Remember when airlines asked for able bodied volunteers for Exit rows?

[DandyDon]

Nowadays the money hungry corporations are forfeiting safety to try to gouge us for more bucks. It's fine with them if the exit rows go empty when they fail to sell. The poor Flight Attendants are caught in the middle as their primary function is supposed to be to ensure safety, but they can no longer allow any seat changes that weren't paid for.

I bought a Basic Economy ticket, and now they want to torture me to get more money. I'm stuck in a middle seat at the back of the plane and too stubborn & cheap to play their game. I'm not going to pay $20 for an aisle or $31 for an Exit row for a 70 minute flight.

 

[Manatee Diver]

To be fair, you no longer have to lift a 50lb exit door anymore. You only need to be reasonably able bodied to open the exit door.

 

[Esprise Me]

Airline tickets are much cheaper than they used to be, though. I hate the way they treat us like cattle and nickel and dime us for everything, but realistically, you could get Global Entry, first class, admiral lounge, and all the other niceties that used to come standard if you're willing to pay what that standard ticket used to cost.

 

[arew+4]

I've seen people in exit rows lately that i doubt could get themselves out of their seat in 30 seconds let alone open the hatch and help anyone out. But hey they paid the extra $30 so if we all fry....

 

[Lorenzoid]

For a 70-minute flight, I wouldn't pay to play the game, either. Center seat would be fine. It get's more difficult when the flight is 7+ hours or overnight. I usually cave and pay for at least the chance at a few hours' sleep.

 

[formernuke]

My last flight also charged for carry on.....

 

[scrane]

When all the cheap seats are filled they will put you in an upgraded seat for free. Although I usually fly basic, I've been seated in Economy+ or an exit row numerous times. I would rather pay less and suffer a minor inconvenience.
Most airlines go out of their way to spell out the limitations of the cheap fares. My last booking with United required me to click a waiver verifying I knew I deserved minimal service and amenities.

 

[DandyDon]

My last flight also charged for carry on.....

Which airline?

My connecting flight is 2¼ hours, and I am in a middle seat 2/3 the way back. An aisle seat further back is $10, Exit row $41, but I'm going to tough it. I usually sleep anyway.

When all the cheap seats are filled they will put you in an upgraded seat for free. Although I usually fly basic, I've been seated in Economy+ or an exit row numerous times. I would rather pay less and suffer a minor inconvenience.

I saw FAs refuse to allow that last week. I'm in the last boarding group. If I see an empty aisle seat, I may just try to cop it.

 

[rmssetc]

I bought a Basic Economy ticket, and now they want to torture me to get more money. I'm stuck in a middle seat at the back of the plane and too stubborn & cheap to play their game. I'm not going to pay $20 for an aisle or $31 for an Exit row for a 70 minute flight.

I certainly wouldn't call it "torture", it's not as if the airline is waterboarding you for the additional $20. Oh, wait, waterboarding isn't "torture" either.

Maybe the non-reclining, with even-more-limited leg room, last row on the plane, near the toilets, would qualify as being put in a stress position for an intercontinental flight.

Anyway, I think the airlines are marketing the upsell for the exit row seats all wrong. Instead of emphasizing the additional comfort, they should bill the seats as allowing passengers to "be the first to escape the plane after an emergency landing, while the other passengers suffocate or burn". Then open the bidding for the emergency exit seats. Yeah, that'll do it.

 

[formernuke]

Sun country airlines