A Delta Air Lines passenger reclined her seat, and the woman behind her – she says – began pushing her seat back throughout the rest of the flight. In response, she didn’t ask for help from a flight attendant. Instead she… began yelling at the woman behind her. And another passenger caught it on video.
The passengers behind the woman denied pushing her seat and that just drove the her to the brink, publicly defending her right to recline. It was the end of the flight though, so the battle went on silently until she just couldn’t take it anymore.
Seat recline is important for passengers on long flights with poorly-padded seats. Recline works to distribute passenger weight and reduce back stress. This passenger looks fairly slight. But reclining is also a basic right when it’s a feature of your seat (certain airlines like Spirit and Frontier feature seats they call “pre-reclined” i.e. that do not recline).
- A passenger controls their own seat
- Airlines ban the Knee Defender device, which prevents recline – a device was designed to stop reclining. While their interest is prevent damage to the seat, they do not allow the passenger seated behind to interfere with the recline function
There is an etiquette to exercising your right to recline, though. Don’t recline during mealtime. Try not to recline unless it serves a real purpose (if it doesn’t actually benefit your comfort, don’t recline).
If you don’t want the passenger in front of you to recline, politely ask them not to. And if they want to recline and you don’t want them to, consider whether it’s worth your while to make not reclining worth their while.
(HT: Live and Let’s Fly)
Seat reclining etiquette also includes being considerate when moving the seat. I was in first class on an American Airlines flight and the person in front of me slammed their seat back so forcefully that my tablet flew out of the tablet holder (located on the seat back) and nearly hit me in the face.
A little grace and awareness goes far!
I always look politely to see if my reclining will affect the passenger behind me before moving my seat. And, I gently move the seat back (or forwards) as necessary. Kindness doesn’t cost anything.
The airlines are at fault. They cram people into tuna cans and act surprised when they go crazy. It is a predetermined result caused by greed.
Not the fault of the airlines. People know exactly what they’re getting. They most likely used the internet to purchase their ticket and they could have used the internet to do research if they didn’t know already.
Purchasing a ticket and then complaining about cramped space makes as much sense as being 6’4″ and then complaining that the Toyota Corolla you rented from Enterprise is too small and very uncomfortable.
I rarely recline on a domestic flight, but… if there’s heavy turbulence that goes on for a long time, those of us prone to motion sickness need it. Recline, cooler cabin temp, and overhead air on high. So would you rather have the person in front of you recline or smell the results of motion sickness gone too far?
@Lance, Dramamine, next.
True pre-recline sounds best as I’ve had some reclined people literally on top of me. Felt a bit “basic economy” lol
The airlines don’t allow for enough room to recline any more. It’d be better to lock it for flights under 6 hours, and even then not so much. It would also help if the recline was not attached to to the tray of the person behind.
Moral of the story, polite people don’t recline any more unless in first class where the seats are built to recline.
@2808 Heavy, it’s not that easy. Some ppl are on other meds they can’t take with Dramamine. Others have reacrions to it. And, it only helps so far- you can still get motion sickness while taking it, but it may help reduce symptoms. It’s not a cure-all
It’s also about general civility. A polite request to limit the recline with a simple explanation may avoid all hassle. And a hearty thank you if request is honored.
Can’t we all just be kind to one another!?! My husband has a 34”inseam. His knees are into the seat in front of him even before a recline. I would hope that all airlines would add tall people to the qualified list for bulkhead and exit row. And let them reserve that seat when they purchase their tickets. I agree with the other passenger. Wouldn’t it be better if reclining could be by request only at ticketing time rather then left up to passengers personalities!!
Alan, your an Idoit! Airline companies do not manufacture planes. If you are upset at the seats being crammed like tuna cans, contact Boring and Airbus. Complete moron!
My knees go right against the seat back, so when someone tries to recline it is physically impossible (and also genuinely painful).
As with Lance, I rarely recline my seat on a domestic flight, regardless of what class I’m in. that said, IMHO Gary is correct when he writes, ” [R]reclining is also a basic right when it’s a feature of your seat (certain airlines like Spirit and Frontier feature seats they call “pre-reclined” i.e. that do not recline).” In other words, IF your seat reclines, you the passenger have a right to utilize that feature of the aircraft — the same as you would if airlines still had seat-back entertainment screens. (Yes, I know some still do.)
All that aside, I’m not surprised this happened; I am only surprised this doesn’t happen more often — from either the recliner or the reclined upon, so to speak. Like Elvis, courtesy has left the building…
@Alan – No, just no. The airlines are not responsible for overly-entitled passengers behaving badly. If this passenger wanted more personal space she should have purchased a seat where she would not find herself put out by a seat being reclined. We need to stop with the victim BS and ask people to behave with some level of decorum.
She can 100% recline whether it’s on a 2-hour flight or an 8-hour flight if the airlines don’t like it they shouldn’t allow it one or make the seats more accommodating
Back in the day, everyone would recline the second the seatbelt sign would turn off, which was promptly 7 minutes after takoeff. There was even a fun ding letting everyone know it was time to push things back.
Pilots keeping the seatbelt sign on longer has created this chaos
Alan,
You’re 100% correct. The greedy airlines put the seats too close to get additional passengers and then wonder why everyone is so uncomfortable and irritable.
These anti recline people need to cool it. If I pay for the seat, I can recline my seat when appropriate. Get over it.
Just repurpose the seats to be slightly reclined and thats it. Problem solved.
It’s also my right being 6’5” to be able to sit properly in my seat. So I’m putting my knees into your seat back. If I’m uncomfortable you’re gonna be uncomfortable with me.
@James S –> how is waiting, say, 10 minutes for the seatbelt sign to turn off any different than waiting seven minutes?
@T- –> I don’t deny anyone’s right to recline (even if, for example, it might be damned inconvenient for me if I’m trying to work and the recline interferes with my ability to view the laptop’s screen — although in the case, I might politely ask the individual to not recline the seat quite so much). But the key words in your post are “when appropriate.” As I said above, courtesy is often missing in today’s society. With that in mind, when is it appropriate, and when is it not?
The airlines are indeed at fault for allowing seats to recline AND reducing seat pitch to a point where one’s space is severely impacted when the seat in front is reclined. We never hear about these battles in first class because even when the seat in front of you in FC is reclined, you still have plenty of room. This clearly isn’t the case outside FC.
Even thin people can suffer back problems or increase their risk of back problems by being stuck in miserable positions for too long and too often.
Thin and short people should have no fewer entitlements than fatter and taller people.
As a 6’2″ ex football lineman I am always surprised that the first thing the midgets do is recline their seat like it’s normal. I do not recline no matter how painful the experience is on me. That is what civilized people do. Cheap seats or FC seats all are midget seats to us larger folks. My shoulders are above the seat top. It would be helpful if the headrest could be removed since it’s non functional for taller people. My only relief is knowing I have not paid for a seat in 25 years thanks to FF mile bonuses.
I am 6’4″ and always will pay extra for emergency rows if available, but they usually get snapped up by people that WANT more leg room but don’t NEED it. The seats are not designed for people with 34″ inseams. Being big in a small world stinks.
I am a writer and anybody reclining their seat will have to deal with me typing away on my laptop…
Simply start banning people who misbehave from flights.
This seat-recline issue has been going on since the 1970’s. Unfortunately, passenger inflight etiquette has changed. Airlines will soon stop seat-recline completely to make seats more uncomfortable and avoid arguments and we’ll have only our selves to blame.
I’m 6’ 4” and was recently on a flight where the person in front of me not only reclined into my minimal space, but also flung their greasy hair back within inches of my coffee that I was trying to drink. While not a big fan of Spirit, at least I know that the person in front of me won’t be reclining!
I’m 6’2″ tall, my knees are at the exact correct position to stop the seat in front of me from reclining, if I decide to put them up against it . I’ve actually had passengers in front of me, trying to recline and not able to figure out why the seat won’t go back. It’s a fun game on long flights
THE ONLY REASON WHY I ONLY FLIGHT DELTA IS BCS THEY ARE STILL LETTING YOU RECLINE AND FEEL SEMI COMFORTABLE
She is a real jacka$$
James S, the seatbelt sign has nothing to do with reclining your seat.
You can recline as soon as the wheels break ground.
People are shooting each other for pulling into the wrong driveway. Why should we expect the inexplicably ‘entitled’ masses to behave well ANYWHERE. People suck. Come on, extinction: We had a good run. We blew it, but we had a good run.
