't experience.
My word. I forgot how toxic the FT community is. I don't need to justify anything. My question was fairly straight forward.
For the record, it was blocked for airport use which gives the GA's discretion to allocate to passengers. It wasn't blocked on the return route. The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg. It seemed to be a process issue on their side.
In any case if they do want to challenge me on it, I have the proper ID and carry it with me just in case people do decide they know what pain I do and don't experience.
Bit of a grey area here so I thought I would ask the people of FT.
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
I have a lot of metal and a history of injuries in my leg/arm. It's not a strength/capability issue, but certainly a comfort/pain issue.
I have a Y ticket with my wife on a 772ER, and requested 56A/C as they were seat blocked and not allocated. DL agreed to assign them to me given my situation, but had to re-assign our exit row seats for our other domestic leg.
Those exit row seats are still available. If I change back to them now, what are the chances I will lose 56A/C on that particular leg?
The exit row agreement is "willing/able" which is indeed still the case - thoughts?
WRT "The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg", I'm not sure how that is different than what I said. That is, if you claim to be disabled enough to warrant unblocking the seats that you wanted - which are presumably the best (or only pair of?) seats left or you would have selected others - on the basis of medical need on one flight, how do you magically become not medically bad enough to disqualify you from exit row seating on another?
Again, you are trying to justify forcing your way into one or the other set of the seats you want by changing your level of need and it isn't passing the smell test to me.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDT
Posts: 101
In your OP, you asked for 'thoughts'. Well, you got them so don't complain and call us 'toxic' when you don't like what opinions you were given. Oh, sorry, I guess you only wanted to hear thoughts that agree with your actions. You yourself said it was a grey area. So you are aware that it might smell fishy or you wouldn't have asked.
WRT "The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg", I'm not sure how that is different than what I said. That is, if you claim to be disabled enough to warrant unblocking the seats that you wanted - which are presumably the best (or only pair of?) seats left or you would have selected others - on the basis of medical need on one flight, how do you magically become not medically bad enough to disqualify you for exit row seating on another?
Again, you are trying to justify forcing your way into one or the other set of the seats you want by changing your level of need and it isn't passing the smell test to me.
A lot of unnecessary assumptions and comments. I've asked for a mod to close this thread.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,834
The agent made it clear - "The agent didn't tell me I couldn't have an exit row - they said they can't release it for disability reasons and keep an exit row on another leg". You claim you are disabled to get the better seat. Then you claim you are not disabled to get the exit row.
And for the record, I am a person with a disability.