Emergency Exit row occupation

[BAOREY]

Not the usual question about how can i get one but a general observation from two recent flights with GF & EY

Is there a requirement for the emergency exit row to be occupied by at least one passenger or can they be left vacant

the reason for asking is that it seems strange that the row would be left empty as in the event of the exit being required in an emergency then vital time could be lost in the time it takes to get someone there and also the lack of familiarity with opening the exit

On some of the airlines that i fly you get questioned by the cabin crew if you are in the exit row and shown how the exit is opened and to make sure that you are comfortable with being there.

(I also realise that a significant number of passengers pay scant attention to the safety briefings so nothing is perfect)

[Getoutofmygalley]

What was the aircraft type?

Were there crew seated adjacent to that emergency exit row?

If the emergency exit row is a passenger self help exit only (e.g. B737 overwing) then there should be pax seated at them.

However, if it is a normal type exit and there is a crew member seated there, then I believe there is no requirement for pax to be seated there.

[BAOREY]

The EY flight was an A333 and did have a crew seat adjacent to the exit, the GF flight was an A320 and was an over wing exit with no crew seating adjacent to it.

I took advantage of the available seat but it did get me thinking

[Final 3 Greens]

Insh' Allah, everything will be alright :}

[VAFFPAX]

I don't think there's a requirement for a pax to be seated in the emergency exit row, but you will be guaranteed at least one pax because of the legroom. Pax at overwing exits that are not manned (i.e. the plug type like on the 738) tend to get, from some airlines anyway, a special briefing to see whether they understand how to operate the exit when requested, and whether they are willing to operate it. If they are not, they are reseated where possible, or pax are asked to swap seats.

There's a nice discussion in the Cabin Crew forum on this:

http://www.pprune.org/cabin-crew/349707-over-wing-emergency-exit-great-instructions.html

:-)

S.