Open seating can put emergency row in dispute (Southwest Airlines)

[PfcHammer]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-06-14-southwest_x.htm

Open seating can put emergency row in dispute
By Marilyn Adams, USA TODAY

Fliers love the emergency exit row. There's the extra legroom. Plus, they know in a crisis they can just lean over and pull the door handle to escape.

At Southwest Airlines, the only major airline with open seating, the emergency exit row has become a battleground. Federal law forbids putting people in that row who have physical impairments that could prevent them from opening the door, which can weigh up to 46 pounds.

Yet recently, the Federal Aviation Administration censured the Dallas-based discounter for doing just that: allowing someone without the use of an arm to sit in that row.

Southwest acknowledges the lapse and says it's beefing up flight attendant training. It's also giving passengers more information about exit-row rules.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Exceptions to Disability laws have been used in employment, so why

not something that is obviously safety oriented? In employment the exceptions are called BFOQ's for Bono Fide Occupational Qualification. This is where I would side with reason.

[BiggJawn]

2. "...just lean over and pull the door handle..."

S'Yeah, Right....Provided you survive the initial impact and there isn't a Hell-storm going on out there from the fuel...

I must have missed something there. They have rules about who cannot sit in the exit row, right? Just say "I'm sorry, but FAA rules prohibit you from sitting there. I'll be more than happy to give you their phone number when we land, but I don't make the rules, I just help people obey them..."

Of course, that is assuming that you have a rational, sober person in the seat, and from what I've seen the last few times I've flown, that may not be a given anymore....

[brook]

3. Several decades ago...

It was a matter of routine for us to ask passengers who were either familiar with emergency procedures (or able to assist) to please take the seats adjacent to the emergency exits on every flight.

[pennylane100]

4. I hate flying and alway stay away from the emergency exit.

I think the door will open suddenly and I will fall out.

[JayS]

5. It won't open suddenly as it opens against...

...the wind. Occasionally gremlins will open it and pull you out, but that is a different matter. :)