I will recline after a while but only half way. I try to be considerate of the person behind me. I will look before I recline also to make sure they are not pouring a drink of something. I warn them I am reclining but only part way. Just be considerate of the people behind you. Seats are closer than they were when reclining came to the seats.
I NEVER Recline unless NO ONE is behind me !!!!! I believe it’s RUDE to infringe on the passenger’s space behind me….ESPECIALLY during Drink and or Food Service !!!!! …..I have “Freakishly Long Femurs” …..So I HAAAAAATE People who Recline in front of me !!!!!!!! I have some pretty good strategies to ANNOY the Recliner in front of me during the flight !!!!! Hahaha…..
@SOBE ER DOC People like you are a real nuisance to society. Why are you blaming the lady behind the woman who did the reclining. The gentleman clearly said she was not pushing the seat. The lady probably wanted to go further back and was either blocked by the lady’s legs or it could not go any further.
The lady who started arguing is definitely the problem here and based on your own reasoning should have gotten tickets with more space if she decided that she needed to be lying down the entire flight.
The seats are cramped anyway- why try to piss off the person behind you?
I’m 6ft 6in tall and find these “right to recline” a**holes a nemesis. i definitely push back because there is literally no room available for the recline to happen. it never fails; the recliner has ample leg space, yet selfishly feels entitled to recline.
Maybe take a look 1st before pushback and ask if there is enough room.
Only way change happens is if you only use Airlines that make you comfortable. If Airlines and Manufactures designed seats, rows and bathrooms for the largest possible person, all flights would be comfortable for everyone and there would be no need for classes on the AIrcraft but everyone will pay first class fare rates. If you dont like coach. Pay for business or first class. Your paying for your space everytime you travel on Airlines. Dont support airlines who are eliminating room on flights. People dont talk to people anymore. Ask for their phone number so you can text them to kindly move their seat up. Social skills have sadly diminshed in airtravel. It use to be fun believe it or not.
New focus. Everyone needs to complain about the bathrooms that should be illegal. A small child has trouble turning around in this tight box on narrowbody flights. There should be a minimum requirement for bathroom size. The bathroom on a bus is 2 to 3 times larger as some airline bathrooms.
@JayR, unless you were on said flight sitting across the isle from both parties, you have no idea whether the person sitting behind did keep hitting , kicking , or shoving her seat. It’s easy to lie. Airlines should give a little more legroom, tilt the backs a little more. Get rid of the recline feature entirely, it is awful to have the person in front of you in your lap. Everyone needs to suck it up and start acting like adults. It’s an airline flight, not a lifetime.
Why don’t they make seats that recline by the seat sliding forward? That way the passenger can trade leg room for recline, but won’t invade the space of the passenger behind.
Not reclining triggers my sciatica.
Just as painful as anything a tall person experiences.
The idea that I’m rude if I recline is ludicrous.
Stop. This shouldn’t be an issue. If your tall buy a ticket in business class!! Don’t be cheap and then get upset when the person in front of you reclines. Everyone has a right to recline their seat. This has only become an issue in recent years. Recline. If you don’t like it pay for a seat with my leg room!!
Is it possible that the rear passenger was using the touch screen on the seat back, and the forward passenger incorrectly assumed that the pushes had malicious intent?
Stacy C says:
May 2, 2023 at 7:59 am
Stacy, you are correct that airlines don’t manufacture the planes, but each airline provides their specifications on the seat layout and type of seats. They will often update the layouts over time. And they differ by aircraft within the same airline.
Reclining without asking and getting the permission of the person behind you should get you thrown off the flight imo.
I wish airlines would remove that feature alltogether if they don’t provide adequate legroom in the first place.
I’m 6’3″ and have been injured once by some roudy reclining their seat without asking (bruised knees).
Stacy C calls somebody an idiot and a moron, but she does not know the difference between “your” and “you’re”. Way to go keyboard warrior.
For the record, the airlines do in fact control seat pitch when they purchase the aircraft. The manufacturers build the configuration the airlines order. This includes seat pitch/spacing. And the airlines can modify this spacing at any time after purchase.
To Stacy C.
Actually, Alan is correct. Airlines order aircraft and pay the manufacturer to complete the interior as requested and specified. So, the airlines are responsible for seat size and configuration. The manufacturers (that would be Boeing not “Boring” and Airbus) are not responsible for seating size, number or configuration. As long as we are on the subject, insulting remarks are slightly more effective if correct spelling and grammar are used. “Idoit”(sic) and the contraction “your” for “you are” weakens your attempted insult.
Wow. Just don’t fly!! Probably best to stay close to home if possible these days. Just sayin!
Anyone that reclines their seat is eating into another person’s personal space and is therefore a total asshole.
Who cares. The seats ARE made to be reclined if you feel like resting. You pay for it regardless if it bothers you, the person in front or the person behind you. Recline all you want in accordance with flight rules- ie- when not eating- Btw ive had my tray open when the person in front has been in recline mode ~ no skin off anyones back. Its ok I still had ability to drink and eat and my tray still worked. Lets face it – the recline position is BARELY a recline. Youre still looking straight ahead- so uncomfortable- I wish the seats ACTUALLY reclines minimally at a much lower angle! Ppl are sucks in general – always something to be dramatic about.
Wow
Whining about people reclining their seats should get you thrown off the plane imo.
Buy better seats or a better class instead of whining.
Airlines aren’t changing this. And until they do, continued whining about it does zero.
Grow up, be an adult and realize there are thing you can’t change.
6’6″ and 280lb. I fly 140-170 segments a year. I do get upgraded 70% of the time, but when I get stuck in economy, the seat in front of me is not reclining. My knees are already in the seat back when it is upright, even comfort level. I laugh at the idiots that claim a “right” to recline. I am not paying extra 30-50 times a year for someone else to enjoy their non existent “right”.
Years ago, I would walk up and the agents would automatically give me an exit row. These days, the airlines see those rows for extra $$$$. Complain to the airlines, they created the problem.
@Stacy C ***and*** @ Brad Grover –> Without resorting to name-calling, you are both wrong. YES, manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and others build commercial aircraft. But it is the AIRLINE which specifies what interior show look like. Think of it as ordering a car. You aren’t going to change the exterior of a Honda Accord (for example) to look like Porsche, but you can customize the interior with leather seats in a range of colors; you can order the car with seat warmers or 4-way power adjustments; and so on and so on…
Airlines specify the manufacturer and type of seat (Collins, Thompson, etc.). Airlines specify the pitch, and many other aspects of a plane’s interior. If they didn’t, wouldn’t the interior of every 737 be the same? But United has 16 in First and 150 in Coach on a 737-800, while Delta has 16 in First but only 144 in Coach. An Alaska Airlines Airbus 321neo has 16 seats in First and 174 in Economy, while an American 321neo has 20 and 176 — which plane has more legroom?
I get claustrophobic and I do sit in seats with more room. It might not be such a problem if people didn’t break the seats by forcing them back so that they are essentially in your lap. On one flight, the lady in front of my daughter was literally in her lap. She didn’t want to make a fuss, so I didn’t. I think she did it on purpose because she saw a kid there and assumed she wouldn’t get any pushback from being a jerk.
If the airlines allow reclining, they should make sure that the seats recline only that far.
There was a sense of decorum on flights in the early jet age. Lately though all that seems to have mostly gone extinct. There are way too many instances of rage on flights in the US I have flown on full flights in Japan for years and you never see anything like that
Ok here is an experience I had on a 5 hr flight from Toronto to Vancouver, so I was traveling with my mother, and I’m a 5″ 10 guy, I know its not necessarily “taller then average”, BUT..
Right from the beginning to the end of this flight the lady in front of me had her seat all the way back I was really uncomfortable as I couldn’t move much, i was in the middle seat needless to say my knees were digging into the seat, and ways I had to sit to be comfortable myself didn’t help with that. I got so annoyed with it I didn’t care after a while, she wasn’t even sleeping either…
I think if you got to recline your seat fine but at least be considerat of the people behind you too, also don’t put it all the way back and especially not the whole damn flight.
“Oh that’s your fault for not choosing your seats with more room” well sure I could’ve but it’s also expensive and also I never had that happen to me before. Needless so say once I got home I was hurting for a few days after…
You have the right to recline, but I have the right to my leg space. If you recline I will continue to knee your seat all flight long. It is my right to do so.
