Derek,

If you fly LHR-JFK a fair bit and can rack up 25k miles in a calendar year there is a carrier which will automatically put you in a seat towards the front with around 37" of pitch, and also automatically block out the seat next to you until it's absolutely needed. All on the cheapest ticket too. Unfortunately their planes are on the N-register, and you don't do that :rolleyes:, but then your loss is my gain as I don't have you taking that blocked out seat next to me. (Not that it bothers me, as they will usually (>50%) op-upgrade me if the flight is that full)

Even being in an escape aisle seat doesn't necessarily help. Flew to Canada a couple of years ago with my wife and we were allocated escape aisle seats (don't know why, must have been polite/smiled sweetly) even though we are average sort of heights (me 6ft, she 5ft 6). The third seat head been allocated to a 6ft 6 bloke who needed the extra legroom.

The problem was his seat was nearest the door and in front of it was the door sill sticking out (huge great thing, I assume it contains the emergency slide) so he actually didn't have any extra space. (After take-off my wife swapped seats with him since she was comfortable with the space and it gave her a window seat, so everyone ended up happy).

Im sure that both VZ and NZ's 763's operate flights of similar distance. e.g. upto 8 hours.;)

I take it we'd be screwed then if none of those individuals were travelling..... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

No you wouldn't because the operating crew are there for that purpose. The point that was being made was that positioning crew are trained in the procedures, and would better contribute in such an unfortunate occurance.

It might vary from type and company, but I have never seen it written that any passenger has to occupy an exit row seat. The only stipulation is that certain catergories of passenger shouldn't.

Right. So, if a plane crashes and the crew are dead, the person sat in the exit row does what exactly? Waits?
What's the point of seats being there then?

The profusion of £199 / £249 fares across the Atlantic has been enabled by the ever increasing numbers of seats in the back of aeroplanes.

Remove seats, fares go up.

So airlines are currently offering passengers a choice. If you want more space, pay for it. If you're prepared to be uncomfortable for what is a tiny, tiny time proportion of your overall holiday, don't pay for it and take the cheap fare.

Personally, I'd rather this choice rather than the airlines removing seats and raising fares and forcing me to pay extra.

Hey it's pretty simple really. You have seats next to an emergency exit. Ideally you want people sitting there who can help in an emergency. First priority would be travelling airline staff who are specifically trained for such emergencies, second priority would be to those who are fit and able-bodied, lowest on the list would be other less able-bodied people.

So, don't be supprised to see airline staff occupying exit seats. Also, if you want an exit seat then you'd better make sure you check in before anyone else who also wants an exit seat.

As for tall people, there is one other option that hasn't been mentioned yet. Get an isle seat and hang your legs out into the isle. Sure it'll be a pain moving them every time someone wants to move through the isle, but it'll be better than the other seats.

eal401,

You don't appear to be following the thread. The quotes you selected are replies to other questions not initial statements. As a result you are simply argueing for the sake of argueing. However dealing with the two questions:

The question you posed "If the crew are dead the passenger sat at an exit does what exactly ?" Assuming they have survived they get out, assuming they can move etc. etc. Does this answer surprise you ?

The second question you posed, "why are seats situated at an exit". Ideally they are not, in that most exits have to be clear. In the case of certain types of exits, they have a naturally lower flow rate ( by virtue of their design) and seats may well be placed adjacent to them since the design flow rate is not impeded ( from a regulatory standpoint ) by that fact. In the case of main exits they will be clear but of course there will be seats at some point fore and aft of them that will qualify as exit seats for the purpose of the discussion. It does not follow that these seats have to be occupied although they are likely to be. Seats have to be somewhere, it is how the business operates.

Checkin sometimes possible
 

I think the BA Internet checkin limitation on emergency exit rows applies only to short-haul. I was able to select on on a 777 flight to Chicago.

Momo

The last time I flew with AA business class was ORD - LHR and it was sh*te. I would rather have flown Virgin economy :bored: I'm sure that the N means Never :yuk:

Well I can give an update on AA's J class in a couple of weeks.

Am out on Weds to MIA and back on the 14th MCO-MIA-LHR. Am desperately hoping it's better than VS economy as that's an experience I really don't want to repeat!

cheers ;)

FF

Thanks for the response folks, - some interesting and informative points raised.

Regards, Del

A couple of things...

