I was on a international flight recently that spanned about 11 hours in the day and the person in front kept putting thier chair back.
Now I know people want to relax but i’m using the screen in the chair and i’m hoping the inflight meal will at least be passable enough to digest.
So on a long haul flight that happens in the day would you put your chair back?
Would you keep trying to put it back every hour (i havent moved chairs). even though you have been asked not to?
- now by the cabin crew btw
No. Should not be allowed. For some reason airlines have been allowed to narrow that space more and more to the point where it’s just not reasonable to use. You are infringing on the person behind you. Sure it’s mainly the airlines fault, and the government regulators that are supposed to serve the people, but don’t be an asshole about basic human courtesy
- for those of us on the taller side, you reclining can be painful on the knees. How is it any different than me walking by punching your shoulder. Should I do that? Not ok
- for those of us on the taller side, if you recline, we may no longer easily see the whole screen
- Even short people no longer have room for a laptop and reclining means you quite likely damage it. That’s not ok
- While the trays are supposedly independent, if reclining, they aren’t entirely. You reclining will bump the tray and potentially spill a drink. Not ok. On some aircraft the recline will partly crush a tall cup or can on the back of the tray or knock it over. Not ok
- those of us on the bigger side may no longer even fit a standard paperback. Now you’re not even letting me read because you feel entitled?
As someone both big and tall, I have had people in front of me recline so my normal breathing is in their hair. I have to admit to playing that up to success. There’s nothing like some entitled asshole turning around to glare that someone is breathing in their hair, and suddenly realizing just how close the seats are and it’s their fault. My edgy revenge fantasy is to rest my novel on top of their head because it literally would be easier to read than in front of me
PSA for anyone using a laptop during flights, the tray tables do not change angle or height when the person in front of you puts their seat all the way back. I almost had someone break my laptop screen a few years ago because the top of my screen got caught under the exposed edges where my tray table would fold up into, as rhe seat back came angling down towards my tray table. I was quick enough to be able to pull my laptop towards me and remove the screen before the full force was applied to the screen housing.
Yep same thing happened to me. I don’t know how I managed the quick reflexes after 17hrs London to Perth, but I guess not wanting my laptop to break trumps jet lag.
I put the seat back every single time I am on a flight. I have back issues and I get back pain if I sit upright like that for too long. If the flight attendants are asking to not put a seat back because the person behind me, then I’m going to ask for a new seat because sitting upright for 11 hours is absolute agony.
Sorry to the tall folks and whatnot, but I’m not flying somewhere just to be stuck in bed for 2 days unable to move because of back pain.
I’m a tall person and, when I can’t get extra leg room, I don’t have an issue with the person in front of me reclining their seat. I do the same if the flight is longer than maybe 2 or 3 hours for the same reason, it’s more comfortable and I can stretch my body in different ways so I’m actually able to walk off the plane.
Yeah, I mean I do feel kind of bad because I’ve flown long enough to see how much smaller the space has gotten. But physical pain overrides any guilt I feel and I will recline the seat.
If I want to recline I’m reclining. My comfort shouldn’t be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in back of me.
Ok, Boomer.
No boomer just someone that’s gonna use the features they paid for. If you don’t like the possibility of someone reclining buy a cabin seat with better seat pitch
People will read this name and then the content of the comment and still take it seriously and that’s why we as a species are doomed to fail
Is the name supposed to mean something to most people?
Usually godless communists would not be pro free market capitalism
Today I learned that reclining seats on an aircraft is pro free market capitalism.
Just because you were born later than the rest of them, doesn’t mean you don’t belong in the “I got mine, fuck everyone else” group.
I do wonder if they’re trolling, because their attitude could apply equally to the person behind them on a flight.
“My comfort shouldn’t be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in front of me.”
I have no reason to believe they aren’t being honest about their selfishness.
That’s not selfishness. I paid to be in the same cabin you are. You refusing to utilize what you’ve paid for is not my problem.
not my problem.
I rest my case.
Maybe you should fork out for a better seat so your entitlement doesn’t affect others.
With the same attitude the person behind you can rightfully kick off and demand you sit back up, because why should THEIR comfort be impeded by your inconvenience of not being able to lay back?
The space that my seat back occupies is not their space, that is mine.
No, it’s not. Your space ends at the backrest of your seat.
And as far as it reclines
In that case your ass is then my space, as far as my foot occupies it.
Nope.
We live in a society, and as far as I’m concerned, stealing the person behind you’s very limited leg room is selfish.
Signed,
A tall person who WILL kick your seat when my knees are in agony.
I’m 6’3” or 1.9m tall. I fly monthly for work. Putting the seat back has little effect on leg room because the pivot point is just below your knee level. It steals a bit of room going straight forward from your head/shoulders but you can reclaim this lost 2” by also reclining your seat.
If you’re kicking seats rather than reclining your own to get back to the same exact space as non-reclined just at a slightly more comfortable angle, you’re the asshole.
You sure about your height? I’m 6’3” and find it very painful in my knees when the person in front of me reclines, since the pivot point is too far below knee level. If I were to recline my seat, it doesn’t change that since reclining only affects your back.
There are many aircraft where if the person in front of me reclines, I am looking down on their head and find it easier to watch their screen than mine
Agreed. Same height and same issue. With my lower back pressed back into the seat, I can press my knees into the seat in front of me. Reclining my chair doesn’t allow my lower back to move any further back so it doesn’t increase leg room whatsoever.
My knees are several inches above the seats pivot point so someone reclining in front of me is taking a considerable amount of my leg room.
I think that other guy must have a long torso and short legs.
