Are airlines no longer allowed to discriminate on exit-row passengers?

[Quartz]

I always try to get the over-the-wing exit row seats. Not only do I get more legroom, but being over the plane’s centre of gravity, I get a smoother ride. Of course, if there’s an accident, I’m far more likely to die, what with being over the fuel tanks and all.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Bozuit

Hmm what?

Flight attendants.

[Tom_Tildrum]

@Richard_Pearse

The mid fuselage exits should be turned and thrown out of the aircraft so that they don’t impede the evacuation. Note that some aircraft have mid fuselage exits that open outward and don’t need to be discarded by the passengers.

The emergency cards you’ve seen were perhaps misleading in their attempt at having simple to follow pictorial instructions. All of the emergency exit row briefs I’ve experienced as a passenger have included the instruction to throw the exit out. And yes you’re right, nobody cares about the condition of the aircraft. If the aircraft is likely to fly again then it would probably be an orderly “precautionary disembarkation” out the normal exits.

This one here shows the door being thrown out the window. http://www.airlinesafetycards.be/images/safety%20cards/martinair%20a320%20overwing%20emergency%20exits.jpg

Here are cards from an American 767 and a Delta 757 showing the window-exit door being placed on the seats. On the other hand, here is one from a JetBlue A320 that shows it being thrown outside. I have noticed disagreement among US airlines on this point, and I once asked a flight attendant about it, on an airline where the card said to lay it on the seat. She told me that that airline’s concern was that the exit door might become an obstacle to evacuation if it was pitched outside.

[BlinkingDuck]

@Richard_Pearse

Really? All the exit briefs I’ve had, the exit window passengers open the window then get out and guide passengers from the ground, they’re not expected to stay in the plane, if they did they’d create a blockage around the exit, exactly what you don’t want.

I actually asked this once when asked this question while in an exit row seat.

The FA said that I was to go through the door as otherwise I would be partially blocking the exit route. What they wanted was for me to open the door, get rid of the door in a way that wouldn’t block traffic or be a hazard and go through. Helping people at the bottom would be fine.

Whether the FA was correct, I cannot say but it was the answer I received.

[Duckster]

@Disposable Hero

This person further stated that due to anti-discrimination laws they are no longer allowed to do so.

Is an airline allowed to lawfully discriminate as to who may sit in an exit row?

Yes. The FAA regs posted elsewhere in this thread offer details.

Is it unlawful discrimination to prevent someone from sitting in an exit row who may be physically incapable of assisting others in an emergency aboard commercial aircraft?

No. The FAA regs posted elsewhere in this thread offer details.

[Richard_Pearse]

@BlinkingDuck

I actually asked this once when asked this question while in an exit row seat.

The FA said that I was to go through the door as otherwise I would be partially blocking the exit route. What they wanted was for me to open the door, get rid of the door in a way that wouldn’t block traffic or be a hazard and go through. Helping people at the bottom would be fine.

Whether the FA was correct, I cannot say but it was the answer I received.

That is the answer that our cabin crew would give as well.

I’m glad you clarified. It was probably gratifying for the FA to see someone actually paying attention to the brief, and if something had gone wrong you would probably have had a good idea of what to do.

[mnemosyne]

@md2000

IIRC from what I’ve heard stewardii ask, the big question is can you pull the handle and actually heft that door that may weigh a few pounds, turn it sideways and toss it or put it on the exit row?

Having recently had occasion to move around doors (EDIT: overwing emergency exit doors, to clarify!) from a CRJ-200 and a CL-605 (literally, move them from one spot to another in a hangar), I was actually moderately surprised to see just how heavy they were (and these were green, without the additional pound or two of internal liner on them).

I’m not all that fit, but I’m not a total weakling either, and I’m of above average height for a woman (5’6"). I can easily see someone smaller than me - or overall weaker than I am - having trouble moving and manipulating those doors. The handle positions are somewhat awkward and the door height is such that grabbing them top-and-bottom is also somewhat difficult.

I know the extra leg room is nice and all, but if you really don’t think you can do it, please leave that seat to someone who can! (not directed at you, md2000, just commenting in general )