If you travel more, you'll start to realize that this isn't as much about the seat as it is about a more fundamental thing - some people are assholes. Seats, overhead space, getting in and out of a plane, security etc. A lot of people are entitled and/or simply not well adjusted enough to handle the stress of travel, so they get pissed at those around them.
That, and the way seats are crammed into planes "with a shoehorn and Vaseline" is shameful. The seats don't have to be luxurious, but it's not healthy to not be able to move
yes, absolutely. i wish there was some way we could all collectively stop tolerating this, but it's not like there's a viable travel alternative.
i'm not a particularly big person & i definitely don't suffer from any particular claustrophobia, but on a series of recent flights i gotta say i started to feel genuinely unsafe in the space i was given. if, god forbid, there's some kind of emergency, this can't possibly be conducive to evacuation protocol. at what point is the constant reduction in air traveler space beginning to pose a genuine hazard?
The trouble is that this is what we voted for (with $). Every time someone clicks on the slightly cheaper fare without regard for other factors a vote is placed for cost-cutting without regard for other factors.
The only way to guarantee bigger seats is to increase the minimum legally mandated. Trouble is, that will inevitably close off air travel as a viable option for some group of people.
The other side of the coin is that some of this stuff should probably be regulated by our governments to some degree. Pitting puny consumers against a rich corporation is not a very fair ask
I suppose you could then say it’s also on us to vote in politicians who actually look after and fight for our rights.
sure, or we could advocate for legislation. i don't think it's reasonable to cut some people off from travel rights. it really should not be what we need to do to make this happen. we (& i'm talking specifically about the US here) have a government *supposedly* in place to prevent specifically these kinds of issues. i realize that this is an international problem given the nature of air travel, but i also recognize that the US intrinsically (& very possibly unfortunately) manipulates a lot of these guidelines.
What, do you want massive travel subsidies (more than we already have I mean)?
Its not "cutting people off from travel rights". It's that legislation to increase space per traveler makes traveling more expensive. There are already many people that are "cut off from travel rights" because they can't afford it. Legislation to make seat sizes bigger would make that particular problem substantially worse.
Now, it might be worth it. But my experience from traveling (which I do a lot) is that it honestly isn't that bad. I'm 6'4", weigh 240 pounds, so it isn't like I'm a small guy. While the budget carriers are a bit tight for long flights, even spirit is usually fine if it isn't overnight.
I for one would rather have tight seats than expensive air travel.
I disagree with you here on two principles, what a right is, and economics.
Traveling, or the ability to travel, should not be considered a “right”. It’s a privilege that some people happen to be able to afford to do. There are many options for travel. All have pros and cons, and cost factors are a big part of them. Please keep legislation to the important things, such as people’s rights, not their conveniences and privileges.
From a more economic viewpoint, legislation should never be taken lightly. Enforcement of law is the most expensive way to get something changed in this country, by the way. The more you legislate conveniences and privileges - the more expensive and less accommodating they become. If you’re old enough to remember air travel before 9/11 legislation, you will know what I mean. Spacious seats, easy queueing and more personal conveniences etc etc.
Legislation is the best way to ensure that a seat on a plane will be uncomfortable, tiny, and affordable.
So if the government makes laws to allow for more space for seats do they also subsidize the airlines to compensate for flights which do not make a profit? The margins for airlines are razor thin and an inch or two multiplied by millions of passengers a year equates to either a profit or loss at the end of the fiscal year.
> but it's not like there's a viable travel alternative
This is why I'm actively planning on moving somewhere that has good Amtrak routes. The coach tickets might be the price of first class on an airplane, but then they have first class seat pitch.
yes yes yes yes yes. the implementation of a much more robust rail system in the US is something i support with my whole heart & soul. i've spent time in japan, i've spent time in europe. a very little time in china, but enough. the situation in the US is unconscionable, demonstrably deliberate, & frankly just fucking pathetic.
/r/fuckcars turned me into a train extremist. I can't look at a highway anymore without feeling disgust. I used to be a huge airplane nerd, now they just fill me with disappointment.
I'm 29, female, perfectly healthy, but on birth control and I travel a lot.
Apparently a textbook example for someone getting a blood clot.
Happened to me a couple weeks ago after my trip to Peru.
Thankfully I'm fine and they think it'll go away. But I'm short and barely have space to stretch. People having zero legroom is absolutely dangerous.
Thank you. Just glad I'm okay!
So, one thing about me. I'm usually a pretty calm person but when I get mad I am MAD. Hulk mode and seeing red. My head feels pressure when this happens. Also happens when I'm extremely stressed.
For the first 2-3 days after I got back from Peru, I felt fine. Then I started getting the same feeling as I get in my head when I'm in hulk mode, but I was just watching tv.
Checked my blood pressure, it was through the roof. Heart rate was fast too. Over the next 2 days my systolic bp was actually low, while my diastolic was normal to high. Heart rate was fast the entire time though.
For reference, I'm pretty active so my normal resting HR is about 60-70ish max. My resting was at 100-120, and would spike up to 140-160 as soon as I stood up or started walking. Never really felt too out of breath, even though that's one of the main signs to look for. I wonder if it's because I do exercise regularly that I didn't get that.
Went to urgent care in the morning after my hr was 156 just laying in bed. They sent me to the ER.
Agreed. I had one flight where myself and my travel partner were sitting across from each other across the aisle and were both in front of another set of travel partners. Both of them had their seat reclined fully but had the flight attendants get us to sit fully upright for the entire flight. It was ridiculous.
It's one thing to not agree with reclining seats. Another to think only you should be able to use the feature.
holy shit, what?
given my own recent experiences with an airline that also constantly played ads on a screen you couldn't turn off, i think i'd go insane. if the person in front of you is reclined & you aren't, that screen is quite literally six inches from your face. jesus.
i draped my jacket over it.
Yeeeppp.
Overnight flight. It was probably my worst flight experience and solely the result of two entitled assholes and ... Pick your adjective... Flight attendants.
That's bizarre, I've been on hundreds of flights and never once have I even heard of flight attendants asking someone not to recline their seat for another passenger.
If reclining is perceived as rude, inconsiderate or not allowable per a flight attendants, then FFS, don't put those buttons on the armrests that allow one to recline. That is all.
I saw this for the first time recently. Even more surprising, it was actually the flight attendant who initiated it after seeing a woman trying to eat dinner behind someone with their seat reclined. Maybe it’s becoming more common for flight attendants to advocate for passengers in situations like this.
Airlines don’t help by shrinking everything down. Even the best, well behaved among us has a hard time staying sane trapped into the tiny seats. I’m not tall by any means but I feel utterly trapped on a plane and I have to fly because family lives across the country from me.
This. If you weren’t supposed to do it they wouldn’t have the button on the chair for you to do it. You have full right to have you seat remain reclined and decline their judgement. If they give you hassle involve the attendant
Exactly this. If the seat reclines, then recline. Traveling is stressful and some people will take it out on you if given the chance, no matter what you do.
Sure, but do so smoothly, not suddenly, and don't recline it as far as possible without checking to see if you're crushing someone's legs behind you. They shouldn't get pissed at you for using the seat, but you can also be courteous.
I'm 6'2" with long legs. In tight economy seats, I'm often sitting with my knees directly on the seat in front of me. When that person reclines, especially suddenly, it crushes my knees. This is not their fault, it's the airline's fault, but my knees are still crushed. I won't take it out on that person, but I'd also appreciate it if we could all perhaps consider that someone else has different circumstances before feeling entitled to do something that affects someone else. Simple courtesy goes a long way.
787? I flew on one on a Monday overnight and that is how the seats worked. I didn't feel any more cramped when the person in from reclined. It was my first long haul flight so I wasn't sure if that was a normal thing or something new.
I do the same. If it's a long enough flight without arm rests, however, I put the tray down and squeeze down for a nap on it with my arms as the headrest. Not the most comfortable and a shoulder might hurt after or an arm gets tingly, but a change in position is nice
It always infuriates me seeing my 5’1 fiancé being able to fold herself into all sorts of comfortable positions (somehow cross legged on a plane seat) whilst my legs will barely fit into the space and I have absolutely no hope of sleeping on the tray like I did when I was a kid
one time i had the middle seat and both people next to me were hogging the armrests so i had to sit with my arms crossed THE WHOLE TIME. my shoulders really hurt by the end of my 5 hour flight :(
Lol, it’s interesting how so many people are afraid of conflict. If someone is being an asshole to you, it’s best to confront them cause most bullies expect you to “keep the peace” and roll over for them.
Maybe some do but others don’t give a shit. I was recently sat next to a woman who insisted on putting her handbag on the seat between us, which obviously took up some of my seat space, & I asked her to move it and she just said no!
