Exit row seats are some of the most coveted real estate on a plane. Airlines figured out long ago that passengers would pay extra for the chance to stretch their legs in those rows, turning what used to be a free perk into a lucrative revenue stream. On some flights, those seats can cost $100 or more.
But while extra legroom is the big selling point, there’s also a serious responsibility that comes with sitting in an exit row: you’re expected to help open the door and guide people out in an emergency. Not everyone qualifies — and we’ve covered both the downsides of sitting in an exit row and the reasons some passengers aren’t even eligible.
That’s why what I saw on a recent flight surprised me. On an A321 with two exit rows, 11 of the 12 seats were completely empty. The airline hadn’t offered them to other passengers; they simply left them vacant. Which raises a big question:
If nobody’s sitting in the exit row, who’s going to open the door in an emergency?
The FAA’s Answer May Surprise You
It turns out I’m not the only one who wondered about this. Congress actually requested that the FAA investigate the issue and report back.
The rule that governs exit row seating — 14 CFR § 121.585 — is crystal clear about who can’t sit there. Flight attendants must ensure that only qualified and willing passengers occupy those seats. But here’s what the regulation never says: that the seats must actually be occupied.
In fact, when Congress pressed for an answer, the FAA concluded that empty exit rows don’t pose a safety hazard. Evacuation tests are designed around flight attendants operating the exits, not random passengers. Having someone in the row is a nice safety enhancement, but it’s not required.
So if nobody ponies up for the legroom fee, airlines are perfectly allowed to leave those seats empty. It may look strange — and a little frustrating for passengers who wouldn’t mind stretching out — but from the FAA’s perspective, the plane is just as safe.
Final Thought
Exit row seats may look like prime real estate, but the FAA doesn’t require airlines to fill them to meet safety rules. That means if no one pays for the upgrade, those rows can stay empty for the entire flight. Good news for the airline’s bottom line, but a missed opportunity for passengers hoping for a free stretch-out seat — like the time I snagged one on Frontier.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