I think we must be flying very different planes because in all the airlines ive ever flown the seat only “reclines” like 2 inches.
2” in the standard, sometimes you can get 3” recline in economy+ seats.
Their seat back has no impact on your leg room
Found the hobbit
Flights are for sleeping, friend. I personally don’t see any benefit from reclining my seat so I don’t, but you should understand: reclined IS the default.
During cabin service which usually is the beginning and end of the flight, I’ll have it up. But it’s reclined while I’m watching the screen or sleeping. Person behind me can adjust, much like I adjust.
It’s a part of the plane. We all know the seat pitch is tight. We all know that the recline feature is there. If it bothers you, fly first class.
If it bothers you [pay about five times as much].
That’s a very grounded and reasonable take.
It’s like $10 extra for the row with no one in front of you.
I’ve taken dozens of flights and never once have the upgraded seats only cost $10. A basic ass drink costs more than $10.
You all getting ripped off wherever you’re from lol
I’m in the US. Where are you from?
Depends on the airline, and that’s definitely not first class which was the proposal.
You don’t need to fly first class though, you don’t even need to fly business
You might look at airline fees again. I’ve typically seen $50 or more. Even worse, since airlines now charge for everything, if I want both legroom and for my family to sit together, there are times when it would double my ticket price
That’s a bit rough. What airlines are charging >$50?
Lowest fair available:
Lowest fair available where you can select a seat with extra leg room:
And that $459 USD difference is only an 8 hour flight. For an 11 hour flight you can expect that to be greater.
Is it just me or does this come off as entitled and rude?
I bring it up 'cos you’re forcing your choices onto the person behind you… But you’ve probably got the decency to ask first or some polite way to deal with?
As someone who’s 6’3, I do find it entitled and rude. When people in front of me do this, it crushes my knees, so I repay the favor by constantly shifting my legs and pushing back into their seat. If I need to use the bathroom, I may also grab and pull hard on their headrest as leverage when standing up. If you want to recline and lounge on a plane then you should pay extra for first class. I just want the space provided for me and nothing more. I personally think they should remove the recline feature if they’re going to pack us in like sardines.
So, just like you adjust to more room and comfort, the person behind you should adjust to less room, less comfort for your entitlement? Do you really see them the same?
The way I look at it, it’s a shared resource. You are just as “entitled” to the space as the person behind you.
If I need the space, I will try and use it. But, I will move back slowly, and stop if I meet any resistance. There is nothing worse than having someone slam their seat back into your laptop (or worse, onto your knees…)
That’s a fair approach, and I was recently on a plane with someone who was all legs and over 6’ (Denmark, wow) and I would have negotiated the situation in that case - but I’d argue they should get priority on the bulkheads or emergency row with nobody in front.
But we don’t get priority on seats that fit. We used to but now airlines upcharge everything. Even if you can afford paying extra fees, they go fast: I have rarely seen them available.
FYI - on many planes the bulkhead isn’t even beneficial for tall people. The thing is it’s a flat wall. Even though there’s more room overall, there may be no place for feet/legs. Normal seats are much closer together, but there can be more room for your feet under the seat in front
I never put my seat back. I think they should take that feature out of airplane seats entirely.
i dont mind it for night flights - the entire plane goes back so you dont notice the difference
More and more airlines actually are, especially on shorter flights. And the price still is going up!
Agreed, each person should have their own space that no other passenger can alter. If you want to recline it should be within your own space. For example the seat butt should slide forward, or you should get an angled pillow to put behind your back. Or alternatively all seats should be reclined 100% of the time and you should get an up-slanted pillow for your back so you can sit upright.
However it’s done, everyone should have the exact same amount of space that no one else can alter
all seats should be reclined 100% of the time and you should get an up-slanted pillow for your back so you can sit upright.
Replace ‘extra pillow’ with ‘chair back that can be raised’ and guess what, you’ve got the current situation.
There are products that attach to the seat in front of you to prevent the person from reclining.
It is ethical, noble, and honest to use this.
Do tell?
Very tempting, but I’ll take the knee pain preventing them from reclining, since there’s nothing I can do about it
They paid for a seat, they can use it as they wish within its designed and permitted capabilities. You don’t know what time zone they’ve come from or where they’re going, when they sleep is their business. You don’t know what back/ physical issues they may have. If you don’t want to sit behind a reclining seat that upsets your delicate sensibilities don’t buy a ticket that sits you behind a reclining seat that upsets your delicate sensibilities. Who the hell do you think you are to dictate what others should do because you don’t like your own life choices.
It’s always funny to me when people complain about others restricting their slouching on a flight. The way j get around this is to get up every 30-45 minutes and stretch, take a little jaunt around the aisles and if I’m not grossed out by the first peep at the lavatory, take care of business, since I’m sipping on water the entire flight to combat jet lag. I must be in a hidden third category that doesn’t care too much about reclining my seat. If others recline, that’s okay because they’ll quickly learn that every half hour or so, they’re gonna have to push that seat upwards so I can get in and out. And if they don’t, they can explain why to the attendant I’ll be grabbing shortly.
I don’t. I just feel bad for the person behind me :(
I don’t usually, but I get the window seat to give me sometime to lie against.
The rule is that, unless you’re in a first class seat that can impact the person behind you, you can recline.
Complaining about someone using a seat as designed feels entitled to me. Sorry. I’ve always so confused how some people consider it encroaching. Sure it’s all shared space, but that means you are sharing it with others. Reclining inherently uses that chairs fair space.
I always keep mine back, except during meals and when it’s not allowed. It’s better for my back this way.
Some basic etiquette: Recline carefully - there are people with stuff behind you.
