In exit rows all belongings have to be stowed in the overhead locker for take off and landing. I have sat in many exit row seats and always had under seat storage in front of me. It must depend on the airline or plane type.

In 2026, the availability of under-seat storage for seats located directly behind an exit row depends on the airline's specific safety configuration. Generally, seats in the exit row itself have no under-seat storage because any luggage could impede an emergency evacuation; however, the seats in the row immediately behind the exit usually do have standard under-seat storage. The exception occurs on certain wide-body aircraft or "extra legroom" configurations where the gap between the exit row and the row behind is so large that the airline restricts storage to prevent bags from sliding forward during a hard landing. On many European and Asian carriers, flight attendants are increasingly strict about the "Clear Floor" policy during takeoff and landing for any row near an exit. For 2026 travelers, it is recommended to check the specific seat map on sites like SeatMaps.com or AeroLOPA to confirm if your "Row +1" seat allows for a personal item on the floor.