FAQ about emergency exit row seat

Of the rows adjacent to an aisle that lead to emergency exits on the left and right sides (cross aisle), the seats rear of the aisle are referred to as "emergency exit row seat". Rows that are separated by an aisle and galley, lavatory, partition, etc. are not included.

Carry-on baggage cannot be placed at your feet or on your lap during takeoff and landing.
Please stow all your baggage and personal belongings in the overhead compartment for baggage which is not stowed properly may be a obstacle in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Cabin attendants will give instructions mainly on the 5 points below.

When it is necessary to make an emergency evacuation, cabin attendants will request the assistance of passengers in accordance with standard procedures. If passengers who have consented to help are seated near emergency exits, it will be possible to act quickly even in unpredictable cases. Cabin attendants are trained to ensure a rapid emergency evacuation, even without the assistance of passengers. Therefore there are no problems even if seats at exits are not occupied. However, we feel that by assigning passengers who have agreed to help during an evacuation to these seats, a rapid evacuation can be achieved.

Passengers must be physically strong and capable of following instructions, such as opening the emergency door manually, under instructions of cabin attendants in an emergency. Though there may be individual differences, it has been determined, under the "Operational Regulations, Examination Procedures, Detailed Regulations" issued by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, that passengers can assist if they have reached the age of 15, and that is why passengers under the age of 15 cannot be seated at exits.

Passengers who are escorting small children, aged or disabled passengers and such, and have to help them during an evacuation cannot be seated at exits.

Due to the possible physical burden that may occur to pregnant passengers when supports are needed during an emergency evacuation, all the pregnant passengers are required to reserve a Non- emergency exit row seats.

It refers to passengers who must be escorted when boarding for safety reasons, and who fulfill the 4 conditions below.

Basically, cabin attendants will give instructions and explain what to do in Japanese and English. If cabin attendants and passengers are unable to communicate in an emergency, it would be difficult for passengers to assist during an evacuation. Therefore, the ability to understand Japanese or English is a seating condition. If the cabin attendant in charge of the seats uses another language, and it is judged that the cabin attendant and passengers can communicate, passengers who speak languages other than Japanese and English can be assigned to seats at exits.

Assisting during an evacuation in an emergency is one of the conditions for sitting in these seats. Therefore, if you are unable to assist, please contact staff at that point (reservations staff, airport staff, cabin attendant, etc.), and we will change seat allocation.

Giving instructions by shouting, etc. is a very important way of assisting in an emergency, but passengers may be asked to open or close the door, or move around the cabin. Therefore, one of the seating conditions is being able to move quickly around the cabin, and communicate with cabin attendants.

No, there is no penalty. However, to ensure greater safety in overall responses in an emergency, please contact staff as soon as you find out that you are unable to assist, and we will change your seat.

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has issued new standards to all Japanese airlines, titled "Operational Regulations, Examination Procedures, Detailed Regulations (Directive of Flight Standards Division, Director)," with the aim to evacuate passengers in an emergency with greater safety. As differences in rules between airlines have been removed, we will be able to facilitate the movement of passengers under uniform standards, and furthermore, by securing assistants in advance to help during an emergency evacuation, we will be able to further increase safety.