Age of exit row passengers - the higher end of the spectrum

[$CJ]

My last flight had an older couple seated by themselves in an exit row.

They weren't especially frail or struggling to move, I would estimate their age to be around 75 and one of them was using a walking stick - again not struggling, just for some extra balance I would assume. They nodded to participate in an emergency. Clearly the FA didn't think re-seating was warranted nor did I think the situation was so poor to raise a concern, but it was definitely borderline.

Looking at it they probably should have been reseated at the gate, avoiding a far more delicate situation once onboard.

Thoughts?

 

[Hvr]

Always a topic that draws lots of responses. If as you say one of them was using a walking stick then I would posit they shouldn't be in the exit row and this should've been dealt with at the check in or failing that at boarding.

 

[Denali]

Maybe it was one of those miracle walking sticks, the kind that needs them to board early but then they are suddenly cured on flight exit?

I was once told I was being bumped to make room for a airline employee (who, I was told, is trained in emergency procedures) and her 2 x children. I pointed out the age of the children meant they weren't allowed to sit in the exit row and I refused to hand over my boarding pass for them to replace. It was a bit of a tense stand off.

 

[Homer]

On a recent flight I saw a woman in an exit row who was so large that the best assistance she could have provided in an emergency would be to get out of the plane first so as not to block the exit of other pax. It seems to me as though exit row policies are inconsistently enforced, which is odd as other policies, for example seatbelts and aisles and exits, seem to be strictly enforced.

 

[eastwest101]

It seems to me as though exit row policies are inconsistently enforced, which is odd as other policies, for example seatbelts and aisles and exits, seem to be strictly enforced.

That's because the accountants realized that the airlines could charge extra and get additional revenue from exit row seats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My last flight had an older couple seated by themselves in an exit row.

They weren't especially frail or struggling to move, I would estimate their age to be around 75 and one of them was using a walking stick - again not struggling, just for some extra balance I would assume. They nodded to participate in an emergency. Clearly the FA didn't think re-seating was warranted nor did I think the situation was so poor to raise a concern, but it was definitely borderline.

Looking at it they probably should have been reseated at the gate, avoiding a far more delicate situation once onboard.

Thoughts?

Is it possible the flight attendant doing the exit briefing didn't see the passengers board using a walking stick? Ordinarily I'd expect the passengers to be moved if they needed assistance walking. (I mention 'assistance' because I also know a couple of very fit and active 75 year olds who regularly travel to go mountain walking/trekking... they carry a stick... but one of those hiker's sticks which aren't for assistance because they're frail but to well... go up mountains!)

As a fellow passenger i guess it comes down to a judgement call. Did you feel safe having them at the exit? If you did, good to go. If you didn't, I guess it's up to you to speak up (I have done so in the past where I've felt it necessary and the passenger was duly reseated).

 

[juddles]

IMHO the "elderly" shouldn't be in exit rows in little planes where they may have to manipulate the escape hatch. But maybe in big planes where there is an entire doorway, the situation is different.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

IMHO the "elderly" shouldn't be in exit rows in little planes where they may have to manipulate the escape hatch. But maybe in big planes where there is an entire doorway, the situation is different.

Define 'elderly'.

There is a lower age limit for exit row seating (for example on QF it's 15 years). Unless the airline has also specified an upper age limit, passengers must simply meet the exit row requirements.

If a passenger meets those exit row requirements, and can lift the required weight, there shouldn't be any limitation on them sitting there.

I'd be quite happy to have Robert (Bob) Reardon sitting by an overwing hatch type exit

 

[moa999]

Only the pax closest to the door is really important, the others just need to get out of the way - and i don't believe the door mechanism is that complicated/ that heavy to throw it outside (for the older types)..

Also suspect in a real emergency most would summon some extra strength

 

[drron]

Although still able to get around and lift 23kg bags quite often I have this year been refusing the offer of exit row seating-1 on Rex 1 on VA.
I think there are plenty of others who could do the job better.
I don't though think of myself as elderly.Elderly is someone 5 years older than me.I am 68.I think when I am 78 the same situation will apply.

 

[Ikara]

As someone who is (as you say) "on the higher end of the spectrum" at 68, I'd match my ability quite happily against some of those on the lower end of the spectrum. For a start I ACTUALLY listen to the briefing and READ the card, even though I occupied the exit row at least twice a week for the last 10 years of my working life! I don't notice the same attention paid to detail by some of those who are in other generation types than mine! There will come a time, and like driving I will know when that is.

