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My hot looks should gaurantee me these seats on every flight. Then again, those people sitting in front might miss out on walking by me!
My Husband and I just flew with exit Row seats. The Flight Attendants made us very aware of our responsiblilties
Give it to those in good shape who take a course. On my last flight, a woman admitted lying about a bad knee injury to get the added space
The seats should go to someone with at least a little physical ability who can open the exit in case of an emergency. They are not light.
The seat comes with a very serious responsibility. Money doesn't make a person responsible, it just makes his/her wallet fatter.
whoever sits there has a huge responsibility, they best know what to do and be able to do it!
Being an aircraft mechanic, and having worked on most types of airliners, I'm completely familiary with overwing exits
To all that think "Tall" people should be seated in exit rows - ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? By what stretch of the imagination do you think
Anyone who sits in the exit row should be willing to prove they can handle the door, including me.
Haha. Prove your worthiness. At least it would bring some entertainment to waiting around at the gate.
The recent Hudson River landing exhibits how important it is that those sitting in the exit rows know how to operate the doors and otherwise assist with emergencies. To those to whom much is given, much is asked...or something like that.
#1 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:13 AM EDTUnless we are talking about welfare recipients.
#2 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:31 AM EDTI like you
Members of the American Society of Safety Engineers and/or Certified Safety Professionals should get first crack at those seats. Did I mention the above describes me?
#3 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:15 AM EDTI agree....but you must include Pilots, Plane Engineers and good looking Flight Attendants......:)
At 6'5" that extra legroom is the difference between comfort and discomfort. I personally believe the seats should be held for people like me on request and then if you want one pay extra. If you are short the extra leg room is unnecessary and simply a luxury like first class.
#4 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:16 AM EDTBalu, I too am 6'5", 255 lb., and regular seats hardly provide enough leg room, let alone enough room shoulder to shoulder. If I move around, or get up, the passenger in front of me knows it, from the feeling of my knees pressing into his seat. I am also prone to DVT so the extra room helps prevent my leg from swelling up. Don't get me wrong, I am more than capable of opening an exit door an whatever else would be required. The bit of extra room is a real benefit for the leg room. As i think you mentioned, I too have been offered a seat in those seats in the past.... that is, until they started charging extra. I mean... hey, if there's an empty seat in the exit aisle, what's the diff, right?
Balu, I hate to say this, but your reply is about as snobbish as they come. So what if you are 6'5"? Suppose somone taller comes along? Are you going to voluntarily give him or her your seat? I doubt it!
Further, Suppose you are incapable of acting quickly and intelligently in an emergency? Sorry, but I am much more qualified to sit in those seats than you are, based solely on your posted message.
As for Leprechaun, who is also 6'5", you just gave one good reason why you should not be sitting in an exit row seat. You listed as disability of some sort, and perhaps that disablilty woudl make it difficult for you to move quickly, both in opening the door AND in assisting other passengers off the plane.
What some people don't seem to understand is that row requires extra responsibility on the part of anyone who sits there. That's one of the reasons the airlines seldom give out those seats ahead of time. It is imperative that whoever sits there be a person who thinks quickly and clearly in a crisis situation, and does not get rattled easily.
Understand, I mean no disrespect towards anyone who is tall. I've got many friends who are over 6'5", and we've had talks about the issue. The general consensus among them is that those particular seats should be given first to people who are able...and willing... to help in the event of a crisis.
Have a nice day, folks.
Leperchaun only stated they are prone to DVT. That is not a disability. Especially if the more leg room allows them to move their legs so they dont develop DVT.
I am 6'7" and all in the legs...I check in online at midnight the night before the flight to get the Exit row seats...Exit row seats should be given to tall folks with the longest lateral leg length getting top priority. I take a pay cut, and don't hold jobs that require extensive travel just because of this.
Donleeman, You obviously have no medical knowledge (I'm a physician), or you wouldn't have characterized Leprechaun's DVT risk as a disability. I agree with your other comments as they are right on.
