Revenue-hungry airline to charge for aisle seats

[Delthefunky]

An extra charge to sit near an Emergency Exit... I'm sure some people are going to pay for it but why? There's faith in the company...

[4X4]

The emergency exits usually have more legroom... I (being 6'2") always try to get the emergency exit row. Costs the same but my knees don't touch the seat in front of me.

That, and the stewardess gives a nice little demo on how to open the whachamacallit.

[Tron_fdc]

Charging for Emerg exits is wrong. The last thing I wan when I'm flying is some person sitting there who can hardly tie their shoes/can't speak english that is responsible for opening an exit in the case that we crash. They should nominate people to sit in those seats, not give them to/charge people who are incapable of following instructions of the flight crew.

That being said the seats are worth paying a little extra for....as much legroom room as 1st class in some instances.

[Lurch]

Personally I'm for it - I'd pay a few $$ to sit at the emergency exit and stretch out, and I'd also pay to avoid the dreaded middle seat. There should also be a discount if the person beside you weighs more than 300 lbs.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by fotze

Exactly the one time in the history of flight that the pilot is able to gently land the plane on the ocean, I want that emergency exit guy to efficiently usher me to my shark infested death.

Hey man, I'd carry you if it happened. Unfortunately, we might be stomping over the 80 year old grandma from Hungaria that paid for her Emergency exit upgrade, and couldn't figure out how the handles worked.

[4X4]

The more I think about it, the more I understand why they'd charge more for those seats. Prime real estate if you ask me. You're guaranteed to have a window that is centered. Your view (out the window) is pretty darn good for forward viewing. And who can complain about a young chicky leaning right over and giving you a friendly little spiel?

[Tron_fdc]

You also have a greater chance of living if you sit in an aisle seat (so I was told) if a plane actually went down. Plus you get to tackle terrorists....

[Lurch]

Maybe charge more for planes that are maintained to a higher standard, who wouldn't pay more to have a better chance to live.

I actually read a book way back when in undergrad to this effect that said things like the FAA are pointless. Basically, the FAA should publish statistics on the actual achieved safety of airlines and nothing more, i.e. no standards. Let customers choose on the tradeoffs between safety and cost. Kind of the extreme market view that minimizes the role of gov't.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

You also have a greater chance of living if you sit in an aisle seat (so I was told) if a plane actually went down. Plus you get to tackle terrorists....

Just out of curiosity, who told you this? Was it the airline? Trying to stick you in a seat you didn't want?

I cannot figure out how it is any safer to be in the aisle. Crashing and landing on one side or the other? You're still giving 50% chances to the window people and definitely not taking the 2nd aisle people into consideration. Whatever. Let's stick to stewardesses.

Oh, wait, one more thought from my upper head... Terrorism. The emergency exit seat. Couldn't one just threaten to pull the lever at any given time?

[Delthefunky]

The best place (if there is one) to be in a crash is anywhere near the wings from what I know.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Just out of curiosity, who told you this? Was it the airline? Trying to stick you in a seat you didn't want?

I cannot figure out how it is any safer to be in the aisle. Crashing and landing on one side or the other? You're still giving 50% chances to the window people and definitely not taking the 2nd aisle people into consideration. Whatever. Let's stick to stewardesses.

Oh, wait, one more thought from my upper head... Terrorism. The emergency exit seat. Couldn't one just threaten to pull the lever at any given time?

I took an overseas security course, and one of the topics was seat selection. No idea where they got the figures from though.

The emergency exits have "slides" that are armed when the plane is in the air. If someone did in fact try to open the exit while the slide was armed metal bars go shooting across the doorway preventing people from being sucked out. You'll notice the flight crew arming and disarming them before departure and landing.

[ken0042]

All I know about the safety of the aisle seats...... a friend and I were supposed to fly to Winnipeg together and he was mad because I took the window seat and left him with the aisle. I ended up having to change my plans and didn't get on the plane. He said the guy sitting in "my seat" ended up having a chunk of the bulkhead go right through him when the plane crashed.

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

The emergency exits have "slides" that are armed when the plane is in the air. If someone did in fact try to open the exit while the slide was armed metal bars go shooting across the doorway preventing people from being sucked out. You'll notice the flight crew arming and disarming them before departure and landing.

So, hypothetically speaking what happens in a situation like on the show "Lost" and the plane rips apart in mid air, but people survive. Does that mean the emergency exits are not functional?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Delthefunky

An extra charge to sit near an Emergency Exit... I'm sure some people are going to pay for it but why? There's faith in the company...

As someone who is 6'4, I will NEVER sit anywhere but an Aisle or Emergency exit row seat on an Air Canada flight.

My knees are jammed into the back of the seat with absolutely no room to move, with the pouch holding the magazines jamming into the top of my knees (gotta love that metal).

After that fun for 3 hours, my knees are in a ton of pain. It sucks.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by 4X4

The more I think about it, the more I understand why they'd charge more for those seats. Prime real estate if you ask me. You're guaranteed to have a window that is centered. Your view (out the window) is pretty darn good for forward viewing. And who can complain about a young chicky leaning right over and giving you a friendly little spiel?

Except your window is over the wing most of the time and you see nothing but sheet metal.

And CaramonLS, stop your whining:baby: , I've got 3" on you

[4X4]

Actually, the seat is over the wing all the time. But the forward viewing (as mentioned in quoted post) is very good.

Drawbacks include: engine noise, rearward viewing, getting stuck beside some 13 foot tall freak that lacks armrest etiquitte. I'm pretty sure I misspelled etiquitte.

[FurnaceFace]

[quote=fotze]
Also babyfree flights should have a premium attached.
quote]

Good lord I'd pay dearly for this.

We were just talking about flights the other day and one friend recommended they turn down the oxygen supply so everyone passes out but stays alive and then pop it back up just before landing. A heck of an idea if you ask me. I'd pay extra for that on long flights.

[Hack&Lube]

[QUOTE=FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by fotze

Also babyfree flights should have a premium attached.
quote]

Good lord I'd pay dearly for this.

We were just talking about flights the other day and one friend recommended they turn down the oxygen supply so everyone passes out but stays alive and then pop it back up just before landing. A heck of an idea if you ask me. I'd pay extra for that on long flights.

Then they should an anesthetize passengers like at the Dentist. Knock em out like pain free dentistry. You'll only feel the pain and bruises left once you wake up.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

I hate Northwest Airlines, and will never fly them with them again. So I'm glad to see it's them and not a real airline doing that.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

You also have a greater chance of living if you sit in an aisle seat (so I was told) if a plane actually went down. Plus you get to tackle terrorists....

I tackled some terrorists on my last flight. Wasn't that exciting....

[ken0042]

Don't leave us hanging Frank.......... we need details!