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
There is no etiquette. That’s a flawed argument.
The seats are designed the way they are by the airlines. They allow the minimum amount of space for the maximum amount of money.
The airlines could make all seats non-reclining with very little effort. But they would lose money because non-reclining seats would be a dealbreaker to a small but not insignificant number of customers…me for one.
The airlines could also make seats more comfortable and reclinable by allowing more space for each seat. But they would lose money because they would sell less seats.
The seats recline the small amount they do because of the natural equilibrium that the market allows between comfort and profit. End of story.
You peasants arguing about which other peasant is a terrible person are blaming the wrong people.
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.
The problem is not the reclining seats, it’s that we are now packed like cattle.
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.
I never put my seat back and consider it rude when other people do it. There was even one instance in which I made a stink I demanded the person in front of me put their seat back up (thankfully, they complied).
As others have pointed out, this is a situation created by the airlines and their shitty business models.
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.
Doesn’t bother me if they recline - on an Airbus the seat base pivots so you get more knee room.
Related things that do annoy me - people dropping the seat back with a lot of force (why not recline gently so the person behind can adjust their stuff?), and people kicking the back of my seat.
A 12 hour flight is often going to involve a change in timezone, so I usually get some sleep, and for that I want my seat reclined … plus keeping in one position for that amount of time is uncomfortable for my joints and backside.
What are you, insane? It’s their seat, doesn’t affect your tray table at all, and reclines, at most 15°. Grow up…
It does affect the tray table
If you’re saying you’re flexible enough to squeeze into your seat while that 15° is fully used, happy for you. Not everyone is an acrobat nor interested in accommodating slouchers.
Never.
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.
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
most chairs allow the tray to be upright while the seat is reclined. if the seat wasn’t meant to be reclined, it wouldn’t be able to be reclined. demanding that someone else not perform an action that is permitted to them because you feel that is it is more convenient to you is…well… I’ll let you figure that one out
demanding that someone else not perform an action that is permitted to them because you feel that is it is more convenient to you is…well… I’ll let you figure that one out
So if you’ve been waiting in line for something for an hour and I just show up and cut in front of you, you’d be fine with that since there’s no rule or law saying I can’t?
The two of us are in a small elevator and I rip a huge wet fart just as the doors are closing and its all good, right?
This logic is so often used to justify bad behavior. A perfect example is the far-right spreading hate and racism because “free speech.” They make the exact same argument that you’re making right now.
we’re talking about sitting in a seat, right? 😂
Nope we’re talking about reclining back into the space of someone else’s seat. It’s obviously nowhere close to the level of racism (which is why I gave those other more mundane examples first) in terms of importance, but the self-justification is all the same.
you’re sounding like my parents after they go on a rant about small government and then want to micromanage how other people sit in a seat.
I mean, I understand that Americans are generally allergic to the idea of existing with other human beings and have zero concept of shared space. Frankly, I find this opposition to people reclining in a reclining chair to be comically ridiculous. But as I said before, we live under capitalism. You can always offer to pay them to not do it. Find the market price for not reclining ina reclining chair. It’s a fair trade.
allergic to the idea of existing with other human beings and have zero concept of shared space. Frankly, I find this opposition to people reclining in a reclining chair to be comically ridiculous.
Well as someone who will have their knees crushed when you want to take more of the shared space for yourself, this is exactly how I view your argument. If I were short then I probably wouldn’t care. I dont lean my seat back because I know exactly how it is which seems like a much better way to be a steward of shared space.
Arguing that having the option to do something means it’s “okay” even if it hurts others around you, and if those others don’t like being hurt they should pay 10x the price for first class makes you sound incredibly entitled and self-absorbed, which is pretty hilarious since this is the stereotypical American behavior.
Personally I see it like …. As a bigger guy, I can easily shove my way through a crowd so I’m not delayed demanding that I not perform that action because it is more convenient for you not to be pushed to the ground is … well … yes, I do feel like it is a good analogy. In both cases an entitled person is physically infringing on close personal space to cause pain and make someone else less comfortable, and potentially damage their devices. The difference is that one of these actions has entitled people thinking it’s ok
its really uncomftable fro 11 hours if they do that
Then pay for a better seat.
This really is the answer
🤷 I’ve been on longer flights many times and never had an issue with it.
but we do live in a capitalist society, so perhaps you could pay them to not make use of their own chairs. Yes, I am drinking and am bring a smart ass.
Put your seat back, you’ll get more room.
Reclining seats don’t work that way. My knees are still the same place, my lap is still the same place, the tray is still the same place. All of them are infringed upon, even if I pay the entitlement back on the next poor soul, until the person in the non-reclining seat in the last row is screwed
That has not been my experience at all. In fact could you explain how the person in front of you inconveniences you by reclining their seat?
The only thing I can think of is when someone reclines with a bump and it makes a noise.
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 the 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.
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, book the emergency row, fly first class, or don’t fly.
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…)
The only way I have ever been able to sleep on a plane is to put my head on the tray table in front…I can tell you that having someone slam their seat back into your head is worse! I really wish people would just take a quick look behind them before moving their seat back :(
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
If it bothers you [pay about five times as much].
That’s a very grounded and reasonable take.
In this particular case I did pay extra for a decent seat (work paid i added some extra)
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?
Australia, people here don’t care so much about these minor flying details so maybe not much demand for fancy seating
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.
Why is it so expensive there? Are there other significant differences between those tickets? Over here you just book your flight and then on the seat picker click a row with no one in front of you, pay the $20 or whatever the premium is for that row
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
Okay, but that wasn’t the proposal I was snarkly replying to.
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?
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.
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.
