Is an empty exit row a safety issue
Aug 13, 2019, 9:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YHZ/YQM
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Is an empty exit row a safety issue
I was thinking about my recent Swoop flight, and came to a realization. Before takeoff one of the FA's gave a briefing on how to open the over-wing exit to the folks in 16DEF. But nobody was seated in 16ABC. I guess no one wanted to pay for the extra legroom there (I was in 17C - which has some extra legroom but was cheaper than the exit row.)
In the event of an evacuation, who's job is it to open an emergency exit when the exit row is empty? If passengers with mobilty issues can't sit in the exit row for safety reasons, then is having an empty exit row a safety issue?
In the event of an evacuation, who's job is it to open an emergency exit when the exit row is empty? If passengers with mobilty issues can't sit in the exit row for safety reasons, then is having an empty exit row a safety issue?
Aug 13, 2019, 8:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 575
I was thinking about my recent Swoop flight, and came to a realization. Before takeoff one of the FA's gave a briefing on how to open the over-wing exit to the folks in 16DEF. But nobody was seated in 16ABC. I guess no one wanted to pay for the extra legroom there (I was in 17C - which has some extra legroom but was cheaper than the exit row.)
In the event of an evacuation, who's job is it to open an emergency exit when the exit row is empty? If passengers with mobilty issues can't sit in the exit row for safety reasons, then is having an empty exit row a safety issue?
In the event of an evacuation, who's job is it to open an emergency exit when the exit row is empty? If passengers with mobilty issues can't sit in the exit row for safety reasons, then is having an empty exit row a safety issue?
Not a safety issue. Who will attend to that exit you ask? The cabin crew. They are ultimately responsible for all exits onboard.
Aug 14, 2019, 8:06 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,002
There are 4 f/a's on a 737-800. They will be seated at the 4 main doors.
In the event of an evacuation, I can't see any of them swimming upstream to the over wing exits.
Aug 14, 2019, 8:23 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
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I've been the beneficiary of this in the past when asked to move into an empty exit row so someone is 'staffing' the exit. On Norwegian I think. No idea if some countries have formal rules or if just airline by airline policy
Aug 14, 2019, 9:13 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 575
The preferred emergency exits are the aircraft cabin doors not the over wing exits as per Transport Canada. If no one is seated in the over-wing exit it is fine as those are simply alternate exits. The cabin crew shout their commands “ come this way” for a reason , for it is safer for a passenger to exit from a crew manned door exit vs an unsupervised non crew over-wing exit.
That being said , should the aircraft be taxiing on the ground, and no one is seated at an over-wing exit, and lets say the the cabin crew are in the aisle and are in front of the over wing exit, and an immediate danger is presented that would warrant an evacuation, there are shouted commands that cabin crew would use and modify to get passengers out of an over-wing exit then and there. The situation will dictate in the specific scenario.
Last edited by cirrusdragoon; Aug 14, 2019 at 9:33 am
Aug 14, 2019, 9:18 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
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It varies country to country , also , it will vary airline to airline. The regulatory body of each country sets a base of standards and each airline adds in their own safety protocols based on their own history of incidents and risk assessments .
Aug 15, 2019, 8:00 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
- 1 F/A for every 40 passengers - F/A number can vary dependent on passenger load. WestJet used to operate to this model.
- 1 F/A for every 50 seats - F/A number is fixed for a given aircraft seat capacity. WestJet now operates to this model.
Aug 16, 2019, 9:23 am
#10
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
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I had this once. Flight from Montreal to Quebec city on a Jazz Q300. There were a total of 2 passengers, myself and someone traveling with me. They were able to fly the aircraft the same as always. The inflight service was a bit more personalized. I am told the return leg back to Montreal was nearly full.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:57 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I guess if the one passenger was the worrying type, they could sit in an exit row.
Remember the airline has to get the plane from A to B since it is going to be needed at B.