Exit Row Seats

[PhilDernerJr]

I think that it is a poor practice, possibly flat-out unsafe, for airlines to charge extra for exit row seating. I’ve been flying a bit lately, and it seems that when there’s an added cost for it, that people who shouldn’t be sitting there end up there.

Last time I flew to Florida, both flights up and down had to have the entire exit row replaced with new passengers. Children, people who didn’t speak English, the elderly and more, were sitting there. Replacing them prolongs preparation time (as it flight attendants don’t have enough to do), and if by chance someone doesn’t get properly replaced, someone that shouldn’t be there will affect my ability to get out in an emergency.

Meanwhile, able and willing people who are actually door-trained (like me) have to pay more because we want to help. I don’t even care for the extra leg room…even with my height I don’t care about that. I just want to be someplace that I can be of assistance if I need

[USAF Pilot 07]

I agree; I'm 6'2 and the exit row makes flying commercially at least somewhat tolerable, but I'm not going to shell out $30+ just to sit there. As far as I know it's a FAA requirement to have that much space in between rows for safety reasons; I don't think the airlines should be capitalizing on that. Not to mention, in the unlikely event that something should happen, I would want someone in some sort of physical shape or even better someone trained in aircraft operation sitting there, not some 85-year old, 100 pound grandmother on her way to Florida.

Luckily I made elite this year on United, so at least I can pre-book economy plus at no charge which I think includes the exit row.

[gonzalu]

Totally agree... and is not just that, I know things are tough but charging $3.00 for a bag of 5 chips or even $3.00 for a bottle of NON Poland Spring is tough.

This trend of extra money for extra legroom has been slowly creeping up. The sad thing is if the flight is in demand, it WILL SELL no matter what... someone will sit there. I hardly ever see a non full flight anymore. There was a time when I could fly Jet Blue from FLL to JFK on the last evening flight out of FLL where everyone would have their own set of three seats ;-)

[steve1840]

You're definitely right Manny. THings are getting a little out of hand with charging what the airlines are for everything. I haven't flown first class in probably 10 or so years, but at the time first class was getting all the ammenities for free. I am beginning wonder if when I fly out to Reno this summer on USAirways first class if I'm going to have to pay for my beverages and meal.

It almost seems that at the rate the airlines are going with all these fees, pretty soon we're gonna get charged for carry-on luggage too.

[gonzalu]

I HAVE been charged for Carry On luggage ;-)

...

Wait wait, I think I have to pay for my wife's seat!

[jerslice]

Phil, I agree wholeheartedly. Flew a lot lately as well and had to question a number of the folks in the emergency rows, and on one occasion as well they had to reseat a row.

[bluejuice]

FAA regulations require that passengers that sit in the exit row MUST speak english, Verbally acknowledge that they can obey all directions issued by the crews and no children.
We have many times have had delayed departures due to moveing the passengers around so that the requirements can be met.

[T-Bird76]

Phil how do you know the people that were sitting paid anything extra to sit there? There's a very good chance they were placed their automatically, by a CSR, or held status whereby the seat is open to them at no charge. Plus when you do purchase those seats there is a disclaimer and rules you need to agree to just like there is when the seat is selected at no charge. If the person decides to lie and say they meet the requirments there's nothing an airline can to prevent that upfront. To be honest this is a non issue, with all my flying I've only seen a reseat a couple of times

[LIMatt]

Being 6ft5 I hate when you board a plane and it's a 4ft11 grandma with her legs crossed reading an over sized newspaper in the Emergency Row

[PhilDernerJr]

Phil how do you know the people that were sitting paid anything extra to sit there? There's a very good chance they were placed their automatically, by a CSR, or held status whereby the seat is open to them at no charge. Plus when you do purchase those seats there is a disclaimer and rules you need to agree to just like there is when the seat is selected at no charge. If the person decides to lie and say they meet the requirments there's nothing an airline can to prevent that upfront. To be honest this is a non issue, with all my flying I've only seen a reseat a couple of times

Because when I go to reserve my seat weeks in advance, exit row seats are already reserved, meaning it was the choice of the pax.

I saw reseats of full row or maybe one without on both of my last two flights. Either way I jsut think it's wrong.

Also keep in mind that the emergency door there is HEAVY. Many men would have a difficult time with it. Just heavy dead weight.

[steve1840]

What made the airlines decide to start doing this? Was it brought on only by greed and the airlines seeing an opportnity to make a few extra dollars? It should be like it always was when you couldn't get the emergency row until you got to the airport to check in for your flight. Even if they want to charge extra for it, they should keep it that way and it could avoid all of the reseating ect since the person at the ticket counter would be able to ensure that the passenger would be "capable" of sitting there.

[T-Bird76]

Because when I go to reserve my seat weeks in advance, exit row seats are already reserved, meaning it was the choice of the pax.