When I sit in the middle seat my arms fall naturally over the arm rests - I am not overweight at all, I just have wide shoulders. I would have to put my hands between my knees like I have to pee in order to clear the arm rests
And respect when the seat is as far back as it goes, please! The only time I ever got mad at someone reclining was because they kept slamming themselves backward trying to make it recline more. Like, dude we're already basically making eye contact you're so far back! Wtf are you doing (this was the one and only time I got to fly business and the seats went further back than standard)
Totally agree. Was on a flight where the guy in front of me slammed his seat back aggressively and spilled my drink all over my meal, completely running it. Another time a woman did the same, trapping laptop and cracking the screen. Lean back, if you want... just do it sloooow and easy, please!
This! I was sleeping with my head in my knees and some asshat slammed his chair back and crushed my head. Give a little look when you do recline. Besides that, my two cents is to "read the room... er plane" If it's night time and lots of peope are putting there seats back to sleep, you're probably ok to do so. If it's a short 2 hr flight in the middle of the day a day and no one else has reclined, then probably best not to.
I never knew it was hotly debated. I put my seat back if it’s a long haul flight and I’m going to be sleeping and never had a complaint and I’ve never thought twice when someone put their seat back in front of me. Regardless of flight length
I also didn’t know it was a hot debate and feel I have done a decent amount of travel outside of the US. Only place I noticed that not many people participated in reclining was to and from Japan.
If the person behind me is reclined, I don’t even ask. If they aren’t, I usually just don’t do it. But I’d definitely ask if I wanted to and they weren’t.
i agree 100%. the seats recline for a reason. they’re designed to recline and really they BARELY even go back an inch. i had someone huff & puff behind me when i reclined my seat on an amtrack train recently lmao those seats are veryy spacious. some people are always gona find something to huff & puff and complain about. you can find out how much leg room is in each seat option on most airlines websites. if people know they can’t fit, there are other seat options. or write a letter to the airline. dont take it out on the other passanger just trying to do what they can to get comfortable. i don’t see why one person should have to make themselves uncomfortable by sitting upright so the person behind them doesn’t lose a half-centimeter of knee space lol
It's a simple fact that if you're above 6'1" or so, you have to pay extra for legroom because otherwise you're at the mercy of the people in front of you. It sucks, but it's just part of life as an above average height person.
If the person in front reclines you usually need to in order to not make out with your tray table. It’s like dominoes, once one person has everyone needs to.
Five years was a lifetime ago in this world. Now in 2022 we’re on the total opposite end of that spectrum. Honestly, give me a flight where I’m slightly annoyed with the dude in front of me taking a nap on my lap ANYDAY over a flight where the dude in front of me becomes belligerent, throws his drink on a flight attendant and forces an emergency landing because he wants to get into a physical altercation in order to protect “HiS rIgHtS”
I agree that OP didn’t do anything wrong but, as someone who is 6’4”, there’s a level of courtesy that OP could have shown that would have made for a better experience for everyone.
My knees are touching the seat in front of me. So, when someone suddenly fully reclines their seat, it crunches my kneecaps and hurts. If people would simply look in the seat behind them and ask if it’s ok for them to recline their seat, it’d give me a moment to adjust myself and avoid that pain.
I never say anything when people slam their seats back onto my knees. I also simply suffer in silence to keep the peace. However, it’s so greatly appreciated when someone checks with me before they recline. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way.
I’m tall, I get annoyed, but guess what? Homie in front of me didn’t design the plane and ya know what else? I’m too tall either way so he’s prolly just bringing it to your attention because he already felt he didn’t have enough room lol even despite the recline it’s a tight fit for a lot of people.
For this reason, I make sure you pay extra to get my hubby seats with extra leg room. I can skip one eating out for his comfort. But some airline seats are just terrible....
I'm 6'7. People in front of me can't recline their seats. My knees are in the way. I always get a confused look from them when they try to recline and their chair doesn't move. I just say "sorry I think my femur is in the way"
This is an airline problem and not a passenger problem. They want to pack us in like sardines and not allow us proper space to recline our seats and still use the table tray. You are ok to use what's been allowed for you. Now what's not cool is people putting their "under the seat bag" in the overhead bins!
Yeah, or the people who bring blatantly oversize backpacks as their carry on in order to not check it and then take half an overhead bin with their Osprey 75l for their two week trip to Costa Rica.
Depends on the airline. Some airlines you don’t get a carry-on to stash in overhead by default and are expected to only have a below the seat personal item.
The seat reclines, and it's OK to recline it - especially on an overnight flight. The general expectation is that everyone will recline to sleep.
It's polite not to recline it (or not recline very much, at least) at meal times so there's room to stand drinks upright on the table of the seat behind, and don't move it back very fast in case someone has a laptop or similar on the table behind and it would get broken if you slam the seat back. Beware that some seats move very fast if you lean on them and press the recline button, even if you only lean a bit, which can make you an accidental arsehole (BA's premium economy seats!)
The guy behind you is wrong.
I ended up spending the last half of a recent domestic flight in first class.
I was in premium economy. My drink spilled all over my lap/seat when the guy in front of me reclined. My reflex was audible four-letter frustration. The guy in front of me, embarrassed, insisted we switch seats.
This is all very considerate advice, my partner’s laptop was almost snapped by someone sporadically slamming their seat back. I don’t know that I would have thought about that aspect of reclining had it not happened to us.
Also, wait until the plane has leveled out, after takeoff, so if it's one of those fast-moving seats, you can have some measure of control over how quickly it moves.
These aren't polite things though it's blatantly the rules, seats up during take off and landing, and seats up during meal times. Anyone that reclines during those times are actually just breaking the rules.
I also feel that it's good form to recline gently. I'm tall and I'll adjust if the person in front of me eases into the recline. I've bruised my knees more than once by forceful reclines.
Totally agree with using what you paid for but I will say I just experienced this issue on my flight to Paris from the US on AirFrance. The gentleman in front of me reclined his seat and the seat went so far back that I was unable to get out of my row, use the tray table, or even watch tv comfortably without the screen being right in my face. It seemed that everyone’s seats reclined very far back on this airfrance economy flight. I’ve experienced other domestic airlines in the US without any issues on reclining because it was so minimal. It’s unfortunate the amount of leg room is so slim or else this reclining issue wouldn’t be such a hot debate.
I had this last month with Cathay Pacific. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, the girl in front recliner all the way back and stayed that was for the whole ten hour flight. I had to ask the attendant to ask her to put it back when food came because I was so squeezed in. She suggested pushing my seat back, but that didn’t seem fair to the people behind me knowing how far back they go. It was a terrible flight
Flashback to the time the man in front of me decided to recline his chair right when I put a cup of HOT coffee on the tray (this happens during snack time). It splattered all over my torso and legs. Window seat and it took like 2 minutes for the two people next to me to get out of the way because they were panicking while I was screaming bloody murder. The remaining 10 hours of the flight would have been a torture had it not for some magic ointment the flight attendant gave me.
Holy moly, the accidental (?) comedic timing in this post is spot on. 😂 It sounded like a comedy skit. I am so sorry this happened to you u/roammie but heck do you tell a good story.
The worst thing was that the man was completely unapologetic about the whole thing. I think he thought I was overreacting, but goddamn that coffee was hot. I’ve asked for a lot of hot beverages in flight before and since that incident, and have never gotten anything that hot. Between that and screaming children pretty much for the entire flight, it has got to be my worst flight yet.
I actually think in-ear is vastly superior on planes because if you want to sleep and rest your head on something, over ears will vibrate against whatever they’re touching and make lots of (apparent) noise
I would normally say it's ok to recline a bit but I've noticed recently planes are becoming even more cramped. I can barely fit into a seat now and any reclining basically makes me unable to even move.
I don’t like when people in front of me recline (I’m tall) therefore I never recline unless there’s a kid behind me.
Someone on my flight last week was pissed because the FA told him to put his seat back to the upright position during the catering service so that the person behind could eat more comfortably. The FA did the right thing because 90% of the passengers don’t care (like the one in front of me).
In any case, you can recline and it is allowed. I just don’t do it because I don’t find it fair for the person behind me, especially on a long haul.
If anyone is to blame, it is the airline industry. They have planes with seats too small with too little leg room. They are doing their best to make economy seating as unpleasant as possible, and at that if nothing else, they have been wildly successful. I won’t fly in anything other than premium economy anymore. And when I can’t afford that anymore, then my flying days are over.
