Do you rest your legs on the escape shute?

[Mal Ware]

Just wondering about other peoples experiences when sitting in an exit row on an A330 (or other aircraft that have similar) when you are near to the window and have the large semi cirlce shaped structure for the emergency exit escapde slide, have you rested your legs on it?

I do this quite often once underway obviously and probably more so at night time than during the day, and usually the FA's will say nothing, however the other day one of them told me to move my legs off of it, explaining that it has 2 x 120kg cylinders inside it. I felt like saying "Yeah and..." but I just moved my legs.

Resting your legs on one of these will not cause any damage nor will it hurt a steel cylinder.

I read the sign on it and the only thing it says is "Do not sit here", it says nothing about resting your legs on it and most FA don't seem to mind.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[oz_mark]

Anyone else have similar experiences?

Yep - it has happened before: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....questions/told-off-putting-legs-up-29394.html

 

[dodgeyhack]

explaining that it has 2 x 120kg cylinders inside it. I felt like saying "Yeah and..." but I just moved my legs.

Resting your legs on one of these will not cause any damage nor will it hurt a steel cylinder.

I'd take that description with a grain of salt.
From what I've seen there's a rolled up slide in there and relatively small canisters to kick off the inflation process - with mostly outside air being sucked in.

From Evacuation slide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Once made of steel, most cylinders now are made of aluminum or alloy cores wrapped with fiberglass, or other lightweight, fuel saving materials.

 

[A330]

I have done so myself on an A333, and seen others do so on an A380 with no issues. I think I also managed to on a 77W but it wasn't too comfortable.

I would say the reasoning for not sitting there is in case of emergency?

 

[Cynicor]

We do it all the time on the Per-Sin run and vv. it's the only seat pair in Y that I like.

Got told off once, but generally not, I think those doing the telling off a just a bit cough/odd, but maybe it's the protocol and the rule is there for a reason. Not sure...

 

[markis10]

I have done so myself on an A333, and seen others do so on an A380 with no issues. I think I also managed to on a 77W but it wasn't too comfortable.

I would say the reasoning for not sitting there is in case of emergency?

I would suggest this post is pretty definitive:

The slide bustle is not strong on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft by design.

Remember in an emergency that slide/raft will be ripped out from it in a matter of seconds.

It's simply a protective cover over the slide, while not impeding it's deployment in an emergency.

You don't want to encourage people to sit on it or store things around it. It's an emergency equipment item and should be left alone.

I also prefer to travel on flights where a passengers response to a crew request is not prefixed with "but", the past has seen too many people killed by those that thought they knew better or were just thinking of themselves, sadly I dont have much say with that preference at times.

 

[docjames]

I dislike it when others do it, and don't do it personally. From the safety point of view, plus I don't put my feet on other people's stuff.

Having said that, I'm not going to get into an argument about it, but I like when safety related rules are enforced.

 

[lovestotravel]

I dislike it when others do it, and don't do it personally. From the safety point of view, plus I don't put my feet on other people's stuff.

Having said that, I'm not going to get into an argument about it, but I like when safety related rules are enforced.

Yep that's exactly how I feel

 

[EmilyHoward]

I don't think I would rest my legs there especially if I had a short skirt on.

EH

 

[simongr]

I would suggest this post is pretty definitive:

I also prefer to travel on flights where a passengers response to a crew request is not prefixed with "but", the past has seen too many people killed by those that thought they knew better or were just thinking of themselves, sadly I dont have much say with that preference at times.

Apologies for the lack of double quote back to milehigh's post but MH did not say one could not rest your legs on the cover - just not store anything around it or sit on it.

If it is about to be deployed I think it is likely that people might have removed their feet already - I wouldn't be sitting with my feet up in an emergency landing (you would probably be in the brace position).

 

[markis10]

Apologies for the lack of double quote back to milehigh's post but MH did not say one could not rest your legs on the cover - just not store anything around it or sit on it.

If it is about to be deployed I think it is likely that people might have removed their feet already - I wouldn't be sitting with my feet up in an emergency landing (you would probably be in the brace position).

MH said its Emergency Equipment and it should be left alone, that includes sitting on it or storing equipment nearby, in addition to an earlier post that stated:

The bustles are not very strong, so any weight on it has the potential to damage the slide/raft.

