FA's standing in exit row during boarding
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TPA/SRQ
Programs: Hyatt Explorer, Marriott Titanium, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, Avis Plus, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,692
FA's standing in exit row during boarding
I'm curious as to why it is, or seems like there is always a FA standing in one of the exit rows, at the beginning of boarding?
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,845
I'm curious as to why it is, or seems like there is always a FA standing in one of the exit rows, at the beginning of boarding?
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
It has more room to stand comfortably. If they stood in the aisle they would be in the way. Plus what smmrfld said.
They are not blocking the seats and will move if you meet the qualifications.
They are not blocking the seats and will move if you meet the qualifications.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Chicago
Programs: Southwest | A-list preferred + CP || Marriott | Gold
Posts: 70
I'm curious as to why it is, or seems like there is always a FA standing in one of the exit rows, at the beginning of boarding?
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
Or is it my imagination?
And while I am asking annoying questions that I could not find the answer to after a quick search. Is there anyway to know how full a flight will be before I arrive at the airport?
TIA
As for knowing how many people are on the plane, the only way I know is to sneak a peak at the computer monitor the gate agent has. When he scans your boarding pass, look at the computer screen. There'll be a set of numbers, and the top left number is the number of boarding passes issued, and I think the next number is the number of "through" passengers. Add that up, and you'll know how many people are on the plane.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,454
WN considers load factors to be proprietary information ( as do all airlines ). You are not going to find out that number before boarding.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Chicago
Programs: Southwest | A-list preferred + CP || Marriott | Gold
Posts: 70
#7
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,691
And this works quite nicely for the frequent WN flyer with a low A as non-in-the-know passengers boarding early are not sure why they are there and just keep moving back...
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SJC, Northern Cal.
Programs: SWA RR BIS 6.2M, A+'20, CP'20, AA, UA Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 909
Some people won't ask them to move so for those that ask you get the benefit of the FA's sort of blocking that other seat once you slide in past them.
/almost never sits in exit row.
/almost never sits in exit row.
Last edited by Wingrider; May 10, 2013 at 3:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,323
On flights that we know have 10 or so empty seats, spouse and I will take aisle and window of exit row. We never put any personal stuff on that middle seat. Every time, the FA stands in front of that seat during boarding, effectively holding it open, unintentionally, for us. I don't know why people don't just ask the FA if they can sit there.
On a side note, last week, out of PHX, the FA had put down all the window shades in the bulkhead row, to minimize the hot sun coming in.
No one sat in that entire row, throughout A boarding, and half of B group, and no one even asked the FA up front if the row was held or what?!
On a side note, last week, out of PHX, the FA had put down all the window shades in the bulkhead row, to minimize the hot sun coming in.
No one sat in that entire row, throughout A boarding, and half of B group, and no one even asked the FA up front if the row was held or what?!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,451
I'm assuming that "FA standing in exit row" is part of WN's boarding procedures as filed with and approved by the FAA. It is NOT an FAA requirement -- as you may have noticed other airlines do not have an FA at the exit row during boarding.
Plus, the whole exit row qualification is a "newish" rule -- from the 80's or 90's. Ironically, they didn't care back in the 70's when airline accidents were much more common.
Plus, the whole exit row qualification is a "newish" rule -- from the 80's or 90's. Ironically, they didn't care back in the 70's when airline accidents were much more common.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AA, DL Gold Med , UA, AS, WN, HHonors Silver, Marriott, IHG Rewards Club, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 323
#14
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: AUS, SAN, EDI, BA F, WN Exit Row
Programs: Southwest Airlines AP & CP; BA Gold
Posts: 169