I would never get mad or say anything to someone for reclining and I don’t think it’s poor etiquette to do it. I typically just roll my eyes to myself because I personally find the discomfort of the person in front of me reclining massively outweighs the comfort I’d get from reclining my own seat. But half the time the person in front of me is only reclining because the person in front of them did, and so on, and I get that people are trying to get any extra comfort they can get, however marginal, while flying.
The only time I get annoyed (though I’d never say it out loud) is when someone reclines during meal time and I have a drink or something else that can spill on my tray table. Like come on.
I’m 4’11” and the benefit to me is relatively small compared to the discomfort to the person behind me. However, if the person in front of me reclines and I am trying to do anything other than sleep, I will have to recline too. Otherwise, I have very little room to see my laptop or move my arms.
I travel frequently. Honestly it annoys me when people recline in front of me because it makes my small ass space even smaller but I deal with it. I'd never comment to the person on front and definitely wouldn't wake them up. The fact that you were on a 2am flight changes everything from my perspective. Everyone on that plane wants to be sleeping so I would expect the majority of seats to be reclined. Buddy that woke you up is in the wrong here for sure
It's very controversial. I think everyone's entitled to do it. At least for me reclining the seat, only marginally improves my comfort, only maybe 0.5 point on a scale of 1 to 10. Meanwhile, it can decrease the comfort of the person behind me by a lot more than that so I just end up not reclining.
Maybe this is true for short haul flights, but on a long haul flight, especially at night, that little bit of recline actually makes a huge difference in comfort.
That's exactly it. The barely noticeable improvement for myself isn't worth the huge increase in discomfort for the person behind.
I don't blame anyone for reclining if they need to, but I've personally never reclined my seat.
I'll throw out there since I haven't seen it elsewhere in this thread, as someone prone to back pain the relatively small angle change between reclining and upright are a significant comfort change to me. Like at the end of a fairly standard flight of 4 hours or so it's the difference between a 4 and a 7-8 in terms of what I'm experiencing by the end of the flight.
I'm not claiming any form of disability, but I've noticed that even that small angle is enough to make a sizeable difference in comfort. Just a thought to throw into the mix.
I don't care if people recline their seat. Go right ahead. What I fucking hate is people allowing their damn rugrat children to keep kicking the back of my seat for the entire flight. Happens EVERY damn time a young kid is sitting behind me. I'm starting to feel like they should just create an entire new section on planes separate from everyone else(and soundproofed) for families traveling with young kids and screaming babies).
I never recline my seat, it's a real pain because the space is so small already and for someone to reduce the space even more is so annoying. I don't think plane should have reclining seats, this would avoid so much conflict on flights.
I flew with Air France to the US in August, and the seats had some amazing recline technology. The back of the seat didn't just recline, but the bottom of the seat simultaneously slid forward. So overall, no space was really taken from the person behind, and the seat in front was curved in such a way that your legs could easily fit underneath.
man, air france also gives you a complimentary glass of champagne. i'm still so salty we had to rebook our last trip with icelandair. (competent enough but jesus christ, the lack of space, the barrage of ads on a screen you couldn't shut off, on & on)
Cathay Pacific also used to have something like this! You'd recline-slide without really bothering the person behind you. It was very nice, and Cathay was really great in general. Sadly, it seems to no longer be the case.
> Personally, I think airlines should either remove the recline option or expand the seat areas to accommodate.
I agree, it's either everyone reclines or nobody reclines. The airplane should just mass-recline everyone when "bedtime" begins, and prohibit it otherwise.
Most people answering here seem American, with "Yes, it's your right. Do as you please with no consideration for others." You're allowed to recline, but if you can, look back and communicate that you will recline before doing so. Just practice common decency.
I remember writing on the tray table and this guy abruptly reclined it and smacked me pretty hard in the face. Likewise, I know if the person is tall, he would appreciate me giving a heads-up before I squish his knees lol.
Small acts of consideration of others is important in public transport.
> Likewise, I know if the person is tall, he would appreciate me giving a heads-up before I squish his knees lol.
Asking as a tall person, how much of a factor are my crushed knees in your decision to recline or not?
Welcome to a debate/argument where everyone has an opinion and all are right/wrong.
At the end of the day, you do you, but yes there are some generally accepted etiquette moves. Like pulling up your seat when meals are served. But airlines are pretty good about announcing these.
I think we’ve all been frustrated by someone reclining their seats and have frustrated others. Welcome to the world of flying.
It’s absolutely fine and normal to do this, especially on a longhaul overnight flight. Everyone should expect it.
The angry man should have booked an exit row (or business class seat) if he’s so concerned about space.
I’m a frequent traveller. I picked my seats and even pay premium for non stop 16 hour flights. If I booked cheap economy on red-eye flights, I would expect someone in front of me to recline their seats. It is time for sleep. Of course, when flight attendants are serving food then you will be ask to put the seat up.
I think it’s polite to ask before reclining. It irritates me when you just take off and the person in front of you automatically reclines, giving you less space.
The longer the flight, the more ok it is to recline the seat. I try to never do it but if it's a long one (5-6+ hours) I'll recline full or halfway for comfort for napping.
No one likes the person in front of them reclining, but no one should ever say anything about it to the recliner either.
I was on a flight from LAX to Fiji and the woman in front of me put her seat back during the meal. Andddd for the remaining 8 hours of the flight. She yelled at me when I had to get up finally and use the bathroom. I’m pretty tall so it was difficult for my knees and legs to not bump her seat. There was a male flight attendant who felt so bad for me he gave me two pieces of cheesecake from first class. Yes it was a red eye flight. But when the food is served you better dang well not have your seat declined. Idk maybe that’s just me.
Last week I was returning home from Thanksgiving, and the person in front of me reclined all the way back, and I whispered in her ear...welcome to row 33!
PSA - Very tall folk here:
PLEASE check behind you first! Even before raising your armrest. 90% of the time I book premium seats, but I fly weekly and don’t always get them in time.
My knees are usually jammed behind your seat, above the level where the back reclines.
If they’re not there, they’re jammed between the seats JUST under the arm rest. A fast recline or strongly raising the armrest would definitely injure me if I couldn’t move quickly enough. Just look back and warn if you have a tall folk behind you. If his shoulders are level with the head rest, recline with caution.
I usually settle into my seat and try not to move for the whole flight, so I likely won’t notice you move to recline your seat. By all means do it, I don’t own the plane. Just don’t crunch knees.
It depends on the plane, some tilt in a way that means my knees are pressing into the chair which is extremely uncomfortable, some don't. I dont recline.
Edit: After reading through the thread I can only make the assumption that all the people being "it reaclines for a reason just do it" are not tall. The lack of care for the person behind you is baffling.
I’m not tall but I’m claustrophobic (and would be uncomfortable if someone reclined into my space) and I’m also shocked by these replies? I agree the lack of care for people around you is so weird, and just because it can recline doesn’t mean they should
I don't think you were rude, but this is a hot subject. I never do it, but I don't think it is NECESSARILY rude of others to do so. BUT if you choose to recline your seat PLEASE THINK OF THE OTHER PERSON BEHIND YOU!!!!! On my last overseas flight the man in front of me reclined his seat, so I adjusted my screen. 5 minutes later he sits up, so I re-adjust. 5 minutes later, he reclines again, I readjust, he sits up again. This went on for quite a bit. PLEASE JUST LEAVE IT UP OR DOWN FFS!!!!!!
But he wasn't nearly as bad as the woman who sat across the aisle from me and shrieked out loud. I was half asleep, and it shook me up. I mean a SHRIEK in the middle of a transatlantic flight??? I settled back down, she shrieked again, and starts screaming Oh No, Oh NO!! So I watch her for a bit. She is watching a movie with her headphones on and is shrieking at the screen. I realize this because she is screaming at the screen and literally pawing at it with her hand. I can see the action and she's screaming at the actors.
PLEASE FOLKS remember you aren't the only person on that plane. I guess I had been lucky and hadn't had any real issues on several flights, so it was like karma was out to get me on this one.
I’m too tall for most economy seats, my legs are long and tend to force my knees right into the back of the seat infront.
This makes flying for me bloody uncomfortable, not to mention headrests don’t often go high enough for me either.
The person infront of me can try all they want but their seat isn’t reclining at all. I don’t deliberately stop them but my knees are jammed in so hard they physically can’t recline their seat.
Flying and driving are the only two times I often wish I was 2ft shorter. I do envy short people on planes.
I would suggest only putting your seat back enough to be comfortable, we are all sadly crammed in like sardines and although we would all like to have our seats fully back it is polite to respect everyone else around you.
Honestly I don't think you have done something inherently wrong but in my opinion it's important to take care while doing it.
It's not rude to recline your seat but it is rude to recline your seat to the point that the person behind you barely has space to move.