There are so many made up rights here. If I buy a seat and my seat back reclines, then I spent my money for the seat that reclines. The plane is designed this way. The person behind my seat can get the 2 inches back by reclining their seat. Arguing, fighting or getting removed from flights over a designed mechanical device for space management is simply not worth it. Airlines are like any business, they built the plane, they service it and hence, they are responsible. If a person is 6’6″ then it is incumbent on you to find an airline that accommodates your size. Otherwise this fight is with the airline, NOT the person behind the reclining seat.
If someone tall is too cheap to pay for an exit tow west, they get what they deserve .
We are stacked into today’s airplanes like sardines. Compared to 30 or 40 years ago, the back of the seat in front of us is now 15” to 18” from our faces. When the inconsiderate passenger in front of us decides to recline , that distance is reduced 12” to 13” . It’s very uncomfortable and somewhat claustrophobic. I am surprised that the airlines have not realized this issue and done away with their feature. Considered passengers do not recline. Douche bags do.
Exit row seat I mean.
We are stacked into today’s airplanes like sardines. Compared to 30 or 40 years ago, the back of the seat in front of us is now 15” to 18” from our faces. When the inconsiderate passenger in front of us decides to recline , that distance is reduced 12” to 13” . It’s very uncomfortable and somewhat claustrophobic. I am surprised that the airlines have not realized this issue and done away with this feature. Considered passengers do not recline. Douche bags do.
The woman paid for her seat. That gives her the right to recline her seat. The woman sitting behind her could of politely ask her to adjust the recline only if the reclined seat was on top of her legs.
If reclining jams the knees of the person behind you and you insist it is an assault. I have two artificial knees. I pay for the space and if the person insists on reclining and causing me pain I I will push back hard enough to get their attention concerning my discomfort. People can’t smoke because others don’t like it and reclining should be treated the same. If insisting on it I’ll make a citizens arrest for assault and a LEO must take them in like it or not.
If you are 6′ 5″ tall ,you will buy clothes to fit right!. Your car is also that way and your chair at home !. We’ll get on a train – bus and and quite bitching. Some people are so god like and need to be spanked. Spoiled little kids don’t like thire car seat.
O buy the way , spend 18 hours in a C-130 with jump seats with a 85 lb ruck sack sitting on your legs .
If your seat reclines use it. I take more issue wiith the cheap ass that has 3 carry-ons and stows 2. Flying has become the bus in the sky. If your last on your standing.
I’m in the 6’2″ category. I’ve been in seats that knees don’t easily allow the seats ahead to recline and ended up having trouble walking off the plane. But my real problem is seat backs reclined so far back I can’t get out of the seat with out grabbing the back of the seat in front of me to allow to exit the seat in a reclined posture. This results in the reclining passenger complaining about my “rudeness” jerking the seat back. I don’t have a choice- it’s the physics of the seating. My wife and I try to get seats with the extra legroom but they are not always available or can cost more than twice our current fare. I could ask a flight attendant to help me get up and change seats, negotiate with the passenger that can’t give up reclining and blaming me for rudeness, or apologize for the pool of urine in my seat and in the aisle. I do hold the airline responsible for putting me in this situation and may not fly with them again but that may not work either as airlines abandon routes that service my local as airport.
Any attempt at asking an american to be considerate of others is considered rude and disrespectful! The idea that any american should be concerned about someone else’s feelings is absurd! Everybody knows it’s YOUR FAULT for having feelings so only you should suffer for them.
Have a crappy american day!
I paid for my ticket, I will recline.
If you want need or whatever else a bigger seat than pay for it or fly a different airline.
Hitting the back of my seat will probably get you punch in the face faster than you can imagine.
And then I will sue you for assault for hitting my chair first.
So calm down and deal with it or buy a different seat.
I am 6’3″ my corporate travel booked me in the cheapest seat on my flight. The rear bulkhead. The guy in the row in front of me launched his seat in recline and was stopped by my knees. After repeatedly slamming into my knees, he turns around and demands that I allow him to recline. I said I wasn’t stopping him, but because of my size thats as far as he was going to get. He threatened to get the attendant to make me let him recline. I said “go right ahead, these seats were not engineered with people my size in mind”. The row I was in and others around cheered.
If it’s allowed then don’t be a crybaby and let them recline their seat. If your feeding your face just tell the person in front of you and stfu.
Honestly… who cares.
I don’t sit in coach anymore or even economy comfort. But if I did and being 6’8″ 280lbs it will be a physical impossibility for that person sitting in front of me to recline their seat. Irregardless if they think they have a right or not.
LMAO
Reclining is now assault.
Good luck with that one.
Don’t like reclining seats?
Fly Spirit. They don’t recline.
Don’t like Spirit? Too bad.
Just because I *can* fart in an elevator, does not mean I *should*. Same with reclining my seat.
Judging by these comments, we’ve become a nation of assh@les.
I’m 6’5″ 240lbs and other than first class, nowhere is comfortable on planes in the modern era.
This woman crying about her ‘right to recline’ is laughable. Recline into my lap and I will annoy you the entire flight. That recline will come with a price. I will push your buttons the entire flight.
This woman crying about her ‘right to recline’ is laughable. Recline into my lap and I will annoy you the entire flight. That recline will come with a price. I will push your buttons the entire flight.
In general, people are more selfish, rude, and have a sense of entitlement that amazes me almost every day. Just because something is allowed, doesn’t mean you should do it. (remember manners? Probably not) Anyway the problem is with the airlines maximizing profit at the expense of our needs. Think about it, the airlines are one of the few so called service providers that take your money, shaft you , and you have no say or recourse. Until people force them to change, which won’t happen, and the airlines know that. Things won’t ever change.
I recently flew American Airlines and the woman in front of me reclined the whole time. She invaded my space by up to 6 in. I paid for my seat and it didn’t include her. Reclining seats should not be allowed.
I sincerely hate having a strangers scalp In my face because they choose to recline…
Yes…they have that right, but I guess they have a right to belch as loud as they can in a crowded diner, also…thankfully, most people will give up some rights for the sake of others.
When it comes down to it, this would not be the divisive issue it is were it not for the extreme greed of the airlines…they are happy to have miserable customers for extra profit…
I would suggest leaving the drink cart off flights that are less than 2 hours…save $ in other ways and keep tickets affordable for normal people and maybe not give up on the idea of comfort being a positive.
I have issue with someone reclining two inches. It’s when they are literally in my lap that I have a problem. Many years ago, I was on a flight and was sitting with my legs crossed. The man in front of me pushed the seat ALL the way back with some force and crushed my legs so badly, I screamed out loud. Did he move his seat up even an inch? No. Was I literally looking at his face, upside down, because his seat was in my lap? Yes! And you can bet I spent the next 30 minutes crossing and uncrossing my legs, just to annoy him until he put the seat back up. And yes, if you hurt me, that is assault.
You paid for the seat. Recline it if you want as that is your right. If the person behind you don’t like it and starts kicking get one of the flight attendants.
I fixed the problem of inconsiderate recliners. Take your air circ nozzle and turn it full speed on their head/face. This rip came from a flight attendant on a cross country flight. Have used it ever since and there’s nothing the jerk in front of you ca do.
I blame the greedy airline industry ( which we tax payers carried through the pandemic ) , that squeezes every possible nickel out of the consumer. When they started the outrageous baggage fees during the energy crisis, never considered returning to previous fee schedule once fuel prices came down, did they.
Airlines can remove one row of seats and eliminate these issues. Giving flyers a little more space. They are maximizing their profits while offering a seat the reclines creating these issues. Its not the manufacturer of seats or airplanes. Its the airlines that order them this way…
People crying about people reclining are trash humans. Next time seat behind the no recline rows at the emergency exit if you don’t like people exercising their rights.
I’ve seen trash humans that reclines themselves while refusing person in front them to do so.
Just trash human all around.
We have been flying as a family for over thirty years. Even back in the day the seats didn’t recline enough to offer much comfort. My husband reclined his seat every time we flew and it just irritated me to no end. He finally admitted that the extra inch and a half didn’t offer him enough comfort to cause the person behind him discomfort. I don’t think it’s about rights or worth fighting about. Just be a decent human being. If the extra inch increases your comfort level by leaps and bounds, fine. If you’re just doing it because you can and don’t like being told what you can or can’t do and want to make a point, just stop.
Recline your seat.