6'3" here. and yes I volley for the exit everytime i fly. But aside from that i especially enjoy when I get a regular seat and the person in front of me smashes their seat into my knees. I'm a pretty easy-going guy but that's when i make it a point to bump the seat as much as possible. If I had an exit row, i could just throw them out of the escape hatch.
They need to remove more rows. i look at that every time and everyone could get a few inches more. though the airlines would lose more revenue.
My husband is 6' 6" and the extra legroom is much more comfortable for him and the person in front of him. No one who sits in front of him can recline their seat. The worst is when they think something is wrong with their seat and start banging against it to try to move it back. On one plane, the seat in front of him was broken and was trying to fall back. It was too much pressure on his knees so his one leg was halfway in the space of the person next to him, and his other leg was in the aisle. On one of the smaller planes, the space was so small, he couldn't sit down in the seat. They had to find him another.
I'm a 6'3" female and get passed over by flight attendants all the time who offer the exit row to the marginally tall men on the plane instead of me..even when I'm significantly taller than them and have longer legs - 37" inseam. sad. I wish that they did take height into consideration with the exit row but since there are more tall people than there are exit seats I think this whole debate is a waste of time - the airline will never accomodate us all so first-come first-serve is the way to go...
(The more comments I read make me realize that the exit row could be a match-making venue for tall people. Maybe by increasing exit row seating the airline could actually attract tall, single-ready-to-mingle fliers instead!)
Exit row seats would be best allocated to people that have a legitimate need for the additional room as a first priority. Passengers above 6 feet in heignt have the health risks of flying in confined seating for long periods exascerbated by the cramped quarters. The same applies to bulkhead seating.
#5 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:02 PM EDTI don't really care how tall you are, no flight is so long as to cause long-term damage to anyone, no matter their leg length. If it bothers you so, then go and walk in the aisle for a bit or go to the bathroom. Save the exit-row seating to those who are the best able to handle anything in a crisis. NU Wildcat Fan, think about this: your life could depend on the people sitting in those rows, even if that man doesn't have a "disability," if he has a condition that could potentially flare up (likelihood notwithstanding), he should not be seated in an e-exit row. Plus, airline travel is not about comfort, it's about the convenience of being able to travel 400-500 mph direct to your destination. Take it from a pilot, when these large jets go down it is the tendency of the populace to go beserk. You want someone sitting there that has their wits about them, no matter what his leg length is or not. If your condition is so bad that you can't stand to sit for hours on end, don't fly. It's as simple as that.
Airlines dole out those "special" seats like gruel to the peasants. They hold on as long as they can for some sap who'll pay extra. I now scan my reservation in the last hours before takeoff and invaribly find a better seat. I have to work harder, but better than being hosed out of my money. This is just another in the long list of reasons why people hate the airlines.
#6 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:25 PM EDTThese answers all suck. I personally wouldn't be willing to do anything for those seats. If the airline gives them to me, great, but I won't pay extra for them or get certified in airline safety. That said, they should sell them to the highest bidder. If nobody buys them and they want to give them to their frequent fliers or to people who've been certified in airline safety, thats fine too. As long as the people in those seats are able bodied and speak english so they can assist in emergencies I really don't care.
#7 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:21 PM EDTbg-399650, if anyone's anwer "sucks", it is yours. I hope the next time you are on a plane, those seats have all been sold to "the highest bidder", and that none of them is physically capable of opening the door! Your comment of "I won't pay extra for them OR GET CERTIFIED IN AIRLINE SAFETY" tells me you are thinking of yourself, first, last, and always.
Now, that having been said, let's clarify this: They have extra room in that row because people need to be able to move rapidly when they are evacuating the airplane in a crisis. If that row was as narrow as the rest, people would have a tougher time getting out. That would slow down the entire process, and that could result in the loss of lives.
The one "saving grace" of your message was your last line. But when you start off by saying "These answers all suck"...sorry, but I've got to take umbrage at that.
