Mile-High Responsibility
April 6, 2010 by Kathy McManus
Should airplane exit-row seats be open to anyone simply because they paid a premium for the extra legroom?
New York Times travel expert Joe Sharkey reports that higher pricing of exit-row seats—long assigned to elite flyers as perks because of the additional seven inches of space—is one of the latest ways airlines are raising revenues. But the practice is also raising concerns about “who exactly is sitting in those seats,” which come with the legal responsibility of having “sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity” to open the 45-pound hatch during an emergency.
“The presumption has been loosely that elite fliers at least had the experience to know what the drill is in an emergency,” Joe Brancatelli, publisher of travel website joesentme.com, told the Times. The Federal Aviation Administration added that it’s the airline’s responsibility “to make sure that whoever they sit in that exit-row can perform the duties that are prescribed in the regulations.”
But with the seats now sold as revenue enhancers, The Times’ Sharkey says many readers have “expressed strong feelings about safety.” One business traveler said, “Very often these rows are occupied by people who look like they would be in difficulty if they had to do something [physically challenging]. And some of them will say anything to be able to stay in those seats.”
Tell us what you think: Should exit-row seats be sold at a higher price—and to anyone?
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13 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
May 24, 2010 by Heather Carlow
I can't believe these airlines!!! I am so frustrated - They are charging for everything!!! Pretty soon there will be a fee if you don't want to ride on top of the plane hanging on for dear life. Meals, baggage, a decent seat - is there anything left for them to rip us off with. It used to be free to sit in the exit rows - now they're charging for that. My mother is going on United Airlines tomorrow on a flight from Portland Oregon to Hartford Connecticut with just a "boading" stop in Chicago - and they are not serving my mouthful of food - of course you can purchase the cardboard for an outrageous amount of money!
Wow, flying sure has changed even in the last 10 years and NOT for the better!!!
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May 24, 2010 by SUNSHINE
AIRLINES, SHOULD NOT CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL FEE TO SIT IN EXIT ROW SEATINGS, THE PERSON THAT IS ASSIGNED TO SIT IN THE SEATS, MUST BE PHYSICALLY/MENTALLY ABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. KEEPING IT REAL SAFE!
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June 27, 2010 by Evelyn Jotkoff
If the big boys in the industry were not taking home huge salaries--I'd say o.k. However, like all other big boys, ie; banks, stock market magnets, insurance companies, etc., greed is the name of their game. They take home millions but complain their companies are showing little or no gain. So the little guys suffer more and employees are caught in the middle.
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July 10, 2010 by Mildred A Oulicky
Flying once was a pleasure -- today it is an expensive, miserably uncomfortable ORDEAL for those who cannot AFFORD corporate luxury -- our leadership - GOVERNMENTAL AND CORPORATE - needs to read "A people's History of the United States" -- which relates events starting in 1492 -- the good old USA is headed downstream at an astronomical rate ..............
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July 14, 2010 by Mrs. Thomas
I hate that Airtran charges $20 for exit row seating while Delta is free to elite members. I fly every week from Atlanta to New York for work and I book my tickets as far as 6 weeks in advance on Delta so I can get the exit row. No chance for me to get an upgrade to first flying Delta from Atlanta! I usually do not pay extra when I fly Airtran for exit row seating. It's a shame how the airlines nickles and dimes you for everything these days. I guess next they will charge to use the restrooms on board.
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July 14, 2010 by effie sulong
it't rediculous! what else next?!!! all they do is to rip off peoples money.. if that will happen people will be better off cruizin than flying. they'll enjoy more what they'ed spend. hpoe that the GOVERNMENT will imply a BIG TAX for these airline company!!!
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July 14, 2010 by Claire Olsen Flannery
No, those seats should only be occupied by someone who is physically able to open the hatch.
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July 14, 2010 by J. Zenon-Peters
The seat should be occupied by someone who can operate the exit in an emergency, no matter what the cost!!!!
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July 14, 2010 by M
Exit row should be NO additional charge and for someone who is physically able to open the hatch in case of emergency. The bottom line is Airlines = total RIP OFF!
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July 14, 2010 by Julie
I think that the exit row seats should be LESS money due to the legal responsibility that the people who sit in that row have if there every is an emergency. They should also be screened to be sure they are physically able. I am disabled and travel with a service dog, therefore I need a bulkhead seat. According to law the airlines cannot charge me extra for the seat, or for my dog, but I bet you they would add a charge if they could. I am at a loss when I see what people dare to carry(drag) onto the airplane. I carry a minimum of bggage onto the plane for convenience sake. I am not willing to burden myself (or others) with extra carry-ons, and do not mind going to baggage claim, no matter how far it may be from the arrival gate. The next fee, I'm sure will be for the toilets. After all, they charge to use the public restrooms in Europe, Why not on planes and airports? $$$$ talks.
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August 4, 2010 by Biff
I'm 6' 7" and feel that it's discriminatory to charge extra for the exit row seating. With a seat 'pitch' of 30" or less my knees are at risk of injury when the passenger in front of me reclines their seat back. I feel annoyed when I see small passengers, less than say 5' 7" tall, sitting in the exit row when I'm crammed in a regular seat. I don't fly so regularly that I have elite status on any airline. I always try to get to the airport early, occasionally several hours in advance, but frequently the exit row is already full, most likely with elite flyers. The following is a fantasy but I'd love it if a physical test were required at the airport, at your own risk of self-injury during the test, to prove you are physically able to remove a 45 lb. airplane door from it's hatch.
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August 4, 2010 by Kian
There is are better ways to deal with such issues, instead of increasing the price. The management has to put their intelligence to work, and get creative, instead of taking the easy way out (the exit will not be so easy to get out from, for some people, and especially in an emergency situation), in raising the exit row fees. We understand that you need your backs scratched; however, many consumers do as well. In your business, you do not believe anything is given for free, and as such may treat your employees. We the consumers believe the same, yet may not share the same belief with regards to your employees.
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