NOEX is an airline Special Service Request (SSR) code used to indicate that a passenger must not be seated in an emergency exit row. It is an operational seating instruction rather than a diagnosis or a description of a particular disability.
You may see NOEX alongside another assistance or medical code when an airline needs to make sure a passenger is allocated a suitable seat away from an emergency exit.
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For an overview of the wider system, see our guide to airline disability codes and SSR codes.
What Does the NOEX Airline Code Mean?
Having the NOEX airline code applied to a passenger booking means that the passenger should not be seated in an emergency exit row.
Emergency exit-row passengers may need to understand safety instructions and be physically able and willing to assist with opening an exit or helping during an evacuation. Airlines therefore have rules about who can occupy these seats.
The NOEX airline code helps communicate that an exit-row seat is not suitable for the passenger.
Is NOEX a Disability Code?
The NOEX SSR code is commonly encountered alongside airline disability and special assistance codes, but it does not identify a particular disability. Instead, it communicates a seating restriction: the passenger must not be placed in an emergency exit row.
This is different from a code such as DPNA, which describes an intellectual or developmental disability requiring assistance, or WCHS, which describes a particular level of wheelchair assistance.
Why Might NOEX Be Added to a Booking?
An airline may use the NOEX airline code when it needs to record that a passenger should not be allocated an emergency exit-row seat.
The reason can depend on the passenger’s circumstances and the airline’s safety requirements. The important point is that the NOEX code itself records the seating restriction rather than explaining the underlying reason for it.
If NOEX appears on your booking and you do not know why, ask your airline to explain what has been recorded and confirm your seating arrangements.
What Is an Emergency Exit Row?
An emergency exit row is a row of aircraft seats next to or associated with an emergency exit. Passengers seated there can have additional responsibilities during an emergency. Cabin crew may need them to understand instructions, operate the exit or assist with an evacuation.
Because of those responsibilities, airlines apply eligibility rules to exit-row seating. A seat being available for selection does not necessarily mean that every passenger is permitted to use it.
Does NOEX Mean You Need Special Assistance?
Not necessarily. The NOEX airline code tells the airline where the passenger should not sit; it does not tell staff what assistance the passenger needs throughout the airport or during boarding.
If you need wheelchair assistance, support because of an intellectual or developmental disability, medical arrangements or another type of help, the airline may use an additional SSR code to describe that requirement.
If you need practical help at the airport as well as a seating restriction, read our guide to getting help at the airport as a disabled traveller.
Can the NOEX Code Be Used With Other Airline Codes?
Yes. Passengers can have more than one SSR code because different codes communicate different parts of their needs. For example, NOEX + WCHS can indicate that the passenger cannot use aircraft stairs and must not be seated in an emergency exit row. The WCHS code describes the mobility assistance required, while NOEX records the seating restriction.
Other combinations are possible depending on the passenger’s circumstances. The airline should record the codes that accurately reflect the assistance and operational arrangements required.
The NOEX Airline Code and Wheelchair Assistance
The NOEX code does not mean wheelchair assistance. Airlines use separate wheelchair SSR codes such as WCHR, WCHS and WCHC to describe how much mobility assistance a passenger requires.
A passenger can therefore have both a wheelchair assistance code and NOEX. Each code serves a different purpose.
Does the NOEX SSR Code Reserve a Particular Seat?
The NOEX airline code indicates that an emergency exit-row seat is unsuitable. It should not be assumed to reserve a specific alternative seat or guarantee a particular seat number.
If you have a specific seating requirement because of a disability or medical need, discuss it directly with your airline. Ask what has been recorded on the booking and whether any further arrangements are required.
What Should You Do if NOEX Appears on Your Booking?
If you recognise why the code has been added, you generally only need to make sure that the rest of your assistance arrangements are also correct.
If you do not recognise the code, contact the airline and ask what it means on your particular booking. You can also confirm your allocated seat and check whether any other assistance codes have been recorded.
It is worth doing this before the day of travel, particularly if you have several assistance requirements.
What Should You Tell the Airline?
When arranging special assistance, explain what you can and cannot manage rather than relying on an SSR code alone.
For example, tell the airline if you cannot use stairs, need assistance all the way to your aircraft seat, have difficulty understanding safety instructions, need additional communication support or have another requirement that affects seating or boarding.
The airline can then determine which codes and arrangements are appropriate for your journey.
NOEX Airline Code Summary
- The NOEX airline code means the passenger must not be seated in an emergency exit row.
- It is a seating or operational instruction rather than a diagnosis.
- NOEX does not automatically mean that wheelchair assistance is required.
- It can appear alongside other SSR codes that describe the passenger’s assistance needs.
- It does not guarantee a particular alternative seat.
- If you do not recognise the code, ask your airline what has been recorded on your booking.
NOEX Airline Code FAQs
What does NOEX mean on an airline booking?
NOEX indicates that the passenger must not be seated in an emergency exit row.
Is NOEX a wheelchair code?
No. Wheelchair assistance is recorded using separate codes such as WCHR, WCHS and WCHC. NOEX records an exit-row seating restriction.
Does NOEX mean a passenger is disabled?
No. NOEX itself does not identify a disability. It tells the airline that the passenger should not be seated in an emergency exit row.
Can NOEX be used with another SSR code?
Yes. NOEX can be recorded alongside other codes describing mobility, medical or assistance requirements. For example, NOEX and WCHS can appear together when a passenger cannot use stairs and must not sit in an exit row.
Does NOEX reserve a specific seat?
NOEX indicates that an exit-row seat is unsuitable. It should not be assumed to reserve or guarantee a particular alternative seat.
What should I do if I see NOEX on my booking?
If you do not know why it has been added, contact your airline. Ask them to explain the code, confirm your seating arrangements and check that any other assistance you require has also been recorded.
Understanding what NOEX means can help you make sense of the information recorded on an airline booking or reservation. Unlike disability and special assistance SSR codes, NOEX relates to seating arrangements rather than a passenger’s assistance needs, so it is important not to confuse it with codes such as WCHR, DPNA or MEDA.
Continue Learning About Airline Codes
Understanding these SSR codes can make it easier to check that the right assistance has been added to your booking. You can explore my guides to airline SSR disability codes to learn what the different codes mean, when they are used and what support you may need to arrange before you fly.
- Airline and airport codes and what they mean
- Download a copy of all of the airline SSR disability codes for free
- Airline meal codes explained
- Download a list of all of the airline meal codes for free
- Learn which airline meal codes are for travellers with allergies
- What does DPNA mean?
- Download a free, printable checklist for MEDA passengers to complete before they fly
- What does ESAN mean?
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