Kiss my a$$ Donleeman, the answers do suck. Take all the umbrage you want. I am not willing to do any of those things, yet I don't think they should just give them to the first person who asks. Doesn't look like there's an answer that says that does there?
And yeah I am thinking of myself on this since the question is "What are YOU willing to do for an exit row seat." It doesn't say "what should people have to do to get exit row?" If the airlines want to give them to people certified in safety that's fine with me, but I am not going to spend any of my time taking some airline safety course so I can pick up 6 extra inches of legroom on a flight. Sorry, but it isn't worth it to ME, the person I'm supposed to have in mind for this particular question.
Oh, and thanks for your clarification. I've always wondered why they put extra room in exit row. Never would I have thought it was so people could get to the exit in an emergency. You must be in MENSA or something to be able to figure that out.
And I never said they should give the seats to the highest bidder regardless of ability, so I would have no problem being on a plane with some dude who paid way too much money for exit row seats, provided he can open the door and communicate with the crew. We're not asking him to fly the plane for Gods sakes.
"And I never said they should give the seats to the highest bidder regardless of ability..."
Oh? Here was your original comment:
"That said, they should sell them to the highest bidder."
Those are your own words, bg-399650, copied and pasted from your own message.
You said it, my friend! Fess up. And now move forward.
There is more than a little additional responsibility that comes along with these seats. The flight attendants on our last flight were more than capable of deciding who could handle the responsibility or not. They were totally checking out who was interested in reading the pamphlet and who wasn't. I don't doubt one bit that they would have changed the seat of a Passenger that they deemed unworthy. You can tell by someones attitude how serious they take it.
#8 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:55 PM EDTmickey, I highly doubt the stewardesses care about the attitude of the passenger. In all my years of flying I've sat exit row many times. Not once have I read any pamphlet. They come around and ask each passenger in exit row if they're willing to assist in an emergency, to which I (and most people) say "yes". That's pretty much it. I've definitely seen some people (frail old ladies and young kids) who likely wouldn't be of much assistance in any emergency keep their exit row seats. I have only seen one person kicked out of exit row and that was because they weren't able to speak english (and thus can't understand all crew member instructions). That is the only removal I've ever witnessed. They certainly don't take any measure to make sure you've read any pamphlet or to make sure you have any more of a clue what to do in an emergency than any other passenger. Then again, all they really expect you to do is open the door and do whatever the pilots tell you.
#9 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:28 PM EDTI was a flight attendant and in the one year I held the job I removed 13 people from the exit row. If you have a cane, a cast, or a crutch you cannot sit in that row. If you board first with the "disabled" passengers, you cannot sit in that row. If you are not capable of lifting and throwing 50lbs, you cannot sit in that row. If you do not take the extensive safety briefing I gave seriously, you cannot sit in that row. If you do not speak English, you cannot sit in that row. If you are younger than 15 (and I will ID you if you look younger than 18) you cannot sit in that row. If, worst case scenario, something terrible were to happen, everyone's life on that plane could depend on the individuals sitting in the exit row. As the senior flight attendant I was responsible for doing a full cabin check before I evacuated (the captain is also required to do this check if at all possible). So the faster you can evacuate from your exit the greater chance I, and everyone else on board, have of actually getting out alive. Flight attendants and passengers who do not take exit row responsibilities seriously are simply stupid and should and could be held liable for failure to fulfill their duties correctly. This is basic safety.
Cute comments.
Evacuation delays, attributable to passenger inattention to safety materials and briefings, can and do have fatal effects. And the difference between successful and unsuccessful evacuations can be a matter of only a few seconds. Passengers don't request the exit row because they want to bear the safety burden for their fellow travelers...but that exit row is all about safety!
Exit row briefings are often minimal in nature and consist only of asking passengers if they are aware of being seated in an exit row and are comfortable with their potential safety duties. Passengers then generally ignore the safety cards to which they are directed. Thus, exit row passengers fail to receive the information to prepare them for emergency evacuations, leaving them unaware of the actions they would need to take and the significance of those actions for their own safety, as well as that of their fellow passengers.
