Reclining the Seat
Nov 12th, 2012, 10:08 AM
#1
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Reclining the Seat
How does everyone feel about seat reclining? I am embroiled in a controversy on another board on this subject. I feel that when I buy an airline seat, I am entitled to use the seat to its fullest. This includes reclining. When the person in front of me reclines, they have the right to do so as well. What does everyone else think?
Nov 12th, 2012, 11:07 AM
#2
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Anita, I can't wait to see how people respond. I personally feel it's ok to recline partially but not to totally lay back in someone's lap unless it's an overnight flight and everyone's trying to sleep.
And obviously when meals are served you need to sit up. I always get the rude person in front of me that continues to recline 100% throughout the entire trip.
And obviously when meals are served you need to sit up. I always get the rude person in front of me that continues to recline 100% throughout the entire trip.
Nov 12th, 2012, 11:19 AM
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I agree it's good to be considerate of the person behind you. I sat behind a couple a couple days ago - I don't think they had flown before. They fully reclined before takeoff and had to be told to sit up again. They extended their arms at various times grabbing the back of their seat (hey! that's MY space!)at one point grabbing my entertainment screen. They kept their seats fully reclined during the meal, actually sitting up away from their seat to eat (!) They were so clueless I couldn't believe it.
So, at the very least, sit up to eat, fully recline to sleep. Otherwise, just partially recline at most.
So, at the very least, sit up to eat, fully recline to sleep. Otherwise, just partially recline at most.
Nov 12th, 2012, 03:16 PM
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Sitting up during meal time is a must, but I do recline my seat on overnight flights in order to sleep. I never grab the seat in front of me, but if I accidentally bump into it I always apologize.
Nov 12th, 2012, 03:54 PM
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Once, flying back from Taiwan, the person in front of me reclined their seat all the way once takeoff was finished.
The Chinese couple looked at me as "what can you do?".
I told them it would take less than an hour to train the person.
I repeatedly crossed and uncrossed my legs, with the tray table down. FYI, a 1" 'shove' on the tray table moves the seatback in front of you about 6 inches.
About 45 minutes later, the woman turned and asked if I wanted to trade seats. I said no, but that if she only relcined half way, we'd both be happy.
She agreed, and the rest of the 14+ hour trip was uneventful.
BTW: this is not the only time I've done this and success rate eventually is 100%. People in front of me tend to try to move their seats the 6" inches, which only moves the tra table 1".
Works every time.
The Chinese couple looked at me as "what can you do?".
I told them it would take less than an hour to train the person.
I repeatedly crossed and uncrossed my legs, with the tray table down. FYI, a 1" 'shove' on the tray table moves the seatback in front of you about 6 inches.
About 45 minutes later, the woman turned and asked if I wanted to trade seats. I said no, but that if she only relcined half way, we'd both be happy.
She agreed, and the rest of the 14+ hour trip was uneventful.
BTW: this is not the only time I've done this and success rate eventually is 100%. People in front of me tend to try to move their seats the 6" inches, which only moves the tra table 1".
Works every time.
Nov 13th, 2012, 04:04 AM
#6
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Actually, the seat only reclines about 2 3/4 inches. That is hardly enough to make a difference to the person behind you. I always fully recline my seat after takeoff and leave it that way the whole flight. I don't see the problem during meal service either. I have eaten on my tray table with the person in front of me reclining all the way. No big deal.
Nov 13th, 2012, 04:29 AM
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Apparently some of the planes people fly on the seats recline almost to a sleeping position. I've never been on a flight like that but you hear about it a lot on this forum. I see nothing wrong with reclining a seat that moves a few inches. Even during meal time that would be acceptable
Nov 13th, 2012, 06:58 AM
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Anita, I see why you experienced controversy in the other forum. The reclining is an issue. It makes it almost impossible in a cramped plane to open a laptop and sometimes to even view the back-of-seat TV screen properly. It's particularly difficult during meal service to have the person ahead of you reclined completely and some airlines make an announcement to that effect.
