I did a travel segment on Chicago’s WGN Radio with legendary broadcaster Bob Sirott and one of the questions Bob asked me was how to get the exit row for free? It’s a great question. If you travel often, then you know that the exit row is the most desired row in economy for one reason: It has the most legroom.
What’s an Exit Row?
Just so we’re on the same page here, let’s cover the basics: The official definition of the exit row by the Department of Transportation (DOT) is: “Exit row seats are located in the same row as the emergency exit doors of the aircraft.”
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Because of those emergency exit doors, sitting in the exit row comes with great responsibility, which is why there are rules and regulations surrounding them and not just anyone can sit there.
First of all, “FAA regulations prohibit children under 15 and passengers caring for small children from sitting in exit row seats.”
Exit Row Responsibilities
God forbid there’s ever an emergency and the flight attendants aren’t available to assist. Each passenger sitting in an exit row seat must be able to understand the oral commands given by the crew and perform the following functions if called upon:
Locate the emergency exit
Recognize the emergency exit opening mechanism
Comprehend the instructions for operating the emergency exit
Operate the emergency exit
Assess whether opening the emergency exit will increase the hazards to which passengers may be exposed
Follow oral directions and hand signals given by a crewmember
Stow or secure the emergency exit door so that it will not impede use of the exit
Here’s the rest.
I’ve seen passengers removed from the exit row either because they didn’t speak English, were too young or weren’t able to help if there was an emergency. In fact, it happened to me once while traveling with my dad, about 10 years ago. My dad can’t hear well and when the flight attendant asked him if he understood the directions, he looked bewildered so she made him change seats with another passenger who was more than happy to make the switch.
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Just keep in mind that not all exit rows are created equally or as comfortably. That’s why I recommend you consult SeatGuru.com to see which seats they recommend because the exit row in between two emergency doors usually doesn’t recline and some people don’t like that. Some don’t like exit row seats because the armrest doesn’t go up so it’s tight and the tray table is usually in the armrest not on the seatback in front.
I don’t mind since it’s generally enough room for me and I rarely recline. All I care about is having room to work on my laptop, which is why the exit row (or bulkhead) is key.
In the old days (like 15 years ago and earlier) the exit rows were always free. Then, airline executives got savvy and realized they could make passengers pay more for those coveted seats. So they started charging a premium for the best seats on the plane. Just know what you’re paying for before plopping down your credit card since some airlines (ahem, I’m looking at you American Airlines) charge just for sitting near the front of the plane and there’s no extra anything!
The best way to secure the exit row is to pay the airline’s fee in advance and reserve it since it’s a coveted seat. Frequent fliers get it for free so they usually snag it when they book their flights so the earlier you book, the better.
Here are four ways to get the exit row for free:
1. The best way to get an exit row for free is to hold elite status with the airline you’re flying. Elite members will often have the option to book premium seats like the exit row for free. Check the airline’s membership program details to know what perks come with elite status.
2. Hope the plane isn’t full and that the gate agents or flight attendants like you and give it to you for free. It’s a slim chance, even if you bring them chocolates like I do almost every time I fly, but it can happen.
3. If there’s someone like my dad sitting in the exit row who isn’t qualified or doesn’t speak English and the crew asks someone to switch, you might get lucky. To increase your chance of this happening, be sure to book a seat near the exit row and pay attention when the flight attendant gives their briefing to the exit row passengers.
4. The best way to score an exit row for free is when the plane is full and the airline upgrades their elite frequent fliers. As I said earlier, frequent fliers are usually seated in these seats so always kindly ask the gate agent before boarding that if they upgrade any frequent fliers, to please think of you to get their now vacant exit row seat. Gate agents are usually swamped so it helps to stay close by and make yourself memorable – like bringing them a box of chocolates.
Bottom line: It’s not easy these days to score the exit row for free but it is definitely possible. You just need to be in the right place, pay attention and be lucky.
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Pre pandemic I tried to book the exit row on an Alaska Airlines flight, fully prepared to pay for the selected seats. I couldn’t book them online so I called the airline. I am a credit card holder, so had some status, but obviously not enough to qualify to buy these seats. I don’t remember having that problem before, as I would normally book online and then get directed to the seating chart where I would select and pay for the upgrade to the exit row. I haven’t used Alaska Airlines since, so don’t know if that policy has changed or not.
Or- you could fly Southwest, board early and pick the exit row seat because there are no pre assigned, paid for seats.
I was going to add it but if you don’t pay extra for early boarding you’re most likely not going to get it. But I will add it in as a longshot. Thanks
This is a little long, but bear with me. If you’re flying on Southwest and you get on the plane fairly early, but not early enough to be the first to the exit rows. If you don’t mind an aisle (I prefer them), the people in the exit row will likely be in the window seats and the aisles already, but there are a lot of times one aisle seat is still open open, but a flight attendant will be standing there. They are there to make sure none of the prohibited categories of people sit in the exit rows so that they have to juggle passengers later. I’ll ask if that seat (the one they are standing at) is available. Of course it is, because there are no reserved seats on Southwest. However, most passengers won’t ask and will just move back further into the plane. Anyway, you indicate that you’d like that seat, but that you can sit in the middle seat while they are still boarding. They usually smile and say that they promise not to give the seat to someone else and sometimes I’ve had them say “Oh, you sound like you’ve done this before.” Here’s the beauty of the arrangement. Someone will eventually ask about the aisle seat, but the flight attendant will say that it’s already taken. If the other middle seats in the exit rows already have people in them, the flight attendant might offer that the middle seat (that you’re sitting in) will be available, but I’ve never had anyone wait until the flight attendant was finished with their monitoring duties. If the plane isn’t completely full, there is a good possibility that not only will you end up with the aisle exit row seat, but you might also have an open middle seat next to you because no one was willing to wait for it.
I just got back from a trip to Cabo San Lucas. We flew Viva Aerobus A320 from Tijuana to San Jose Del Cabo and back. My wife made the flight reservations and taking advice from my son booked us onto the very last row seats. Very big mistake. Turns out there are no windows for the very last row , also we encountered some turbulence during the flight and being in the very back is like riding the tip of a whip I was feeling a pretty green. We decided to see if we could change are seat assignments for our return flight and was pleasantly surprised that we could, Taking Johnny’s advice I recommended to my wife to book an exit row, which we were able to do with no problem or extra fee. However a big sticking point for my wife ended up being one of the rules nobody ever seems to talk about for exit rows. When seated in an exit row you must, of course, agree to and be capable of the requirements listed above. However one requirement for us was that all baggage, this included my wife’s purse, a gardening hat (sombrero), my backpack (had all my snacks inside) had to be stored in the overhead bin. I can understand this rule since in an emergency the path should be a clear as possible, but my wife was not happy to the tune of “I will never book an exit row again!” We’re not very tall and we are only occasional travelers so even the cramped confines of economy class has never really been a problem.