Who can sit in exit rows? question ANSWERED! THANKS!

[bumbershoot]

Question has been answered very thoroughly, and I appreciate it very much!




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My husband had a very weird experience on a Jazz/Air Canada flight from Seattle to Calgary yesterday. The FA was quite rude to him from the moment she saw him, but that isn't what I'm asking about, though it's tangential to what I'm going to describe.

His assigned seat was in the row that was the exit row, but the FA had him sit one row in front, instead.

She then put a mother and her 11 year old daughter in the exit row. How does he know the girl was 11? Because the mother told the FA, and was questioning the FA about it. The FA said that she trusted that the girl could deal with the door, so it was OK (which means...she did NOT think that my husband could deal with the door????).

I thought you had to be a certain age, and so did hubby. My husband has been flying since he was a child, and I've been flying alone (or now with my family of choice) since I was 17, and we have both ALWAYS thought you had to be a certain age.

We are very curious about this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MademoiselleBelle]

First of all, I'm sorry the FA was rude to your husband.

In the past couple years, I've taken many plane trips, and on every flight I've been on, they've always announced that to sit in an exit row, you have to be at least 15 years old. This has been the case on 3-4 different airlines, and I seriously doubt it's different for different ones.

Hope that helps!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I agree with pp and just want to add I've read that not only can under 15 sit there but neither can adults who are responsible for children on the flight. Therefore the mom shouldn't be allowed to sit there even if her 11 y.o. sat in another row.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm not sure what I'd do at this point as far as calling or writing the airline.

 

[all4disney98]

I am not sure of the age minimum but I know children are not allowed in that row. On a Delta flight a few years ago, the FA went so far as to ask the Dad that was sitting in that row (his kids and wife in the row behind), "in the event of an emergency can I trust you to take care of the window exit and everyone leaving the airplane and not your wife and children?". He didn't answer because the answer was obvious, his family came first. She kept persisting with him though until he said he would be responsible for the exit. If he didn't answer this way, she told him he would have to move his seat.

I totally agree with the FA persisting on his answer, the exit row isn't just more leg room, it is a responsibility. However, I know as a parent his heart was elsewhere in his answer and nobody knows for sure how they are going to react in that situation in an emergency.

 

[all4disney98]

Found this on the AA webite. The mom should have been disqualified because she had a child on the airplane under the age of 15:

Detailed Description

When a detailed itemized description is warranted: The answer to number one must be "YES" and the answer to two through eight must be "NO" or they cannot have an exit seat.

"Since your seat assignment involves an exit seat, I must advise you that the government now requires passengers who are seated in those seats, must verbally agree to comply with specific criteria. (Review questions.) Would you be able to comply or would you prefer another seat provided at check-in time at the airport?"

Are you willing to assist on an evacuation?
Are you under 15 years of age?
Are you an adult traveling with a child under 15 years of age or another passenger who requires your care? NOTE: The passenger will not qualify, if these passenger types are seated anywhere on the aircraft.
Do you lack mobility, strength and dexterity in both arms, both hands and/or both legs to: quickly reach the exit, remove any obstructions, manipulate the exit door and slide mechanisms or lift out a window exit door, exit the aircraft, or assist others in exiting?
Do you lack visual capacity or require corrective aids beyond eyeglasses/contact lenses?
Do you require assistance beyond a hearing aid to hear and understand verbal instructions?
Are you limited in your ability to read and understand printed/graphic instructions related to exist, an aircraft evacuation or the ability to understand crew members commands?
Do you have a condition that might prevent you or injure you while performing evacuation functions?

 

[DebbieB]

Did your husband require a seat belt extender? I know you can't sit in the exit row with a seat belt extender because people could get tangled up in it during an evaluation.

 

[crashbb]

Transport Canada (which would set the rules since Air Canada is a Canadian airline) does not have a minimum age for exit row seating, but states that it is to be set by the airline. A quick search of the Air Canada website, gives no minimum age.

 

[bavaria]

Did your husband require a seat belt extender? I know you can't sit in the exit row with a seat belt extender because people could get tangled up in it during an evaluation.

I believe that you meant 'evacuation', but that works too!

But really it is anyone who may not be able to assist, and they are permitted to make a judgement call. It may be quick on their part because it has to be quick - ie decide in a few seconds.

They can remove someone for not being physically able, not speaking and/or understanding English well, not being able to assist during the evacuation, not being willing to assist during the evacuation, etc etc.

I wouldn't take it personally. I am often challenged because I am speaking German or French to my seatmate, and until I speak in English the FA may not realise that I have strong English language skills. And I actually sometimes remove myself if my physical issues are preventing me that day from being as mobile as usual. And even though I sit in 9A on a 757 almost every week, most FAs make me listen to the spiel and read the card again before they decide if I am 'able' to sit there.

Also remember that there is a different culture in Canada than in America. Sometimes a native French speaker may come off differently due to accent, or body language, and nowhere in the world I think are people so openly friendly and personal as in America. What may be polite distance in one country may be considered rudeness in another.