Wendy Gerwick wrote en excellent article in The Journal of Air Law and Commerce entitled "Taking Exit Row Seating Seriously." (Vol 68 No 2, Spring 2003) To combat the problem of insufficient passenger education, Wendy suggests that exit row passengers should be held liable for injuries and fatalities resulting from their inadequate attention to safety instructions. Thus, the potential liability might deter emergency exit row passengers from the negligence of ignoring emergency instructions.
However it is accomplished, improving safety is what's important. Just ask those passengers paddling around in the Hudson!
#10 - Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:07 PM EDTIts definitely a good idea for them to give exit row passengers a better idea of what they should do in an emergency than what they do now, but making them liable for inadequate attention to instructions is not a good idea. There's nobody alive, save for the few people who've actually survived plane crashes, that have any idea how they'd truely react in such a chaotic situation. Most flight crews have never been through a crash either, so even though they train for it, when push comes to shove are they really going to be giving the clearest possible and correct instructions? Unless the guy does something intentionally harmful, I think suing exit row passengers will only serve to make lawyers rich. What jury would convict a guy for not following a pilots instructions when everybody is rushing toward his seat while screaming and frantically pulling off their seat cushions.
For those who think it should be given to the first person who asks... I think they shoudl be offered to the taller passengers first. For those of you who are on the shorter side, try riding in a child's car seat. That is what these airline seats feel like. I cannot lower my tray table because my knees are too high. And inevitably, the person in front of me continually slams their seat back into my knees (their seat must be stuck or have some obstruction (my knees) so they keep pushing.
Have some common sense and courtesy. In such a limited space environment it doesn't make sense. Imagine a zoo where they put an elephant in a monkey's enclosure. We'd call it cruel, yet we don't offer the same considerations to our own species.
#11 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:58 AM EDTI'm a taller guy 6'6" and most of the time the gate agents will reissue my seat assignment if they see I'm in a seat where I'll be cramped. I think taller fliers should get those seats. Why I do not like flying southwest because it is harder for taller individuals to get the adequate leg room because of the "cattle call" environment.
#12 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:25 PM EDTI am now a "Senior" at six feet with a military background but can never get exit row seating when I make a Senior discount reservation.
I am more than physically able to open any exit door/window and push paniced passengers out of the way if they are attempting to interfer with me doing what is required for the safey of us all. I have remained calm during many emergencies over the years (no, not combat) including vehicle accidents/deaths I've witnessed and helped out at, earthquakes, tornados, etc. while most others were panicked or running away. Even so I usually cannot get an exit row under any circumstances.
I usually now try to get the aisle seat in the row directly behind the wing exit rows so that I can help out or if necessary take over from a person(s) sitting in the exit row that flakes out and can't handle the situation. Hopefully neither they nor myself will ever have to actually have to experience an incident such as a crash, crash landing or other aircraft emergency that necessitates passenger involvement.
#13 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:27 PM EDTCalvin - usually exit row seating is not available when you make your reservation. It's usually only an option when you go to check in, to select an exit row.
First of all, the idea that those who sit in the exit rows be "trained" is silly. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the recent splashdown in the Hudson proves that exit rows mean more than just a comfortable seat, but, seriously, that is a one-in-a-million occurence. How many flights take off and land every day.... every week.... every year.... WITHOUT needing the emergency exits. Obviously, they are necessary and, just as obviously, they must be given to healthy, physically-able adults who are "willing and able to assist in an emergency". However, it is silly to say that someone who "takes some training" should get those seats. The fact is that everybody responds differently to a crisis. The most physically-fit and well-trained person on the planet, may find that in a potential crash situation, they panic and curl up into the fetal position. While at the same time, the small, meek, "nerd" type may just rise to the occasion when under grave, life-and-death pressure. The only training that would make this idea make sense, is true military training... literally months of repetitive drilling... designed to make the operation of the exits almost reflex so even when experiencing great fear, most will do the correct thing simply as a reflex. Since that is not possible or even plausible, this idea stinks. Really, you would just be creating an additional type of frequent flyer who has the means and the leisure time to pay for an hour or two of training and ensure himself (or herself) that exit row seat when they can't get first class.
