Exit rows - Y - clarification of policy

Hi guys

I just want to check something regarding the exit row seats on a 747, the ones by the door bustle, i.e. 39/49A, etc.

When I started flying with VS 2-3 years back, if travelling on my own, I used to be able to get these seats free at checkin.

When I met my current partner, we then started travelling together, going for (e.g.) 38A+B using the 'buy one get one free' deal. Fine.

However the last time I flew on my own in Y, I asked for 38 or 49A and was told I could only have this seat if I had been travelling with someone else buying B or C, i.e. only as part of the BOGOF deal.

So is it now definetely policy that 38A/49 A and their equivalents are not given out at checkin unless you're travelling with someone buying an exit row seat? Or can the checkin staff let you have them?

Cheers
Andy

[mitchja]

I know that every exit row needs to have someone sat in them during take-off and landing and that the pax sat in them need to be over the age of 17 and are willing to accept the responsibility that comes with sitting in an exit row seat.

On my recent A346 flights some exit rows seats were not taken so the crew asked people to move there before departure. Most of them actually remained there during the entire flight.

I cannot understand why VS would deny you an exit row seat when you were on your own as even if VS didn't sell the seats next to you, the crew would simply ask people to move before take off.

VS check-in at HKG were happy to offer me a seat next to the door FOC for my flight to LHR (seat 51A or 51K on the A346's). I was on my own as well.

Regards

Given that whoever sits in the A or K seat on these exit rows has significantly less legroom than the B/C or H/J seats, due to the evacuation slide housing on the door, I can see why VS want to make sure you know the person you are sitting next to.

Maybe VS had complaints from pax who were paying £50 each for the B/C or H/J exit row seats - only to find that the person in the A or K seat was "infringing" on the legroom of the person in the middle seat, who had paid for the extra legroom? Just a thought. If you are travelling as a couple / group or 3, you are not going to complain if your partner / friends legs stray into "your" space.

If you want the window seat where the chute makes the door stick out a bit, you'll only get this as part of the buy on get one free now regardless what aircraft type you're on.

It has nothing to do with knowing who you're sitting next to, it's a marketing ploy as it's unfair to charge for that seat. These are often the first seats to be sold, typically as when a couple travels only one of them really wants an exit row and this is the perfect solution.

Originally posted by Lipstick
If you want the window seat where the chute makes the door stick out a bit, you'll only get this as part of the buy on get one free now regardless what aircraft type you're on.

It has nothing to do with knowing who you're sitting next to, it's a marketing ploy as it's unfair to charge for that seat. These are often the first seats to be sold, typically as when a couple travels only one of them really wants an exit row and this is the perfect solution.

I dont see the logic of this at all?

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Lipstick
If you want the window seat where the chute makes the door stick out a bit, you'll only get this as part of the buy on get one free now regardless what aircraft type you're on.

This is not the case at HKG as as I said in my first post as I was offered one of these seats and I was on my own. I turned it down but ended up with an over-wing exit row anyway.

Regards

I actually ended up getting the BOGOF 'deal' on these seats on an Airbus...bad move [B)]. I'd rather have taken non-exit row as it really did reduce my legroom and only being small (5'3" (and a tater as my dad says)) that's not good. Of course the middle seat is fine, but when you are travelling with someone else and you plump for the window seat, it's not the best. You live and learn.

Originally posted by Lipstick
If you want the window seat where the chute makes the door stick out a bit, you'll only get this as part of the buy on get one free now regardless what aircraft type you're on.

It has nothing to do with knowing who you're sitting next to, it's a marketing ploy as it's unfair to charge for that seat. These are often the first seats to be sold, typically as when a couple travels only one of them really wants an exit row and this is the perfect solution.

Thanks for that Lipstick - that's what I assumed was now the case. It annoys me though, as I actually prefer the seat with the door bustle if I'm travelling on my own, so this means I'm forced into paying £75 to take (what to me is) the next best seat and have the aisle where you're constantly having your elbows knocked.

[[/quote]
It annoys me though, as I actually prefer the seat with the door bustle if I'm travelling on my own, so this means I'm forced into paying £75 to take (what to me is) the next best seat and have the aisle where you're constantly having your elbows knocked.
[/quote]

It was £50 when I did it on a NYC run. Not sure if it differs per route? [:?]

Hi...yeah I think it's £75 now for West Coast...disgusting price hike from £50..but hey, as long as people/mugs like me pay for it!

I have never heard that you must be travelling with someone else in order to get the A or K seat.

You must have a had an over protective check in agent.

In future you should be able to A or K seat at no charge.

Nice one, thanks for that Declan

^^No you really can only get the AK exit row where the door sticks out as part of BOGOF.

Ah. Not good. A very very annoying policy, I have to say, that is going to really wind me up when travelling alone. I don't mind the BOGOF offer, but I mind that that is the ONLY way to get the window seats. What also annoys me is how, despite paying £75 extra, thus giving VS vastly more profit on a EC fare, you don't get any uplift in FC miles.

^Because there are so many Y fares, an extra £75 on top on top of one fare could still be hundreds of pounds less of what someone else on that flight has also paid for an economy ticket.