I love the extra leg room...but do not like the narrower seats, immovable arm rests, tray in the arm rest.

A little place I call hillbilly first. I love that exit row seat and no other.

Flying is fun, but once that plane lands, I want off. Now. Sitting in the exit rows delays that.

I would say you own the blame, not share it. If your friends moved you to a middle seat at the back without you permission because they like middle seats, would you accept the blame because you don't like middle seats?

If you want to know why your "friends" don't like exit-row seats, why don't you ask them? They know their state of mind better than anyone on FT.


P.S. It's etiquette, if not a regulation, to gain someone's permission before changing their seat (on BA when you change multiple seats online on the same PNR, you have to check a box stating that you have authorization from the other parties). You presumably had plenty of opportunity while waiting for the EF alert!

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I'm guessing it's either a responsibility issue or they thought they could get seats ahead of the exit row, or they just don't care about the exit row seating. As someone else said, if a passenger isn't particularly tall or large, the extra legroom may not be a big deal.

I've learned that what's important to me isn't always important to other travelers. Folks have lots of different preferences, as we've seen here on FT. Heck, I believe there were some folks who claimed to like middle seats.

OP here. A bit more background. We've traveled with these friends before. I've had them upgraded to first class with us in the past with no complaint. When we first began planning this trip, I casually mentioned to friends that I would try to get everyone moved to exit row seats if they became available. No complaint at that time. These friends generally give us carte blanche in making travel plans as they don't like to fool with the minute details and I don't mind the minute details. They also have enjoyed the perks of our status with airlines & hotels.

I've already planned to ask friends in person about dislike of exit row when we meet up for the trip. Just thought I'd ask FT for ideas I'd not considered.

In that case, I would suggest you did have their permission; and yes, they should have some, if not all, of the responsibility for keeping quiet then.

Now that I think back on it, I'm betting they thought I was going to try to get everyone moved to first class and it didn't register that I said exit row instead. There was a lot of talking going on, so who knows what everyone heard!

I should have double checked with everyone before making the move.

And, I also need to learn that my way is not the only way!

On flights in Africa, it is very difficult to convince passengers to accept an exit row seat. Most passengers prefer even a middle seat to an exit row. It's often quite a struggle to find enough folks to fill up the exit rows on a full flight.

For the most part, the passengers are simply scared of the responsibility that sitting in the exit row involves.

Another reason to not like the exit row. I'm short, and when I'm sitting in coach, I like to put my bag under the seat in front of me and use it as a foot rest. In the exit row, even when I'm allowed to put my purse there, my feet don't always reach :)

The plane in question is a 737-800. It is a narrow bodied aircraft. It does not have the range for 10-12 hours long flights.

The exit row seats abut the over the wing window exits. These seats have a few extra inches of leg room; however, they are no where near the galleys and there is no room to congregate around them.

I am a bit above average height, but my legs are shorter than average (all my height is in my torso) - extra leg room means nothing to me...but the narrower seats and immovable armrests really get on my nerves. I can only put up with them for a short while. I avoid exit rows like the plague.

The exit rows sometimes have thinner seat cushions too.

I still pick them when I can because I'm relatively tall, but I can see reasons (apart from the responsibility) that they wouldn't want it.

Just this week I took a flight on a nearly empty DL 757. The GA sized me up and offered to move me to the exit row. I knew it was going to be empty so I stayed where I was and stretched out over three seats.

Not sure about this, but I thought they made you responsible for stuff if you chose the exit row. One thing I don't want on an airplane flight is responsibility for other passengers. Unless you get a discount, why knowingly assume anything?