Airline passengers DON'T want to sit in the exit row?

[Larry in TN]

I'm pretty sure last time I was in the back of the bus on United, they would not let me slide things under the seat in front of me with the protracted gap for the exit.

United has no such policy. The FAA has no such policy for US airlines.

A random F/A could come up with any crazy rule on any particular day so I can't say that you are wrong. I believe that UAL has nearly 27,000 F/As.

The one thing that the F/A, who is properly following policy, will do is make sure that any bags stowed under-seat in an exit row fits completely under the seat and leaves the path the the exit unobstructed. If you tired to stow a personal item which was too large to fit completely under the seat, it would be proper for them to tell you it must go in the overhead.

 

[StraightnLevel]

Not sure about southwest as I usually fly delta or united and

You may want to look into that a little further beyond AI. Delta, American, United, and Southwest all prohibit personal items stored under the seat in front of you during take off and landing in the exit rows. I’m not sure about other airlines but that’s been my experience as well as their stated policy.

Delta does not prohibit under-seat stowage in exit rows.

Anything stowed must fit completely underneath the seat in front of you, but it's absolutely allowed. It is not allowed to have any cables (USB, headphone) across the seat row or anything on the floor that is not fully under the forward seat, however, during taxi, takeoff, and landing.

[I'm a Delta Diamond Medallion million-miler, and I sit in exit row or bulkhead seats on the majority of my flights.]

 

[dmspilot]

I used the AI search to identify countries that prohibit under-seat stowage in exit rows of their country's airlines. I knew from personal experience that the FAA does not.

Yes, you used AI to ask about airlines in other countries. He either didn't read your post carefully or is just trying to be difficult. The latter might be the real problem.

 

[kmacht]

Not sure what to say other than every flight I have been on and sat in the exit row the past few years the flight attendants did not allow any bags to be stowed under the seat in front and made people put that stuff in the overhead bins during takeoff and landing. Seems like others may have had different experiences for some reason.

 

[jordane93]

Not sure what to say other than every flight I have been on and sat in the exit row the past few years the flight attendants did not allow any bags to be stowed under the seat in front and made people put that stuff in the overhead bins during takeoff and landing. Seems like others may have had different experiences for some reason.

Could have been their bags were too bag or obstructing part of the exit row. In that case, yes you’d have to put your bag in an overhead bin. I’ve been in an exit row on all the airlines you mentioned and never had an FA say I couldn’t put a bag underneath the seat if it fits.

 

[midwestpa24]

Not sure what to say other than every flight I have been on and sat in the exit row the past few years the flight attendants did not allow any bags to be stowed under the seat in front and made people put that stuff in the overhead bins during takeoff and landing. Seems like others may have had different experiences for some reason.

I fly a lot, often in exit rows, never had a problem with a bag under the seat in front of me unless it was a bulkhead seat, because no seat in front of you.

Could have been their bags were too bag or obstructing part of the exit row. In that case, yes you’d have to put your bag in an overhead bin. I’ve been in an exit row on all the airlines you mentioned and never had an FA say I couldn’t put a bag underneath the seat if it fits.

This^ If you've been told to put your bag overhead, it's because it is too big to go under and is sticking out, posing a trip hazard.

 

[flyingron]

The seat I'm talking about wasn't a bulkhead, but wasn't a regular exit row. It was my seat, the door, and then the row of seats in front. Essentially there's like 4' before you get to the next row. I'd have to unbuckle my seatbelt to go retrieve the bag, but it was fully under the seat (distantly) in front of me.

 

[Lindberg]

Not on the 737, at least not on the seats for any US airline that I've seen. They have seat-back tray tables that extend aft to reach you and normal seat arm rests. I don't like the in-armrest tray tables, either.

Southwest has the armrest tray table in the Jesus seat. Which, keeping with the topic, I've been able to get sometimes in B boarding group. I'm always surprised when that happens.

 

[Larry in TN]

The seat I'm talking about wasn't a bulkhead, but wasn't a regular exit row. It was my seat, the door, and then the row of seats in front. Essentially there's like 4' before you get to the next row. I'd have to unbuckle my seatbelt to go retrieve the bag, but it was fully under the seat (distantly) in front of me.

That sounds like a widebody configuration. What airplane was it?

American's (Eagle) CRJ-700s have a very long gap at the exit row, and the tray table in the arm rest, but they still allow a carry-on bag under the seat in front. No chance of reaching is with the seatbelt on.

Southwest has the armrest tray table in the Jesus seat.

Right, I forgot about that one. Strange configuration where they have an exit-row row with two seats and an open space where the third seat would go. That one seat is two rows behind the seat "in front of you".

I commute on AA, SW, and UA. On SW, jumpseaters pre-board so we can't sit in an exit row. Will be interesting to see what happens when they reconfigure their cabins for assigned seats and extra legroom seats. Their F/As can't wait!

