Sue,
Yes AA has great leg room but its only temporary, they now from the crunch have to crunch as well. That is where leg room and reclining is of biggest issue. I was once on a UA flight to west coast and reclined on a night flight and heard a scream of pain from behind me, I quickly righted my seat and dealt as myself was knees shoved into the seat in front of me, and I'm not tall! So it all depends on the situation, the airline, config, etc!

I would like to make a comment about 'Margie's' post.....I work for a cell phone company and last time I checked you can not use phones on places...various reasons. One is there are no towers in the air (very hard on the signal) Second hmm can we say interference with airline equipment. No not enough to make the plane crash but it can interfere. Just had to put my two cents in. By the way the whole reclining thing is a touchy issue. I dont fly often so I guess when I do it does not bother me. If I was frequent flyer I am pretty sure I would have a whole different perspective

About 10 years ago, in the days before they installed seat back videos, Singapore Airlines would ask everyone to recline their seats on overnight flights so that people could easily watch the movie.

I think people need to relax a bit more on their flights and not sweat the small stuff ! Now , not only is it an issue of offending someone by putting a seat back , but also possibly offending them if you touch their seat while trying to stand .Please ...... do you really , really , think this makes them obnoxious , rude , unthinking , etc. , etc. ??? I like to believe people are generally good , and if someone uses my seat to help himself up , well....... BIG DEAL , has it hurt me , caused bodily harm ,they are not out to get me when they put their seat back or use it to assist them in standing . I truly absolutely fail to see the issue with this . Loosen the neckties , and un-do the top buttons , there are more important things to gripe about . Faith

How tall are you, Faith?

A solution to this issue is for airlines to offer reclining and non-reclining sections just like they used to in the bad old days of smoking and no smoking sections. In no reclining the seats would be locked upright so no cheating would be possible.

I am in the anti-reclining camp for reasons that have already been well stated but observe that many people like (need?) to recline. Peacefull co-existance through separation.

I am not holding my breath while I wait for this to become reality.

OMG this thread is giving me nightmares! That settles it, I'm going to use all my FF miles to upgrade to first class on my next overseas flight!
; )

Hopscotch , I am 5,9 ? My husband is much taller , never heard him complain . My issue is with how intense the anti-seatback group is . To clump people who put their seats back into a group , calling them idiots , jerks , etc. If you go back and read the posts you will see the remarks are rather hostile , and IMO an over-reaction to a small issue . Faith

OOPS !! Almost forgot , rude , selfish , and we do not have an ounce of courtesy ...... . And by the way , if after the meal I did attempt to put my seat back and the passenger behind me RAMMED their knees against it , I would have to say that would be a bit un-thinking . If that same person would simply and politely explain they were very tall and were un-comfortable , I am very certain a polite compromise could be reached between two civil , mature , adults . Faith