Large Pax in Exit Rows
Thread Starter
Large Pax in Exit Rows
Recently flew U.S. domestic on a 738. On both legs at least one of the exit rows/window seats contained obese passengers, who clearly purchased those seats for the extra room. The only screening the airline required was to have each exit row passenger verbally acknowledge a willingness to participate in exit row emergency duties.
I’m skeptical that a 300+ lb. woman or a 400+ lb. man could perform the overwing exit door duties, much less fit through an overwing exit door, at least using the technique shown on the safety placard.
Curious what other folks have seen on other domestic or international flights.
I’m skeptical that a 300+ lb. woman or a 400+ lb. man could perform the overwing exit door duties, much less fit through an overwing exit door, at least using the technique shown on the safety placard.
Curious what other folks have seen on other domestic or international flights.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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BFSGrad
I got in trouble for comments on crew recently, so I am staying well away from this, but would tend to agree with your reasoning. I would get your Tin / Kevlar Hat if I were you !
Cheers
Mr Mac
I got in trouble for comments on crew recently, so I am staying well away from this, but would tend to agree with your reasoning. I would get your Tin / Kevlar Hat if I were you !
Cheers
Mr Mac
BFSGrad,
No need to get your tin hat, you are right. Airlines should only allow reasonably fit persons to sit in these seats. While I understand the wish for personal comfort, the distinct possibility of impeding the escape of other passengers should be the overriding consideration. Safety comes way before comfort.
Now I had better don my tin hat and flak jacket!!
No need to get your tin hat, you are right. Airlines should only allow reasonably fit persons to sit in these seats. While I understand the wish for personal comfort, the distinct possibility of impeding the escape of other passengers should be the overriding consideration. Safety comes way before comfort.
Now I had better don my tin hat and flak jacket!!
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On a Virgin flight from Melbourne to Brisbane last month and I was in the aisle of an exit row. Two largish ladies next to me took nil interest in the emergency procedures and I doubted my ability to help them, from the aisle, to open the door. My best bet was the door to my right - guy in the adjacent aisle seat was taller than myself, younger and seemingly stronger. Bad news, in the window seat was …. before I could note a description he was moved and replaced by an airline staff member - good. Big guy in the exit row right in front of me requested a seat belt extension and that was enough for him to be moved elsewhere. 2 out of 3 wasn’t bad.
In the old days check-in staff would scan the passengers for the fittest exit row candidates. Kiosks have lost this capability so the obese and broken leg crowd moved in.
Paxing All Over The World
I think the govt governing bodies are (for the most part) delinguent in monitoring this aspect of safety. They have given in to commercial pressure - yet again.
If there is loss of life or serious injury claims due to blocked emergency exits, the CEOs will blame the CC and not themselves for having changed the rules and not instructing staff in the "Your safety is our prime concern".
If there is loss of life or serious injury claims due to blocked emergency exits, the CEOs will blame the CC and not themselves for having changed the rules and not instructing staff in the "Your safety is our prime concern".
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On a Virgin flight from Melbourne to Brisbane last month and I was in the aisle of an exit row. Two largish ladies next to me took nil interest in the emergency procedures and I doubted my ability to help them, from the aisle, to open the door. My best bet was the door to my right - guy in the adjacent aisle seat was taller than myself, younger and seemingly stronger. Bad news, in the window seat was …. before I could note a description he was moved and replaced by an airline staff member - good. Big guy in the exit row right in front of me requested a seat belt extension and that was enough for him to be moved elsewhere. 2 out of 3 wasn’t bad.
Alitalia went on strike and the originally booked Gatwick to Sicily eventually became Lauda Air (Cessna Citation ?) to Bologna and then the next day Meridiana to Sicily,the return flight was more normal using a DC9 ..
Flew Sydney to Brisbane on Qantas a month ago. Woman in her 60’s seated in an exit row. That was fine, but she was sitting next to her father (she called him “Dad”). He was wearing hearing aids but she still had to shout otherwise he could not hear her. I watched all this from the row behind and confidently expected them to be moved once the cabin crew noticed. He paid no attention to the emergency exit briefing, and I doubt he was aware it was happening. But he was not asked to move.
As an aside is there a requirement for all emergency exit rows to be occupied? Just last week flying from Rhodes to Stockholm with the wife and daughter we were seated immediately behind an exit row.
Borading completed and doors closed the exit row in front of us was empty. I moved there swiftly to get us more room, but was surprised that the crew had not done anything about it.
Borading completed and doors closed the exit row in front of us was empty. I moved there swiftly to get us more room, but was surprised that the crew had not done anything about it.