Exit Row - Definition of “Willing and Able”

[henrus]

I have heard the reason Jetstar ask “when was the last time you sat in an exit row?” Is not because they care about the answer, but they can confirm you speak English and gauge your cognitive function.

Also good because they solve the problem before everyones on the plane avoiding people switching around. It doesn't always work I did have a flight on JQ a few months ago where the person next to me in the exit row required a seat belt extender. He asked onboard once he was seated for once and the crew came back a few minutes later and quietly said (without making a scene) sorry you can't sit here with one, here is a different seat instead, luckily it wasn't a full flight so they didn't need anyone to swap.

 

[A321]

Maybe our resident FA can confirm, but I assume SOP for exit row briefing is one talk per side?
More often than not I've seen it being combined across both sides leaving one side not being able to hear the FA's half hearted attempt at a briefing.

 

[Harrison_133]

Maybe our resident FA can confirm, but I assume SOP for exit row briefing is one talk per side?
More often than not I've seen it being combined across both sides leaving one side not being able to hear the FA's half hearted attempt at a briefing.

They used to do seperate briefings on each side, but changed SOPs to do 1 brief to both sides at the same time.

I've also found they stick to the script for the exit brief a lot more than they used to. Some even have their manuals with them for the brief.

 

[Lynda2475]

Disappointing to hear of such lax practices

About 20 years ago my sister and i were given exit row on an AA flight ORD to SFO at check-in. Once on board and seated we were asked to study safety card to ensure we would know what to do, she came back 5 mins later and asked questions like what are you supposed to do with the door once you open it, the guy next to us who said he didn't know was moved out of the row before take-off. No idea if this was normal or a rarity.

I've also seen tourists lose exit row seats on both Avianca and LATAM between South American countries as they require you speak fluent Spanish and couldn't reply sufficiently in Spanish when asked questions by the FA.

I avoid exit row in Australia on domestic flights as prefer to have my handbag within reach at all times rather than out of sight in bins above; where I've had exit row in whY internationally it's always required in person check in to get boarding pass which I assume was to check your suitability.

How do exit rows get policed on Southwest flights where there is no allocated seating?

 

[Quickstatus]

Being able bodied is only one requirement but Most passengers don't read the instructions and have never opened an aircraft emergency door. I don't know how anyone who has never opened an emergency exit in practice and who don't read the instruction will be able to in an emergency.
JQ comes partway with the "when was the last time you sat in an exit row" question, and i agree it is to check cognitive function and speak English. But it does not check cognitive ability in an emergency and does not check that the passenger actually knows how to do it. It is well known that higher executive brain functions goes to mush in the chaos of an emergency. Saying "yes I am prepared to help in an emergency" is inadequate. The only way to be effective in an emergency is to practice the procedure regularly so there is muscle memory when the brain goes to mush, and then when in emergency exit seat, brief yourself: If happens, i will do A, B, C, D

Do emergency exit passengers need to have some kind of "licence" to sit there?

The reality is that the only time the emergency doors come into play is when the aircraft arrives in one piece or the cabin is more or less intact.

 

[p--and--t]

A smallish sample and obviously subjective but my recollection of the last 20 or so flights both d and i, the FAs that took it the most seriously on every occasion were JQ - who would have thought?

 

[Quickstatus]

the FAs that took it the most seriously on every occasion were JQ - who would have thought?

QFd was quite professional about it too with my most recent trip.

 

[Mattg]

It is interesting to observe the approaches of different airlines to the exit row seats. In general, I expect to get at least a quick briefing and on some airlines, they also directly ask each passenger if they're OK with sitting there. I think that's a good approach.

On most European airlines, you just need to speak either the local language and/or English (in addition to being physically capable of operating the exit.)

Earlier this year I was automatically assigned an exit row seat by Avianca on a flight within Central America, and although I was happy about the extra legroom (their regular A320 seats are horrible), I assumed I would probably be moved when the crew realised my Spanish wasn't up to scratch. Nope - didn't get any sort of briefing or anything on board.

I even tried moving seats before boarding but the ground staff wouldn't let me change seats unless I paid a fee. A classic "computer says no" moment with no discretion given to the staff to use common sense

 

[OZDUCK]

Are there different procedures if the exit row has a crewmember seated opposite?

We have been in the exit row for at least 4 SQ flights and 2 QFi flights. All we have ever been asked was if we enjoyed our holidays or where we were heading for our holidays.

 

[Horatio]

I’ve seen the opposite a couple of times. People moved out due to being dodgy/frail.

I wish I had seen this. I've had a few occasions where I've had very little confidence in some passengers' capacity to lift and manoeuvre a 16 or 22kg exit door.

One of the things that always bugged me about people in these seats is that so many of them actually seem to take very little notice of the briefing, and to my mind would be just about useless. Of course that could just be me.

It's not just you, @jb747. This really bugs me too. There are enough variations in the procedures for different aircraft/airlines. I read and listen pretty carefully when I'm in an exit row, in case I actually do need to make a contribution.

At least I've seen a few times when attendants have worked to make sure that everyone is paying at least some attention.

 

[furiousmango]

I err on the side of caution and don't choose an exit row based on dexterity issues. On one flight, I got reassigned to a exit row window due to a light passenger load but the FA noticed my condition and asked someone else to take my place. Imagine that would be harder on a fuller flight but it was handled very sensitively and I appreciated the concern

 

[anat0l]

I wish I had seen this. I've had a few occasions where I've had very little confidence in some passengers' capacity to lift and manoeuvre a 16 or 22kg exit door.

Some newer aircraft, including newer common narrowbodies, don't have a door you need to extract and throw out, but open up on a hinge, I thought.

Does that somewhat negate the need to be able to lug and throw the exit door?

22 kg... basically, if you can't pick up and swing your checked bag without help, you're not able enough.

 

[henrus]

Some newer aircraft, including newer common narrowbodies, don't have a door you need to extract and throw out, but open up on a hinge, I thought.

That is correct for all 737s flying around Australia, it’s a pull down on the handle and they open outwards swinging up. For A320s however you release them and throw them out, these weigh about 10-15kg.

 

[jb747]

That is correct for all 737s flying around Australia, it’s a pull down on the handle and they open outwards swinging up. For A320s however you release them and throw them out, these weigh about 10-15kg.

It was a bit of a game in the 767 trainer, to see how far you could toss it. They had to ask us to be gentle, as some people were pretty effective.

 

[anat0l]

It was a bit of a game in the 767 trainer, to see how far you could toss it. They had to ask us to be gentle, as some people were pretty effective.

Sounds like taking a page from one of those events from a Scottish Highland Games.

What kind of distances were witnessed in said tossings?