What must one do for an exit row?

[Groundfeeder]

On my last 6 trips, usually BNE-CNS-BNE, I have been OLCI allocated B738 exit row most times as seq.<5.

When I've dipped out and got rows 5 to 8 window, I ask at the QP Bag Drop whether exit row window is available and have been granted such twice now. Have been travelling most times this year on K ticket and get CIP on BP for my troubles.

[kkutasi]

this is one of the world's great mysteries!

as a QF SG, i have never expected an exit row, so never worried about it. now in the last month i have scored an exit row twice - both on the ADL-MEL leg of a PER-ADL-MEL trip.

both planes were full, both times i travelled in Discount Y and once i did OLCI and the other time i did QC. so i am now none the wiser

... but not complaining about the exit row allocations!

[Rizzamabob]

Am I one of the only people that like being in front of the bulkhead? Although the seat can't recline that much due to the wall behind, I actually love the seat. It's best when its just a 2 row set. I can chuck all my stuff behind the seat and I know it won't move. I only like this seat if I can get the window.

[Chris_Leo]

Hmmm, after reading all these emails, now I understand why I've been getting exit row seats on every domestic flight since October this year. I thought it was luck at first, but now I know better.

Well, can't complain!!! Now I wish this happened automatically on my international flights!!!

Chris

[crazydave98]

On the international side, Singapore Airlines announced yesterday that they will now be charging for guaranteed exit row seating on all flights except short-haul routes within Southeast Asia, and flights served by Boeing B777-200ER aircraft (does not have seats located in exit rows). Must be learning a thing or two from Tiger.
cheers
CrazyDave98

Singapore Airlines -- News Releases

Singapore Airlines To Offer Preferred Seat Selection

3 November 2008
Singapore Airlines customers making Economy Class bookings on singaporeair.com now have the additional choice of guaranteeing themselves a Preferred Seat, with the introduction of Preferred Seat Selection. Currently, Preferred Seats available for allocation are located in exit rows.

Customers will be offered an option to purchase a specific Preferred Seat, when they make their seat selection for applicable Economy Class bookings – including KrisFlyer redemption bookings – on singaporeair.com.
Customers can also purchase a Preferred Seat anytime before check-in (which begins 48 hours before flight departure), simply by retrieving their bookings on singaporeair.com.

Preferred Seats offer customers more legroom, and are now available for advance and guaranteed customer selection, for a fee of USD 50 per sector, for all Singapore Airlines flights, except short-haul routes within Southeast Asia, and flights served by Boeing B777-200ER aircraft (this aircraft does not have seats located in exit rows). Preferred Seat Selection is subject to official approval in some markets, and some local variations may apply where regulatory approvals dictate.
Other categories of Preferred Seats, that similarly offer customers more legroom, may also be made available for selection in future.
Previously, Preferred Seats were only available on a request basis, without confirmation. The new option now offers a guarantee of assignment, subject to terms and conditions, on a first come, first serve basis.

For seats located in exit rows, Singapore Airlines requires, as part of our commitment to the safety of all our customers, that those who select and occupy these seats must meet mandatory safety conditions. These prerequisites, which strictly comply with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s flight safety guidelines, require that these customers must:

• Be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the journey.
• Be fully able-bodied, and capable of opening the exit doors and moving quickly, or reaching and passing through the adjacent emergency exit.
• Be able to understand and follow the safety instructions in English.
• Be in good health at the time of check-in, boarding, and during the flight.
• Not be pregnant, or carrying infants, or using an infant seat belt.
• Not be under the influence of any intoxicating substance at check-in, boarding, and during the flight, as determined by ground and cabin crew.
• Not require an extension seat belt because of large body size.

For more information on Preferred Seat Selection, and the terms and conditions that apply in the purchase of Preferred Seats, please visit singaporeair.com.
Editor’s Note

• An example: customers travelling on SQ16 to San Francisco, via Seoul, will pay USD50 to select a Preferred Seat on their flight. For customers traveling from Sydney to London via Singapore (eg. SQ222 for SYD-SIN, and subsequently SQ322 for SIN-LON) will have to pay USD100 to select Preferred Seats on both legs (i.e. SYD-SIN and SIN-LON), as each leg is considered one sector.
• There are no seats on the exit rows on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
• Preferred Seat Selection is not available on the All Business-Class Airbus A340-500 aircraft as Preferred Seats are only available in Economy Class cabins. Customers travelling in Business or First Class, or the Singapore Airlines Suites, enjoy specific seat selection at any time from the time of booking, with no additional charge.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by serfty

WP and CL can call and ask for an exit row request to be submitted - such requests are normally granted.

Or granted, then removed inexplicably on check-in, with the excuse that "you can not request an exit row and that exit row has now been given to someone else"...

...until you get to the F Lounge 2 hours later and manage to get your exit row back in about 2 mins....because it never had been given to someone else.

(Note I'm never a jerk when it comes to airline staff. Always very, very nice. I do actually believe the check-in lady was telling the truth from her POV, and couldn't do anything for me. In the end it was all sorted out anyway. ).

(Fingers crossed I keep my 46C SYD-LAX-SYD in a few weeks!)

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Febs

Or granted, then removed inexplicably on check-in, with the excuse that "you can not request an exit row and that exit row has now been given to someone else"...

...until you get to the F Lounge 2 hours later and manage to get your exit row back in about 2 mins....because it never had been given to someone else.

Did you read about my experience back in June? It took a bit longer than 2 minutes to get my pre-allocated exit row back.

[bambbbam2]

Perhaps only being 5'8'', I have never worried about an exit row.

I would rather 10x a seat down the back with an empty middle than be squashed up front in an exit row.

[serfty]

Originally Posted by bambbbam2

... I would rather 10x a seat down the back with an empty middle than be squashed up front in an exit row.

Perhaps you are confusing a bulk head with this?

Most exit seats on 747's/388's have a metre or two of free space in front!

[Flashware]

I think he is implying that due to everyone requesting an exit row.... he would rather have a middle seat spare up the back, than have some legroom in an exit row with no middle seat...