JB

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As someone who is (as you say) "on the higher end of the spectrum" at 68, I'd match my ability quite happily against some of those on the lower end of the spectrum. For a start I ACTUALLY listen to the briefing and READ the card, even though I occupied the exit row at least twice a week for the last 10 years of my working life! I don't notice the same attention paid to detail by some of those who are in other generation types than mine! There will come a time, and like driving I will know when that is.

JB

I wouldn't say 68 is even 'on' the spectrum of being 'old' or elderly yet. Certainly not in 2015.

 

[RooFlyer]

My last flight had an older couple seated by themselves in an exit row.

They weren't especially frail or struggling to move, I would estimate their age to be around 75 and one of them was using a walking stick - again not struggling, just for some extra balance I would assume. They nodded to participate in an emergency. Clearly the FA didn't think re-seating was warranted nor did I think the situation was so poor to raise a concern, but it was definitely borderline.

Looking at it they probably should have been reseated at the gate, avoiding a far more delicate situation once onboard.

Thoughts?

If one of them was using a walking stick, it would have had to have been stowed in the overhead locker (no matter the pax's age). If an emergency exit is called for ... then what?

A safety fail for me and I'm seeing more and more of these - such as laptops being allowed to stay on some-ones lap, in clear line of sight of the FAs during taxi and take-off. This was on a US Air flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A safety fail for me and I'm seeing more and more of these - such as laptops being allowed to stay on some-ones lap, in clear line of sight of the FAs during taxi and take-off. This was on a US Air flight.

did you ask the passenger to stow it?

 

[$CJ]

I don't notice the same attention paid to detail by some of those who are in other generation types than mine!

Really good point, I didn't want my post to be twelve paragraphs long, but the couple was not particularly well engaged with either the card or the "chat" as you see often with the younger crowd and any other age. It was also obvious they were not regular flyers, probably more focused on simply getting seated and what comes next etc. I guess added further on top of that was the question of their ability to physically operate the emergency exit. Age as a number alone was not the concern here and as an example I would have no concern with a healthy switched on 80 year old in the seat. But that's exactly the question, you can kick a 14 year old out of the exit row - the guideline is arbitrary but clear nonetheless. Anyone older it gets more complicated, it's harder to kick someone out because they seem a bit disinterested, confused or not spritely enough, there is no clear line to draw.

 

[RooFlyer]

did you ask the passenger to stow it?

No. To be honest, I was expecting the FAs to tell him as they were coming through for final check; it was biz so you expect a bit of latitude. But they simply walked past, sat down, buckled up and we were on take-off roll.

In the pic you can see the senior FA by the door giving me a dirty look as I took the picture as we started to roll. Harder to see, but the other FA has her phone in her hands!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No. To be honest, I was expecting the FAs to tell him as they were coming through for final check; it was biz so you expect a bit of latitude. But they simply walked past, sat down, buckled up and we were on take-off roll.

In the pic you can see the senior FA by the door giving me a dirty look as I took the picture as we started to roll. Harder to see, but the other FA has her phone in her hands!

Yeah, difficult. I guess it comes down to an immediate risk assessment. Thankfully I've only had a couple of instances where I've thought the issue warranted action (crew dealt with one, I intervened with the other).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

A window of an exit row is 22 to 25 kgs, and that weight, I have tried to lift where I do some work, and man/woman, 22 kgs to 25 kgs is very heavy.
Lucky there was no emergency, other wise those 2 will be deep poo.
But I guess they paid their $$$ and that made the airline happy, so they were given the exit row seats.
More so, could they have swam? Imagine flying over the pond to NZ and something happened!!!

 

[Anna]

Once on a transpac flight last century in Y (pre AFF ) I was in the exit row when one of the other people was turfed out by the FA so that an elderly woman with an entirely bandaged leg could be put there. We were told 'she has burnt her leg and she can't straighten it to fit under the seat in front'. The safety issue apparently didn't occur to him.

 

[BAM1748]

I find QF do a pretty good job at controlling the exit rows.

They do check bags are up top and everything off laps, once after giving the special exit row talk there was someone 'playing' or doing something on a phone, she politely ask him to put it away and pay attention and then did the talk again in front of everyone but looked only at him.

But once taking off in Peru people were not even seated and we were rolling and leaving the ground. (but there were special circumstances we had to rush)

Matt