what's the reason that exit row seats have very thin padding?(caused by heavy folks?)
Nov 25, 2013, 7:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 64
what's the reason that exit row seats have very thin padding?(caused by heavy folks?)
I've always had this love and hate relationship when it comes to exit row seating.
If my upgrades doesn't come through, I always try to get an exit row seats because I'm tall. (6'3" and 197 to 210 pounds)
Most exit row seats have really thin padding on the seat cushion. I really don't understand the reasoning for this. A friend of mine said it's because heavy folks like myself prefer these seats and thinned out the seat cushions.
I can't believe that's the reason... 
If my upgrades doesn't come through, I always try to get an exit row seats because I'm tall. (6'3" and 197 to 210 pounds)
Most exit row seats have really thin padding on the seat cushion. I really don't understand the reasoning for this. A friend of mine said it's because heavy folks like myself prefer these seats and thinned out the seat cushions.
I can't believe that's the reason...
Nov 25, 2013, 9:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
They also tend to be shorter from front to back and narrower to fit the narrower seat, all of which makes for less bulk to fly off into the row in an emergency and impede folks trying to exit that way. On the negative size, it would seem to also make for a somewhat smaller and less effective flotation device.
Nov 26, 2013, 9:12 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 640
I love the jealous looks I recieve from my fellow exit row passengers when I pull this inflatable seat pad out of my laptop bag and deploy it. FA's frequently give me a knowing smile too.
Nov 27, 2013, 6:39 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/2MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,614
They also tend to be shorter from front to back and narrower to fit the narrower seat, all of which makes for less bulk to fly off into the row in an emergency and impede folks trying to exit that way. On the negative size, it would seem to also make for a somewhat smaller and less effective flotation device.
Nov 27, 2013, 8:35 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,785
I love the jealous looks I recieve from my fellow exit row passengers when I pull this inflatable seat pad out of my laptop bag and deploy it. FA's frequently give me a knowing smile too.
But as said the "thinner" cushion is for emergency egress. IMHO it is a joke as the cushion is not much thinner than a regular seat cushion. Especially after a few hundreds butt sittings.
BTW another one that took me a while to figure out is why the latches for the tray table are blocked in one direction. Also for egress. In case some one hits it the tray does not come down.
Nov 28, 2013, 12:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
One of my flights was delayed due to exit row cushions:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ent-today.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ent-today.html
Nov 28, 2013, 12:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Not yet, thank the stars. I was just riffing on the FA's usual announcement that "your seat cushion can be used as an emergency flotation device." Since total buoyancy is a factor of the total of the buoyant material, it seems likely that a smaller cushion would provide less buoyancy. Just conjecture. Hey, whatever floats your -er- butt.