6'7" tall, 240lbs - not my fault. Bealz - I hope I have the chance to not pass you something from the shelf you can't reach!
It is sometimes not the just comfort thing - I have flown a couple of times where I could not physically sit down in a regular seat - pitch was such that my butt was off the seat as my legs couldn't go forward far enough! As there is no easy answer, then I guess we have to just smile sweetly and be as nice as possible to those wonderful, charming, soopah cabin crew! :ok:

At 6'6" and about 125 kg I have had problems with leg room on a few occassions. I always ask for an exit row and often get it, but on one occassion I missed out and the room allowed wasn't enuf to allow me to get my butt on the seat before my knees hit the seat in front. The simple solution was to stand. Eventually the nice FA came to ask me to sit as they wished to depart. I pointed out the problem, being particular to point out that I could not actually SIT, and within moments I was seated in Business. :)

As someone said, the airline is selling a product, transport to another location, and since I have paid, they now have a contractual obligation to provide the service. Don't get confused with the thought that you are buying a seat, you are buying transport and they fact that the aircraft is poorly laid out is not your problem. Make it be the airlines problem.

And I would not be backward about pulling out the discrimination card either.

And as for travelling - even in Business Class - in those worthless pieces of **** referred to as CRJs.....

Bloody things are an utter con. Poor legroom, poor headroom, poor legroom and (LH) woeful service. All at Business Class prices, of course. Nowadays I check the route and a/c - and if it looks as though it'll be on a CRJ, I'll travel from elsewhere and the customer will pick up the cost difference!

BEagle

I do agree, the CRJ is not a pleasant experience.

Feeton Terrafirma - an interesting post: For arguments sake, let's take some of your points to their logical conclusions?

If I understand you correctly, it is the responsibility of every airline to ensure that an appropriate seat is provided for somebody of your size. Since you have the freedom to travel when and where you want, all world airlines must make this facility available to you at all times, and without prior notice.

It therefore must be also the responsibility of all world airlines to provide an appropriate seat for other customers who are larger than you are, or else this would involve similar discrimination for others. Therefore, for arguments sake, seats must always be available, on all flights, without prior notice to enable the comfort and safety of a hypothetical customer of, say, 6ft 11" and 200kgs?

Since, at these sizes/weights, it is possible that an Exit Row seat is inappropriate, seat pitch on at least a part of the cabin must be increased to enable appropriate seating to be provided. The cost for this must presumably be absorbed by your fellow passengers, or by the airline, or both? As an alternative, you have the right to a Business/First class seat without being required to pay the price paid for by others. To ensure that you achieve this desirable end, you avoid mentioning the problem until the last moment when the crew are provided with the choice of delaying the flight to offload you, or to upgrade you: This means that you have made it not only the airlines problem, but also the problem of your fellow passengers, and your crew. You do not mention the suggested course of action should the flight, or even just the upgrade cabins be full: Presumably, the airline would be expected to offload somebody else less important, to enable your seating requirement.

It is unclear which "discrimination card" you wish to be played. Presumably not the reverse discrimination applied to those other passengers, shorter than you, who are required to pay normal prices for their upgraded seating?

I imagine that you may read this and detect a distinct lack of sympathy. I have every sympathy with your predicament, and as a Crew Member, would seek to help you in any way possible, provided your behaviour is reasonable and considerate towards all involved: This would exclude manipulative or confrontational behaviour.

Out of curiosity, what would be best practise when travelling on a mid-haul coach, crowded train or metro or smaller sized taxi (all of which have, on average, higher seat/mile costs than aircraft): Likewise, many cinema seats, some restaurants or even hotel toilet/shower cubicles - the list can go on. The point is that any number of businesses will base their costs upon an average figure, whether physical, mental or social. Do all businesses receive treatment from you that is in all ways equal, or do airlines get just a little bit more stick - or at least those that have a spare seat in C Class?

:E

At 6'6" and about 125 kg I have had problems with leg room on a few occassions. I always ask for an exit row and often get it

How big is the exit hole in the fuselage over the wing? Shouldn't people who might block the exit be put somewhere else (in the class they paid for of course)

the checkin agent will probably look at you, size you up and just say 'sorry the exit seats have gone' if your too fat, too old, not as tall as you think you are, you look at him/her the wrong way, your not so good looking or pretty or they are having a bad day....