@JohnS I have a flight question for you. I’m currently on a United 737-900. LAS to IAH. Flight is maybe 1/3 full. I was in 21a an exit row seat, when I got to the gate I was told I was now in the back 31. They have rows 12-30 empty, they say for balancing issues.
I’ve flown plenty of empty flights and never seen them do this. Every once and awhile they have a couple folks move. Any idea why they’d do this?
It’s a weight and balance issue for takeoff. Because the passenger load is so light, and because you’re on a 737-900 (it’s a mighty long tube/fuselage in the 737 family), with the given fuel load, cargo and passengers, the center of gravity for takeoff is outside the “legal” area. It’s not uncommon for 737-800, -900, and MAXs to have this issue- it’s perfectly normal given the plane’s length and where the CG can be.
Once airborne and fuel is burned off, the CG changes for landing. That all being said, the load planners calculate this CG for takeoff and landing for each flight, and if passengers need to be moved to make the takeoff data/numbers work/be legal, they do so, hence you’re being banished aft 
We do it at SWA on more empty flights on the -800s and MAXs. We call it a, “zone count” as each passenger cabin on a commercial airliner is broken down into various zones for weight and balance purposes.
Hope this helps, and safe travels!
Thanks, that does help, except with the lack of legroom. Also looking around this flight is probably 1/5 full at best. First clas full, then everyone else in rows 30 or higher
Yeah, the exit row is the poor man’s First Class. When I commute, I’m usually given an exit row seat and I’m not upset. That leg room is outstanding.
And I was gonna have an empty 21B as well. Diabolical
That’s just mean.
When I flew home from Cuba on SW a few years ago, I was walking across the tarmac to get into the plane and one of the stewards came scuttling across to stop me. I figured I was done for and I’d be spending time in a Cuban jail. They actually just wanted an English speaker for the exit row, and pegged me.
With your consent I hope.
Yeah, it’s a FAA Regulation to sit in the exit row, one must speak English, be over the age of 15 and be willing and able to assist in an emergency.
I think you met all those criteria, Neil.
I just hope being pegged wasn’t too bad for you…
ETA- no one in aviation uses the word, “tarmac.”
We call it the ramp area.
We don’t kink shame here
This is just gruesome.
They were properly fucked when the #1 engine shed from the wing pylon, and fodded out the #2 engine at rotation.
Ugh.
Holy shit.
Apt description.
Is the Angola Air flight from last week?
What, you people are too good for British spy novels?
The UPS crash in Louisville. I didn’t realize they had such a good (horrific) camera angle.
In this day and age with cameras everywhere, there’s bound to be footage from so many different angles, sadly.
As one of my buddies at SWA said, “These guys were along for a ride.”
There are a couple of dashcam videos of this accident that are harrowingly close. It truly is horrific.
This seems fine.
Yet another reason to not voluntarily jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
