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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The last few flights I've been on with meal service, the flight attendants have asked people to put their seats up during the meal.

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 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.

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.

Well said Doug!

I always feel trapped when a person in front of me fully reclines their seat and I'm a small person.

<<<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.

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.

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.

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.

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???

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.

As a flight attendant, I ALWAYS ask people to put their seats up for the meal services. Those valuable inches can really make a difference in the blood flow of your legs in economy!

Anita, I agree that you aren't really after "discussion" but only want your viewpoint validated. Unfortunately for you, most flyers don't agree with your "me first" mentality.

For me, it usually depends on what the person in front of me does. If she/he reclines, there's a high chance I'm going to as well.

This is why I try to go for the bulkhead seat! I usually do not recline my seat if I'm at the bulkhead.

So Anita....if you truly believe; <i>"the seat only reclines about 2 3/4 inches. That is hardly enough to make a difference to the person behind you" - </i> <u>then why do you pay for a E+ seat???</u>

Sounds like you want it all....your extra 2-3 inches <u>and mine.</u>

The attitude that you "paid" for your space implies that the person sitting behind you didn't pay for theirs. Is that what you think??

I can see why you are "embroiled" on another board. With this attitude, I just hope you don't get "embroiled" with some 6'2" linebacker on a plane when you recline into his lap and stay there throughout a 10 hour flight.

Odd discussion.
You can't do anything if the person in front of you reclines to the max. Aside from meal times when a FA asks you to sit up, this is a perfectly legal thing to do. This is also the most common thing people do on night flights. And yes, it is very uncomfortable, less when you also recline.
If that hits your comfort zone (and/or knee caps), you should consider Eco plus or Business.
If you can't afford the upgrade you must either expect the person in front of you to recline or not fly at all.
On shorter day time flights I find people who need to recline to the max somewhat silly, but what can I do. Maybe they are just thoughtless, or they just changed from a long flight and different time zones and try to get at least an hour of sleep.
Fact is: You can't do zero, nada, nothing against it but adapt or avoid.

For the same reason one does not bring Gorgonzola cheese to eat on the plane (I paid for the same amount of air as you did); spit on the sidewalk (I paid as much taxes as you for the asphalt); sing loudly in a crowded elevator (I have as much right to enjoy this ride as you do). It's just rude. We can't regulate and legislate politeness.

There was one instance of me starting to get very annoyed by the recliner in front of me on a trans-Atlantic flight. The "lady" in front of me seemed to have a very hard time listening to the FA asking her to put the seat back up at the meal time, and then as soon as she (not I) finished eating back down came the seat almost into my lap, knocking over the small bottle of wine on the tray. She then proceeded to toss her long hair over the seat back almost into my food and in front of the television screen. Da**, those plastic knives will cut nothing, and scissors are not allowed. I do need to get up to go to the bathroom fairly often as I like to keep hydrated (with water), LOL and it's pretty difficult getting up without doing the limbo and knocking the seat in front (wink).

I suspect that this is an issue that will be with us forever unless the airlines realize what a problem they've created. The topic keeps coming back over and over and over, with no resolution. Half of the responders say be polite and don't recline,the other half say it's their right to do so.

Also, what is all this about "rights"? All you're doing is renting a seat on an airplane.

Seems the troll has disappeared.

<So I recline. Simple as that.>

Then why did you bother coming here, to another internet forum, to ask the same question you have already decided the answer to?

About 25 years ago, when I was 7 months pregnant, we took a cross country flight to Denver and the woman ahead of me insisted on reclining. The FA came running when she reclined her seat and I yelled loudly, as I was HUGE

The idiot absolutely refused to pull up her seat even when it was explained to her that I was heavily pregnant and not physcially able to accommodate her. Some people are just a$$holes.

A travel acquaintance replied to my flying rant with - "Well, I guess flying is just a necessary evil". I replied - "Yes it is evil, but not necessary for me". I plan no more flying vacations. The airlines can become only business class passenger transportation for all I care.

regards - tom

Does this mean no more Africa, Tom.....or that you're only flying in business class? Sadly, its not just seat reclining and its not just Coach Class that has its "evils".

A nicely dressed young businessman sat next to me in First Class on a flight. Immediately after sitting down, he pulled off his shoes and crossed his leg so that his not-so-fresh foot was nearly in my lap. In self-defense, I opened the overhead air vent to full blast and pointed it at his (did I say, not-so-fresh) foot. Shortly after, he was uncomfortably cold and asked if I <u>needed</u> the air on. "Only if you intend to keep your shoes off". The look of total confusion on his face was no surprise. He was completely clueless that what he did in his space would have any effect on others.

I sat in front of another guy in FC (maybe a drummer) who watched rock videos the entire flight and banged out the beat on his tray table. Then there was the couple in the FC seats behind us as we headed to Mexico last year. They bragged about their virus and how they weren't giving up their vacation to it. Then proceeded to sneeze and cough the entire flight without any thought to a handkerchef or Kleenex.

The list of thoughtless behavior is endless, but I go prepared to defend my space, 'cause I'm not staying at home to accommodate the selfish behavior of others.

Fight on!

I'm with you TC. Flying can have its downside, but it's worth it for us because it allows my husband and myself to see this wonderful,beautiful,interesting world. Except for a surprise,free upgrade to first class once, we always have to fly coach. We've shared space with some very nice and some very thoughtless fellow passengers. Nothing has ever even once made me think about giving up flying.

Yes TC, no more Africa. No more flights overseas (from USA). I might, with much resistance, consider flying within USA IF hugely better than driving , like, from CA to NY. I find the treatment of passengers by airports and airlines contemptuous.

"Fight on!" for me means not giving them my business. That's the only thing I can do.

regards - tom
ps - Fight on. Like write to the airlines? You know how their response will begin - "We're sorry .....etc"

I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way, Tom. I travel all the time (fly) as a medical flight courier. I have great experiences. Yes...I get those occassional jerks that I've posted here, but for the most part, I encounter wonderful people. People who are more than willing to help with the chain that transports much needed bone marrow to a waiting leukemia patient. People give up seats so I won't be bumped. People give up their overhead space so I can carry on my cooler. Flight attendents bend the regulations to let me overstretch the carry-on rules when I'm transporting. TSA agents hand screen my precious cargo and do everything they can to move me through fast and efficiently -- going so far as to accompany me all the way to my gate. Waiting passengers allow me to move to the front of the line when the collection has run late. I had a gate agent in Amsterdam drive me all the way across that vast airport in his golf cart, take me through flight crew screening and insist in two languages that the plane must be held so that I could make the flight. It can be a cruel world -- annoying at times, but I have seen the best along with the worst and I still want to be a part of it.

Fight on....meaning; hold your head up, lift your spirit, look for the best, don't let the process keep you from the pleasure.

TC - well, I'm NOT a medical flight courier. You should fly sometime as just a regular nobody passenger. You might see things differently.

regards - tom

I didn't read through all the response so I'm probably repeating much of what has already been said. Yes of course you can recline your seat, especially if you're on a long flight, particularly a redeye! However, out of courtesy you should always bring your seat up when meals are being served even if you pass on the meal, it is just the proper thing to do. My other gripe with seats is when the person behind you uses your seatback to pull themselves up to get out of their seat vs using their own armrests to assist them in standing up, that's probably the second most irritating thing passengers so after reclining during a meal. If people would keep in mind that they aren't the only one on the plane I think flying could be much more pleasant.