Emergency Exit

The following procedures were implemented to comply with new United States Federal Aviation regulations that relate to emergency exit seating.

Please note advance boarding pass issuance is prohibited. Based on these criteria, American Airlines has adopted a policy whereby only those passengers who meet the requirements listed below will be permitted to pre-reserve seats in an emergency exit seat.

The following customers should also meet criteria established by the government.:

·         AAdvantage^® Concierge Key^SM, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold

·         AirPass^®

·         British Airways (BA) Premier, Gold, and Silver.

Travel Agency procedures

Travel agencies are required to pre-qualify their own clients before requesting an exit seat.

American reservations will reserve available exit seat and document the PNR as follows: TRAVEL AGENT QUALIFIED PASSENGER FOR EXIT SEATING.

Passenger With Pet

Passengers traveling with pet in cabin may not be seated in exit seat, even if they meet all other exit seat criteria.

Qualifications

Government rules require that customers seated in an exit seat are:

·         Willing to assist in an evacuation.

·         Able to operate the exit door and assist others in exiting.

·         15 years of age or older.

Exit Row Criteria

Customers may not sit in an exit row seat if:

·         Mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs is not sufficient to assist others reach the emergency exit quickly, operate the exit, and quickly pass through the exit.

·         Passenger is less than 15 years of age.

·         Passenger lacks the ability to read and understand instructions related to emergency evacuations or lacks the ability to understand oral crew member commands.

·         Passenger lacks sufficient visual capacity to read the instructions or hearing capacity to hear and understand instructions provided by a crew member.

·         Passenger has a condition or responsibilities such as caring for small children which might prevent them from performing one or more of these functions.

·         Passenger lacks the ability to adequately communicate information orally to other passengers.

·         Passenger has a condition that might cause them harm if they perform one or more of these functions.

·         Passenger does not wish to perform the instructions listed on the card in the event of any emergency.

Exit Row Responsibilities

·         Follow oral directions and hand signals given by crew members.

·         Locate the emergency exit.

·         Assess outside conditions – if opening exit increases the hazard to passengers, do not open.

·         Recognize the emergency exit opening handle.

·         Follow the instructions provided on the exit for proper operation.

·         Operate the emergency exit.

·         Stow or secure the emergency exit so that it will not impede use of the exit.

·         On airplanes equipped with escape slides: inflate the slide and stabilize the slide after deployment to assist others in getting off the slide.

·         Pass quickly through the emergency exit.

·         Assess, select and follow a safe path away from the emergency exit.

Customer Meets Exit Seat Criteria

Only when the passenger has agreed to comply with all items an emergency exit seat may be assigned, using the normal specific pre-reserved seat request entry and then document the PNR that the passenger is qualified. PNR Documentation: PASSENGER QUALIFIED FOR EXIT SEAT

Updated: December 2024