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
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.
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.
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.
The problem is not the reclining seats, it’s that we are now packed like cattle.
Complaining about someone using a seat as designed feels entitled to me. Sorry. I’ve always so confused how some people consider it encroaching. Sure it’s all shared space, but that means you are sharing it with others. Reclining inherently uses that chairs fair space.
I always keep mine back, except during meals and when it’s not allowed. It’s better for my back this way.
Some basic etiquette: Recline carefully - there are people with stuff behind you.
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.
its really uncomftable fro 11 hours if they do that
🤷 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.
Then pay for a better seat.
This really is the answer
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
I put the seat back every single time I am on a flight. I have back issues and I get back pain if I sit upright like that for too long. If the flight attendants are asking to not put a seat back because the person behind me, then I’m going to ask for a new seat because sitting upright for 11 hours is absolute agony.
Sorry to the tall folks and whatnot, but I’m not flying somewhere just to be stuck in bed for 2 days unable to move because of back pain.
I’m a tall person and, when I can’t get extra leg room, I don’t have an issue with the person in front of me reclining their seat. I do the same if the flight is longer than maybe 2 or 3 hours for the same reason, it’s more comfortable and I can stretch my body in different ways so I’m actually able to walk off the plane.
Yeah, I mean I do feel kind of bad because I’ve flown long enough to see how much smaller the space has gotten. But physical pain overrides any guilt I feel and I will recline the seat.
If the cabin crew tells you not to put your seat back, then don’t put your seat back
You don’t want to be kicked out mid-flight
The crew didn’t ask him not to, OP asked him not to
I’m actually guilty of skipping to the end of the post, but it looks like maybe you didn’t make it that far.
The point still stands though: if one does not want to be ejected from the plane, one ought to listen to the directions of the cabin crew.
I assume his “now” is a typo for “not”. But obviously that’s just an assumption
I’m 6’4" (193cm). The seat in front of me reclining means my knees are pressed into the seat back, and that’s uncomfortable for both of us. I don’t want to do that to anyone else so I never put my seat back.
Same. If the person in front of me puts their seat back, I’m going to ensure that it doesn’t bring them any extra comfort. I’m not typically a confrontational person but airport security and being treated like cattle usually puts me on edge.
I never put my seat back. I think they should take that feature out of airplane seats entirely.
Agreed, each person should have their own space that no other passenger can alter. If you want to recline it should be within your own space. For example the seat butt should slide forward, or you should get an angled pillow to put behind your back. Or alternatively all seats should be reclined 100% of the time and you should get an up-slanted pillow for your back so you can sit upright.
However it’s done, everyone should have the exact same amount of space that no one else can alter
all seats should be reclined 100% of the time and you should get an up-slanted pillow for your back so you can sit upright.
Replace ‘extra pillow’ with ‘chair back that can be raised’ and guess what, you’ve got the current situation.
Except that would alter the space of the person behind you
i dont mind it for night flights - the entire plane goes back so you dont notice the difference
More and more airlines actually are, especially on shorter flights. And the price still is going up!