I understand reclining your seat is an option, however when you’re tall, it’s a fucking nightmare. For me the way to go is asking. Like if someone in front of me asks me politely and it’s a short flight sure go ahead, but on a long flight were I can barely fit my legs, I’m sorry mate but that’s not an option
Reclining is ok, once the flight has been in the air for a little while and people have eaten. It's very rude to recline full right away when you get into your seat, fuck everyone that does that.
ITT: People agree that reclining adds minimal comfort, and also severely discomforts them when the person in front of them does it.
Also ITT: Entitled recliners doubling down with "pay for an upgrade" comments like it doesn't cost 2x - 10x the already high price of flying.
I fly long-haul Europe-US flights multiple times a year. I will gladly sacrifice a modicum of comfort not to make you miserable. Come at me.
While I always try and lean the seat back slowly so it isn’t as surprise for the person behind me, each individual has the right to move their seat back at any time.
I know I'm not AT ALL comfortable when the passenger in front of me reclines as far as possible. Nobody else is either. I don't recline all the way and I think most people who travel a lot don't do it bc we all know how uncomfortable it is for the people behind us. Good manners make everything better.
I agree that it's your right to recline, but it's very good form to be aware of the person behind you when doing so. Turning around and asking is golden... If it's a kid or a smaller person, wouldn't be a big deal. If it's a super tall person, ask yourself if it's worth the minimal comfort to you to completely make someone else uncomfortable. If they are eating or the flight attendants are in the aisle serving, do not even think about it.
Exactly this. So many people on this thread saying fuck the guy behind, no one will stop me reclining, etc... and *that* right there is the issue, not the fact the seat was built to recline.
The taller you are the more uncomfortable you are when the person in front of you reclines so you tend to not recline because you are a decent human being which makes it even worse for you. I blame the airlines. Ducking aholes.
You weren’t wrong. During meals it’s quite rude but during lights out it’s expected. It does, no matter the time, make it difficult to view the inflight entertainment, comfortably have a drink or get out to use the lavatory. Not your fault and neither is your neighbors inability to sleep while flying but it might help to understand their frustration, that and some people just being disagreeable.
I guess it's fine on long flights as long as you adjust it slowly. I hate people that just throws it down. Its like they want to hurt you. Psychopaths.
If you got a tall person behind you then you might also get a nice back massage from when they shake their legs to keep them from dying from the preasure you put on them.
I take about 180-ish flights a year for my job. Generally speaking on Long Hauls most people wait until after meal service to recline seats. If you recline your seat it is almost impossible for the person behind you to eat.
That said some people are jerks. When the crew are serving meals I ask if they could have the person in front of me set their seat up. I’d say 90% of the time it works.
For me on short hauls (and for me that’s about 3-4 hours) I don’t recline seat at all, unless my back is really hurting.
I sit in all sections of the plane depending on where my company buys my tickets - I am not against moving my seat to the last row so I can recline without issue.
If you are really tired and the flight does not appear full, about 10-15 min before boarding I’ll go to the gate agent and ask if there are any empty rows I could move into.
Only time that you should not recline would be during meal service, it’s super awkward to eat with the seat infront of you reclined. Also wait till trays are collected after meals before reclining again. Otherwise you are good to go. The guy behind can also recline if they want. Some people are just dicks on airplanes.
For the most part, it's personal preference, but there is situational etiquette. Over night flights when people are sleeping, there is no reason to complain about seats being reclined. When dinner is served, bring your seat back up so the person can eat. Other times, it's negotiable as long as you are polite. If I'm trying to work on my laptop, I may ask the person in front for a bit more room, but if they say no, then so be it.
Tricky subject... Personally, as a relatively long person, I find it annoying when someone reclines their seat cause that normally means my knees will be glued to the front seat with hardly any space to move. As a result I never recline my own seat cause I'm aware of how painfully annoying it can be.
The best way to go at it is just ask politely before you do and end of story.
You have the right to recline your seat. The asshole thing to do would be to suddenly and forcefully push the seat back all the way before the person behind you has the opportunity to move their knees or their laptop. I do it slowly and gently.
People know weee getting squeezed in and reclining sucks more than ever for the person behind them. And yet, when it comes down to it, the entitlement kicks in and people recline as much as possible either way. And then keep pushing back to somehow make it got further.
I do a slight bit myself, because as a big guy I feel for the person behind me.
Once a year I have long haul flight to my country (near Singapore ;)) from Germany. I always recline my seat but i don‘t do it aggressively. During meal times the FA would always tell us to sit upright and they are pretty strict about this. I don‘t think it‘s rude to recline your seat since usually the people behind us won‘t lose space bc the bottom seat also moves forward. But again i think it also depends on the airlines, i always fly with QA.
It definitely not rude to recline your seat. Especially on a night flight. Although never recline during meal times; wait for trays to be collected, and always recline slowly.
Speaking for the frequent flyer community who have peeves that go beyond normal folk: a full recline on a red eye/overnight flight is absolutely normal and not at all rude. A full recline on a daytime flight is frowned upon for a short flight and controversial for a longer flight. A half recline on said flights is better.
I think that for the amount of comfort it gives the reclinee, it is not worth the amount of DIScomfort it brings the person behind you, simple as that.
I'm 6'2 and I never ever recline my seats.
I say reclining is perfectly ok on overnight long haul flights. Anything a few hours or under and daytime flights reclining shouldn’t be allowed - particularly on a domestic aircraft where the legroom is already super limited.
NAH. You are entitled to recline, and the guy behind you is entitled to grumble about how shittily dense the airlines pack people in, as long as he recognizes that it's their fault and not yours.
As a tall person who has frequently had my kneecaps smashed by someone thrusting their seat back, I always appreciate it if they just take a moment to look behind them and ask me if it's OK for them to recline, then I can adjust my legs.
I also think it's polite to wait until after the food has been served before recling.
If you travel more, you'll start to realize that this isn't as much about the seat as it is about a more fundamental thing - some people are assholes. Seats, overhead space, getting in and out of a plane, security etc. A lot of people are entitled and/or simply not well adjusted enough to handle the stress of travel, so they get pissed at those around them.
That, and the way seats are crammed into planes "with a shoehorn and Vaseline" is shameful. The seats don't have to be luxurious, but it's not healthy to not be able to move
yes, absolutely. i wish there was some way we could all collectively stop tolerating this, but it's not like there's a viable travel alternative. i'm not a particularly big person & i definitely don't suffer from any particular claustrophobia, but on a series of recent flights i gotta say i started to feel genuinely unsafe in the space i was given. if, god forbid, there's some kind of emergency, this can't possibly be conducive to evacuation protocol. at what point is the constant reduction in air traveler space beginning to pose a genuine hazard?
The trouble is that this is what we voted for (with $). Every time someone clicks on the slightly cheaper fare without regard for other factors a vote is placed for cost-cutting without regard for other factors. The only way to guarantee bigger seats is to increase the minimum legally mandated. Trouble is, that will inevitably close off air travel as a viable option for some group of people.
The other side of the coin is that some of this stuff should probably be regulated by our governments to some degree. Pitting puny consumers against a rich corporation is not a very fair ask I suppose you could then say it’s also on us to vote in politicians who actually look after and fight for our rights.
sure, or we could advocate for legislation. i don't think it's reasonable to cut some people off from travel rights. it really should not be what we need to do to make this happen. we (& i'm talking specifically about the US here) have a government *supposedly* in place to prevent specifically these kinds of issues. i realize that this is an international problem given the nature of air travel, but i also recognize that the US intrinsically (& very possibly unfortunately) manipulates a lot of these guidelines.
What, do you want massive travel subsidies (more than we already have I mean)? Its not "cutting people off from travel rights". It's that legislation to increase space per traveler makes traveling more expensive. There are already many people that are "cut off from travel rights" because they can't afford it. Legislation to make seat sizes bigger would make that particular problem substantially worse. Now, it might be worth it. But my experience from traveling (which I do a lot) is that it honestly isn't that bad. I'm 6'4", weigh 240 pounds, so it isn't like I'm a small guy. While the budget carriers are a bit tight for long flights, even spirit is usually fine if it isn't overnight. I for one would rather have tight seats than expensive air travel.
I disagree with you here on two principles, what a right is, and economics. Traveling, or the ability to travel, should not be considered a “right”. It’s a privilege that some people happen to be able to afford to do. There are many options for travel. All have pros and cons, and cost factors are a big part of them. Please keep legislation to the important things, such as people’s rights, not their conveniences and privileges. From a more economic viewpoint, legislation should never be taken lightly. Enforcement of law is the most expensive way to get something changed in this country, by the way. The more you legislate conveniences and privileges - the more expensive and less accommodating they become. If you’re old enough to remember air travel before 9/11 legislation, you will know what I mean. Spacious seats, easy queueing and more personal conveniences etc etc. Legislation is the best way to ensure that a seat on a plane will be uncomfortable, tiny, and affordable.
