Extenders in Exit Row, yes again
 

I had a strange day. I'm flying on UA metal in the exit row, around me are two UA crews flying into work. The FA says "oh, you can't have extenders in the exit row." The crews around with her disagree, saying that policy had changed. She checks with the captain, captain says its okay, away we go.

Next we switch over to UA Express, operated by Republic, same scenario. I explain what the other captain said to me, and the FA says "well we don't train it this way on this airline." I had dealt with this FA before, and had noticed previously he had always taken one of his non-rev buddies and plopped him in my chair when he'd tried this before. This time I was prepared and told my air force buddy to come up from coach and plop in my seat and I would take his seat in coach.

I know southwest has a policy like this as well, but I can fit in a southwest seat belt without an extender, but not on these tiny commuter planes.

So I guess here's what I'm wondering, how does this policy make any sense. I mean:

1) A belt with an extender is supposedly a trip and fall hazard, but a belt on Southwest flight that's just as long as a belt with an extender on a smaller regional jet is not?

2) I used to be a ramp guy and was trained on the equipment I was flying, I know how to open all the doors to all the compartments on this equipment, as did my air force buddy. Everything says to me we were just as qualified as his non-rev buddy to be in that exit row.

3) If UA express is UA in name only, why would they choose to have a more restrictive policy knowing its going to cause confusion with customers?

Any ideas how to best address this? I'm tired of having one FA quote rule and regulation to plop his non-rev friends in my paid for seat. My research says its not an FAA issue as some have told me.

That's because UX is UA in name only.

UX consists of a bunch of carriers, of which UA does not own (I believe, not even a minority share). Each carrier has their own set of FAA regulations that are submitted to the FAA. The FAA then expects each carrier to adhere to their own regulations and fines the carrier when their own regulations are not followed.

Another example is carry ons. ExpressJet, in an attempt to simplify weight and balance calculations (i.e., in an attempt to get more revenue for cargo), recently made some very customer unfriendly changes: only one personal item can be brought on board per pax, and the second item must be gate checked to the next airport. Whereas, SkyWest and other UX carriers don't have this rule.

My opinion is that seatbelt extenders should [I]never[I] be alowed in exit rows; prohibiting them provides objective criteria for who is permitted to sit in an exit row. Allowing an extender forces gate agents and flight crews to decide who is 'too large' to sit in exit rows on a subjective basis.

Well that would be fine and dandy if things were uniform. However, people come in all shapes and sizes as do seat belts on these aircraft. For example, I can fit in any chair I've encountered so far with the middle arm rest down. On Southwest, I don't need an extender belt, but on many United flights, I do. So, that's like saying who is too large to sit in the exit row is up to the vagaries of what equipment you are on.

Further, in an emergency, I am the guy you want on that emergency row. Has your average passenger dealt with a door that sticks and won't open? Do they have any training working in and around airplanes. Who would be most likely to keep passengers safe after an emergency debarkation? Besides my air force friends who have combat experience, I would put my trained ramp skills up against most any passenger on that plane.

...and this is part of the problem, why is it the fat person who always has to justify himself?

Well thank you, it's too bad the FA didn't have a clear explanation, that would have prevented some debate and bad blood.

And just to point out that a lot of seat belts are repaired. Each repair causes it to lose about 4 inches. I have seen some belts where it doesn't even reach to the armrest.

I would think that if you require an extender on ANY airplane, there is perhaps an issue with your size. They are typically looking for agile, fit people for the exit rows. Even if you work out and are in good shape, they have to make a rule about it because most people that require an extender are over 300 lbs and are definitely not fit and agile. Obesity limits mobility and flexibility and causes all kinds of knee and back problems. Granted it sounds like you know what you are doing and could open the door in an emergency, but they aren't going to make special allowance for "extra aircraft knowledge" in obese passengers.

One one flight recently (on a small UA commuter, I think it was Mesa), a woman (not obese, just normal size) boarded with her foot in a boot of some type, the kind you get if you hurt your ankle. She was using one crutch, and the flight attendent helped her with her backpack and helped her to her seat - which was in an exit row. I couldn't believe the FA was OK with leaving her in that row!!!

I've almost needed a seat extender on a few RJ flights and I'm well under 200 pounds (but pregnant). Totally depends on the aircraft and seatbelt and way the passenger is built. I'd bet there are some fit, solid, 250 pound men who can't fit in some of those seats without an extender either, and I'd much want them in an exit row over a 120 pound weakling.

But let's face it, the chance of needing to get out that door is so slim it's not really worth worrying about.

Incorrect. As stated above, there is not even any consistency in length on the same AC type on the same airline. For example, I am on AA MD8x's alot. In some seats, I have to tighten the belt. In others, I have to have an extender - even down to the same row/seat on different birds.

I am slightly larger (not 500lbs) than most - and I agree with the poster above. I'm the guy you want in the exit row because I'm not going to have a hard time with stuck hatch or anything like that.

Fat people are not the enemy...

You can be experienced but how does the FA or other passengers know that?
personally i would be uncomfortable if i have to sit next to a very overweight person in the exit row as you can see that those people can't help anybody else or even them self in case of a emergency.
I don't talk about people who just a little to big but the big big people which i see more and more.
Most people are not experienced and that is the rule, like a worst case scenario.
I'm fully qualified in helicopter / medical emergency's and fly over 1 million miles a year but people can't see this from the outside.

I fly AA, and generally get upgraded, the few times I don't I'm in an exit aisle seat. The FA (shortly before take-off) comes by and gives the usual info re exit aisle seats. I am at that moment comfortable with the responsibilities of being in an exit aisle seat--but in the event of a real emergency, would I (not freeze and) open the exit door per instructions? I don't know, and hope I never find out.

I flew on a regional from IAD to ORD once in the window seat of the exit row, next to a guy who was so drunk he kept passing in and out of consciousness. If there was ever a time to dump someone from the exit row that would have been it.

If you need an extender I would think that the exit row would be hard for you to operate, particularly if you need to help folks off.

Why is that? Is it the assumption that everyone who needs an extender is fat? There are some genuinely large humans out there, like weightlifters, wrestlers, pro football players, etc who need to wear extenders. It's not uncommon, and it's not like you need to weigh 300 pounds to need them.

Who would you rather have working the exit row? A 120 pound skinny guy who probably can't lift someone up and over the seats to the door, or a big strong SOB who can pop the door easily and move some people if needed?

Now, if airlines actually had seats where the armrests were actually high enough to rest your arms on, then a lot less people would need extenders. On a lot of my flights, the "male" strap usually comes up right to the armrest. That's a tough place for some people to latch on, with the "female" part of the seatbelt - the latch, needing to come over and rest between the armrest and the person's hip. In a 17" seat, that is tough for even a lot of women with wide hips.

Quite honestly, if the airlines would just put in slightly longer seatbelts - especially the "male" side, the one without the latch - that would generally solve the problem. As is, a new seat cushion that sets up a few inches higher will cause even a non-fat dude to have problems buckling up.

Try moving an unconscious or injured 250lb man - it's not just the ability of the person in the exit row to open the emergency exit, but it's also the ability to move them if they can't open the exit for some reason.

As for extenders - it must be a US thing as I've rarely seen them used in Europe.

All I can say is there are multiple exists for a reason.

And at the low, low rate planes crash, I'm not worried.