Non consecutive seat row numbering
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dublin
Non consecutive seat row numbering
Recently, while sitting in row 12 of a short haul fight, and having just finished listening to the safety briefing, I looked back to note the nearest emergency exit, which was behind me, row 16 to be precise.
Right, I thought, 4 rows back. During the flight, I noticed that the row directly behind me was row 14. So the emergency exist was 3, not 4 rows behind me.
Now, maybe I'm dwelling on a problem that isn't a problem, but; could this non consecutive numbering of rows be a safety concern? Had I not noticed the missing 13 and had there been the need to evacuate in darkness or smoke I'd have counted 4 rows and ended up past the exit and obstructing those moving forward towards it.
Right, I thought, 4 rows back. During the flight, I noticed that the row directly behind me was row 14. So the emergency exist was 3, not 4 rows behind me.
Now, maybe I'm dwelling on a problem that isn't a problem, but; could this non consecutive numbering of rows be a safety concern? Had I not noticed the missing 13 and had there been the need to evacuate in darkness or smoke I'd have counted 4 rows and ended up past the exit and obstructing those moving forward towards it.
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: YPPH
There are many and varied reasons why seat numbers are not consecutive. In reality, when the safety brief is telling you to count the number of seats between you and the exit, it means physical seats, not the seat numbers. Think about it, if you are crawling through a smoke filled cabin, you're not going to be looking at the seat numbers that are way up at the lockers or on the PSU, are you? You're going to be on the floor, counting seat legs.
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From: 32°55'22"S 151°46'56"E
Embarrasing Story
I recall when i first flew Egyptair and was outraged that I'd been downgraded from business class to row 15 or something, only to find when I boarded that it was business class and the number started mid way. Oh well .
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
triskaidekaphobia
(tris - kai - deka - phobia)
Noun. extreme superstition regarding the number thirteen.
– ORIGIN 20th century: from Greek treiskaideka ‘thirteen’ + -phobia.
Oxford Concise Edition. 10 (what will they do when they get to 13?)
(tris - kai - deka - phobia)
Noun. extreme superstition regarding the number thirteen.
– ORIGIN 20th century: from Greek treiskaideka ‘thirteen’ + -phobia.
Oxford Concise Edition. 10 (what will they do when they get to 13?)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,235
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From: UK
Two things here. First I seem to remember flying on an airline which had a range of Airbus narrowbodies (probably Swiss or British Airways) and noticing that the rear row was always numbered the same (36?) and that therefore several rows were missed in the middle on the smaller versions.
Secondly I was on a Varig(!) 737 where the seats were ABC HJK!
Secondly I was on a Varig(!) 737 where the seats were ABC HJK!
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: UK
I'd echo VS-LHRCSA's comments. Whenever I fly I always count the number of rows to the exit in front and behind me. I also check to ensure the life jacket is under the seat.
Just takes a few seconds to do this, but could save your life in an emergency.
Just takes a few seconds to do this, but could save your life in an emergency.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Agreed, jackieofalltrades, I do that BUT - as I get older, I find I can no longer remember the number of rows, even by the time we are turning onto the active. 
But I am sure of the direction in which to turn from my row and anticipate that the exit row will be noticeable by bumping heads with folks coming the other way as I crawl along. Also, I expect that the door/s will be apparent with air/sound directing me.
Now, where is nurse with my medication and to push me down the hall to the bath room ...
But I am sure of the direction in which to turn from my row and anticipate that the exit row will be noticeable by bumping heads with folks coming the other way as I crawl along. Also, I expect that the door/s will be apparent with air/sound directing me.
Now, where is nurse with my medication and to push me down the hall to the bath room ...
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: London
I think that it may have something to do with making it easier to reassign seats in case of equipment change. Rather than a garbled explanation call up the seat maps for BA 747 Hi & Low J on seat guru.
SeatGuru Seat Map British Airways Boeing 747-400 52-Bus. (744)
SeatGuru Seat Map British Airways Boeing 747-400 70-Bus. (744)
You will see that there are no rows 6 - 10 so that a row with single a digit is first.
In the Low J version there are no rows 21 - 27, in the High J version only row 32 is missing. This means that rows 17 - 20 are always J and 28 - 53/55 Y. There are no rows 56 - 59 but when a FA sees rows 60 upwards they know to show the passenger upstairs.
I've probably not made myself clear so have a look at the maps.
Northwest DC9s used to have ACDE&F but no B. Thus if one were substituted for a 727 / 320 you would only have to reissue boarding passes for B seats. You know that A&F seats are window seats and C&D aisle if flying on a narrow body.
I would imagine that the reason for Varig's lettering is that firstly I can be confused with 1 hence HJK. Then then know that A&K are window seats, C&H aisle and so on. DEFG will only appear on wide bodies.
In my experience the American's have a greater fear of the number 13 than the Europeans and you will not have a flight 13, 13nn, nn13 etc, no Gate 13 & so on.
I presume that you still get a boarding card sequence 13. Life could get rather confusing if it is excluded.
The fact that this is my post 113 is pure coincidence.
SeatGuru Seat Map British Airways Boeing 747-400 52-Bus. (744)
SeatGuru Seat Map British Airways Boeing 747-400 70-Bus. (744)
You will see that there are no rows 6 - 10 so that a row with single a digit is first.
In the Low J version there are no rows 21 - 27, in the High J version only row 32 is missing. This means that rows 17 - 20 are always J and 28 - 53/55 Y. There are no rows 56 - 59 but when a FA sees rows 60 upwards they know to show the passenger upstairs.
I've probably not made myself clear so have a look at the maps.
Northwest DC9s used to have ACDE&F but no B. Thus if one were substituted for a 727 / 320 you would only have to reissue boarding passes for B seats. You know that A&F seats are window seats and C&D aisle if flying on a narrow body.
I would imagine that the reason for Varig's lettering is that firstly I can be confused with 1 hence HJK. Then then know that A&K are window seats, C&H aisle and so on. DEFG will only appear on wide bodies.
In my experience the American's have a greater fear of the number 13 than the Europeans and you will not have a flight 13, 13nn, nn13 etc, no Gate 13 & so on.
I presume that you still get a boarding card sequence 13. Life could get rather confusing if it is excluded.
The fact that this is my post 113 is pure coincidence.
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Seattle
Secondly I was on a Varig(!) 737 where the seats were ABC HJK!
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: UK
At the time, my thinking about Varig did relate to wide versus narrow bodies but had more to do with programming their reservations system and the idea that it didn't matter if it was a wide or narrow HJK was always going to be aisle,middle,window.