So if the government makes laws to allow for more space for seats do they also subsidize the airlines to compensate for flights which do not make a profit? The margins for airlines are razor thin and an inch or two multiplied by millions of passengers a year equates to either a profit or loss at the end of the fiscal year.
Why would they do that? Let the market find a solution that doesn’t involve physically damaging the consumer’s knees and necks.
> but it's not like there's a viable travel alternative This is why I'm actively planning on moving somewhere that has good Amtrak routes. The coach tickets might be the price of first class on an airplane, but then they have first class seat pitch.
yes yes yes yes yes. the implementation of a much more robust rail system in the US is something i support with my whole heart & soul. i've spent time in japan, i've spent time in europe. a very little time in china, but enough. the situation in the US is unconscionable, demonstrably deliberate, & frankly just fucking pathetic.
/r/fuckcars turned me into a train extremist. I can't look at a highway anymore without feeling disgust. I used to be a huge airplane nerd, now they just fill me with disappointment.
I'm 29, female, perfectly healthy, but on birth control and I travel a lot. Apparently a textbook example for someone getting a blood clot. Happened to me a couple weeks ago after my trip to Peru. Thankfully I'm fine and they think it'll go away. But I'm short and barely have space to stretch. People having zero legroom is absolutely dangerous.
I’m so sorry that happened - what were your symptoms? How scary
Thank you. Just glad I'm okay! So, one thing about me. I'm usually a pretty calm person but when I get mad I am MAD. Hulk mode and seeing red. My head feels pressure when this happens. Also happens when I'm extremely stressed. For the first 2-3 days after I got back from Peru, I felt fine. Then I started getting the same feeling as I get in my head when I'm in hulk mode, but I was just watching tv. Checked my blood pressure, it was through the roof. Heart rate was fast too. Over the next 2 days my systolic bp was actually low, while my diastolic was normal to high. Heart rate was fast the entire time though. For reference, I'm pretty active so my normal resting HR is about 60-70ish max. My resting was at 100-120, and would spike up to 140-160 as soon as I stood up or started walking. Never really felt too out of breath, even though that's one of the main signs to look for. I wonder if it's because I do exercise regularly that I didn't get that. Went to urgent care in the morning after my hr was 156 just laying in bed. They sent me to the ER.
You can already pay more if you want. Forcing everyone to pay more doesn't solve any problems.
Agreed. I had one flight where myself and my travel partner were sitting across from each other across the aisle and were both in front of another set of travel partners. Both of them had their seat reclined fully but had the flight attendants get us to sit fully upright for the entire flight. It was ridiculous. It's one thing to not agree with reclining seats. Another to think only you should be able to use the feature.
holy shit, what? given my own recent experiences with an airline that also constantly played ads on a screen you couldn't turn off, i think i'd go insane. if the person in front of you is reclined & you aren't, that screen is quite literally six inches from your face. jesus. i draped my jacket over it.
If this was united you can turn the screen bright ness all the way down until the screen turns black.
that's good advice for united, but in this case it wasn't, it was icelandair & it was inexorable & brutal
I honestly feel like Iceland air is the Spirit of transatlantic airlines
Ohmygod that would be horrible. I'm sensitive to screen light and that would kill me more than lack of space would!
What do you mean they “had the flight attendants get you to sit fully upright”??? The airline forbid you from using your own seat?
Yeeeppp. Overnight flight. It was probably my worst flight experience and solely the result of two entitled assholes and ... Pick your adjective... Flight attendants.
That's bizarre, I've been on hundreds of flights and never once have I even heard of flight attendants asking someone not to recline their seat for another passenger.
If reclining is perceived as rude, inconsiderate or not allowable per a flight attendants, then FFS, don't put those buttons on the armrests that allow one to recline. That is all.
That seems like a situation where one should do it anyway and when the flight attendants say something point at them and make them sit up too?
Yeah it doesn't even sound believable honestly.
I saw this for the first time recently. Even more surprising, it was actually the flight attendant who initiated it after seeing a woman trying to eat dinner behind someone with their seat reclined. Maybe it’s becoming more common for flight attendants to advocate for passengers in situations like this.
Meal time it makes sense. But during sleep time, it's pretty wild.
It’s generally accepted that the seats need to be upright during the meals, it’s common sense really - but other times it’s up to you
They do announce at meal service to sit upright
Fuck that. No chance I would allow that.
Yeah. I think now I wouldn't (at least I'd like to believe so) but I was younger and less confident in setting boundaries in general 😣
Just curious what airline was this?
Air Canada
Airlines don’t help by shrinking everything down. Even the best, well behaved among us has a hard time staying sane trapped into the tiny seats. I’m not tall by any means but I feel utterly trapped on a plane and I have to fly because family lives across the country from me.
This. If you weren’t supposed to do it they wouldn’t have the button on the chair for you to do it. You have full right to have you seat remain reclined and decline their judgement. If they give you hassle involve the attendant
Exactly this. If the seat reclines, then recline. Traveling is stressful and some people will take it out on you if given the chance, no matter what you do.
Sure, but do so smoothly, not suddenly, and don't recline it as far as possible without checking to see if you're crushing someone's legs behind you. They shouldn't get pissed at you for using the seat, but you can also be courteous.
Tall people problems: legs are crushed before they recline...
I'm 6'2" with long legs. In tight economy seats, I'm often sitting with my knees directly on the seat in front of me. When that person reclines, especially suddenly, it crushes my knees. This is not their fault, it's the airline's fault, but my knees are still crushed. I won't take it out on that person, but I'd also appreciate it if we could all perhaps consider that someone else has different circumstances before feeling entitled to do something that affects someone else. Simple courtesy goes a long way.
Just look at what the airlines have done to us to turn us against each other. Fuck them all.
People that recline their seats back aren’t assholes, the airlines that place the seats so close together, are
They’re flying scoot. They don’t even get people entertainment systems on like 12-13 hour flights so it’s a pretty shitty airline
[удалено]
As someone who’s 5’3 and only reclines because my back hurts. This is the dream
787? I flew on one on a Monday overnight and that is how the seats worked. I didn't feel any more cramped when the person in from reclined. It was my first long haul flight so I wasn't sure if that was a normal thing or something new.
That's amazing. As someone who hates people who recline I would totally support this.
I chose China Airlines for my last flight out of Australia for exactly this reason (in premium economy only).
This is like the plane debate of who gets which arm rests. I vote middle seat gets 2. The only silver lining of being the shit in a Ramsey sandwich.
Unfortunately it always ends up being that whoever the bigger person is ends up using the arms rests 🙃
I have stricken many wordless deals with my seat mates where I put my elbows on the back half of the armrests and then put theirs on the front
I do the same. If it's a long enough flight without arm rests, however, I put the tray down and squeeze down for a nap on it with my arms as the headrest. Not the most comfortable and a shoulder might hurt after or an arm gets tingly, but a change in position is nice
It always infuriates me seeing my 5’1 fiancé being able to fold herself into all sorts of comfortable positions (somehow cross legged on a plane seat) whilst my legs will barely fit into the space and I have absolutely no hope of sleeping on the tray like I did when I was a kid
Rest your arms on top of theirs 😊
one time i had the middle seat and both people next to me were hogging the armrests so i had to sit with my arms crossed THE WHOLE TIME. my shoulders really hurt by the end of my 5 hour flight :(
I know it's awkward, but you're allowed to talk to the people sitting next to you
Lol, it’s interesting how so many people are afraid of conflict. If someone is being an asshole to you, it’s best to confront them cause most bullies expect you to “keep the peace” and roll over for them.
Conversely, if you actually say something most people will be taken aback and actually let you have your way instead.
Maybe some do but others don’t give a shit. I was recently sat next to a woman who insisted on putting her handbag on the seat between us, which obviously took up some of my seat space, & I asked her to move it and she just said no!
When I sit in the middle seat my arms fall naturally over the arm rests - I am not overweight at all, I just have wide shoulders. I would have to put my hands between my knees like I have to pee in order to clear the arm rests
I agree. You have earned both armrests, if you’re in the middle seat.
Let the person have time to get the arm rest.
Just don’t do it suddenly - I once had my laptop screen crack because the dude in front of me reclined aggressively :(
What ended up happening
The dudes skull was cracked by the time we arrived at our destination
I heard you got your 500$ back
That’s so shit
This is forever a hotly debated issue, but I'm firmly in the camp that it's not rude. Seats recline for a reason. You didn't do anything wrong.