I saw reseats of full row or maybe one without on both of my last two flights. Either way I jsut think it's wrong.

Also keep in mind that the emergency door there is HEAVY. Many men would have a difficult time with it. Just heavy dead weight.

Just because you see them reserved doesn't mean they are occupied. Airlines do not show you all the open seats when you select a seat at time of booking. Many of the choice seats will be blocked out to you because you're not an Elite but yet they are available, and some will only be opened for selection the day of departure at the airport. As an example if we booked an AA flight to MIA, non of the Biz class seats which are sold as coach would be open for you to choose via the website, however they would be open to me, same for the exit row seats.

How would an airline decide who sits there? The system they have in place works and if the FA feels a reseat needs to take place then so be it. You can't begin to have specific rules stating who can sit there and who can't. While many men may have trouble with the door I'd wager some woman would have no trouble with it. In all cases when an exit row is selected either at time of booking or at the airport the customer has to agree to be able to operate the exit door, if they lie they lie... The airline just can't profile who they think can open it or not.

[PhilDernerJr]

I can't imagine JetBlue or Delta blocking out seats that they offer extra money for in the chance that someone with a lot of true blue points will pick it. Either way, unqualified people are ending up in the seats. I shouldn't take a delay because an airline wanted to make an extra $180 in legroom fees.

[Art at ISP]

If you are not an elite flyer on the airline you choose, those seats will show occupied unless you are elite and log in. Happens on AA and DL to my knowledge.
The whole issue of unbundling is a separate discussion, but we have taken a public stand against nickel and diming airline passengers because it is very difficult to get full disclosure on the full cost of a ticket.

If the airlines were able to raise fares to levels which would be sustainable but not rip us off, there would be no need for these fees, but it is what it is. Air travel is much cheaper than it should be based on the cost of providing the service...but again that's another topic for another day.

[Spunker]

I HAVE been charged for Carry On luggage ;-)

...

Wait wait, I think I have to pay for my wife's seat!

oooooo Manny I hope she doesn't read this site LOL

[Spunker]

I feel emergency rows should be given to non-rev's, airline employees who will actually know how to use the exit. There shouldn't be a fee for sitting in these rows.

[Gerard]

FAA regulations require that passengers that sit in the exit row MUST speak english, Verbally acknowledge that they can obey all directions issued by the crews and no children.
We have many times have had delayed departures due to moveing the passengers around so that the requirements can be met.

So if you do have to be moved do they reimburse the passengers who paid extra to sit there?

[gonzalu]

Yes, you get a refund... I have goten refunds for other seats such as the front seats with more legroom on some planes and when I have volunteered to move or whatever other reason, I have been reimbursed. You may have a hard time proving it and going through the motions, but in the end, if you can prove you did not fly your seat, they will refund you.

[Gerard]

Yes, you get a refund... I have goten refunds for other seats such as the front seats with more legroom on some planes and when I have volunteered to move or whatever other reason, I have been reimbursed. You may have a hard time proving it and going through the motions, but in the end, if you can prove you did not fly your seat, they will refund you.

You shouldnt have a hard time and have to prove it!! Now thats some BS!! They should automatically give you some type of proof on the spot!!

[dimamo1983]

Being 6'9", I am a regular 'customer' of the exit row seats (it simply is painful to sit in another coach seat for more than an hour when your knees are literally jammed into the seat in front of you, no matter how you put them).

As others, I refuse to pay extra for those seats and usually I either get lucky at the check in at the airport or, having Delta's status last year, was able to reserve them in advance.

To Phil's point, they may not have been reserved in advance by those people sitting there, airlines do keep those seats reserved, so that's why they show up as taken.

I also agree with a few other folks here that I did not seem to experience much of an issue with people that should not be sitting there being there and I fly every weekend now. My only issue recently was a guy that could not fit into his seat and he was sitting in the exit row. I doubt he could of gotten out that exit. Usually the only thing I see regularly is a ton of carry-on luggage stuffed only partially under the seat in-front.

While on topic of carry-on - Spirit has been charging for carry-ons for a while now. I think Allegiant was considering that as well.

I am not sure what regulations are out there for the space in the exit row. Mesaba (or Mesa? or both?) do not have any extra room on CRJ 200s. Southwest has very little extra room on the right side with a ton of room on the left side. Some others (Continental?) do not have any extra leg room on some 737s, except for the window seat where they just take out the seat in front of the exit row's window seat. So it can be a toss up, I always check seatguru for the airplanes/airlines that I do not fly often enough to know.

[steve1840]

I can definitely put Spirit on the list of airlines I will not be flying. I can't believe that they actually charge you for carry-on luggage. I think they should only charge you for carry on luggage if you have to check it once you find out that it won't fit in the overhead bin.