 

[bavaria]

Paragraph 705.40(1)(d) of the CARs requires air operators to ensure that seats located at emergency exits are not occupied by passengers whose presence in those seats could adversely affect the safety of passengers or crew members during an emergency evacuation. To comply with this, air operators often conduct this window emergency exit briefing orally so that the flight attendant can: (1) assess the passenger's understanding of their responsibilities in an emergency; and (2) verify that the seats in the exit row are not occupied by passengers whose presence in those seats could adversely affect the safety of passengers or crew members during an emergency evacuation

. http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/imsdoc/acs/700/705-001.htm

 

[DebbieB]

I believe that you meant 'evacuation', but that works too!

Yes, evacuation....my eyes are going (or my brain )

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you all! It's been eye opening, and crash thanks for looking around on their site for me.

He did indeed need one inch worth (he's almost done with them, yay!) of the extender, but she did not know that at the time, and neither did he...each airplane/airline he's on is different, and he doesn't require them on some flights, and does on a few others.

But it's good info to know, that for the time he still needs it, he can't sit there.

ALL the FA said about the girl was that she could "take care of the door". Nothing about helping passengers or anything of that nature, which he could have done easily. And more importantly, it's very interesting about having a parent with her child be excluded, because yes, of course she would help her child first. Interesting.

He was fine with being moved, thinking it was a weight-settling thing (it was a small jet and he'd packed his carry-ons (well within size limits) so that he could easily check one if needed b/c of weight or room), but to have an 11 year old get "his" spot just really bugged him. He's flown all the Asian airlines, and all of them, when he was flying them, required 15+, so AC really threw him for a loop!


The FA didn't seem to be French-speaking, or at least hubby didn't say anything about that. He sometimes has difficulties with accents; the only accents he gets is Korean, since his mom is Korean with a heavy accent. So if it were an issue he would have mentioned it to me. He's also well-versed in cultural differences...he gets in trouble with me for laughing inappropriately, but it's a Korean thing to laugh when you're uncomfortable or sad...comes across just all wrong to non-Koreans though. He knows that cultural stuff needs some allowance.

No, it just seems there was something about him she didn't like, and while the searching look she gave his body before saying, literally, "I don't think so" about his assigned seat now makes sense (belt extender not being allowed), the attitude and actions towards him the rest of the flight don't make sense.

Whereas people often have negative reactions to me, sometimes rightfully so and sometimes just b/c of this stupid wrinkle that makes me look angry, hubby is a wonderful pleasant upbeat person who gets along with *everyone*, so it's a very weird experience for him to have someone react to him so negatively!


Thanks for the multi-faceted answer, everyone!

(for the record, he will be writing them about her behaviour towards him, but to ease everyone's mind, it's simply to let them know so that perhaps she can realize how she's coming across (if her rudeness wasn't on purpose) or perhaps realize she's got some issues (depending on why she was rude if it WAS on purpose)...NOT so that there would be compensation....we truly are people for whom an apology and empathy will suffice for anything less than actual harm)

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Exit Row Seating

Those restricted from sitting in the exit row are as follows:
- Anyone under the age of 15
- Any adult responsible for a child under the age of 15
- Anyone with a physical disability or impairment
- Anyone who requires pre-boarding assistance
- Anyone who refuses to comply with the requirement to assist in the case of an emergency

I have seen many FAs enforce the rules and some that do not. The one scenario that annoyed me was on my flight back from MCO in June of this year.

My friend and I boarded our Southwest Airlines flight and proceeded to Row 11, the wonderfully wide Southwest exit row. There was a gentleman seated in the aisle seat, but the window and middle were free. My friend and I took those seats. As I was placing my carry-on in the overhead compartment a woman sitting across the aisle from the gentleman in the exit row barked at me "You better be careful not to hit my husband's knee! He has had surgery and needs the extra legroom." I turned to the woman and politely said "I assure you that I am using the utmost caution in placing my bag in the overhead bin, but may I point out that your husband is seated in the exit row and will be required to assist the flight crew in the case of an emergency and now I am doubting his capabilities in doing so as he has a physical impairment."

The FA overheard me, saw the brace on the man's knee and said nothing and to make matters worse, when the FA did the safety spiel and asked for verbal confirmation of assistance the gentleman said "That means that I toss the door out and jump out after it right?? Everyone for themselves!"

The contrast was a situation in 2008. My family and I boarded a SWA flight in A class. This was when they allowed pre-boarding AND passengers with small children aboard prior to A. We proceeded to row 11 where a gentleman and his 3 year old and 5 year old were occupying the exit row. We called the FA, who explained they had to move and the man refused and yelled at us saying we were "bitter that he figured out a way to get the best seats before A class" all the while waving his pre-board ticket sleave around. The FA told the man that he and his children must move or be REMOVED from the flight. Eventually he complied.

You see all sorts of things with exit rows.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Transport Canada (which would set the rules since Air Canada is a Canadian airline) does not have a minimum age for exit row seating, but states that it is to be set by the airline. A quick search of the Air Canada website, gives no minimum age.

