Manning of Emeregency Exit row Seats
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Manning of Emeregency Exit row Seats
Could I please ask my civilian colleagues what the rules are regarding the manning of emergency exit row seats is?
I have complained aboout this issue before, mainly because I have seen these seats occupied by everyone from an infant to someone who could barely walk, let alone a fit, healthy and relatively strong individual who could comfortably handle the door in an emergency. It has always been a pet hate of mine to find that the most inapropriate people have often been given the seats.
So, could I formally ask you all:
a) What is the CAA advice/instructions on such seats being occupied? and
b) What is the airlines take on all of this?
Last night I was returning from sunny climes and was seated in row 27 of an A321. Row 26 is the Emergency Exit row and seats A, B and C were all unoccupied (it might have had something to do with the airline wanting another £30 per seat)
However, on a more serious note, there was no one in those seats in a position to open the door if the wlorst happened. So I told the nice Stewardess that I was happy and confident in using the emergency exits and would occupy one of the seats. She replied "that will be £30 please Sir" to which I replied that I wouldn't charge the airline £30 if I was needed in an emergency, so I was happy to fill the position free of charge.
This didn't go down too well and the nice lady insisted that I pay £30 or stay in my seat (27C)
I know that the airlines will do anything to make money, (we had a 5 hour 'sellex' from Egypt last night), but come on guys, this is safety isn't it?
I'd be interested to hear from both sidess as to whether on n ot there is any rules or advice on the occupancy of these seats during take off and landing at least?
Kind regards
TKR
I have complained aboout this issue before, mainly because I have seen these seats occupied by everyone from an infant to someone who could barely walk, let alone a fit, healthy and relatively strong individual who could comfortably handle the door in an emergency. It has always been a pet hate of mine to find that the most inapropriate people have often been given the seats.
So, could I formally ask you all:
a) What is the CAA advice/instructions on such seats being occupied? and
b) What is the airlines take on all of this?
Last night I was returning from sunny climes and was seated in row 27 of an A321. Row 26 is the Emergency Exit row and seats A, B and C were all unoccupied (it might have had something to do with the airline wanting another £30 per seat)
However, on a more serious note, there was no one in those seats in a position to open the door if the wlorst happened. So I told the nice Stewardess that I was happy and confident in using the emergency exits and would occupy one of the seats. She replied "that will be £30 please Sir" to which I replied that I wouldn't charge the airline £30 if I was needed in an emergency, so I was happy to fill the position free of charge.
This didn't go down too well and the nice lady insisted that I pay £30 or stay in my seat (27C)
I know that the airlines will do anything to make money, (we had a 5 hour 'sellex' from Egypt last night), but come on guys, this is safety isn't it?
I'd be interested to hear from both sidess as to whether on n ot there is any rules or advice on the occupancy of these seats during take off and landing at least?
Kind regards
TKR
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Manning of Emeregency Exit row Seats
You will find that someone will be tasked with sitting there should an emergency situation develop. Not useful in case of emergency literally developing on ground, but do you forsee the need to open it in flight?
On my firm, cabin crew will only allow able-bodied adults to sit there, they will check that you are happy to operate the door, and if you are not then you get reseated by someone who is willing.
And the surcharge to sit on the emergency row on the long-range fleet is 50€.
On my firm, cabin crew will only allow able-bodied adults to sit there, they will check that you are happy to operate the door, and if you are not then you get reseated by someone who is willing.
And the surcharge to sit on the emergency row on the long-range fleet is 50€.
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Can't comment on the regulations/legislation...
But on the airline/airport side of things for airlines we handle...
BE do not charge for seat assignment at check-in so we issue the emergency exits there for free if not already advanced assigned online (£15 I believe for an extra legroom/EXIT seat online) (PINCODE passengers obviously not being allowed to sit in exits) Pregnant Infants Non-English Speakers Children Obese Disabled Elderly). The self-service check-in will not assign exit seats or seats blocked for trim reasons which is a handy bonus. We get the occasional complaint from the cabin crew when we do not assign both 2C and 2D, but that's a rare occasion.