You paid for it and if the jackass behind you starts to play games, shift your weight and slam something hard into his/her knee, then call the flight attendant.
He is she will tell the whiny, selfish nozzle behind you, that YOU, paid for the seat, it reclines, so you have a legal right to use the feature. Some 6’5′ scum bag tried that shit with me, I stood up to him, the flight attendant upgraded ME and my friend.
Stretch lost his mind.
Yet if suggest to them that they should sit in the back of movie theaters, concerts, and sporting events, these same whiny assholes go completely opposite. They want to be right in front so nobody else can see.
They want all the benefits of their height and none of the MINOR inconveniences.
“If insisting on it I’ll make a citizens arrest for assault and a LEO must take them in like it or not”
JFC, imagine being this dumb as a functioning adult
How can you all be arguing with each other? Air carriers started making tiny seats 20-15 years ago. Before that, there was no ptoblem.they are ripping us all off, bigtime, and you are yelling at each other instead of writing to your Congressman. Do you think Congressmen get the tiny little seats? They are undoubtedly upgraded for free. When a Congressman was stuck in an unairconditioned jet for 6 hours at (?) Kennedy in summer, that was illegal by the end of the week.
How can you all be arguing with each other? Air carriers started making tiny seats 20-15 years ago. Before that, there was no ptoblem.they are ripping us all off, bigtime, and you are yelling at each other instead of writing to your Congressman. Do you think Congressmen get the tiny little seats? They are undoubtedly upgraded for free. When a Congressman was stuck in an unairconditioned jet for 6 hours at (?) Kennedy in summer, that was illegal by the end of the week. I didnt post my previous comment, you lying censor!
After many years of travelling, I retired and now have become an airport virgin. It takes 5 years to regain your innocence. All my relatives live within one day’s train ride. I will never subject myself to airtravel again. It can all fall into the pits of hell. Maybe it has.
So, what is the true cause of this problem? It’s the airline putting too many rows in the aircraft. There should be a minimum pitch as part of a passenger bill of rights. This is like the wait person getting blamed for poor service when the cause is an understaffed restaurant. We must demand a solution that addresses the real problem.
To the anti-recliners: grow up or upgrade. I always recline & always will, as long as the seats are designed to do so. I suppose it could happen someday but no one has successfully challenged me on this. The bravery you show online would rapidly evaporate face to face with just a glance. Every. Time.
Sorry, not sorry. Deal with it.
Yes, it’s awful to fly on these planes, but why the “Karen” voice, or rather the MTG voice? Has she never been inconvenienced before? Best to drive or pay for a different class of seating.
They are designs for different airframes that allow for reclining without impinging on the seat space behind you. Is it too expensive? I don’t know, but if the airlines don’t understand that the bad press that this type of behavior, both from the recliner and the ‘impinged upon’ has and the monetary value associated, then the airlines need to look at what your customers want and pay for, versus you bottom line. But, of course, this a recurring argument for all the airlines and a lot of their policies.
I am a 5’8″ female and if the person in front of me reclines, I too experience significant pressure on my knees. It is extremely uncomfortable. No one should have to ensure someone resting on their kneecaps during a 3 hour flight. The airlines should remove that function.
Lololol. Expecting that a law enforcement officer is really going to arrest someone for reclining their seat is probably the most ridiculous and uneducated thing I’ve heard since the last Biden speech!!!
I guess I am confused why this complaint is about the passenger seated behind. This is a airline issue that continues to put as many seats in a plane eliminating the leg room. I am 6’2″ and, when seated with my back all the way to the seat, my knees are touching the seat in front of me on most teubk carriers in coach A passenger putting the seat back in front of me will always feel like I am pushing the seat each time I move. Luckily for me, passengers that have reclined and felt that were considerate enough to look at my legroom and gave understood the issue. Too bad we still have travelers like this lady that chose to scream instead of analyzing situations and looking for equitable solutions that benefit all
I would rather drive across country than deal with this nonsense.
You can’t control what other people do, so you should expect seat reclining to happen. That being said, I fly a ton and know a lot of people who fly often. Bar none, the people who choose to recline their seat on planes are the people I like less as humans. Pretty telling characteristic.
This Tough Guy threatening a citizens arrest with two artificial knees haha. I wonder if that’s how he got busted knees to begin with. Try that with with the wrong person, you’ll have artificial teeth and maybe a hip too. Keep it up and you can even be an extra in the 60 Million Dollar Man (depending on insurance!). LEOs would laugh at you the whole time waiting on your ambulance, they don’t “have” to do anything.
If everyone has the same access to features, than everyone has the same ability and expectation for use of those features. If you don’t like it, pay for first class or quit complaining.
Gary please write about Customs and Border Patrol lines at JFK. Why should this take over 2.5 hours?
Seat recliners are inconsiderate assholes, especially if you know it’s hurting the person behind you. These inconsiderate people will cause all airlines to disable recline feature and should anyway. I’m 6’4″, it’s hell and hurts not had much problem, they can feel my knees in their back.
Passengers also pay for the space in front of the seat. That part of what’s called “seat pitch”. I’ll maintain the seat pitch that was advertised as part of the sales process and I paid for. If you recline and reduce that pitch, just to increase yours, I will push back with my knees. Don’t like it? Don’t recline.
The problem is is because of deregulation plain and simple. The solution is that people need to give instead of take. Seriously, when I travel my seat back may be only goes about half the distance but during meals my seat goes up when my tray table comes down and I’ve never had anybody ever yell or b**** about the position of my seat back.People these days need to sedate themselves with gummies prior to jumping on an airplane and the ones that feel entitled either way need a pony up for some more money for the bigger nicer seats. And by the way, most airlines because of people complaining that the cost of travel is too much. You are the reason why airlines are taking out first class seats and only putting in business seats anymore. So thanks to our wonderful past administrations regarding deregulation bill, you have nobody to think but then to make your air travel cheaper now you’re paying the cost. I definitely know this. If it was only the business passengers, we wouldn’t have out of control. People like this because I guarantee you the company does not want somebody representing their company with somebody that’s out of control on the plane.
I always recline and always will. It’s how the seats are designed. Go ahead with your knees. Be childish, be passive aggressive. It won’t work with me. I will be comfortably reclined with my noise canceling headphones and eye shades on. I will ignore you even if it makes you crazy. And there is nothing you can do about it. End of story.
Anti-recliners thrive on a victim mentality. If the seats were fixed and didn’t recline, they would be whining & complaining about something else. Of course they don’t want to upgrade because that would be a solution to their problem and to feel important they need to complain. I always recline & I always will. Some childish passengers get passive aggressive and push on the seat or say things under their breath, but I ignore them, put my noise canceling headphones and eye shades on and relax as much as I can on the airplane. And it’s funny, but I find that the passive aggressive behavior never lasts very long. I wish all you unhappy, entitled, anti-recliners the best with your immature, victim based mentalities. You all can’t touch me.
Fascinating comments here.
Agree that if YOU are going to be upset by someone reclining their seat (an option you likely have to), you should fly Spirit, pay for “plus” or maybe just not fly.
It’s not “turn into a jerk in the sky over your made up right” that’s actually a limit you are trying to place on someone else? And good news to the “tall rights” camp – you already are compensated! https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/standing
When I am seated in coach I dont recline. Its not something I do. However if the person in front of me reclines so much that its like a dentists chai,r on occasion I have o put a small incline merely to get a little breating space with the tray table or something. I dont lean all the way merely a small bit.
I had a person knee my seat one time, I was in an aisle seat, I “accidentally” bumped his tray going to the washroom spilling their drink all over them. Also when exiting the plane I graciously allowed them to go in front of me and “accidentally” nailed them in the back of the knees a couple times with my carry on getting off the plane. Based on the glare I got, I doubt they will knee another seat in their life.
This is definitely one of my favorite topics because to me it’s perfectly clear: you can recline the seat of you want. Period.
Personally, I never recline unless I have an empty seat behind me (and only in rare cases then). But that’s because I don’t like it being done to me. But when it is, I live with it (at 6’2″, I’m not too comfortable in basic economy and I sometimes pay for extra legroom).
Everyone complaining about their rights being infringed by someone reclining in front of them are likely people I wouldn’t care for. I guess we can put this up with politics and religion as topics that will tear this country apart.
