Question about exit row/preferred seat selection

[time101]

Is it true that the only way to get an exit row seat (I'm quite tall) is by requesting this in person at the airport? Is there any way to be assured of exit row either on the phone or by printing a boarding pass off the internet? I'm under the impression that the agent has to see me physically to know whether I'd be in position to help others in the event of an emergency.

Any tips you have on getting a row with extra legroom would be appreciated. By the way, we'll be flying ATA.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Tim E.
Dreamfinder's Other Concoction

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh is also quite tall and prefers the exit rows. But since he likes to sit with the family, he doesn't get to use the exit rows much!! He has always had to wait to get these seats. They need to see you in person since you have to be at least 15 y/o I believe and able to help in an emergency situation.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

depends on the airline. Delta, for example, allows you to book the exit row on the net, after you answer a series of questions.
On other airlines they have to see you and be aware there are other tall people flying, so, to get a shot at it you need to be there early.

 

[seashoreCM]

I read on another forum (flyertalk.com, I forget the thread) where someone suggested you could offer another passenger in the exit row a few dollars to switch seats with you, perhaps half an hour into the flight.

The reasoning went like this:

Someone on that forum suggested the idea of being able to choose 20% more legroom at a 20% higher fare. Currently you can't do that, the only way to get more legroom (other than being lucky enough to get the exit row) is to go first class which costs something like 200% more and you get some other things you might not need or want, such as a white cloth over the headrest or having the flight attendant address you by name.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Jynohn]

I used to be a flight attendant for ATA, and don't know how it works now, but at the time the gate attendants didn't assess you to see if you were capable of being in the exit row, the FA's did. Part of our pre-flight duties were to brief the exit row passengers and make sure they were physically capable and willing to help in an emergency.

At the time you would be able to request an exit row when booking, but before the flight if the FA's decided that you weren't capable of assisting with evacuation, you would be asked to move. I can't imagine that it would be much different now...

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

I have picked exit row seats from home with both Continental(30 hrs) and Us AIR (24 hrs) by printing my boarding passes from home. No children are allowed in exit rows.

 

[DebbieB]

I was on a flight once where children were assigned seats in the exit row, the row right next to the entrance in a 757 (row 8?). I'm not sure how it happened, it may have been a change of equipment, but the flight was held up until they switched people around, the family in the seats were not being cooperative.

 

[inkkognito]

The good news is that ATA will allow you to choose exit rows with their web check-in (I know because we fly to Orlando on ATA from Chicago an average of 1-2 times a month).
The bad news is the last 5 out of 8 flights, we've selected an exit row via the web check-in and printed our boarding passes, only to discover at the airport that our seats were given to someone else. Technically we should be the ones to get them, since we selected them first (I do it 24 hours ahead, and the other people were getting them at the airport). However, the airport personnel are typically uncooperative. It's gotten to the point where I have ATA's web help desk programmed into my cell phone, and I ask to see a supervisor at the airport, hand them the phone, and let them battle it out.
Good luck! At least it's worth a try, and if they give you a hassle at the airport, demand a supervisor and call that help desk (NOT the customer service or reservations number, as they are usually clueless).
Or maybe you will luck out and someone will have sympathy. Last flight, a couple of weeks ago, I had an exit row but there was a giant guy in the row behind so I switched with him. I have short legs, so I knew he could definitely use the room more.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[seashoreCM]

If you already printed your boarding passes, which have seat numbers on them, how could the seats be given to someone else at the airport?

Or what if you had boarded first and taken the seat before the other person with the duplicate seat number?

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
If you already printed your boarding passes, which have seat numbers on them, how could the seats be given to someone else at the airport?

Or what if you had boarded first and taken the seat before the other person with the duplicate seat number?

Very good questions..........I have never had this problem with the major airlines(Continental+US AIR) and have done this(print boarding passes from home) at least 8-10 times this year.

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
If you already printed your boarding passes, which have seat numbers on them, how could the seats be given to someone else at the airport?

Yes, a good question. The only thing I can think of is if there as a change of equipment to a different fleet type. But then, they should require everyone to re-check at the gate for new seat assignments.

 

[CarolA]

This just happens. I think that sometimes the gate and counter agents just take your seat and re-assign it to the passenger pitching the latest fit. It happened to me coming back from Europe. I had the exit row seat, but someone else was in it. I was lucky and got bumped up to Business Class! (Of course when I showed up he yelled at the FA that HE was a valuable flyer! LOL! If he really was a valuable frequent flyer and had been nice he might have outranked me and gotten the bump instead, but the agents did not even look at him after he started with his fit and I got the upgrade!)

I have seen children attempt to sit in the exit row, but the Flight Attendants will make you move so don't consider booking them!

 

[inkkognito]

For us, it has happened two ways. The first two times, we were the first people in those seats, so the flight attendants handled it on board by moving the other people. The first time, as we boarded, the gate agent took away our boarding passes and gave us different ones with different seats. We took our original seats on the plane anyway and were able to keep them by explaining what had happened to the flight attendants. The second time, they did the same thing, but we had printed two copies so we had extra proof.
Now I've started asking before we board, and when I am told our seats have been given away, I politely but firmly point out that I am the person who booked them first (being an obsessive/compulsive, I book them 24 hours in advance, and the other people who have them have always gotten them at the airport), so I should get them and they should move the other person. After all, it's their error...they assigned seats that should not have been available. They don't usually see it my way, so I call the ATA web help desk for back-up (their policy is that if I took those seats first, I am entitled to them).
The problems have never been due to an equipment change. Apparently, it's some kind of airport paperwork problem. Sadly, I "know" many of the people at the ATA help desk, as well as the people at MCO (usually there are different people at Midway). Web check-in is great when it works, but they shouldn't offer it if all the bugs aren't out yet.
We'll be doing it again this weekend, so I'll post a report on how it goes.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[SamR]

I have never had this problem with the major airlines(Continental+US AIR)...

I have had this happen with Delta on a flight this summer. I checked in online and printed my boarding pass about six hours before the flight (in the process confirming a seat assignment that had been made months before). When I got to my seat, it was already occupied by a man with a boarding pass printed at the ticket counter.

The flight attendant found me an alternate seat in the rear of the plane.

Other than that Delta-supported faux pas, I have found online check-in to be an overall good thing...

 

[prncess674]

Northwest and American Airlines will only pre-assign exit row to elite flyers. All others will have to wait till day of departure to be assigned exit row, and only if elites haven't grabbed them all up already.

I realize the original poster only asked about ATA but I just thought I would throw in some additional info

 

[time101]

Thanks so much for all your replies. I believe we'll take our chance with ATA's web check in. What have we got to lose? Are the numbers of the exit rows self-evident when you go to check in online?

Thanks again,

Tim E.
Dreamfinder's Other Concoction

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by time101
Are the numbers of the exit rows self-evident when you go to check in online?

 

[inkkognito]

They are marked as exit rows, but beware! Not all exit rows are created equal. On the 757-300s, some of the seats designated as exit rows are worse than the regular seats.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[alexturner74]

The exit rows should be marked whenever you pick your seat online.

Please keep in mind that any seat just forward of an exit (wing exit for example) will not recline. So, if you're on an airplane with two overwing exits, you may have great leg room in the forward seat, but you won't be able to lean back because of the exit right behind you.

 

[inkkognito]

On ATA, it's not just a matter of not reclining, but also of legroom. For example, on the 757-300s, there is one exit row where only one row of seats is truly by the exit and truly has extra legroom, but the seats in front of that row and behind it are designated as exit rows as well. I've seen some pretty potent cases of air rage when people who think they have a "good" exit row come on board and find themselves on one of those.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com