Qantas to charge passengers extra for exit row seats

[straitman]

If it happens more than people actually think then the airline should not accept money from the passenger unless they are absolutely certain that the passenger can fulfill the duties required to sit in an exit row.

Personally I think the conditions specified for purchasing an exit row are not clear and open to interpretation. I would not want to pay for exit row and end up with a check-in/gate agent on a bad day.


That is a really funny wind-up. And I am a Platinum and a nervous flyer. But now I have to get in line with everyone else and pay for the privilege. Yeah right....

JohnK,

Just remember that nice things happen to nice people :!:

 

[medhead]

I have to ask though 'Why would the CIP/CSM make a decision other than based on the actual rules :?:'

Well I've certainly encountered a petty, vindicative cow for a CIP. Maybe she had a bad day, but she was outright rude to me and she deliberately did petty things to get at me. So firstly, there is the possibility that they might make a decision to get at the passenger because they're ahving a "bad hair day"

I've also read on here of someone wearing circulatation tights or socks being refused an exit row. Sorry, but the rules don't say that someone choosing to avoid DVT isn't allowed an exit row seat. They might just make a decision based on incorrect interpretation of the rules, as already happens.

If QF does no make it clear that this is determined by their sole discretion, this can become open to argument and then you'll soon end up with silly situations.

I don't have a problem with the sole discretion situation, but only limited to the time of check in, to avoid arguments on the spot. My problem is that there is no appeal to redress an incorrect decision. If someone can go back and prove that they were incorrectly denied an exit row, they should be able to get a refund.

As for hearing impairment, my reading of the rules doesn't exclude someone with hearing impairment. They can look out for fire, they cna open the exit, they are willing to assist. If it gets to the point of the aircraft slamming into the ground (F-ing hard) I'm sure they're not going to sit there and wait for a verbal instruction .

Should illiterate people be banned from exit rows as well, since they can't read the instruction on how to open the door.

 

[straitman]

Should illiterate people be banned from exit rows as well, since they can't read the instruction on how to open the door.

They probably should.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

This is also interesting.
Latest Qantas News Pre-Purchase of Exit Row Seating 17 June 2009
Qantas customers travelling in International Economy now have the option to purchase an exit row seat on most international flights. Exit Row seats can now be booked through a dedicated Telephone Sales number or from the end of June at the airport on the day of departure.

Exit Row seating is available to all passengers booked on a Qantas operated International flight, travelling in the economy cabin, excluding Tasman/Noumea flights and any other flights operated by a narrow body aircraft (B737-400 and B737-800).

All passengers requesting and purchasing an Exit Row seat will need to comply with current Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) guidelines. These guidelines and full product conditions can be found at qantas.com/exitrow.



View FAQs for Exit Row Seating

 

[Dave Noble]

As for hearing impairment, my reading of the rules doesn't exclude someone with hearing impairment. They can look out for fire, they cna open the exit, they are willing to assist. If it gets to the point of the aircraft slamming into the ground (F-ing hard) I'm sure they're not going to sit there and wait for a verbal instruction

Should illiterate people be banned from exit rows as well, since they can't read the instruction on how to open the door.

The requirement to be not hearing impaired that is in the information give seems perfectly reasonable

The instructions on the card are deliberately given in pictures so as to assist those who have a limited/zero grasp of the language in which would card be written

Dave

 

[Grooba]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

I still struggle with the concept of paying for an Exit Row. It's still just a seat in Y.

10,000 points or $80 for short haul? No thanks.

 

[straitman]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

I still struggle with the concept of paying for an Exit Row. It's still just a seat in Y.

10,000 points or $80 for short haul? No thanks.

Like wise :!: :evil:

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

I still struggle with the concept of paying for an Exit Row. It's still just a seat in Y.

10,000 points or $80 for short haul? No thanks.

I wouldn't call Asia short haul really and there's no way that I would class Asia-Europe as shorthaul

The terminology I have heard QF use in the past is long haul and ultra long haul for these routes

Dave

 

[medhead]

The requirement to be not hearing impaired that is in the information give seems perfectly reasonable

The instructions on the card are deliberately given in pictures so as to assist those who have a limited/zero grasp of the language in which would card be written

What illiterate people can understand pictures, but hearing impaired can't? (personally, the last exit row card I remember seemed to be mostly words)

The conditions are contridictory in themselves. Be able to understand and carry out instructions, but not be hearing impaired. Someone could quite easily be able to pass the first condition but also be hearing impaired. What is the level of hearing impairment, that is relevant? Is someone who works in industry and has 1% lost of hearing ruled out. Am I ruled out because of my titatis (spelling? - that ringing in my ears from too many loud concerts) that is after all hearing impairment.

And lets not start on be able to understand and carry out instructions! What language? What instructions?