I’m only half-kidding
I have never been on a flight where seats recline that far. Now all the airlines in America seems to have less and less leg room and less and less seat space (even after losing significant weight). My oldest brother is 6’6″ always tried to get a bulkhead seat to get legroom as emergency exit is not an option due to back injury, he cannot help others out. My daught and her husband don’t travel often because hos height he is only comfortable in first class. I see how some airlines overseas configure their seating and I sigh.
I fly quite a bit with all the airlines and the seats maybe recline 1/2 inch (not worth the effort) so what is the big deal if someone reclines their seat. I have long legs and my knees are jammed against the seat in front of me rather they recline or not. It’s my opinion we now have 2 year olds in adult bodies flying without their mommies to make sure they don’t have tantrums or to tell them to play nice in the sandbox. Let’s face it flying is miserable for everyone involved. So grow up and sit in your seats like an adult you aren’t special you are just another passenger.
I fly 4 times a week every week. I only fly domestically, and the flights are less than 3 hours. The seats on these flights literally only go back 4 inches, so I really can’t see the issue. You can hardly even tell. Unless these are complaints from long haul flights that have different seats, just quit whining and let folks do what they want in the seat they paid for. I leave out at 5 am two days a week and I truly use that 4 inches to lean back and sleep. If the guy that was 6’6” commenting on here pushed my seat forward while I was trying to sleep – I say “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”.
Americans really work fight over literally anything. Absolute entitlement
LOL everyone saying that reclining your seat is disrespectful and wrong are the ones causing the problem. I’m 6’3 250 and never had an issue with people reclining in front of me. Pretty much quit being selfish whiner.
If I recline my seat and you dig your knees in, fine. We’ll see who’s more miserable in the end. I will eat every bit of cheese my wife packed and won’t take lactaid, and I will make your life miserable with foul smelling lacrosse intolerant farts the whole flight. They make me want to vomit and it’s my own brand.
@Marie Buckley : Most people can’t afford to fly business class. But you call that, “being cheap”?? What an entitled and ignorant way to think.
Passengers have been saying for a long time that they want more legroom, but when it comes time to buy a ticket, they will look for the cheapest one, even if it saves just a few dollars. Airlines have “plus” or “extra legroom” seats in coach, and if you want the room, pay for it. If not, don’t complain since it’s your choice.
The airline sells a seat that reclines, and they even tell you how many degrees it reclines for a given class of seats. You paid for a reclining seat and have the right to use it.
People with limited legroom do stupid things, such as using the seat pocket for storage, and they blame the person in front when they don’t have enough room.
If you want to sit behind a seat that doesn’t recline, sit in an exit row.
Oop, I’m a sometime recliner. Judiciously, slowly, sometimes Ill eyeball to see if the person behind is reclining and join in if they do. If the person in front of *me* reclines, I’m reclining. I
Look, “reclining into someone’s personal space” is not a thing. There is no stake out to space *except for what the airline defines and sells.* The airline is selling you a seat area with a chair in front that can will sometimes recline. If this is not to you liking, there are other options.
This isn’t to say if somebody tall behind me asks me, I’d recline anyway. I would honor pretty much any reasonable request from anyone in any part of life like that, not just on a plane.
I’ve always thought of it like this: it’s meant to be a domino. When the person in front reclines, everyone does, and voila.
Omg u people I pay for my seat don’t ask me not to recline even nicely. For God’s sakes if u don’t want to don’t. U must be a liberal.
Individual says he 6’6′ 280lbs. My experience in law inforcement is jail cells accommodate anyone.
Here’s the thing. Most of the world is engineered for people that are between 5’5” and 5’11”. If you’re taller (or shorter) than that, it’s unfortunate when you are forced to fit into the engineered world. This includes aircraft but also cars, trains, buses, counter tops, clothing and more. I’m 5’8” so I rarely see or experience the world as too small or too big. I have that privilege. That said, I agree with the half of people that say if you don’t like to be constrained, then unfortunately you need to book the exit row, Business class, or the newer Premium Plus style seating in aircraft. It’s awful if you can’t afford it, but you’re unfortunately outside the population bell curve.
I’m not sorry saying this but people who decline are total pr1cks, end of story.
If you recline your seat with someone sitting behind you, you are an asshole. You have the “right to recline”, sure, but you are still an asshole. So, let’s call it what it is: the “right to be an asshole”.
If you want or desire more room, then upgrade. The pompass butts on here claiming “I’m too big,” etc can choose to fly private. I pay for my seat and you can kiss my booty with your whining arses. If I’m on a flight and want to recline it’s my right. I paid for it. Your flight didn’t come with the privilege to opt out. Upgrade or deal with it just like the rest of us. Entitled brats.
I’m 6’4, have knee problems and have never had my knees touch the seat in front of me. I did have some clown put one of the devices on the chair to prevent my seat from reclining. That definitely did not go well for him.
You filing assault charges on someone? Well, that dog just ain’t going to hunt. (Ex cop)
I realize that seats recline and accept that fact. Jacking around with the person in front of you is not acceptable.
Fact is, most seats recline. Don’t like it? Don’t fly, or move up a level or two. If you interfere with my seat by way of punching it, kicking it, or anything else, I will ask nicely to stop doing it. If you don’t, then I’m talking to a flight attendant regarding your “douchebag” behavior.
I am your average 160 lb, 5’7″ gentleman. I am not short, but not tall, for someone my age.
I have traveled on an airline in Asia where I sat the whole time with my knees literally digging into the seat in front of me. The person in front felt my knees. No legroom. Yes it is small with no legroom.
Every seat I was moved to (outside of first class or exit row) had the same issue. Apparently I am taller then the average passenger for that airline. So, the way I see it, the airlines inflicted this upon themselves.
@Beachfan: what a brilliant solution! Just don’t be cheap. Must be nice for you to live in a world where every plane has an unlimited number of exit row seats and where everyone can afford to pay to upgrade… I just flew cross country and back on United, and exit row seats cost $132 each way. If somebody where I live makes $50k a year, then after taxes, that’s about $3364 a month, or $784 a week. Paying $264 for that trip would be a third of a week’s pay for them. Ouch.
Recline if you want to, but don’t complain if I cough or sneeze in your hair. I’m tall enough that it’s in my face and you are the dumbass who put it there. Until the last seat in the plane can recline (i.e. everyone behind you can similarly recline), you are a jackass if you recline your seat. I don’t want your greasy hair in my face any more than I want the back of your seat bruising my kneecap (which actually happened to me 20 years ago). I literally couldn’t prevent bumping your seat if I wanted to. But, no worries, I won’t fly anymore because the seats were too damned close together 2 decades ago and it has only gotten worse. I used to love flying. Now? It’s a miserable experience not worth the price.
@Haggy —>. I do. Typically in the second of the two Exit Rows on a 737 (the first doesn’t recline but the second row does!). Most of the time, I actually don’t recline (unless I’m flying Business or First), but I want the option.
@Joe D : if everyone could recline, that’d work fine. Rows that are in front of bulkheads can’t though. More incentive to select your seats as early as possible, I guess.
Complete nonsense. The airline is at fault here. Since covid, the airlines have reduced the size of legroom. They’ve done this for greed and to squeeze as much money out of you as possible. I wish for the airline. I know this. What period need to do is fight back with their money or after your plane takes off everyone should stand up in the aisle dating they can’t sit in such a small seat.
I honestly can’t believe how many people think that they have some sort of control over someone in front of them reclining. The seats have the abilty to recline for a reason. They banned anti recline mechanism also for a reason. If you are on the large size buy a second seat or buy a 1st class ticket if you are tall pay to sit in an exit row or 1st class. It shouldn’t be others inconvenience because of your size. I am by no means tall 6’1″ and I’m about 230 I fly 70+ segments a year. I always pick a exit row and pay the fee and luckily I get upgraded often but I can tell you this if I want to stretch out and recline I will not let some entitled Ahole keep me from reclining my seat.
I can’t believe people are complaining about people that recline. U are selfish ungrateful people or liberalls
You pay for the seat; you have the right to use all the functions of the seat.
I never recline. I know how uncomfortable it is for person behind me. I find these days most people do not recline. Seats are manufactured too close today just for airlines to make more money. And quit lecturing about paying for a better seat. Some people have budget restrictions and a plane fills up. Often no such thing as buying a better seat… when it is NOT available.
@ David A Church
“If insisting on it I’ll make a citizens arrest for assault and a LEO must take them in like it or not”
Considering my department has handled this before, I can tell you how this would play out.
