Exit Row Requirements
 

Does anyone else think its ridiculous that you cant sit in the exit row if you need an assistive device (seat-belt extension/crutches/casts) But you are able to drink alcoholic beverages while sitting in the exit row? Just seems a little strange to me. Anyone else have opinions?

It's a valid point. A small quanity of wine with a meal probably won't do any harm, but those seated in the emergency row should not be allowed to get drunk, and at the moment there seem to be no restrictions that would prevent that.

I also think it's wrong that exit rows are now treated as premium seats, and left empty if no one is willing to pay for them. (This happens quite a lot now on short-haul flights with KLM)

Flight crew are not permitted to serve someone who is already intoxicated / approaching intoxication, so I think there are safeguards in place to stop drunk people being the in exit row. In addition, when the FA runs through the safety procedures, he/she can also determine if they are unfit (drunk) and need to be reseated.

No, I don't think it's ridiculous.

If they are flat out drunk and unable to preform their duties that's a totally different issue, but there's no reason they can't have a drink.

I never said a drink or 2 would be a problem and not all the time is someone's intoxication very apparent. The whole point is that we wont allow people who have slight physical impairments like a sprained wrist, but we allow people to potentially get intoxicated.

I agree with the selling the exit row as a premium seat. Should not be done. There are a lot of responsibilities that come along with sitting in the exit row should something happen and the need arises.

Even very small amounts of alcohol can impair a person's judgment and performance - which is why pilots aren't supposed to drink alcohol within eight hours of commencing duty.

And you can't always tell if someone is approaching intoxication...

As I said earlier a glass of wine with a meal is probably OK... as long as that's the only alcohol the person has had.

I sit in the exit row half-crocked pretty often. Trust me, I won't be in your way if anything happens. If I have to open that door I'll be the first one out.

I think treating them as "premium seats" only selectable by elite frequent fliers is kind of smart. I would much prefer a frequent flier sit in the seat than someone on their first airplane trip.

Ultimately judging if a door is safe to open, and opening it are not highly skilled tasks - frankly, if they were, they wouldn't leave it to a potentially stupid member of the public to do.

Having 4 or 5 airline size drinks (or more) wouldn't stop me from performing a straightforward task like this (check for fire / smoke / water outside exit, if safe, open exit, assist others once down the ramp away from the plane). Most people would be still legal in many jurisdictions to drive after 2 glasses, so why the higher standard for the, relative to control of a motor vehicle, simpler task?

When intoxicated, you can corrolate it to a drop in IQ points - should we ban people who are 'a bit thick' too? If anything, a little bit of alcohol removes some inhibitions / nerves, so there is the potential that someone who has had a few glasses is less liable to panic that someone entirely sober too.

To someone else's point, some routes would then see the exit rows empty - which would be worse, ie first person to get there hasn't had a chance to familiarize themselves with the door opening etc.

LOL

I would much prefer someone who has had two drinks than someone with a "slight physical impairment" trying to open the door that will save my life. Question, have you ever tried to remove and hold a 50+ pound exit door with your "slight physical impairment"?

Something tells me the OP was asking the question after getting moved out of the exit row....

Than you would be wrong Planemechanic. Flight Crew here.

Meh, I have been wrong before, this wouldn't have been the first time.

But now that we know you are flight crew I find the question very strange, or you are just trolling.

The surely you know that a) if the board drunk, they are not sitting there and b) you are not going to serve them to the point they are intoxicated, for more reasons than just the exit row? I don't see the issue, especially as you are the one serving the drinks.

I sort of agree with you... Elites should be given first refusal, and they should not have to pay.

KLM used to let Platinum and Gold Elites sit in exit row seats for free (while others had to pay) - and in those days the exit row seats usually had someone in them. Usually Gold Elites rather than Plats because you don't get to be Plat by travelling in Economy!

They then decided to make Gold Elites pay as well... and ever since then emergency exit rows have either been empty, or, on a completely full flight, filled with the last people to have checked in.