What about "Not be elderly". :shock: Do we measure elderly on age or ability to do things. Rupert Murdoch is definitely elderly but I'd be pretty happy with him in an exit row.

Sorry the rules are very subjective and totally open to abuse.

 

[Dave Noble]

The conditions are contridictory in themselves. Be able to understand and carry out instructions, but not be hearing impaired.

And lets not start on be able to understand and carry out instructions! What language? What instructions?

The US airlines actually do cover this nicely and clearly specify English; I was surprised that QF hasnt

There is a necessity to be able to hear and understand instructions. The pictures cover what needs to be done and they need to have the hearing to be able to understand instructions given to them verbally if needed

Dave

 

[Grooba]

What is the level of hearing impairment, that is relevant?

I would think that if a person can't hear the CSM/FA's saying "evacuate evacuate evacuate" over the PA then they should not be able to sit in an exit row.

Obviously pretty hard to police but if a passenger had even the slightest hearing imparement then I would not like to see them in an exit rown seat.

 

[JohnK]

Just remember that nice things happen to nice people :!:

So you are saying that I should not be expepting anything nice to happen to me.

I would think that if a person can't hear the CSM/FA's saying "evacuate evacuate evacuate" over the PA then they should not be able to sit in an exit row.

Obviously pretty hard to police but if a passenger had even the slightest hearing imparement then I would not like to see them in an exit rown seat.[/quote]
So if a person can hear the CSM/FA's saying "evacuate evacuate evacuate" but does not understand a single word of English is much better in an exit row than a person with hearing impairment.

 

[Grooba]

So if a person can hear the CSM/FA's saying "evacuate evacuate evacuate" but does not understand a single word of English is much better in an exit row than a person with hearing impairment.

No, it's not any better. I was however addressing medhead and his question.

When the FA asks the pax sitting in the exit rows if they are willing and able to assist in the unlikely event of an emergency and going through their speech, I assume they are taught to look for people's reaction to the questions and note if some ppl seem to have "nfi" what they are being told, and then question them more thoroughly.

 

[russ]

I think that alcohol should not be consumed by people sitting in exit rows. Why should I trust my life to someone who has got themselves quite tipsy?

 

[NYCguy]

I think that alcohol should not be consumed by people sitting in exit rows. Why should I trust my life to someone who has got themselves quite tipsy?

This would require breath-testing passengers as they board, then again at the top of the descent.

If the aircraft suddenly commences screaming Earthwards during the cruise, you're pretty much buggered anyway, so it doesn't matter if the exit-row pax are a bit pissed.

 

[JohnK]

I think that alcohol should not be consumed by people sitting in exit rows. Why should I trust my life to someone who has got themselves quite tipsy?

Possibly a fair statement but it is generalising unless you are referring to people who are drunk and sitting in an exit row. Lumping all people in the same category on how much alcohol they have consumed is wrong. I can have a drinks and function, including thinking, a lot better than most people who have only had 1 drink or nothing to drink at all.

Do you want to breath test people sitting in exit rows? Why not breath all passengers on a flight? After all if there is an emergency you do not want the person sitting in the 2nd or 3rd row of WHY to hold up the passengers behind them.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

How far in advance can an Exit Row seat be purchased?​

Exit row seats are available for purchase between a week and 24 hours before the flight’s​

scheduled departure

Interesting - can a WP ring up before a week out and reserve their spot?

 

[Ric]

If the aircraft suddenly commences screaming Earthwards during the cruise, you're pretty much buggered anyway, so it doesn't matter if the exit-row pax are a bit pissed.

Under these circumstances, I rather pefer to be pretty pissed!!:mrgreen:

Ric

 

[JohnK]

Re: Qantas Introduces International olci

Interesting - can a WP ring up before a week out and reserve their spot?

No. Can only request within a week of the flight as long as there are exit row seats not already pre-allocated to Chairmans lounge, the Platinum is eligible to sit in an exit row and pays Qantas for the privilege....

 

[medhead]

I would think that if a person can't hear the CSM/FA's saying "evacuate evacuate evacuate" over the PA then they should not be able to sit in an exit row.

Obviously pretty hard to police but if a passenger had even the slightest hearing imparement then I would not like to see them in an exit rown seat.

You addressed my question but ignored the later point that being hear impaired doesn't make you stupid. In the event of an incident, it will either be utter chaos and obviously time to go, or not - which then depends on the individual situation.

Also do you get ringing in your ears, phase shifts - been to any loud music events, been in any noisy environments regularly. Then you are hearing impaired. Basically, just about ever person over about 25 years of age will have some form of hearing impairment - should they all be prevented from exit rows?

And it is a bit short sighted to ignore JohnK's point about the language of the instruction. Half of India is rioting because of the racist Australians. This policy is going to help put out the flames.