1. You will both be de-boarded from the flight.
2. Statements from both parties will be taken.
3. You will confirm to the officer that you detained the other party with a Citizen’s Arrest, at which time you will be asked what felony the detainee was in the commission of carrying out.
4. Upon not being able to support a due cause as to have lawfully detained the other party, you will be taken into custody on the grounds of unlawful detainment, and charged with a felony.
5. The other party will most likely board the next flight to their destination via the same airline after their statement and criminal complaint has been fully recorded. Later, a summons may be issued to them for a future time to testify against you at your hearing and/or trial.
But, by all means, see how it plays out in your world!
So annoying to not be able to even have a drink because the one in front of you decides to recline the whole trip. Some rows do not recline at all and that is where I was stuck when I had to buy a last minute ticket when my father passed away. Even the flight attendant would not ask the person in front of me to ease up just a bit. I can only hope that Karma gets that selfish person.
In a better world, instead of people saying “I paid, it’s a feature, it’s my right and I don’t care about the person behind” and people feeling “assaulted” with their knees stuck.
For the person reclining, it’s good to keep in mind what you can do and what you should do based on the context, and for the person behind communicating if it makes you really uncomfortable (ideally an etiquette where it’s initiated first by the person wanting to recline), swapping your seat with someone else smaller?, etc…
Collective intelligence, communication and common sense – I know it’s what is terribly lacking these days but who knows maybe one day will get a society back to better principles and values.
I tend to spit when I talk and my right to free speach is protected by the first amendment of the Constitution. If someone leans back in their seat and they get a face full of spit, I sure hope they appreciate both our rights! This is just as stupid as saying you have a right to decline a seat. Everyone thinks everything is a right. Just keep your seats up, you do not have any protected rights for declining a seat on a plane.
People that recline their seats = people that don’t return their shopping cart to the corral. Basic lack of consideration for others. Garbage humans.
The “reclining” seats are just a marketing tool. They don’t recline enough to improve comfort to a point that justifies ruining the persons flight that is seated behind you. Therefore, if you recline, you are just an inconsiderate asshole. You may be reading this and saying to yourself “No I’m not!” But I’m afraid it’s time to reevaluate. Assholes are like crazy people. They don’t know that they’re assholes because they’re too preoccupied with their delusions to think about how their actions effect others. Nor do they have the capacity to care.
Just stop reclining. The flight will be miserable no matter what. At least you won’t have pissed off people around you.
Peace be with you
Airlines have created this problem, but passengers have to deal with it.
I am 5’4″, so a seat reclined ahead of me usually is not a problem; but my husband is 6’4″ and my son-in-law is 6’6″. For them it is a big problem.
We always pay the extra – usually about $35 – to choose a seat. My husband and son-in-law then get stuck paying the “height tax” – usually an additional $20 – to get an extra leg room seat, if there is one available. But that often does them no good, because the airline often changes equipment or re-assigns them to a “regular” seat.
Now add traveling with a child that requires a car seat in the rear facing position when the person in the seat ahead cannot recline, because the top of the car seat is there.
Please ask the person behind you before reclining, because they often paid extra for legroom and they can’t help being tall.
My seat my choice.
Never recline your seat in Coach.
Have you ever heard an argument over someone NOT reclining their seat?!
There’s your answer
I don’t understand what’s the fuss about with reclining seats. If you are using your laptop on the tray then I understand but otherwise I’m my experience it doesn’t really take away knee room only room in front of your face which im not affected by. I’ve never reclined my seat because I can get comfortable without it but I’ve never complained about someone reclining their seat either.
I am 6 foot 4 so at the start of the flight on a good airline there is maybe a hair breadth between me and the seat in front when a hole in front reclines their entire weight is on my knees and uncomfortable becomes agony. I have had flights where i have tried to accommodate only to have the a hole complain that my feet are stivkng out under their seat. If you see someone behind you who can barely fit in their seat you have to be a complete jerk to put your weight on their knees
I will always recline if the seat allows it. If you don’t like it go cry. Flight attendant will always take my side snowflake ❄️ .
If they insist on reclining (as is the feature provided with their seat) during the day, especially on a domestic flight, I simply turn on the reading light and open the air vent all the way and point it at their head. The one time a person turned with a questioning look I explained that I’m trying to direct the cooling air at my knees. They remained reclined but I felt a little (perhaps childishly) better.
I flew Lufthansa to Europe last month, the plane going didn’t have reclining seats. Awesome, I could move. Plane coming back, even though I paid extra for legroom the lady in front of me never sat her seat up except when the steward made her for meals. Her seat was so far back my tray wasn’t flat enough for drinks. She left her seat reclined when she went to the restroom. It was so far back I could not get to the restroom. I had to get the steward and her husband to tell her to move to go to the loo. Evil witch. They can get rid of all reclining seats so that doesn’t happen.
I am a current flight attendant. You all need to chill about the reclining seat “issue”.. This is royal bullcrap. If you are big and tall ….buy a bigger seat and stop complaining about the front passenger reclining the seat. The seat reclines…..therefore you the passenger can recline.
And to all of you big and tall people ….you don’t like the current situation….buy a bigger seat…..complaint to your congressman….or much better ….complain with the fucking airline
The last time I was on a plane I just stuck a pencil in the track of the seat in front of me which prevented the seat from reclining. Problem solved.
You have the right to use the controls available to you. Your light, air vent, A/V controls and seat position are yours, and only yours, to control unless a flight attendant says otherwise.
There are lots of bullies out there who claim their rights “trump” yours. If you stand your ground, their selfish stupidity will result in being removed from the conveyance in short order.
Never confront another passenger. Let the airline’s professionals handle the douchebag.
This is why I don’t fly coach. Frickin plebs like Don, Matt & David A Church act like animals back there.
It’s always the shortest person who seems to want to recline the most. As a person who is over 6 ft tall I always recline my seat very little and a turn behind to see if they have an issue with it. A little bit of consideration goes a long way. Then I see short people reclining the seat all the way and they never even use the recline since they’re sitting forward. This woman appears to be pretty small as well There was no reason for her to recline fully. All those people saying it’s your right to recline are part of the problem. It may be your right but you are a member of society.
I remember one time on a night flight back from Canada to Amsterdam I (195cm(6’4″) with a lot of that length in my legs) had ended up in the middle seat of the middle seats and I just barely fit, then the lady in front of me goes to recline and immediately hits my knees so I push her back and ask kindly to not do that because it goes into my knees and hurts a lot yet she does it again several times so no asking kindly doesn’t necessarily work nor does anyone have the right to recline if it doesn’t hurt anyone sure but if people just sitting there can push you back with their knees maybe realize that you’re hurting them. (Also no we couldn’t get a more legroom seat for that flight, as we checked in too late and once on the plane no one would change seats)
I only flew once. I asked the person reclining in front of me if he would move his seat up an inch and he did. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t moved his seat up. I was very surprised the airline expected us to travel like that. How cheap they were.
I’m reclining. If you don’t like it, go Greyhound.
OMG!! It sounds like a bunch of 3rd graders. “If someone reclines in gonna put my knees in their backs” translation is: ” If someone reclines, I’m gonna be a petty, immature, entitled B****. The world is all about me” Get over it ppl. If you can’t act like an adult and are gonna whine, Don’t Fly!! Drive, walk, run, bike, boat, canoe, buy your OWN PLANE!! A person wants to recline, they can recline. If recline people are your biggest problem, get a hobby! If I recline and some immature loser keeps their knees in my back, I’m going to jail when the plane lands and the person behind me with the broken knee caps will be hospital bound.
Why do you and other bloggers keep writing that there is etiquette to seat reclining? You’re fueling the fire for these type incidents. I am a flight attendant and I’m here to tell you there is NO SUCH THING! Stop making this shit up. You’re stirring up the masses. The only rule is that seatbacks must be in the full upright position for taxi, takeoff, and landing. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. There is no etiquette about the meal service and stop trying to suggest that something exists that doesn’t. You’re building false expectations through misinformation.
I never recline- the three inches is not worth the hassle for those behind me- it’s not luxurious either way- come on.
I flew 1st class recently and it sure was delightful- away from unhappy passengers and endless carryons !
There needs to be a reclining section and a non-reclining section just like the smoking days and for the same reason. If you want to be a jerk (defined as the other person on the recline or no-recline argument…) sit in your section.