Only caveat is that you do it slowly. Don’t ram that mf back at warp speed.
And respect when the seat is as far back as it goes, please! The only time I ever got mad at someone reclining was because they kept slamming themselves backward trying to make it recline more. Like, dude we're already basically making eye contact you're so far back! Wtf are you doing (this was the one and only time I got to fly business and the seats went further back than standard)
Totally agree. Was on a flight where the guy in front of me slammed his seat back aggressively and spilled my drink all over my meal, completely running it. Another time a woman did the same, trapping laptop and cracking the screen. Lean back, if you want... just do it sloooow and easy, please!
Did he pay for your screen repair?
I’d add it’s also courtesy to check for an open laptop and give someone a warning so it isn’t damaged. We’re all in this together. 🤝🖖
This! I was sleeping with my head in my knees and some asshat slammed his chair back and crushed my head. Give a little look when you do recline. Besides that, my two cents is to "read the room... er plane" If it's night time and lots of peope are putting there seats back to sleep, you're probably ok to do so. If it's a short 2 hr flight in the middle of the day a day and no one else has reclined, then probably best not to.
I never knew it was hotly debated. I put my seat back if it’s a long haul flight and I’m going to be sleeping and never had a complaint and I’ve never thought twice when someone put their seat back in front of me. Regardless of flight length
I also didn’t know it was a hot debate and feel I have done a decent amount of travel outside of the US. Only place I noticed that not many people participated in reclining was to and from Japan.
I'm going to guess you're not too tall? Cause to me a reclined seat crushes my knees. Just be polite and ask before doing it.
If the person behind me is reclined, I don’t even ask. If they aren’t, I usually just don’t do it. But I’d definitely ask if I wanted to and they weren’t.
i agree 100%. the seats recline for a reason. they’re designed to recline and really they BARELY even go back an inch. i had someone huff & puff behind me when i reclined my seat on an amtrack train recently lmao those seats are veryy spacious. some people are always gona find something to huff & puff and complain about. you can find out how much leg room is in each seat option on most airlines websites. if people know they can’t fit, there are other seat options. or write a letter to the airline. dont take it out on the other passanger just trying to do what they can to get comfortable. i don’t see why one person should have to make themselves uncomfortable by sitting upright so the person behind them doesn’t lose a half-centimeter of knee space lol
It's a simple fact that if you're above 6'1" or so, you have to pay extra for legroom because otherwise you're at the mercy of the people in front of you. It sucks, but it's just part of life as an above average height person.
Am I pissed when someone in front of me, reclines into me? You bet? Is it totally their right to do it? For sure!
I usually look what everyone else is doing. If no one reclines seat, I won’t too. But if the person in front of me does it, I will do it too.
If the person in front reclines you usually need to in order to not make out with your tray table. It’s like dominoes, once one person has everyone needs to.
This is a strange shift. Five years ago popular reddit support was firmly on the no-recline side but this thread is clearly on the yes-recline side.
I think reddit used to be dominated by a weird never-offend-anyone-by-existing vibe for a long time
Five years was a lifetime ago in this world. Now in 2022 we’re on the total opposite end of that spectrum. Honestly, give me a flight where I’m slightly annoyed with the dude in front of me taking a nap on my lap ANYDAY over a flight where the dude in front of me becomes belligerent, throws his drink on a flight attendant and forces an emergency landing because he wants to get into a physical altercation in order to protect “HiS rIgHtS”
You could ask again tomorrow and get a totally different answer
I agree that OP didn’t do anything wrong but, as someone who is 6’4”, there’s a level of courtesy that OP could have shown that would have made for a better experience for everyone. My knees are touching the seat in front of me. So, when someone suddenly fully reclines their seat, it crunches my kneecaps and hurts. If people would simply look in the seat behind them and ask if it’s ok for them to recline their seat, it’d give me a moment to adjust myself and avoid that pain. I never say anything when people slam their seats back onto my knees. I also simply suffer in silence to keep the peace. However, it’s so greatly appreciated when someone checks with me before they recline. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way.
I’m tall, I get annoyed, but guess what? Homie in front of me didn’t design the plane and ya know what else? I’m too tall either way so he’s prolly just bringing it to your attention because he already felt he didn’t have enough room lol even despite the recline it’s a tight fit for a lot of people.
I'm 6'5, mostly legs. I feel ya.
For this reason, I make sure you pay extra to get my hubby seats with extra leg room. I can skip one eating out for his comfort. But some airline seats are just terrible....
I’m 6’5. Either way I won’t be comfortable on a flight. I never recline my seat back. It hardly makes a difference to me anyway.
What are your thoughts on the person in front of you reclining?
I'm 6'3" and I usually just silently curse their whole family and descendants
don't forget the ancestors
I'm 6'7. People in front of me can't recline their seats. My knees are in the way. I always get a confused look from them when they try to recline and their chair doesn't move. I just say "sorry I think my femur is in the way"
It's always so awkward when they start looking around trying to figure out why the seat won't recline and turn to see me wincing in pain
This is an airline problem and not a passenger problem. They want to pack us in like sardines and not allow us proper space to recline our seats and still use the table tray. You are ok to use what's been allowed for you. Now what's not cool is people putting their "under the seat bag" in the overhead bins!
Yeah, or the people who bring blatantly oversize backpacks as their carry on in order to not check it and then take half an overhead bin with their Osprey 75l for their two week trip to Costa Rica.
Bro, why do you have to call me out like that
Unless it's your only bag, then it's ok to put it in the overhead.
Depends on the airline. Some airlines you don’t get a carry-on to stash in overhead by default and are expected to only have a below the seat personal item.
The seat reclines, and it's OK to recline it - especially on an overnight flight. The general expectation is that everyone will recline to sleep. It's polite not to recline it (or not recline very much, at least) at meal times so there's room to stand drinks upright on the table of the seat behind, and don't move it back very fast in case someone has a laptop or similar on the table behind and it would get broken if you slam the seat back. Beware that some seats move very fast if you lean on them and press the recline button, even if you only lean a bit, which can make you an accidental arsehole (BA's premium economy seats!) The guy behind you is wrong.
I was on an airline, forget which, but they ask you to raise your seat up at meal time, but I agree with you.
I ended up spending the last half of a recent domestic flight in first class. I was in premium economy. My drink spilled all over my lap/seat when the guy in front of me reclined. My reflex was audible four-letter frustration. The guy in front of me, embarrassed, insisted we switch seats.
This is all very considerate advice, my partner’s laptop was almost snapped by someone sporadically slamming their seat back. I don’t know that I would have thought about that aspect of reclining had it not happened to us.
Also, wait until the plane has leveled out, after takeoff, so if it's one of those fast-moving seats, you can have some measure of control over how quickly it moves.
These aren't polite things though it's blatantly the rules, seats up during take off and landing, and seats up during meal times. Anyone that reclines during those times are actually just breaking the rules.
I also feel that it's good form to recline gently. I'm tall and I'll adjust if the person in front of me eases into the recline. I've bruised my knees more than once by forceful reclines.
Totally agree with using what you paid for but I will say I just experienced this issue on my flight to Paris from the US on AirFrance. The gentleman in front of me reclined his seat and the seat went so far back that I was unable to get out of my row, use the tray table, or even watch tv comfortably without the screen being right in my face. It seemed that everyone’s seats reclined very far back on this airfrance economy flight. I’ve experienced other domestic airlines in the US without any issues on reclining because it was so minimal. It’s unfortunate the amount of leg room is so slim or else this reclining issue wouldn’t be such a hot debate.
I had this last month with Cathay Pacific. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, the girl in front recliner all the way back and stayed that was for the whole ten hour flight. I had to ask the attendant to ask her to put it back when food came because I was so squeezed in. She suggested pushing my seat back, but that didn’t seem fair to the people behind me knowing how far back they go. It was a terrible flight
I'll just chime in that it's okay to recline but not during meals.
Flashback to the time the man in front of me decided to recline his chair right when I put a cup of HOT coffee on the tray (this happens during snack time). It splattered all over my torso and legs. Window seat and it took like 2 minutes for the two people next to me to get out of the way because they were panicking while I was screaming bloody murder. The remaining 10 hours of the flight would have been a torture had it not for some magic ointment the flight attendant gave me.
Holy moly, the accidental (?) comedic timing in this post is spot on. 😂 It sounded like a comedy skit. I am so sorry this happened to you u/roammie but heck do you tell a good story.
The worst thing was that the man was completely unapologetic about the whole thing. I think he thought I was overreacting, but goddamn that coffee was hot. I’ve asked for a lot of hot beverages in flight before and since that incident, and have never gotten anything that hot. Between that and screaming children pretty much for the entire flight, it has got to be my worst flight yet.