 

[pfarber]

including China Airlines, which explicitly prohibits stowing bags under the seat in emergency exit rows"

As someone who has flown on many Chinese airlines.... 'the rules' are mere vague suggestions.

I've been on flights where people are lined up at the main door with bags to get off... before we exited the runway.

I actually felt bad for the flight attendants.

 

[Larry in TN]

As someone who has flown on many Chinese airlines.... 'the rules' are mere vague suggestions.

I've never been to China but I've heard that the Chinese like making rules, but they don't like following them.

 

[Pinecone]

Easy, just don't fly South West.

Many times I have done the comparison, they are NOT the cheapest. But you get less.

I like the leg room of the exit row, but I don't like that I have to put all my carry on up in the bins, then get them down for the flight and then back up for landing. Also, I prefer window seats, and many of the exit row have a miniature arm rest on the fuselage side.

 

[Larry in TN]

I like the leg room of the exit row, but I don't like that I have to put all my carry on up in the bins, then get them down for the flight and then back up for landing. Also, I prefer window seats, and many of the exit row have a miniature arm rest on the fuselage side.

Southwest does not prohibit under-seat stowage in the exit row. It is only the seat, without a seat in front of it, that is restricted and that's only in the 737-700. The seat maps will be reconfigured soon so that may change, even on the -700.

Here is their page with their exit row restrictions. https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/emergency-exit-seating-qualifications

 

[Lindberg]

Southwest does not prohibit under-seat stowage in the exit row. It is only the seat, without a seat in front of it, that is restricted and that's only in the 737-700. The seat maps will be reconfigured soon so that may change, even on the -700.

Here is their page with their exit row restrictions. https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/emergency-exit-seating-qualifications

Stop encouraging them. The more people who believe OWTs about the exit rows, the more likely I am to get one.

 

[Pinecone]

Not sure what to say other than every flight I have been on and sat in the exit row the past few years the flight attendants did not allow any bags to be stowed under the seat in front and made people put that stuff in the overhead bins during takeoff and landing. Seems like others may have had different experiences for some reason.

That has been my experience. Delta, United, American. I don't fly Southwest.

I wonder if this was changed at some point. I have not flown in an exit row in a lot of years. I normally fly in the nice seats near the front.

 

[Wingsofglass]

Sorry. I think I’m in the wrong place. I must have accidentally typed passengersofamerica.com

The awesomeness of exit row seating varies dramatically by equipment and row. Might I suggest seatguru.com.

 

[geezer]

The occupant of seat 11A on the Dreamliner in India had a valuable advantage over the rest of the passengers.

He is certain that the disadvantages were not long lasting. He did exit without his carry on, and his brother was also left behind.

Surprised that no one had already noted this, here.

I have always preferred either an exit seat, or one with unrestricted visibility of terrain flown over.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I can usually get the exit row for free on most airlines when traveling for work but usually skip it. The reason for me is that you arent allowed any under seat storage in those rows. I usually travel with my laptop and a backpack to get work done while flying. I don't want to keep having to get up to get things out of my backpack in the overhead bin. It's a pain and not worth the little extra leg room.

Not sure about southwest as I usually fly delta or united and

You may want to look into that a little further beyond AI. Delta, American, United, and Southwest all prohibit personal items stored under the seat in front of you during take off and landing in the exit rows. I’m not sure about other airlines but that’s been my experience as well as their stated policy.

I'm pretty sure last time I was in the back of the bus on United, they would not let me slide things under the seat in front of me with the protracted gap for the exit.

My experience, as of last week, was that it had to entirely fit under the seat in front of you (Domestic UAL).

The seat I'm talking about wasn't a bulkhead, but wasn't a regular exit row. It was my seat, the door, and then the row of seats in front. Essentially there's like 4' before you get to the next row. I'd have to unbuckle my seatbelt to go retrieve the bag, but it was fully under the seat (distantly) in front of me.

That seems like it was a boarding door (or otherwise used to service the plane). I've seen catering trucks- the ones that lift the box on scissor lifts- use those doors. My experience is that it is uncommon to find an opening in the bulkhead in such a row to slide anything under. I favor those seats on long-haul flights because I can easily get out of my seat and back without disturbing people. As much of the flight is during night, I can use the side of the plane as a pillow, and the lack of a window isn't important over the ocean at night. On 787's the crew often dim the windows for you. Sometimes, a passenger can't undim them. I find that a minor annoyance coming from Europe. The down-side is that, as mentioned, everything needs to go in the overhead bins and it is less accessible. Fortunately, I have enough status I can get overhead space as boarding group 1.

As someone who has flown on many Chinese airlines.... 'the rules' are mere vague suggestions.

I've been on flights where people are lined up at the main door with bags to get off... before we exited the runway.

I actually felt bad for the flight attendants.

I really haven't seen anything worse than what I've seen on USA domestic flights. I'll have more observations in a few weeks...