I have flown Air Canada dozens of times from age 2 to present (age 24) and I was no permitted to sit in the AC exit row until I was 15. I recall a flight when I was in my late teens, sitting on one side of the exit row. There was a 13 year old boy, that was easily 6 feet tall and could have assisted ANYONE, who was asked to show ID and then vacate the seat.

 

[crashbb]

Exit Row Seating

Those restricted from sitting in the exit row are as follows:
- Anyone under the age of 15
- Any adult responsible for a child under the age of 15
- Anyone with a physical disability or impairment
- Anyone who requires pre-boarding assistance
- Anyone who refuses to comply with the requirement to assist in the case of an emergency

Again, these are not applicable since the flight was under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada. As I stated earlier (and as Bavaria linked to) Transport Canada does not set any age restrictions.

 

[Lewisc]

Do we know if the OPs spouse was moved from the exit row seat becuase there was some question if he met the requirements? or Was he moved so the mother and her daughter could sit next to each other?

We may be reading too much into what happened. Many of us didn't realize some airlines allow kids in the exit row seats.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Actually, Transport Canada DOES have requirements. Other than age, which we cannot CONFIRM...that does not mean Air Canada has no age restriction, all my points were valid and in line with the TC regulations.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/commerce/circulars/ac0181r.htm

Passengers seated at exits:

must be physically capable of using the exit; (As I stated, no physical limitations or disabilities)must be capable of understanding the printed and spoken emergency instructions;
must be able to visually determine if the exit is safe to open;
must have sufficient mobility, strength and dexterity to reach, operate and stow (or otherwise dispose of) the emergency exit; (Again, no physical limitations)
must be able to receive aural information from the crew and to orally communicate that information to other passengers; (As I said, must comply with the agreement to assit flight crew)
must be of a minimum age (as established by the air operator) to ensure that he/she has the physical, cognitive and sensory capacity to operate an emergency exit;
must not be responsible for another person as this can hinder the opening of the emergency exit; and (As I said, must not be responsible for another person)
must not have a condition which might cause them harm by opening the exit. (Once more, no physical limitations)

EDITED TO ADD: Additionally, regardless of the girl's age and whether AC has an age restriction, the mother was responsible for the daughter therefore neither were eligible to be seated in the exit row.

 

[bavaria]

minimum age (as established by the air operator)

Sunwing and Canjet list age 12, the major Canadian carriers do not list a minimum age.

 

[bumbershoot]

As I've mentioned now, I have many good answers, thank you!

..when the FA did the safety spiel and asked for verbal confirmation of assistance the gentleman said "That means that I toss the door out and jump out after it right?? Everyone for themselves!"

Oh that is just awful.

Do we know if the OPs spouse was moved from the exit row seat becuase there was some question if he met the requirements? or Was he moved so the mother and her daughter could sit next to each other?

We may be reading too much into what happened. Many of us didn't realize some airlines allow kids in the exit row seats.

We do not know, as all the FA said to him was "I don't think so", after seeing that he'd been assigned to row 8 on the plane. She moved him to row 7. Then she seated the mom and daughter there, over mom's questions about whether her 11 year old was allowed to sit there.

Since someone mentioned that use of a seatbelt extender precludes you from using the exit row (interesting that the ticket counter people assigned this seat...his original seating assignment was in row 2, and they changed it...they could see him), and that makes her look up and down and "I don't think so" make a bit of sense, since perhaps she could tell that he would need the extender. Still kinda rude, the "I don't think so" bit, and he hadn't actually tried out the belts yet (he always tries them first, b/c like I said, on some airplanes he still needs them but others he doesn't) so even HE didn't yet know, but it makes sense since I assume she knows her aircraft.

It was hurtful to him (the way she said it)...he's very sensitive about his size, and he's lost quite a bit of weight. He also was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor 3 months ago, and the drug he is taking is causing the extra bulk he put on (it's very weird to lose weight and gain sizes, but that is what was happening for 2 years, and should have alerted us and his healthcare providers that something ELSE was happening with his health) to dissolve. It's a prolactin-creating tumor, so the extra bulk is like what a nursing mother puts on. Anyway, it's melting off, and he won't need that extender for very long. In addition, he's VERY strong, he's like a sumo wrestler, and he is selfless (especially b/c we weren't traveling with him), so he would have been nothing but helpful in case of emergency. He has good strength and values for the exit row, and while it makes sense that perhaps the extra belt might get in the way, it's sad that an 11 year old and a mother traveling with her child were put there.

While telling him about all the helpful replies, I said that basically it seems wrong b/c the mother would be expected to help the 11 year old off, and then STAY onboard helping out, and seriously, how many parents would be able to do that????


Thanks all!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, and he's SO close to not needing the extender that it was cinched up so the belt was only an inch longer. It's not like the belt would have been flopping all over the place.

But the basic reasoning makes sense and we can't argue with it. Perhaps "if you'll need the extender belt, you cannot sit there, sir" would be been a better way to do it on her part...