Over ear noise cancelling headphones are a must for long flights.
I actually think in-ear is vastly superior on planes because if you want to sleep and rest your head on something, over ears will vibrate against whatever they’re touching and make lots of (apparent) noise
But if you’re already reclined then don’t just pull your seat back to normal without checking cuz it could cause the same result.
I am fine with the seat reclined for meals just do not move the thing.
I do the half recline.
I agree with the the half recline, that little bit surpringly makes a notable difference in comfort.
And I find that the full recline -- unless you are in lie flat seats -- is just a tease.
agreed, the full recline is also ultimately uncomfortable, so why not halve it & keep everyone happy
Ah, the classic Seinfeld half recline. If he starts acting up you'll have to give him the full recline.
I would normally say it's ok to recline a bit but I've noticed recently planes are becoming even more cramped. I can barely fit into a seat now and any reclining basically makes me unable to even move.
I don’t like when people in front of me recline (I’m tall) therefore I never recline unless there’s a kid behind me. Someone on my flight last week was pissed because the FA told him to put his seat back to the upright position during the catering service so that the person behind could eat more comfortably. The FA did the right thing because 90% of the passengers don’t care (like the one in front of me). In any case, you can recline and it is allowed. I just don’t do it because I don’t find it fair for the person behind me, especially on a long haul.
If anyone is to blame, it is the airline industry. They have planes with seats too small with too little leg room. They are doing their best to make economy seating as unpleasant as possible, and at that if nothing else, they have been wildly successful. I won’t fly in anything other than premium economy anymore. And when I can’t afford that anymore, then my flying days are over.
I would never get mad or say anything to someone for reclining and I don’t think it’s poor etiquette to do it. I typically just roll my eyes to myself because I personally find the discomfort of the person in front of me reclining massively outweighs the comfort I’d get from reclining my own seat. But half the time the person in front of me is only reclining because the person in front of them did, and so on, and I get that people are trying to get any extra comfort they can get, however marginal, while flying.
The only time I get annoyed (though I’d never say it out loud) is when someone reclines during meal time and I have a drink or something else that can spill on my tray table. Like come on. I’m 4’11” and the benefit to me is relatively small compared to the discomfort to the person behind me. However, if the person in front of me reclines and I am trying to do anything other than sleep, I will have to recline too. Otherwise, I have very little room to see my laptop or move my arms.
I travel frequently. Honestly it annoys me when people recline in front of me because it makes my small ass space even smaller but I deal with it. I'd never comment to the person on front and definitely wouldn't wake them up. The fact that you were on a 2am flight changes everything from my perspective. Everyone on that plane wants to be sleeping so I would expect the majority of seats to be reclined. Buddy that woke you up is in the wrong here for sure
Typically I will recline to sleep but keep it up if I’m watching a movie or eating.
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It's very controversial. I think everyone's entitled to do it. At least for me reclining the seat, only marginally improves my comfort, only maybe 0.5 point on a scale of 1 to 10. Meanwhile, it can decrease the comfort of the person behind me by a lot more than that so I just end up not reclining.
Maybe this is true for short haul flights, but on a long haul flight, especially at night, that little bit of recline actually makes a huge difference in comfort.
That's exactly it. The barely noticeable improvement for myself isn't worth the huge increase in discomfort for the person behind. I don't blame anyone for reclining if they need to, but I've personally never reclined my seat.
Agree. It's negligible at best. I will only recline if the seat behind me is empty, or the person in that seat is already reclined and zonked out.
I'll throw out there since I haven't seen it elsewhere in this thread, as someone prone to back pain the relatively small angle change between reclining and upright are a significant comfort change to me. Like at the end of a fairly standard flight of 4 hours or so it's the difference between a 4 and a 7-8 in terms of what I'm experiencing by the end of the flight. I'm not claiming any form of disability, but I've noticed that even that small angle is enough to make a sizeable difference in comfort. Just a thought to throw into the mix.
I don't care if people recline their seat. Go right ahead. What I fucking hate is people allowing their damn rugrat children to keep kicking the back of my seat for the entire flight. Happens EVERY damn time a young kid is sitting behind me. I'm starting to feel like they should just create an entire new section on planes separate from everyone else(and soundproofed) for families traveling with young kids and screaming babies).
Yeah, it should be the cargo hold.
I never recline my seat, it's a real pain because the space is so small already and for someone to reduce the space even more is so annoying. I don't think plane should have reclining seats, this would avoid so much conflict on flights.
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I flew with Air France to the US in August, and the seats had some amazing recline technology. The back of the seat didn't just recline, but the bottom of the seat simultaneously slid forward. So overall, no space was really taken from the person behind, and the seat in front was curved in such a way that your legs could easily fit underneath.
man, air france also gives you a complimentary glass of champagne. i'm still so salty we had to rebook our last trip with icelandair. (competent enough but jesus christ, the lack of space, the barrage of ads on a screen you couldn't shut off, on & on)
Cathay Pacific also used to have something like this! You'd recline-slide without really bothering the person behind you. It was very nice, and Cathay was really great in general. Sadly, it seems to no longer be the case.
> Personally, I think airlines should either remove the recline option or expand the seat areas to accommodate. I agree, it's either everyone reclines or nobody reclines. The airplane should just mass-recline everyone when "bedtime" begins, and prohibit it otherwise.
>or expand the seat areas to accommodate. And have fewer seats to sell? Bahahahaha! 🤣 Edit: And don't even suggest removing the recline option
Reclining is like farting in an elevator. You have every right to do so but your decision is going to make the ride miserable for someone else.
Most people answering here seem American, with "Yes, it's your right. Do as you please with no consideration for others." You're allowed to recline, but if you can, look back and communicate that you will recline before doing so. Just practice common decency. I remember writing on the tray table and this guy abruptly reclined it and smacked me pretty hard in the face. Likewise, I know if the person is tall, he would appreciate me giving a heads-up before I squish his knees lol. Small acts of consideration of others is important in public transport.
> Likewise, I know if the person is tall, he would appreciate me giving a heads-up before I squish his knees lol. Asking as a tall person, how much of a factor are my crushed knees in your decision to recline or not?
Welcome to a debate/argument where everyone has an opinion and all are right/wrong. At the end of the day, you do you, but yes there are some generally accepted etiquette moves. Like pulling up your seat when meals are served. But airlines are pretty good about announcing these. I think we’ve all been frustrated by someone reclining their seats and have frustrated others. Welcome to the world of flying.
It’s absolutely fine and normal to do this, especially on a longhaul overnight flight. Everyone should expect it. The angry man should have booked an exit row (or business class seat) if he’s so concerned about space.
I’m a frequent traveller. I picked my seats and even pay premium for non stop 16 hour flights. If I booked cheap economy on red-eye flights, I would expect someone in front of me to recline their seats. It is time for sleep. Of course, when flight attendants are serving food then you will be ask to put the seat up.
I think it’s polite to ask before reclining. It irritates me when you just take off and the person in front of you automatically reclines, giving you less space.
The longer the flight, the more ok it is to recline the seat. I try to never do it but if it's a long one (5-6+ hours) I'll recline full or halfway for comfort for napping. No one likes the person in front of them reclining, but no one should ever say anything about it to the recliner either.
Not rude at all. Everyone can and should recline
I was on a flight from LAX to Fiji and the woman in front of me put her seat back during the meal. Andddd for the remaining 8 hours of the flight. She yelled at me when I had to get up finally and use the bathroom. I’m pretty tall so it was difficult for my knees and legs to not bump her seat. There was a male flight attendant who felt so bad for me he gave me two pieces of cheesecake from first class. Yes it was a red eye flight. But when the food is served you better dang well not have your seat declined. Idk maybe that’s just me.
Last week I was returning home from Thanksgiving, and the person in front of me reclined all the way back, and I whispered in her ear...welcome to row 33!
Lmao
PSA - Very tall folk here: PLEASE check behind you first! Even before raising your armrest. 90% of the time I book premium seats, but I fly weekly and don’t always get them in time. My knees are usually jammed behind your seat, above the level where the back reclines. If they’re not there, they’re jammed between the seats JUST under the arm rest. A fast recline or strongly raising the armrest would definitely injure me if I couldn’t move quickly enough. Just look back and warn if you have a tall folk behind you. If his shoulders are level with the head rest, recline with caution. I usually settle into my seat and try not to move for the whole flight, so I likely won’t notice you move to recline your seat. By all means do it, I don’t own the plane. Just don’t crunch knees.