I'm not sure if you are trying to be a troll on purposes here, or if you just don't care about the comfort of the others on the flight, but it is an issue. During a recent flight to Europe, the person on the aisle remained reclined throughout the entire flight. I was in a middle seat and had difficult getting out to use the restroom even when the person on the aisle stepped out completely. So I can assure you that it's not a non-issue for the person behind. And if the person is particularly large or long-legged, it's downright painful at times.
Courtesy cuts both ways on a cramped plane. Since airlines have reduced the legroom and seat pitch on planes, it is getting to be a real issue on many airlines, and on longer flights, it's a more difficult issue to manage for both the recliner, who may want to sleep, and the person behind, who is pinched.
I'm not sure if you are trying to be a troll on purposes here, or if you just don't care about the comfort of the others on the flight, but it is an issue. During a recent flight to Europe, the person on the aisle remained reclined throughout the entire flight. I was in a middle seat and had difficult getting out to use the restroom even when the person on the aisle stepped out completely. So I can assure you that it's not a non-issue for the person behind. And if the person is particularly large or long-legged, it's downright painful at times.
Courtesy cuts both ways on a cramped plane. Since airlines have reduced the legroom and seat pitch on planes, it is getting to be a real issue on many airlines, and on longer flights, it's a more difficult issue to manage for both the recliner, who may want to sleep, and the person behind, who is pinched.
Nov 13th, 2012, 07:46 AM
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I don't think that utilizing the space I paid for makes me a troll. I always have the person in front of me reclining, so therefore, I have to recline in defense. In addition, 2 3/4 inches does not make that much of a difference.
Nov 13th, 2012, 07:47 AM
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In addition, I usually pay the additional fee to sit in economy plus. Since I am paying more for my seat than the guy behind me, I feel that I have every right to utilize the recline.
Nov 13th, 2012, 01:10 PM
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<<<I don't think that utilizing the space I paid for makes me a troll.>>>
No, but your tone on this post does come across as snarky. When many people say over and over that it's considered basic courtesy to sit your seat up during meals and your response is simply that you've paid more than the person behind you (which you have no way of knowing, even if you're in premium economy and they're not) so you're entitled to make their life more difficult for no reason.
Basic courtesy:
Check behind you before reclining to make sure that there isn't a laptop you're going to crunch or glass you're going to knock over, or that the person isn't leaned down taking their shoes off or whatever. Giving the person a heads up isn't a bad idea either so they can move their knee(s) if needed so they don't get cracked. Even if the seat only reclines a few inches, getting cracked on the knee HURTS especially when you have to sit in a cramped space for the next few hours (or many hours) and can't stretch it out.
Sit up during meal times. You're probably going to sit up to eat anyway so why not pull your seat up with you? It's enough of a pain in the butt to make sure that your elbows don't accidentally go sideways and bother a person next to you without feeling like you're eating right above someone's head. That's also a time when many people want to get up to use the bathroom. It's MUCH easier to get out of the row if the seats are upright and it lessens the liklihood that someone is going to use your headrest as a support to climb out. Once you're finished eating, again check behind you to be sure that you're not going to crack into someone/something and then go back to reclining.
Basic courtesy is an odd thing. It's so easy but for some reason it seems so hard for many people.
No, but your tone on this post does come across as snarky. When many people say over and over that it's considered basic courtesy to sit your seat up during meals and your response is simply that you've paid more than the person behind you (which you have no way of knowing, even if you're in premium economy and they're not) so you're entitled to make their life more difficult for no reason.
Basic courtesy:
Check behind you before reclining to make sure that there isn't a laptop you're going to crunch or glass you're going to knock over, or that the person isn't leaned down taking their shoes off or whatever. Giving the person a heads up isn't a bad idea either so they can move their knee(s) if needed so they don't get cracked. Even if the seat only reclines a few inches, getting cracked on the knee HURTS especially when you have to sit in a cramped space for the next few hours (or many hours) and can't stretch it out.
