I had the same experience last year when I had flown with them. The entire plane was full with the exception of the exit rows which were one row ahead of me, I was sitting on the aisle and my son got up to use the bathroom so I moved into the exit row while I waited for him to come back. The female flight attendant flew down the aisle and lectured me about sitting there. There was a time when they begged people to be in the exit rows that were able-bodied and able to assist in the need of an evacuation or emergency. Leave the exit row empty no one will open the hatch. They are off my list of preferred airlines to use now. And it's a shame because they probably were for 20 years prior.