If I want to recline, I purposefully book a seat infront of the bulkhead. When I’m doing the 5am flights, I’d rather be in row 3 or 30, wherever the bulkhead is. Then I can recline and be good.
They make seat designs that recline by moving the seat forwards. Your seat back doesn’t move. That’s the real answer.
I refuse to fly and get crammed in like that.
Delta seats recline all of about 2-3 inches. If you can’t handle that, perhaps you shouldn’t be flying at all.
I’m tall for a woman. I’ve had seat backs land on my knees too. I usually take an aisle seat, but if anyone complains about my knees in their back, then perhaps they should sit up straight. I can’t remove my legs for their comfort. Btw, this is the fault of the airlines. Don’t let them pass the buck.
Blame the airlines for being ruthlessly greedy and cramming as many seats in a plane as possible, instead of taking one row out to give everyone leg room. We have the technology. It’s not rocket science. Flight crews have a stressful enough job without dealing with ill-mannered people would rather fight with a complete stranger than being considerate to a fellow human being. I sympathize with anyone that has to suffer through a flight with someone in there lap. On a positive note once you’re off the flight from Hell, you hopefully never have to see the self-absorbed individual again. Full respect for flight staff and what/who they have to deal with.
Just recently, I delicately cut my salad up on my lap so I wouldn’t shake the person in front of me while cutting on the tray. As soon as I start eating, the woman slams the recline back so fast my salad and drink went all over my lap. They really should remove the recline feature.
It’s an easy fix… Airlines should take away the reclining feature in all seats that do not have extended leg room.
If you’re unable to sit in a 90° position for an under 6-Hour domestic flight, then you should consider alternative travel means. Seriously, how much additional comfort do you get by a 5% recline? Airline seats in coach are suck in carnate, taking away the recline option solves tons of problems.
So, what have we learned from the comments?
We have the absolute right to recline our seats but should never do so.
I think we can close this case now.
Purchase first class or a bigger seat if you take issue with people reclining. You don’t have a right to complain about a seat functioning the way it should.
In my opinion, reclining your seat is rude, plain and simple. It depends on how you were raised. Are you considerate of others or are you an entitled jerk?
This is nothing new, I was PSA at LGA .mid 90sca flight from PBI came in with a report of a fight on board. PA police and I entered the plane once at the gat , it was 2 ,80plus men fighting over recline .
It’s stupid and until someone starts putting cuffs on the I’ll doers it will keep going on.
Any selfish prig tries to lean back into me finds the seat doesn’t work like it should. Funny that…
You want more room, buy first class.
Always consider if you were the person behind a reclining seat!
The planes doesn’t have a lot of space so be considerate of others!
And you bullies who voice unkind remarks about others.You are not Perfect!
Yes, obviously the person in front of you has the right to recline. And you shouldn’t complain about it, because you can’t control other people’s actions, so entering with that expectation is unabashedly wrong.
It’s also true that 95% of recliners are assholes who tend to be insufferable in day to day life, so there’s that. Seriously, I’ve flown a ton with friends and the ones who recline are unabashedly worse human beings.
*shrugs*
The airlines just cram more and more seats into the airplanes, so there’s less than less room for people. It’s ridiculous!! There isn’t enough room to fully recline. Your seat is in the person’s face behind you. The only thing to do is to compromise — do a partial recline. Why make seats that can go so far back if there’s no reasonable room?
Airlines have utilized all the space they can in an effort to put as many folks as they can squeeze onto a flight, anyone who reclines is gonna be in the person behinds lap…it’s unavoidable, and the airlines know this, but want to rely on passenger good will! Well that’s a bunch of BS and we all knowt, that’s why I’d rather drive anywhere than get on a plane…the sardines are truly on top of each other!
Completely inconsiderate if the person behind you is 6’2 or taller. I’m 6’4 and my knees touch the seat in front of me before they recline. At recline, it starts pushing into my knees. So what you are all telling me is I have to deal with actual pain so you can lean back. Jerks
Treat people the way you would like to be treated. The girl in the video could have asked the people behind her if they were uncomfortable after her seat got bumped the first time. She didn’t. The person behind could have asked her to move up. They didn’t. Something tells me the spoiled looking girl reclining would have refused anyway, had she been asked to do so. They are both wrong. And no, there are no rules about this reclining thing. It’s sad however that people think it’s OK to treat each other with such disrespect . Grow up folks. We all live on this rock. It doesn’t belong to any of us. Get along. You can be the better person by not engaging in or allowing people to drag you into their small minds.
Did no one notice that the lady behind was much older? If she’s anything like my mother, she uses the seat in front of her like a life preserver, using it to haul herself up and out of the seat, not having the strength to push herself up using just the armrests.
Also, a lot of folks don’t realize that if you put pressure on the back of the seat, like resting your foot on it, the person in the seat feels like you’ve got your foot in their back.
And both of these situations could be easily remedied if the young lady had just mentioned her concerns earlier. People have got to learn to speak up for themselves and not wait until they’re so angry they could blow a house down.
I have scoliosis and experience back pain if I don’t recline my seat. I’m not rude. I have a medical condition that people can’t see. I don’t know why we have to judge people without knowing their circumstances. I also get migraines, but you can’t tell by looking at me. I need to recline my seat. However, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford, a first class seat, which has made it much less painful for me to fly.
Tired of this issue.
Let’s talk about those who inconsiderately use the back of my seat to get to their seat or stand up.
I KNOW they are tight but you grab my seat back and jerk me backwards. I’ve had more than one drink spilled this way.
Keep your hands OFF my seat back.
Or I might have to arrest you for inappropriate touching.
Really? I wish my only problem in life was if an airline seat, reclined or not. Man has the world changed.
Just to add to these comments. Not all flights have first class accommodations so one can not solve this problem with the back recline. Also the cost of a seat today is quite often expensive so all should have the trip without pain. Airlines need to accommodate ALL so this issue needs to be solved by them.
All these types of articles need to have a disclaimer, these are all unique to America and as soon as th article says “etiquette” you have a problem. AMERICANS ( i am one as well) are smig, selfish, unaware and entitled, after all they have “rights” and “freedom”….not in my back yard and don’t make me wear a mask and church on Sunday sin on Monday.
I flew 250k a year and anytime I could book on non US airline these problems and noise, and general rude selfish behavior prio to, during, and after the flight are gone, go to baggage claim, why do Americans stand at the edge with no bag to pull….selfish.
My husband is 6’8”. Would literally dare someone to try to recline in front of him.
I never recline and I’m a bigger person. I don’t have a problem with reclining as long as they’re not reclining so far back that it’s impeding my space.
To the weirdo complaining that he is 6’4″ so he doesn’t have space. I’m 6’2″ with longer limbs, so my knees press against normal seats. I spend the extra 35-75 dollars to get the extra legroom. No complaining. Some people make themselves suffer just so they have something to complain about.
You chose to fly on a plane that has seats that recline. You can’t possibly have any defensible reason to complain when someone in front of you chooses to use that feature.
People saying that people who want more space to lean back should buy first class. You don’t find that a little ironic? Not even a little?
I see this from both sides. On the one hand, I’m a larger woman with long legs. So if someone reclines their seat all the way, their weight will be on my knees. But on the other hand, I always recline a small amount as soon as I can because it feels better on my back.
Basically just be respectful of the people both in front of you and behind you. We’re all in the flight together. Be nice.
Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?! It is the greed of any given airline that scrunch people up and cause already inconsiderate stressed out people to act up. People are stuffed into a tube on long flights with added seats, leaving no room whatsoever like in years past, and guess who benefits from that uncomfortable ride, it is the owners, stock buyers, and CEOs, while passengers fight among themselves for the right to have comfort in tight spaces. That being said, we should all treat each other just as we’d want to be treated. How wonderful it would be, if everyone could protest with a boycott, but alas! the executives already know this won’t, and cannot happen. They have travelers by the cojones people.
I will recline at my pleasure. Want to try and stop me? I’ll purposely feed my lactose intolerant stomach some dairy and bust a$$ in your face on the way to the bathroom. I can be a jerk too. God I hope Wayne Shannahan is behind me on my next flight…
Why is it that everyone can’t see the real culprit is the greedy airlines. You’re sooo mad…at the wrong people. You focus on the symptoms instead of the real problem, greedy airlines.
