Exit row eligibility

I have recently flown ADL-PER-ADL and on both flights, the same elderly gentleman was in the exit row seats. He was highly obese and very slow-moving (almost shuffling along; pretty much everyone overtook him easily on the aerobridge and he leant on most of the rows of seats on his way to the exit row). When the gate crew and the flight crew asked him if he was ready, willing and able to assist in an emergency, I heard him say "yes" despite the clear evidence that he was certain to be a hazard in the event of any need to evacuate the aircraft, so the crew did nothing. What are the rules these days? Could they (and should they?) have insisted that he move to a different row?

From the Qantas website:

be willing and able to move quickly and assist crew in an emergency situation

be physically able to reach, open, lift and throw out an emergency exit up to twenty (20) kgs

and:

Qantas has the sole discretion, at check-in, boarding, or onboard, to determine whether a passenger meets the requirements to sit in an exit row seat. If the passenger does not meet the requirements, they will be assigned a different seat

There are 11 conditions listed on the Qantas website, I have quoted two as from your description they were the most appropriate

Thanks, Becky - this was Virgin rather than Qantas, but in either case, do crews ever actually enforce those clauses? I’ve never seen it happen, and it looked to me to be blindingly obvious that he should have been moved

I just used Qantas as an example, I knew where on their website to look, I would assume every other airline around the globe (including VA) would have something very similar. The only other thing I could think of is the number of lawyers who would be tripping over themselves to represent the guy in court for discrimination if the cabin crew were to move him. Afterall, he did get to his seat on his own, and it is fairly easy to open those over wing emergency exits, so easy that a passenger can do it. And check-in staff didn't raise any concerns either. But having said all that, I hear you.

I see it far too many times, people who are simply not able to do what is required should the situation arise, recently a very frail old couple who couldn’t even put their own bags in the over head locker, I couldn’t believe they didn’t ask them to move, but let’s face it, exit rows are now a way of making extra money so not much else matters, and who wants to go through the hassle of giving them a refund, so they just say nothing.

It can and does happen, my elderly father was moved out of an exit row last week. To be fair, it was an honest mistake as he didn’t realise he had reserved an exit row seat at the time of booking and willing moved upon boarding.

It can and does happen, my elderly father was moved out of an exit row last week. To be fair, it was an honest mistake as he didn’t realise he had reserved an exit row seat at the time of booking and willing moved upon boarding.

Thanks, Becky - I don't know what was said at check-in, but I could see the face of the gate staff member when she asked, and although she didn't look too happy when he claimed to be fit and able, they didn't do anything about it. He may have been able to open the exit in an emergency if it was the type that's hinged at the top and opens outwards (rather than the type you have to physically remove and throw out, in which case I would have said there was no chance whatsoever!) but I have my doubts about his chances of physically fitting through the exit itself!

Managing this in the safety interests of the passengers and crew as a whole needs to be a priority ahead of the possibility of offending someone......

Thanks, MrT - did your father reply "no" to the "are you willing and able to assist..." question, and was then moved as a result, or did the cabin crew just instruct him to move?

There may be some bending of rules, but from other hand he (elderly person) may be paying exit row fee to have as least some comfort (or better say not so much discomfort). I am really sorry for elderly weak people who cannot afford even PE and forced to fly in sardine can. Do not get on them - earlier or later you will be in their shoes.

Excellent observation and question. Thank-you.

Big surprise flying SQ SIN-ADL the other day; a very large teenager wedged himself into the seat next to me in the exit row during boarding (he couldn't sit all the way back in the seat and his hips were pushing both of the fixed armrest panels outwards), only to be told by the cabin crew that the Cabin Manager required him to be sat elsewhere for takeoff and landing as he was a safety hazard in the event of an evacuation. He disappeared elsewhere and didn't return for the entire trip - the ability to raise the armrests in the "standard" seat to which he was moved was probably an incentive for him to remain there. First time that I've seen this happen!