Narrative:

While a [flight attendant] was doing her final walk through prior to takeoff; she noticed a child seat behind the exit row. I was C; and could not see the seat from where I was standing in the exit row; and did not notice the passengers placing it during boarding. I was busy greeting passengers as they walked through; and telling people who sat in the exit row that they were seated in the exit row; and verifying they were willing to sit there. One woman was not responding to me; and I realized she could not hear me. She said her ears were blocked from the last landing; and they had not cleared. Since she was unable to hear or respond to my questions; I told her I would have to re-seat her. A gentleman in the exit row loudly said she was sick; and should not be allowed on the plane. I asked her if she was sick; and she said no. She appeared to be congested; which is likely the reason her ears blocked on landing. I had her trade seats with another passenger; briefed the exit row and secured the forward cabin from the exit row forward. When I got to the front; I informed a the exit row was briefed and the forward cabin was secure. I did not hear a PA that the aft cabin was secure. I informed the a that the woman I moved from the exit row could not hear; that she was congested but said she was not sick. The a said she did not appear sick or have any covid symptoms when she boarded. I said congestion could be a covid symptom; and a seemed surprised; and said she never heard that. By then operations was in front with us; and he and a said all I was required to do was ask if they are sick; and if the response is no; then we leave it alone. I did not know if the passenger had allergies; a cold; or something more serious.the a was doing her final walk through prior to takeoff; and noticed a child seat directly behind the exit row. Someone notified the captain; and a and D quickly had passengers change rows. The captain rang; I answered; and he asked if they were finished. I said I was C in front; and they were not quite done. He asked to be notified; and a few seconds later I let him know the exchange was complete.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Flight Attendant reported a passenger that sat in the exit row had hearing problems and was displaying symptoms of possibly being sick.

Narrative: While A [Flight Attendant] was doing her final walk through prior to takeoff; she noticed a child seat behind the exit row. I was C; and could not see the seat from where I was standing in the exit row; and did not notice the passengers placing it during boarding. I was busy greeting passengers as they walked through; and telling people who sat in the exit row that they were seated in the exit row; and verifying they were willing to sit there. One woman was not responding to me; and I realized she could not hear me. She said her ears were blocked from the last landing; and they had not cleared. Since she was unable to hear or respond to my questions; I told her I would have to re-seat her. A gentleman in the exit row loudly said she was sick; and should not be allowed on the plane. I asked her if she was sick; and she said no. She appeared to be congested; which is likely the reason her ears blocked on landing. I had her trade seats with another passenger; briefed the exit row and secured the forward cabin from the exit row forward. When I got to the front; I informed A the exit row was briefed and the forward cabin was secure. I did not hear a PA that the aft cabin was secure. I informed the A that the woman I moved from the exit row could not hear; that she was congested but said she was not sick. The A said she did not appear sick or have any COVID symptoms when she boarded. I said congestion could be a COVID symptom; and A seemed surprised; and said she never heard that. By then operations was in front with us; and he and A said all I was required to do was ask if they are sick; and if the response is no; then we leave it alone. I did not know if the passenger had allergies; a cold; or something more serious.The A was doing her final walk through prior to takeoff; and noticed a child seat directly behind the exit row. Someone notified the Captain; and A and D quickly had passengers change rows. The captain rang; I answered; and he asked if they were finished. I said I was C in front; and they were not quite done. He asked to be notified; and a few seconds later I let him know the exchange was complete.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.