Can infant with carseat sit in front of the exit row?
Jul 1, 22, 8:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DTW
Posts: 49
Can infant with carseat sit in front of the exit row?
Our equipment was changed to a 737-9 and our seats were moved to 18DEF. Looks like 19-21 are the exit rows. I asked the messaging service about this because I could have sworn I saw that kids couldn't sit in the exit row OR immediately in front or aft. But the agent had never heard of that, and confirmed our child was booked with her 2021 birthday so the system would not have put her there.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Jul 1, 22, 9:40 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,296
Our equipment was changed to a 737-9 and our seats were moved to 18DEF. Looks like 19-21 are the exit rows. I asked the messaging service about this because I could have sworn I saw that kids couldn't sit in the exit row OR immediately in front or aft. But the agent had never heard of that, and confirmed our child was booked with her 2021 birthday so the system would not have put her there.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Jul 1, 22, 10:07 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DTW
Posts: 49
Thanks for this. I almost wish it was cut and dry either way so we could just bring it or check it lol. But hey, the system put us there and her age is marked...the staff can figure it out if it's an issue.
Jul 1, 22, 10:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 54
Our manual states car seats can occupy any forward facing non-exit seat. Row 18 on the 739 will be fine.
Jul 2, 22, 5:31 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Atlanta,Ga, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 399
This is directly from KM(Knowledge Management), which is the referece that Delta Res Agents use:
Infants (children under 2 years)
Jwhuffman
Infants (children under 2 years)
- Customers with infants are not permitted to occupy an exit row seat.
- No more than 1 infant can be seated per set of attached seats due to oxygen mask availability.
- Infants must not be seated in 3 consecutive rows on both sides of the aircraft (6 infants total).
- Please check Specific Aircraft information regarding Child Restraint System (CRS) Acceptance.
- Additional restrictions may apply for DL connection carriers. See the appropriate Connection carrier page in KM for additional information.
Jwhuffman
Our equipment was changed to a 737-9 and our seats were moved to 18DEF. Looks like 19-21 are the exit rows. I asked the messaging service about this because I could have sworn I saw that kids couldn't sit in the exit row OR immediately in front or aft. But the agent had never heard of that, and confirmed our child was booked with her 2021 birthday so the system would not have put her there.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Could just be anxiety overdrive given the long flight and state of the world but if anyone could provide some clarity that'd be great. Just trying to avoid a hassle at the gate/after we board and try to sit there if we can't.
Jul 2, 22, 4:30 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
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Jul 2, 22, 6:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Delta, United
Posts: 552
The FAA regulation is below, and that specific provision for car seat placement (in the rows immediately in front of or behind an exit row) is found in section 19.
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...AC_120-87C.pdf
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...AC_120-87C.pdf
Last edited by kavok; Jul 3, 22 at 8:44 am
Jul 2, 22, 8:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 90
Jul 2, 22, 9:38 pm
#14
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,441
Officially: Car seats are not to be placed in the rows immediately in front of or behind an exit row. The FAA regulation is below, and that specific provision is in section 19.
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...AC_120-87C.pdf
That being said, many FAs don’t know that rule so YMMV. I had an equipment swap back in March, and was rebooked with my car-seat kid in the row in front of an exit row. Given there were no (unblocked) rows of seats left, I had to call DL to get moved.
The first agent I spoke to must have had the KM rules listed above (and not the FAA regulation I linked), as I had to escalate it to a supervisor to get the row swap made. As I told the supervisor on that call, “we can either rearrange seats now, or the FA attendant will have to do it on board… as they are scrambling to get the plane out on time.” The supervisor did relent and unblocked some seats, so I will never know for sure what the FA would have actually done.
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...AC_120-87C.pdf
That being said, many FAs don’t know that rule so YMMV. I had an equipment swap back in March, and was rebooked with my car-seat kid in the row in front of an exit row. Given there were no (unblocked) rows of seats left, I had to call DL to get moved.
The first agent I spoke to must have had the KM rules listed above (and not the FAA regulation I linked), as I had to escalate it to a supervisor to get the row swap made. As I told the supervisor on that call, “we can either rearrange seats now, or the FA attendant will have to do it on board… as they are scrambling to get the plane out on time.” The supervisor did relent and unblocked some seats, so I will never know for sure what the FA would have actually done.
b. Rows Forward and Aft of Emergency Exit Rows. Each aircraft operator’s specific evacuation procedures should be considered during the development of procedures regarding the placement of a CRS on aircraft.
(1) In an evacuation, space has to be rapidly cleared forward or aft of the exit row so that no one would be hurt or trapped if the exit hatch was thrown in this area. A delay may occur as a parent/guardian removes a child from a CRS. If the aircraft operator’s crewmember evacuation procedures or instructions to passengers demonstrate the removal and placement of Type III exit hatches (as defined in 14 CFR part 23, 23.807, part 25, 25.807, and part 29, 29.807) in the row forward or aft of the emergency exit row, the aircraft operator should restrict the placement of CRSs accordingly.
(2) Installation of a CRS in the row forward of an exit keeps a seat back from breaking over. Aircraft seats are not required to break over, but if an aircraft operates with this feature and evacuation procedures include breaking over seat backs forward of an exit to create space for a crewmember or to create a wider evacuation path for passengers, the aircraft operator should restrict the placement of CRSs accordingly.
(1) In an evacuation, space has to be rapidly cleared forward or aft of the exit row so that no one would be hurt or trapped if the exit hatch was thrown in this area. A delay may occur as a parent/guardian removes a child from a CRS. If the aircraft operator’s crewmember evacuation procedures or instructions to passengers demonstrate the removal and placement of Type III exit hatches (as defined in 14 CFR part 23, 23.807, part 25, 25.807, and part 29, 29.807) in the row forward or aft of the emergency exit row, the aircraft operator should restrict the placement of CRSs accordingly.
(2) Installation of a CRS in the row forward of an exit keeps a seat back from breaking over. Aircraft seats are not required to break over, but if an aircraft operates with this feature and evacuation procedures include breaking over seat backs forward of an exit to create space for a crewmember or to create a wider evacuation path for passengers, the aircraft operator should restrict the placement of CRSs accordingly.
Last edited by jerry a. laska; Jul 2, 22 at 9:44 pm
Jul 3, 22, 2:48 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 54
Yes, amazing isn't it. FT at its finest. The FAA regulation actually doesn't say that child restraint devices cannot be placed in rows fore and aft of an exit row; only that each aircraft operator must restrict the placement of a CRS in a row fore and aft of an exit row if under the airline operator's evacuation procedures the plug exit row doors when removed are to be placed in a row fore or aft of the exit row or if old style seats that fold over (fold forward) are used then a CRS cannot be place in a row fore or aft of an exit row..
The Advisory Circular cited does not actually ban the placement of a child restraint system/seat in the rows fore and aft of an exit row in the absence of these particular procedures by the aircraft operator. My thanks to the FAs and other who have posted regarded the correct procedures on DL.
The Advisory Circular cited does not actually ban the placement of a child restraint system/seat in the rows fore and aft of an exit row in the absence of these particular procedures by the aircraft operator. My thanks to the FAs and other who have posted regarded the correct procedures on DL.
Beat me to the actual language of the FAR. 😀
