What is Exit row?

An exit row is the seat row at an emergency exit, offering extra legroom and subject to legal requirements on who may sit there.

Also called: Bulkhead row.

How it works#

Only passengers able to assist in an evacuation qualify: no infants, no restricted mobility, and enough language ability to follow crew instructions. Practical drawbacks include fixed armrests, seats that often do not recline, and the rule that bags cannot stay at the seat for take-off and landing. The row is usually sold at a premium or reserved for elite members.

Not to be confused with#

An exit row is not the same as a bulkhead row: a bulkhead row sits behind a wall with no seat in front, but carries none of the same safety requirements.

In German#

The German term is Notausgangsreihe. German version of this term

Related terms#

• Seat pitch: Seat pitch is the distance from one point on a seat to the same point on the seat in front, used as a proxy for legroom.
• Seat selection fee: A seat selection fee is a charge for choosing a specific seat before departure instead of having one assigned at check-in.
• Cabin class: Cabin class is the physical section of an aircraft, economy, premium economy, business or first, each with its own seating and service.

Articles that use this term#

• Is the exit row or bulkhead seat worth paying for?
• When do you have to pay to choose a seat?
• Why seat pitch matters more than the cabin name
• What does “business class” actually mean?
• What is the difference between premium economy and economy?
• How do you find out which aircraft you’ll get?