papagena

So for those of you who recline during non-sleep time - you must be aware that you're immediately taking space away from the person sitting behind and making their surroundings less comfortable. Do you just think "stuff them, my comfort is more important?". Is this a moral stance you take in all situations or just on planes?

soccr

<i>So for those of you who recline during non-sleep time - you must be aware that you're immediately taking space away from the person sitting behind and making their surroundings less comfortable. Do you just think &quot;stuff them, my comfort is more important?&quot;. Is this a moral stance you take in all situations or just on planes?</i>

1. Who determines sleep time?
2. Why does the person behind have more right to comfort than the person in front?

rkkwan

Gosh, forget it. Let Ryanair conquer the aviation world (I mean all airlines in the whole world), and no recline anywhere you go. That'd make a lot of people here very happy.

papagena

Well, personally I find that when they turn the lights down and stop serving food/drinks/duty free it's a pretty clear indication that the airline considers it sleep time. Up to the point where they switch the main lights back on and serve breakfast.

And as for the balance of rights to comfort - when you get on a plane and the seats are all upright everyone has the same amount of space. Once you recline you are taking space (and therefore comfort) away from the person behind. So if you recline during &quot;daytime&quot; then you are taking more space for yourself at someone else's expense and that is selfish. You are making your own comfort more important than that of the person behind, rather than equally important.

NeoPatrick

If my responses are unclear, let me state that I do feel during the time a meal is being served, people should not recline! Presumably a meal does not last 20 hours!

soccr

papagena, do you apply the same principle to movie theater seats that recline? Automobile front vs. back seats?

papagena

Well, I've never encountered a cinema seat that reclines - maybe that's a US thing.

In the case of car seats, I've never seen anyone move their seat back without a long exchange along the lines of &quot;do you mind if I move this back...do you still have enough legroom...are you sure that's still comfortable? Do tell me if you want it moving forward again...&quot; etc.

Of course when I'm in the back seat and on the receiving end of such questions I utilise the British stiff upper lip and claim to be wonderously comfortable regardless of the actual legroom situation.

sandypaws3

I agree with Ira...I do recline, but only a little to be more comfortable. If I fully recline, I'd be in the lap of the person behind me, and I certainly don't want the person in front of me to be in my lap. Do unto others...
Sandy

RufusTFirefly

I guess I'm lucky with the flights I'm on. People in front of me often recline as far as their seat will go, but it's never been &quot;3 inches&quot; from my face or &quot;in my lap.&quot;

I know I don't have an especially small face or lap. So some people must have amazingly large ones. Or have some personal psychological space issues.

freeman0819

This thread is BY FAR the funniest thing I have read on Fodor's to date. But in all seriousness, it's a very hot topic.

There is nothing worse than the inconsiderate recliner or seat faller or bouncer. I can see how folks can suddenly want to strangle their fellow passenger. It's almost as bad as the screaming kid problem. I especially like the comment about dipping that woman's hair in the salad dressing. You should not have it hanging down in my meal, missy.

If the seat reclines, go for it, just be considerate of those around you. If you can't play nice, we're going to have to put you in the corner for a time out!