Sit up during meal times. You're probably going to sit up to eat anyway so why not pull your seat up with you? It's enough of a pain in the butt to make sure that your elbows don't accidentally go sideways and bother a person next to you without feeling like you're eating right above someone's head. That's also a time when many people want to get up to use the bathroom. It's MUCH easier to get out of the row if the seats are upright and it lessens the liklihood that someone is going to use your headrest as a support to climb out. Once you're finished eating, again check behind you to be sure that you're not going to crack into someone/something and then go back to reclining.
Basic courtesy is an odd thing. It's so easy but for some reason it seems so hard for many people.
Nov 13th, 2012, 01:58 PM
#14
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It's not only because I may have paid more, it is just that I really don't feel that 2 3/4 inches makes that much of a difference. I would never ask the person in front of me to not recline. I feel that it is their right since they paid for their seat. I have eaten on a tray table on a reclined seat, and see no difference at all in how easy or not it is. As for going to the bathroom, if I have to bounce my seat up and down every time someone has to go, I will be bouncing a lot. And I fly alot long haul. So I recline. Simple as that.
Nov 13th, 2012, 02:21 PM
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I agree with Iowa_Redhead. Not really sure why you're posting, your tone suggests you have no interest in discussion or other's opinions.
But I can tell you that, at 6 feet tall, and pregnant, the courtesy of the person in front of me makes a HUGE difference to me. Being pregnant makes it literally impossible for me to put the tray table flat if the seat in front is reclined.
Perhaps you can alert me to your presence if I ever have the misfortune to sit behind you. i'll do my best to get re-seated.
But I can tell you that, at 6 feet tall, and pregnant, the courtesy of the person in front of me makes a HUGE difference to me. Being pregnant makes it literally impossible for me to put the tray table flat if the seat in front is reclined.
Perhaps you can alert me to your presence if I ever have the misfortune to sit behind you. i'll do my best to get re-seated.
Nov 13th, 2012, 03:46 PM
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Anita,
I am tall and have long legs that barely fit in a coach seat. I try to sitting E+ when I can, but it's an added cost and not all planes have E+ sections. I too pay for my seat and the room between it and the seat in front of me, and when somebody reclines all the way back, they are infringing on my space! The issue is really one of consideration. If you can recline all the way back without making life miserable for the person behind you, that's fine. But be considerate of that person and use a smaller recline if that is called for.
I am tall and have long legs that barely fit in a coach seat. I try to sitting E+ when I can, but it's an added cost and not all planes have E+ sections. I too pay for my seat and the room between it and the seat in front of me, and when somebody reclines all the way back, they are infringing on my space! The issue is really one of consideration. If you can recline all the way back without making life miserable for the person behind you, that's fine. But be considerate of that person and use a smaller recline if that is called for.
Nov 14th, 2012, 07:07 AM
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We have had many posts over the years on this subject and many people disagree but it sounds like Anita was just trying to start an argument.
There are many planes with seats that recline more that 2 3/4". I have really long legs and if you recline without notice my knees take a beating. It has happened many times. And I cannot eat with a reclined seat in front of me, there is just no room and having someones head almost in your lap while eating is disgusting.
Why is it that common courtesy does not exist anymore???
There are many planes with seats that recline more that 2 3/4". I have really long legs and if you recline without notice my knees take a beating. It has happened many times. And I cannot eat with a reclined seat in front of me, there is just no room and having someones head almost in your lap while eating is disgusting.
Why is it that common courtesy does not exist anymore???
Nov 14th, 2012, 07:43 AM
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This is my biggest pet peeve about flying. I do not think people that lay their head in the lap of the person behind them have a clue how disgusting and uncomfortable it is for that victim behind them. People that do this I find are never willing to compromise and get down right RUDE! when I ask very nicely to not go all the way down. When I have asked a flight attendant, I have found so far that it is the recliner who has the rights and not the victim behind them. I am always the loser and forced to suffer while the recliner in front of me has a pleasant flight.
