I'm flying Delta August, 2008 Boston to Salt Lake City. I am not a member of any Delta frequent flyer clubs. I usually make reservations using Yahoo Travel. When picking seats, it shows the exit rows as taken and I don't see any place to request exit rows. The main reason for trying to get tickets this early is to get an exit row seat.Is it any different if I use the Delta site to make reservations? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

No difference if booking on delta.com. They're blocked for Medallion (elite) members.

Thanks Patty......thats what I was afraid of

They are only available for Medallion members early, but you can doublecheck with them when you check in - sometimes there are exit seats available ....

fromMA:

My understanding is that the Exit row seats are given out to those physically able to handle the exit door although I have observed elderly people with a lack of English in those seats.

If the above is correct,a visual observation of persons for those seats would be needed, therefore only available at check in.

Perhaps an air line employee can enlighten us.

Woodie

I'm Delta Medallion and am able to book exit row seats myself. They go quickly, though, so I don't necessarily manage to get them.

Delta does typically give me a good looking over when my boarding pass is scanned (I'm obviously fit enough to do the job), and often specifically asked once I'm seated if I'm willing to do the job.

I have never seen anybody in an emergency exit row who was not apparently sufficiently fit to do the job, or did not speak English (and yes, I look). I have seen Delta flight attendants reseat passengers who did not fill the requirements (typically children).

Exit seats are reserved for elite members. Its one of the few perks that they get these days, since they live on their planes. Sometimes the seat can be available at the airport and thats only if the gate person releases them to everyone to be assigned. Sometimes if you call the reservations number and get someone "understanding" they can override it and assign it for you, otherwise its up to the gate agent the day of flight

On every flight I have been on recently the flight attendants check out the people sitting in exit rows as far as ability to perform exit row functions.

Since most people check in at kiosks, they are not going to check you out then. And I am not sure the gate/boarding pass collector person does anything either.

Husband has 2nd tier FF level on 2 airlines and is frequently given exit rows. I never get them, since I am a lowly regular traveler.

On CO, when you do check-in online or at a kiosk for an exit row seat, you'll be presented with an extra screen that describes the requirement and what may be expected of you (like removing the door which can weigh up to 45lb). One have to click to acknowledge that.

But like gail, I also notice that recently, FAs will come to check out the passengers in that row and make sure they can perform the duties.

When I book online with AA, the seats that come up by default are never exit rows, but I have access to them at that point and always make the change. An intermediate screen comes up asking me to acknowledge that I'm capable of performing the duties.

With AA, the little machine that reads boarding passes as you board momentarily "sticks" if are seated in an exit row, and requires the gate agent to press a button to acknowledge that fact. I've had some say to me, "Exit row okay?" and others not.

I think the flight attendants are supposed to come to the exit-row passengers and get a verbal confirmation from them that they are willing and able to perform the duties if the need arises. I'm sure they're looking to satisfy themselves that everyone seems capable.

I'm not a Medallion member but I've selected exit row seating on several occasions when I book Skymiles awards online. Just a week ago I booked exit row seats to Europe from ATL on both the departure and return flights. Sometimes these rows are available to select and other times (more often) they are already reserved.

Delta used to not allow pre-assignment of exit row seats on international flights period. A few months back, they were supposed to start allowing pre-assignment of intl exit row for Medallions only but it appears that they are currently open to anyone. That could change at any time (to Medallion only). Nothing has changed as far as domestic exit row policy (Medallions only in advance except for 1 exit row on the MD-88) that I know of.