Are Exit Row Seats Worth The Extra Cost?

Summary Flight length is a crucial factor in deciding whether to pay extra for exit row seats, as they offer more legroom than regular seats in economy cabins on longer flights.
Sitting in the exit row may provide perks such as being served first during meal and drink services and more privacy for couples, depending on the airline and seat location.
While there are benefits to sitting in the exit row, it may not be worth paying the extra reservation cost, as some airlines classify these seats as part of a more expensive cabin and restrict access to them. Additionally, not all exit row seats recline and there are restrictions on baggage placement and the use of devices during certain phases of the flight.
As travel continues to surge, many passengers may be thinking about a key offering on airplanes: exit row seats. While these seats are often given to travelers with loyalty status, passengers can also reserve these seats for an extra cost. So, is it ultimately worth paying extra reservation costs for exit row seats?
Perks of the seat
The flight length is one of the most essential metrics in deciding whether to pay extra to reserve exit row seats. A flight over two and a half hours might justify spending the extra money to reserve the seat. Exit row seats tend to offer more legroom than regular seats in the economy cabin. On aircraft with over-wing exits, exit row seats have a seat pitch of 36 inches, a five-inch increase from the rest of the economy cabin, which typically has between 30 and 32 inches of legroom. The reason for the extra legroom is to ensure passengers can swiftly access the emergency exits in case of an evacuation.
Another perk of sitting in the exit row is that often these passengers will be served first during drink and meal services, depending on the airline and the particular seat location. Not to mention, passengers will not need to worry about sitting next to kids, as United States Federal law mandates that children under 15 are prohibited from sitting in the exit row.
Photo: Shine Nucha | Shutterstock
Moreover, depending on the aircraft type and airline, some emergency exit rows may only have two seats compared to the regular three, so for couples traveling, sitting in the exit row could give them more privacy in addition to the extra room. For instance, Southwest Airlines only has two seats in the second exit row.
Lastly, an exit row ticket entitles passengers to priority boarding on most airlines, including WestJet and Delta Air Lines. This means passengers can easily access the overhead bins to store carry-on luggage.
Downsides of the exit row
Although there are many perks for sitting in the exit row, it may not be worth paying the extra reservation cost. Sometimes, airlines will classify emergency exit row seats as part of the economy plus cabin, which is more expensive. When booking a flight, in order to select seats in the emergency exit row, passengers on some airlines will have to pay an additional fee ranging from $40 to $70, depending on the carrier and route.
This is coupled with airlines making booking the emergency exit rows more difficult. Often, airlines will reserve these seats for elite members or will not allow the seats to be booked until the last minute.
Photo: CYuttapol Phetkong | Shutterstock
Now, the seat itself also has some downsides, the first of which is that not all exit row seats recline. If there are two exit rows, one behind the other, the seats in the first exit row are specifically designed not to recline. This is to ensure nothing will block the second row in the event of an emergency. Moreover, to ensure a quick evacuation of the aircraft, passengers in the exit row can not place carry-on baggage on their feet during takeoff or landing, similar to seats in the bulkhead. Bags will need to be stored in the overhead lockers, which can be a disappointment for some travelers.
When sitting in the exit row, passengers will not only be asked to assist in the event of an emergency, but they need to take specific precautions during the flight. For instance, those strangely upside down window shades in the exit row must remain open during taxi, takeoff and landing, and passengers can not charge devices from the outlet in the seat during those phases either.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
Another restriction is that passengers sitting in the exit row may not be allowed to use headphones during takeoff or landing on some airlines. This is to ensure that passengers can clearly hear instructions from flight attendants in case of an emergency. Almost 80% of accidents occur within the first few minutes after takeoff or the last few minutes before landing, as those are the most critical phases of a flight.
Final thoughts
For people who value legroom and extra privacy, it may be worth it to pay an extra cost to reserve a seat in the exit row. With that said, passengers sitting in these seats need to keep in mind that they may be called upon in the event of an emergency and what they may need to do in this event.
Have you ever paid to reserve an exit-row seat? Was it worth it? Let us know in the comments below!