U2 do charge for exit seats and 'upfront' seats both online and at check-in and we are asked to upsell these, but on a 40 minute flight to LPL it's pretty much pointless asking, but we do our best. We also do all the passenger handling manually inc. manual manifest, seat map, bag tags and bingo sheet boarding rather than on the reservations system, and about 95% of the time on the seat map rows 6 backwards are occupied/preassigned and the seats left empty are the EXIT and upfront seats. We are not asked to assign these for free at check-in and it's left to the cabin crew to deal with onboard if we don't manage to upsell any.
4U...much the same as Flybe...except we do manual boarding/manifest/seat map etc, they do charge online for an EXIT seat but it is free at check-in and we are asked to assign these.
But on the airline/airport side of things for airlines we handle...
BE do not charge for seat assignment at check-in so we issue the emergency exits there for free if not already advanced assigned online (£15 I believe for an extra legroom/EXIT seat online) (PINCODE passengers obviously not being allowed to sit in exits) Pregnant Infants Non-English Speakers Children Obese Disabled Elderly). The self-service check-in will not assign exit seats or seats blocked for trim reasons which is a handy bonus. We get the occasional complaint from the cabin crew when we do not assign both 2C and 2D, but that's a rare occasion.
U2 do charge for exit seats and 'upfront' seats both online and at check-in and we are asked to upsell these, but on a 40 minute flight to LPL it's pretty much pointless asking, but we do our best. We also do all the passenger handling manually inc. manual manifest, seat map, bag tags and bingo sheet boarding rather than on the reservations system, and about 95% of the time on the seat map rows 6 backwards are occupied/preassigned and the seats left empty are the EXIT and upfront seats. We are not asked to assign these for free at check-in and it's left to the cabin crew to deal with onboard if we don't manage to upsell any.
4U...much the same as Flybe...except we do manual boarding/manifest/seat map etc, they do charge online for an EXIT seat but it is free at check-in and we are asked to assign these.
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tasked with sitting there should an emergency situation develop..............but do you forsee the need to open it in flight?
TKR - you need to follow this up with the CAA I think. The row should not be empty and if it is because it is a 'premium seat' then things need to change in that airline. The crew were stupid to decline your offer. Where I have worked there were strict rules on occupation of these seats - and adhered to.
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Doors 3 on A321 sometimes have crew stations which are manned for take off and landing.
On U2 over wings are always covered and pax are moved free of charge is nobody has paid to sit there. This is not done on row one as there are two crew stationed there for for takeoff and landing and will operate the doors.
The over wings are self help exits and there's always at least one person sat next to it, hey are briefed and have instructions on seat backs and the door to operate them.
On U2 over wings are always covered and pax are moved free of charge is nobody has paid to sit there. This is not done on row one as there are two crew stationed there for for takeoff and landing and will operate the doors.
The over wings are self help exits and there's always at least one person sat next to it, hey are briefed and have instructions on seat backs and the door to operate them.
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Manning of Emeregency Exit row Seats
BOAC, you are so right, I have literally this second started on a Cessna course...what are these TLAs of which you speak, o wise sky God from whom all wisdom falls.
Don't cherry pick, you condescending bar steward. Include the complete paragraph.
Don't cherry pick, you condescending bar steward. Include the complete paragraph.
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in the usa the over wing and other exit door seats are given out at boarding time and a cursory analysis of the fitness of the passenger to operate the door is made.
onboard, the flight attendants give a quick briefing and offer a change of seats if the person is unable to use the doors.
onboard, the flight attendants give a quick briefing and offer a change of seats if the person is unable to use the doors.
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what are these TLAs of which you speak
TKR - Terry K Rumble - the OP - sorry, Original Poster
CAA - Civil Aviation Authority
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Thank you all for your comments.
It has been a long standing concern of mine how the civilian world seem quite happy to place completely unsuitable pax in positions of significant importance on an aircraft and I do genuinely worry that when push comes to shove, they will be unable to fulfil the duties that go with their seating location.
I do feel that if someone offers to perform these safety duties for an airline, then to decline that offer (even at the expense of £30) displays a clear disregard for pax safety. And if that means that I question the ability of the little 90 year old lady's suitability for her occupancy of an exit seat, then so be it, I have no qualms about doing so. At the end of the day, the airline is asking me (and hundreds of others) to put my life in her hands, and that cannot be right.
Thanks once again for your comments, I might just take it up with the CAA.
