Overview
- The couple, who flew from Manchester on Friday, paid £150 each for extra-legroom exit-row seats and found passengers standing in the aisle in front of them after takeoff, stopping them from stretching their legs.
- They posted a video of the scene to TikTok and national outlets picked up the clip, prompting other travellers to share similar accounts of exit-row seats proving less comfortable than advertised.
- On many smaller planes the only extra-legroom option is an exit row, which sits beside aisles and lavatories and requires occupants to be physically and mentally able to assist with heavy emergency exit doors.
- Comments on the video noted that lavatory queues, people lingering in aisles and nearby smells can nullify the benefit of paid upgrades, and the couple said they will 'never again' buy those seats.
- There has been no reported response from the airline so far and the episode remains an anecdotal consumer complaint that may prompt travellers to weigh layout and cabin traffic when buying seat upgrades.