Personally, I prefer the current system, which, at least on the airlines I fly, includes a combination of either giving the seats to frequent flyers and/or requiring a small added fee. Then, on the day of flight, if any remain, give them out on a first come, first served basis (with unwritten preference going to those who are tall and could benefit more).
Let me be clear, I am biased. First of all, I am a semi-frequent-flyer... frequent enough to have access to exit row seats (as well as the occasional first class upgrade) on my carrier-of-choice.... and I would seriously consider other airlines if I lost that perk so it IS smart marketing on the part of the airline and it does, indeed, create loyal customers. Also, I am 6'5" tall, and it drives me to distraction when I see somebody who is 5'2" sitting in the exit row, while I am squeezed into a middle seat so, if I am flying an airline that does not offer me easy access to an exit row, I am willing to pay a few extra dollars for the privelege. I am NOT anything close to wealthy so besides the occasional free upgrade, first class is not an option for me. I am, however, willing to spend a few of my hard-earned dollars for the chance to actually be able to walk when my flight lands as opposed to needing traction.
#14 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:38 PM EDTI'm short enough to have leg room in conventional seats. I remember the first time I flew was when I was in college they said I could pay for extra leg room, but seeing as I was a college student at the time and didnt have any money to spare, I opted out. Turns out I already had a good foot of leg room anyway where I could stretch out.
#15 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:20 PM EDTAA was the only one i found recently that tried to charge me. Creeps. United doesn't and now even if the ticket is a bit more I'll fly with them. Kinda evens out though.
I have always felt that there should be a qualified airline employee seating in this particular seat. Human nature says that a regular Joe and/or Jane Blow could very easily panic and make things worst. And what would the airline recourse be against this person for panicking? Sue him/her? Give me a freaking break!!!
#16 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:30 PM EDTTaking a course and demonstrating knowledge and ability to operate the emergency door and assist others should land you in the exit door row. I would certainly be willing to spend my time to take the course. Sad as it may be, people do lie to get those seats and paying doesn't mean you have the required knowledge or ability.
#17 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:35 PM EDTI was once on a flight where -- no joke -- a man with a broken arm in a cast was seated in the exit row right next to the door. It seems to me that the issue of being "physically able to perform potentially lifesaving duties" might have been a disqualifying issue in this case.
#18 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:12 PM EDTSince it was listed as one of the poll options, I wanted to point out that American Airlines frequent flyers who reach Gold level (100k mi over lifetime) are able to reserve exit row seats when they book a flight. I don't travel a lot but got a card while in college and eventually achieved Gold status. So, not everyone pays extra for exit row seats. I do, however, agree that tall people (say over 6') should get preference for unreserved exit row seats. I'm only 5'10" but since most of my height is in my legs, fitting into regular seats is a real drag.
#19 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:53 PM EDTTwo weeks ago I was seated on a Jet Blue flight in an exit row seat. There was a another exit row just behind. I read the instructions on the pamphlet in the seatback carefully and I inspected the exit hatch. Next time you read the pamphlet try to figure out how to discard the hatch upon opening--bring it into the plane or throw it out (I think the later makes more sense). The extra leg room was not all that much (but Jet Blue does allow a bit more leg room for regular seats anyway). I would definitely not pay extra for this seat since it did not recline (probably to avoid blocking another exit row directly behind) Also, the grip on the exit hatch pushed a bit inward with some loss of space to the passenger. I had a long talk with the flight attendant and learned that fuel in the wings is lighter than water, so intact planes l float on water. Opening the exit hatch can result in water coming into the plane--and the plane sinking while the passengers are exiting!
#20 - Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:38 PM EDTAs with what happened with the plane on the hudson. Floated in water, opened hatches to evacuate, plane started to sink.
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while the added leg room is nice for some reason these seem colder to me and in many cases the seats don't recline