Kindest regards
TKR
It has been a long standing concern of mine how the civilian world seem quite happy to place completely unsuitable pax in positions of significant importance on an aircraft and I do genuinely worry that when push comes to shove, they will be unable to fulfil the duties that go with their seating location.
I do feel that if someone offers to perform these safety duties for an airline, then to decline that offer (even at the expense of £30) displays a clear disregard for pax safety. And if that means that I question the ability of the little 90 year old lady's suitability for her occupancy of an exit seat, then so be it, I have no qualms about doing so. At the end of the day, the airline is asking me (and hundreds of others) to put my life in her hands, and that cannot be right.
Thanks once again for your comments, I might just take it up with the CAA.
Kindest regards
TKR
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Was the exit manned during take off and landing? If so then there is no need to have pax sat there and that is likely to be why they won't let anyone sit there. U2 and LS (that I know of) won't let people sit in row one without people paying as there is no need as the exits are both manned
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a strange comment from someone who probably does not understand RTOs and crashes.
My understanding, albeit without an actual link to the legislation, was that there had to be an able bodied person capable of opening the emergency exit sat by each for all taxiing, take-offs and landings. An airline could not forego having somebody sat there for want of payment.
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Yes, jackie - can you imagine the PA by the c/crew after the aircraft has slid to a crumpled smoking heap on the grass after an abort?
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls in the middle of the aircraft - please remain seated. Would Mr Dash8driver1312 kindly make his way to seat 26A and open the exit so we can get the **** out of here?"
- it would appear some may do, hence my suggestion to TKR to follow this up, which I hope he does.
TKR - forgive my reference to the Daily Wail, but you may wish to read this (2012). You will note the CAA 'rubber teeth' in evidence again
Safety probe into Ryanair £10 charge for emergency exit seats | Daily Mail Online
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls in the middle of the aircraft - please remain seated. Would Mr Dash8driver1312 kindly make his way to seat 26A and open the exit so we can get the **** out of here?"
An airline could not forego having somebody sat there for want of payment.
TKR - forgive my reference to the Daily Wail, but you may wish to read this (2012). You will note the CAA 'rubber teeth' in evidence again
Safety probe into Ryanair £10 charge for emergency exit seats | Daily Mail Online
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BOAC
Thank you for the reference. It is interesting that the CAA chose to 'discuss' the matter with the airline and I concur with your 'rubber teeth' response.
I shall continue to offer my services (free of charge of course!) to any airline that would like me to, but the safety aspect does concern me. I think I'm right in believing that the Captain is ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone on board his aircraft and therefore I wonder why it is not part of the FRC's?
I would hate for a Captain to be found culpable of manslaughter (or whatever the Lawyers would say) simply because his Chairman put a few pounds before pax safety.
Kind regards
Terry
Thank you for the reference. It is interesting that the CAA chose to 'discuss' the matter with the airline and I concur with your 'rubber teeth' response.
I shall continue to offer my services (free of charge of course!) to any airline that would like me to, but the safety aspect does concern me. I think I'm right in believing that the Captain is ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone on board his aircraft and therefore I wonder why it is not part of the FRC's?
I would hate for a Captain to be found culpable of manslaughter (or whatever the Lawyers would say) simply because his Chairman put a few pounds before pax safety.
Kind regards
Terry
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I think I'm right in believing that the Captain is ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone on board his aircraft and therefore I wonder why it is not part of the FRC's?
We ex DanAirs hit this in BA, where cabin crew were NOT required to check the supply of lifejackets per seat for each sector (as with DanAir - they got 'borrowed' by amateur sailoring pax- ljs, not c/c....
) but it was moved to a cyclical engineering 'function' (I think every 3 months) which, due to a computer up-cock in engineering resulted in the early 2000's in an LHR Airbus flying for several weeks with two rows of seats - 12 pax - with NO lj's, since new seats had been fitted but no ljs provisioned - and, of course, no-one checked. I got into 'difficulties' with BA management over this and the Captain's responsibility and in a written reply, the department of rubber teeth told me to follow company procedures. So, 'responsible'?? 'I voss only following orders'
You'll love it out there...........
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Like you BOAC, I offer my services free of charge once on the aeroplane. Several times I've been moved there, other times they've found some sucker with money burning a hole in their pocket.