Viswash effect: Demand up for emergency exit seats

Time of India

14 hours ago

Kolkata: Call it the 'Viswash effect'. Demand and inquiries for seats near emergency exits on flights have increased across carriers. These seats, with extra legroom, cost more, and are in demand following the miraculous escape of Viswashkumar Ramesh.
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The UK citizen was seated on 11A — a seat next to the emergency exit — and was the lone survivor of AI-171, the flight that crashed on Thursday.
Seat numbers next to emergency exits vary according to types of aircraft and class configuration.
Aviation experts said seats next to emergency exits may not afford any additional safety in case of a plane crash. All they offer is ample legroom. But for many, these seats now offer mental peace as well.
Until Thursday, many fliers declined seats near emergency exits because some of them did not recline as much as other seats. Moreover, some fliers did not want to be briefed on how to open the emergency exit doors in case of an emergency.
Passengers with mobility challenges, disabilities and those travelling with infants or children are not assigned seats near emergency exits.
Travel agents in Kolkata said while seasoned travellers and tall flyers often opted for these seats and did not mind paying a premium of the legroom, others too have now started enquiring about seats near emergency exits.
Jitender Singh Bagga, who runs a distribution and logistics operations business, said he asked his travel agent to only book seats next to emergency exits when he travels to the US via New Delhi next week.
"I told my agent about my preference. It has to be a seat next to the emergency exit. I am willing to fork out any extra amount for it. If seat 11A is next to the emergency door of the British Airways flight I intend to take on June 17, I want to be in it," said Bagga, a Park Street resident.
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Lee Road resident Rajesh Bhagnani, a frequent flyer, also made his travel agent aware of his preference for a seat next to the emergency exit when he travels to Mumbai on June 16.
"I usually rely on the agent for seat selection. But after watching Viswashkumar's great escape, I want to be seated next to the emergency exit as the probability of survival will be higher there than anywhere else. I know life and death is a matter of destiny, but I still want to have my best shot.
Nothing like seat no. 11A if there is an emergency exit next to it," said Bhagnani.
On Airbus A321neo aircraft used by IndiGo Airlines in the domestic sectors, seats on rows 1, 17, 18 and 27 are behind emergency exits. On A320neo, seats on rows 12 and 13 are near emergency exits.
On Air India's narrow-body aircraft used in the domestic sector, row 11 is next to the emergency exit in some A320 aircraft layouts. However, in other A320 aircraft, emergency exits are next to seats on rows 9 and 10.
In the A321 aircraft that is also used, seats on rows 9 and 22 are next to the emergency exit.
Seat configurations next to emergency exits are different in wide-body aircraft used in international sectors and can range from rows 31, 56, and 67 in B 747-400; rows 1, 11, and 30 in B 777-200; rows 1, 12, 27, and 41 in B 777-300ER; and rows 11, 30 in B 787-8 aircraft.
Anil Punjabi, national committee member of the Travel Agents Federation of India, confirmed the rise in queries on seats next to the emergency exit with particular inquisitiveness about the availability of seat 11A.
"Some even want 11A even if it is not next to the exit," he said.
Anjani Dhanuka, chairman of the eastern region chapter of the Travel Agents Association of India, said he received several queries from fliers looking for seats next to the emergency exit as well as 11A.
"It has got to do with the flyer mindset and their belief in luck. The flyers say they don't just want the seats beside the emergency exit for extra leg space but for peace of mind," he said.