As a safety geek I take the emergency exits in airplanes very seriously. Whenever possible I sit in the exit seat. And if the exit seat is not available, the exit row. No seats in the exit row? Put me in an adjacent row.
During a flight to Atlanta Wednesday I was in the hot seat and prepared to do my duty in case we needed to evacuate the plane. All was good with the world until I looked over and saw this lady sitting in the opposite exit seat. No offense to grandma but I don’t want to count on an 85 year-old-woman to help me get out of that airplane.
When the flight attendant came over to instruct us on our duties I pointed this out to him. At 47 I haven’t quite mastered keeping my trap shut. “That woman won’t be able to handle the door,” I said.
He completely ignored me.
Just in case you’re curious there’s a full page of things the flight crew are supposed to do to make sure passengers can handle the exit. He did none of them. I don’t blame him for not wanting to create a hassle —and who knows, may that old lady is in better shape than I am. I will say this though: if it comes down to me or her it’s gonna be me.
Aw, lay off the old ladies! You may be one some day!
I love the old ladies —just not in the exit row.
Maybe you should have attempted a whisper campaign. Nothing like a little panic in an enclosed space.
I wonder if that would be akin to yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. Whispering “old lady at the exit” in a crowded plane.
It’s a tough call.
I love old people, too — but they don’t belong in an exit row any more than I do with my 1- and 3-year-old kids.