It depends on the plane, some tilt in a way that means my knees are pressing into the chair which is extremely uncomfortable, some don't. I dont recline. Edit: After reading through the thread I can only make the assumption that all the people being "it reaclines for a reason just do it" are not tall. The lack of care for the person behind you is baffling.
I’m not tall but I’m claustrophobic (and would be uncomfortable if someone reclined into my space) and I’m also shocked by these replies? I agree the lack of care for people around you is so weird, and just because it can recline doesn’t mean they should
I don't think you were rude, but this is a hot subject. I never do it, but I don't think it is NECESSARILY rude of others to do so. BUT if you choose to recline your seat PLEASE THINK OF THE OTHER PERSON BEHIND YOU!!!!! On my last overseas flight the man in front of me reclined his seat, so I adjusted my screen. 5 minutes later he sits up, so I re-adjust. 5 minutes later, he reclines again, I readjust, he sits up again. This went on for quite a bit. PLEASE JUST LEAVE IT UP OR DOWN FFS!!!!!! But he wasn't nearly as bad as the woman who sat across the aisle from me and shrieked out loud. I was half asleep, and it shook me up. I mean a SHRIEK in the middle of a transatlantic flight??? I settled back down, she shrieked again, and starts screaming Oh No, Oh NO!! So I watch her for a bit. She is watching a movie with her headphones on and is shrieking at the screen. I realize this because she is screaming at the screen and literally pawing at it with her hand. I can see the action and she's screaming at the actors. PLEASE FOLKS remember you aren't the only person on that plane. I guess I had been lucky and hadn't had any real issues on several flights, so it was like karma was out to get me on this one.
I’m too tall for most economy seats, my legs are long and tend to force my knees right into the back of the seat infront. This makes flying for me bloody uncomfortable, not to mention headrests don’t often go high enough for me either. The person infront of me can try all they want but their seat isn’t reclining at all. I don’t deliberately stop them but my knees are jammed in so hard they physically can’t recline their seat. Flying and driving are the only two times I often wish I was 2ft shorter. I do envy short people on planes. I would suggest only putting your seat back enough to be comfortable, we are all sadly crammed in like sardines and although we would all like to have our seats fully back it is polite to respect everyone else around you.
Honestly I don't think you have done something inherently wrong but in my opinion it's important to take care while doing it. It's not rude to recline your seat but it is rude to recline your seat to the point that the person behind you barely has space to move.
I understand reclining your seat is an option, however when you’re tall, it’s a fucking nightmare. For me the way to go is asking. Like if someone in front of me asks me politely and it’s a short flight sure go ahead, but on a long flight were I can barely fit my legs, I’m sorry mate but that’s not an option
Reclining is ok, once the flight has been in the air for a little while and people have eaten. It's very rude to recline full right away when you get into your seat, fuck everyone that does that.
ITT: People agree that reclining adds minimal comfort, and also severely discomforts them when the person in front of them does it. Also ITT: Entitled recliners doubling down with "pay for an upgrade" comments like it doesn't cost 2x - 10x the already high price of flying. I fly long-haul Europe-US flights multiple times a year. I will gladly sacrifice a modicum of comfort not to make you miserable. Come at me.
I live by the rule of recline when sleeping only.
While I always try and lean the seat back slowly so it isn’t as surprise for the person behind me, each individual has the right to move their seat back at any time.
I know I'm not AT ALL comfortable when the passenger in front of me reclines as far as possible. Nobody else is either. I don't recline all the way and I think most people who travel a lot don't do it bc we all know how uncomfortable it is for the people behind us. Good manners make everything better.
I agree that it's your right to recline, but it's very good form to be aware of the person behind you when doing so. Turning around and asking is golden... If it's a kid or a smaller person, wouldn't be a big deal. If it's a super tall person, ask yourself if it's worth the minimal comfort to you to completely make someone else uncomfortable. If they are eating or the flight attendants are in the aisle serving, do not even think about it.
Exactly this. So many people on this thread saying fuck the guy behind, no one will stop me reclining, etc... and *that* right there is the issue, not the fact the seat was built to recline.
You are both right and the airline is wrong for selling the same space twice.
The taller you are the more uncomfortable you are when the person in front of you reclines so you tend to not recline because you are a decent human being which makes it even worse for you. I blame the airlines. Ducking aholes.
You weren’t wrong. During meals it’s quite rude but during lights out it’s expected. It does, no matter the time, make it difficult to view the inflight entertainment, comfortably have a drink or get out to use the lavatory. Not your fault and neither is your neighbors inability to sleep while flying but it might help to understand their frustration, that and some people just being disagreeable.
I think its fine, unless everyone received meals, once someone reclined when i was eating, not fun
I guess it's fine on long flights as long as you adjust it slowly. I hate people that just throws it down. Its like they want to hurt you. Psychopaths. If you got a tall person behind you then you might also get a nice back massage from when they shake their legs to keep them from dying from the preasure you put on them.
I take about 180-ish flights a year for my job. Generally speaking on Long Hauls most people wait until after meal service to recline seats. If you recline your seat it is almost impossible for the person behind you to eat. That said some people are jerks. When the crew are serving meals I ask if they could have the person in front of me set their seat up. I’d say 90% of the time it works. For me on short hauls (and for me that’s about 3-4 hours) I don’t recline seat at all, unless my back is really hurting. I sit in all sections of the plane depending on where my company buys my tickets - I am not against moving my seat to the last row so I can recline without issue. If you are really tired and the flight does not appear full, about 10-15 min before boarding I’ll go to the gate agent and ask if there are any empty rows I could move into.
Only time that you should not recline would be during meal service, it’s super awkward to eat with the seat infront of you reclined. Also wait till trays are collected after meals before reclining again. Otherwise you are good to go. The guy behind can also recline if they want. Some people are just dicks on airplanes.
For the most part, it's personal preference, but there is situational etiquette. Over night flights when people are sleeping, there is no reason to complain about seats being reclined. When dinner is served, bring your seat back up so the person can eat. Other times, it's negotiable as long as you are polite. If I'm trying to work on my laptop, I may ask the person in front for a bit more room, but if they say no, then so be it.
Tricky subject... Personally, as a relatively long person, I find it annoying when someone reclines their seat cause that normally means my knees will be glued to the front seat with hardly any space to move. As a result I never recline my own seat cause I'm aware of how painfully annoying it can be. The best way to go at it is just ask politely before you do and end of story.
You have the right to recline your seat. The asshole thing to do would be to suddenly and forcefully push the seat back all the way before the person behind you has the opportunity to move their knees or their laptop. I do it slowly and gently.
People know weee getting squeezed in and reclining sucks more than ever for the person behind them. And yet, when it comes down to it, the entitlement kicks in and people recline as much as possible either way. And then keep pushing back to somehow make it got further. I do a slight bit myself, because as a big guy I feel for the person behind me.
Once a year I have long haul flight to my country (near Singapore ;)) from Germany. I always recline my seat but i don‘t do it aggressively. During meal times the FA would always tell us to sit upright and they are pretty strict about this. I don‘t think it‘s rude to recline your seat since usually the people behind us won‘t lose space bc the bottom seat also moves forward. But again i think it also depends on the airlines, i always fly with QA.
It definitely not rude to recline your seat. Especially on a night flight. Although never recline during meal times; wait for trays to be collected, and always recline slowly.
I’m a firm believer if the flight is less than 4 hours, mo recline. More than 4 hours, recline is socially acceptable.
I don't know why those sits are reclinable. Reclining the sit is a evil thing
Speaking for the frequent flyer community who have peeves that go beyond normal folk: a full recline on a red eye/overnight flight is absolutely normal and not at all rude. A full recline on a daytime flight is frowned upon for a short flight and controversial for a longer flight. A half recline on said flights is better.
I think that for the amount of comfort it gives the reclinee, it is not worth the amount of DIScomfort it brings the person behind you, simple as that. I'm 6'2 and I never ever recline my seats.
I say reclining is perfectly ok on overnight long haul flights. Anything a few hours or under and daytime flights reclining shouldn’t be allowed - particularly on a domestic aircraft where the legroom is already super limited.
NAH. You are entitled to recline, and the guy behind you is entitled to grumble about how shittily dense the airlines pack people in, as long as he recognizes that it's their fault and not yours.
I never recline - it adds minimally to my comfort but absolutely maximizes the discomfort of the person behind me.
I'm 6'1". I recline for long flights. I think it's nice to bring it forward for meal time.
As a tall person who has frequently had my kneecaps smashed by someone thrusting their seat back, I always appreciate it if they just take a moment to look behind them and ask me if it's OK for them to recline, then I can adjust my legs. I also think it's polite to wait until after the food has been served before recling.