 

[serfty]

Are there not stickers on the cowlings telling people not to rest anything on them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are there not stickers on the cowlings telling people not to rest anything on them?

i think the sign is 'do not sit' or similar

 

[lovestotravel]

Are there not stickers on the cowlings telling people not to rest anything on them?

I have definitely seen No feet, No sitting etc signs

 

[Mal Ware]

i think the sign is 'do not sit' or similar

That is what it says.

Resting your feet on it causes no harm or safety risk, as mentioned if there were an emergency I am sure not many people would be resting their feet there, same goes for take off and landing. I only do it mid flight and most FA do not seem to mind.

I think the guy that told me to remove my feet was either bored or just wanted to issue a directive to someone. Anyway, I was compliant and moved my feet, it was nearing the end of the flight anyway and had already had a sleep, at least he didn't wake me up to do it.

I will continue to do it as it is not harming anyone.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

That is what it says.

Resting your feet on it causes no harm or safety risk, as mentioned if there were an emergency I am sure not many people would be resting their feet there, same goes for take off and landing. I only do it mid flight and most FA do not seem to mind.

I think the guy that told me to remove my feet was either bored or just wanted to issue a directive to someone. Anyway, I was compliant and moved my feet, it was nearing the end of the flight anyway and had already had a sleep, at least he didn't wake me up to do it.

I will continue to do it as it is not harming anyone.

Your reasons for putting your feet up on the on the exit door are just the same as people reclining their seats - "it causes no harm or safety risk" and "they only do it mid-flight".

* Ducks & runs *

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That is what it says.

Resting your feet on it causes no harm or safety risk, as mentioned if there were an emergency I am sure not many people would be resting their feet there, same goes for take off and landing. I only do it mid flight and most FA do not seem to mind.

I think the guy that told me to remove my feet was either bored or just wanted to issue a directive to someone. Anyway, I was compliant and moved my feet, it was nearing the end of the flight anyway and had already had a sleep, at least he didn't wake me up to do it.

I will continue to do it as it is not harming anyone.

as people have said, it has nothing to do with an emergency situation and you not having your feet there during an emergency.

the fact is that the slide cover is designed to come off very easily, and because of that its not a good idea to apply weight to it. weight could dislodge the cover which might later prevent the correct operation of the slide or at worst, the cover could come off entirely (and later interfere with the correct operation of the slide).

if it says 'do not sit' would you allow a child to sit there? if you wouldn't, why would you place a pair of legs there that would weigh as much as a child?

again I wonder if refusal to follow lawful instructions is somehow linked to my hypothesis on the seat recline debate? self esteem/victimisation issues (i was picked on solely because the 'person in charge' wanted 'issue a directive to someone') and loss of control (having to comply)?

the fact is the cabin crew are just passing on a safety related instruction, with no intention to single out or belittle anyone, but that's how it's been interpreted.

(I appreciate mal ware is only winding us up with his comments so everyone should read the above in the same light )

 

[Mal]

Just wondering about other peoples experiences when sitting in an exit row on an A330 (or other aircraft that have similar) when you are near to the window and have the large semi cirlce shaped structure for the emergency exit escapde slide, have you rested your legs on it?

No. I respect the escape equipment onboard and would never do this.

I do this quite often once underway obviously and probably more so at night time than during the day, and usually the FA's will say nothing, however the other day one of them told me to move my legs off of it, explaining that it has 2 x 120kg cylinders inside it. I felt like saying "Yeah and..." but I just moved my legs.

Go on, please say "Yeah and". Crew instructions must be followed by law.

Resting your legs on one of these will not cause any damage nor will it hurt a steel cylinder.

[/QUOTE]

So you know this for sure? Where is it written?

 

[Mal Ware]

So close, nearly made 2 full pages before anyone started trolling.

Oh well, it was good up until then.

Won't be replying to last 3 posts, every time I get baited here it is me who ends up with an infraction or warning.

Not this time.

 

[AVC]

Once one of those chutes blows, the cover isn't going to stop it, broken or otherwise.

That said, it's impolite to put your feet on something not designed to put your feet on (seats, backs of seats, coffee tables, aircraft doors)

THAT said, if the airline didn't want feet on them, they should put clearer signage, or angle the top, or put barbed wire or something on top. Maybe some of those little sticks that stop birds landing on street lights...