Exit Row Questions
 

I've been on several flights where the individual sitting in the exit row was of a size that seemed as if there would be difficulty actually getting through the exit door. I know that there are restrictions on who sits in exit rows. Do gate agents and/or FA's assess "size" when making these assignments?

Also, I was on cross country flight several years back when female exit row passenger, seated across aisle from me, got completely smashed on the flight. She was in bar before flight, but I don't know how much she drank there. I personally saw her purchase 4 beers during the flight. She was singing and taking clothes off near end of flight. Should there be limitation on alcohol consumption of exit row passengers?

I would think GA's would be the first line in determining exit row ability and then FA's if the GA's didn't do their job. With both jobs, performance and care are highly variable.

Based on mostly travel with SQ, they are pretty selective about who gets exit row seats. However, with Internet Check-In I am interested in seeing if they will reassign "confirmed" seating when the passenger is obviously unsuitable.

I do know that on AS and QX, size matters. Their exit row criteria for most seats (excluding, I believe, seat 1B on the Q400) disqualifies anyone requiring a seat belt extender from sitting in an exit row seat.

Mike

If they are too large to get thru the door, then they should not be allowed on board the aircraft, no? ;)

Or should they be relegated to last place so as to not potentially block any other pax from exiting the burning wreckage? ;)

Alcohol limits? Please see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=exit

where a similar question was raised about ambien usage during flight if one was seated in an exit row.

This is a great question. With online reservations of exit seats for elites, the seat assignment is typically not done by the GA any longer. I've seen people I'd consider unfit for emergency exit duties seated in these rows on many flights; especially the elderly and obese seem to be highly attracted to these seats. FAs rarely seem to care. I've never seen anyone moved out of an exit row (hey, who would say "I'm not confortable sitting here, I think I might be too fat"). Btw., I love the "you can't sit here if you need a seatbelt extension because it might hinder evacuation" explanation on the safety card!

But since people regardless of weight or size should not be excluded from the priviledge of flying, maybe it's time for airline designs including interior (wider seats) and safety (wider exit) rows to accomodate the widespread and increasing reality of 'bigger' passengers.

They already do: first class :D

If they are too large to get thru the door, how did they get on the airplane in the first place... :p

Anyway, my parents once were refused exit row setas (on KLM) because they were too old (according to the GA), both are early 70s.

The emergency exits over the wing have about one-half the volume of the cabin doors.

I hate to sound like apig, but will anyways, if theer is any removal of clothing due to alcohol, I will be the first person to buy that person another drink.

Yes, Mike, you did sound like a pig with your comment! It doesn't bother me though...I wish the FA would have reseated the pax, maybe moved her to the back of the plane with you. What I didn't understand about that situation was it was a female FA selling this disrobing, singing female more alcohol, after we had put female pax in position of needing to be able to fully operate exits. Someone posted a link addressing pax taking meds and being seated in exit rows. That's a bit different because we don't know that they are taking meds that might impair abilities. In this case, her impairment was partially caused by the airline and was plain as day.

Some EE row seats do not offer the generous amount of legroom that one normally thinks a seat in the EE row does. Seat 44K on a CX 744 is a good example where a good portion of the leg room is blocked off by the lower half portion of the fattening exit door that in thrusted into the interior side.

As a tall person (6"4'), I believe the exit rows should be designated to those who would find sitting in a normal seat difficult. I can physically fit in Qantas Y in terms of legroom (no problem width-wise), but it's not a very fun experience, and I certainly let the person in front who dares recline know the score with my knees (I don't kick it or anything, just leave them where they are. I am not making myself more uncomfortable than present for anyone).

I've never understood why the 'larger' passengers choose Exit Row though... you need the width, not the legroom. I haven't seen too many people my height and above who need both.

It's just a gripe I have, sorry, when you see either large (I am using this term hopefully in the politically correct sense) people in the exit rows, or short people who don't need them. Though hard to police, in a perfect society, the exit rows should be reserved for those who need them.

*Prepares for barrage of replies...*

Exactly how much strength and coordination is required to operate the exit doors? This has never been clear to me.