I’m sorry for those tall or “heavy” who don’t like seats reclined but I have back and neck issues which are exacerbated by upright non reclined seats. So if you are behind me I’m sorry but expect the recline
As someone who is physically disabled this has been very hard for me. Airlines just don’t have the accessibility options needed for disabled customers. There is no seat which accommodates limitations properly and having someone recline into you when you already have an immense amount of pain can be way too much to handle. I’ve flown over 100 times to 20 different countries, only two airlines were actually accessibile and neither are based in the states.
Please read the comments and form your own opinion but seeing many more “recliners” threaten what they will do to people that don’t like their choice shows me that they really are the problem
Recline all you want. I am a big tall guy. My tickets are pre chosen by my boss, random as random can be. I don’t have budget to upgrade so I get what I get. Recline all you want. If I need to shift or your pinching me I will let you know and the plane attendants as well. It’s nice when your nice and if I need to be a little aggressive to get comfortable (because that is my right too!) Well that can happen too.
In general I usually have zero issues with recliners. I personally do not recline, or haven’t in the last 20 flights I have taken this year alone.
The point is we both have rights to comfort.
Recline should be eliminated. Seats are tight enough, and when your knees are already against the seat back when it’s upright, recliners make it even worse. Only real scumbags recline their seats.
I am 6’4” tall. When I go to a concert or other event I stand up the entire time. Hey this is my “right” according to most of the comments.
In reality I actually slouch in my seat so those behind me can see.
I flew for work for over 20 years in contract small fast aircraft. Nope, not rich, it was work, and only about 30% gave me opportunity to lie flat/nearly.
However, I fly a fair bit (until last year when I really, really retired) and the seat recline issue is a while lot of Karen
I’m with travellers who want to use the seat they purchased as the plane allows them .
Sure, during meals on long haul economy, try to sit upright.
However, I absolutely never condone the knee in the back, jolting behavior. Or the heavy handed jolt to seat headrest. .
We are all travelling uncomfortably (unless I am working, then I am lying flat) but seriously!
Get along.
Too many me me me, not enough oh, I guess they have problems I can’t see?
The real culprit is the airline management by lobbying against passenger minimal space. Just as Americans are taller and more voluminous than before, seat dimensions should adjust as well. Today’s “Premium Economy” seat space seems like typical Coach of the 1960s. I’m all for mandating minimum passenger space, greater for longer flights. In addition, the 90 second evacuation test should be with a representative of current Americans, ie 60% overweight and 35% obese. Instead, they use for testers who are allowed to rehearse over and over.
If reclining is an option, recline. It’s always nice if you ask the person behind you, but not required. I had this happen to me on a flight to the UK, thr person behind me kept forcing my chair up. Rude and honestly, entitled.
What a bunch of complainers!!!
When you have the controls… as all the attendants have stated… you are in control. Therefore, if I or anyone anywhere on any plane has a seat that reclines it is our right, not our privilege to do so.
Stop moaning and buy the appropriate seat to accommodate your needs instead of expecting others to do so!!!
Why not be polite in the first place by asking the person behind you if it’s ok to recline before you actually do it. The person behind might just be happy you asked first and avoid any confrontation.
Neither passenger is to blame. This is all the responsibility of greedy airline CEOs. We have no freedom in the skies: airlines are being sure of that.
Seats are really thin. When someone keep bonking the back, usually a kid, if asking nicely to stop doesn’t work, it’s a hard mental framing challenge but pretending they are your free and wanted back masseuse has gotten me through a flight!
I am a tall female and the person in front of me reclined their seat. My height is mainly in my legs and as I was in the middle seat, I was hindered from putting my legs elsewhere (like the aisle etc.). The fellow assumed I was intentionally using something to prevent him from reclining. Nope, it was just my legs, my knees actually.. He literally bounced his seat off my knees repeatedly until he turned around to yell at me for “intentionally” preventing him from declining. At this point he turned red and was totally embarrassed as my seat mate scolded him and suggested he be a decent human being as he had likely already bruised my knees (which he had) and decency should prevail over entitlement. He stopped his reclining attempts but never apologized. Sometimes I wonder where common decency went.
You have a right. Every day Americans are losing their rights for almost about everything. You purchased a seat, it has a recliner. You have the right to use it . PERIOD!!!!!!
I’m tall, recline and don’t mind others reclining. Is it inconvenient at times, yet, but long flights are painful enough. Some aircraft have rows where seats cannot be reclined for safety, such as the row in front of over wing exits, so purchase an exit row seat. Some new airplane seats actually slide the seat forward and recline without taking any space (pitch) from the seat behind you. The manufacturers are working to make seats better.
if the seat has the recline option, then by all means, recline. I have had many a seat right in my face over the years and just dealt with it, that’s life…stop thinking the sun and moon revolve around you, and think you have the right to tell another traveller what he/she can or cannot do.
I am a large person, and I try to buy the larger seats when I can, but I cannot help how tall I am. Airlines should remove the reclining function completely. It is incredibly rude to put your seat back on my already crushed knees-I have had bloody knees after numerous flights. It is not OK to recline your seat.
Instead of getting mad at the tall person behind you, let’s get mad at how airlines are shoving in more seats in the same sized aircraft. It’s all capitalism.
Until airlines offer bigger seats and more legroom, you are mean and selfish to crush someone else’s legs. I don’t understand how an empathetic human being could justify doing that.
I will die on this hill.
Just move your own seat back. Jeez. It isn’t even a real recline, those are in First and Business. If you’re that concerned learn how to use SeatGuru.com.
Anyone that tries to dictate whether or not someone can recline the airplane seat they paid for is the epitome of a Karen and can f off. So many childish responses on here that would warrant getting punched in the face or being arrested and removed from the plane. You have no right to complain or act like a petulant baby if the person in front of you wants to recline. Upgrade to a different seat if you don’t like it. That is literally your only option.
I don’t know where these passengers are getting upset about someone “reclining” their seats. I was a flight attendant for 50 years and over the years the “recline” has lessened and lessened. I am only used to my major airline that I worked for, traveled with, and still travel with in retirement. The seats today (on my airline) recline AT BEST about an inch or two! Geeze people! Get a life. That is not going to impede your space! Are there actually airline seats that recline more than this???
I recently went on a flight and my seat doesn’t even recline at all like a quarter of an inch. I got off after five hours of flying with a backache and a neck ache I have never been so uncomfortable in my life. You should be able to recline your seat this quarter of an inch recline is ridiculous.
I was on a flight in coach, from SLC-ATL. Halfway through the movie I was watching, it dumped, so I was lightly tapi g on the screen to reset it, and the woman in the row in front of me, in the middle looks back and glares at me. I was not pushing hard, she was just being a troublemaker. Too many passengers are just looking for a reason to cause issues, in flight. I work for an airline, and I respect others, but people are going yo be tapping the video screen. If that upsets you, please do not fly!
I can’t believe people today. Listen, if the seat reclines, recline. If you don’t book your seat properly, i.e. behind anon reclinable seat, then shame on you stupid. And if you have the balls to pick a fight, I welcome it..lkl
I’m over 6’4” with limited mobility that affects how much motion I have to move in my seat to avoid recliners. Yes, we try to purchase seats with extra legroom. But I’ve also had people push repeatedly into my knees. I will push back out of self defense.
Many of the comments on this page remind me of how civility is a lost art. However, I’m not surprised by snowflakes who complain about snowflakes.
It doesn’t bother me for the person in front to recline. It doesn’t change the amount of leg room or lack thereof.
I haven’t flown yet but am bracing myself for this special hell. I am 5 ft with a bad knee so I alrwady know I will recline. Also my neck hurts so I will not be turning around to look or ask. I will recline slowly tho and see what feels comfortable for myself. I also have 2 little kids which I am sure the airline’s will over charge me to make sure they sit next to me. Biden is working on having families with little kids fly together at no extra cost. Hasn’t happened at all airline’s yet. Lots of research for me to do. I want to try alternative forms of travel as should others complaining. Also antisocial and don’t want to talk about it or announce my recline. You don’t like me in your space than you should recline back. End of story.
I think if the airines would take out one row of seats on each side of the aircraft and adjust the other seats to the space added, there would be plenty of legroom space for reclining.
Buses are also uncomfortable in that perspective.
If the person infrint of me needs to recline their seat, that fine. Lean back and take your nap. I’ll adjust. But when you recline your seat and then sit forward not even using the recline position, you are an inconsiderate idiot and I hope the airlines looses your bags. Have seen this more than a few times.
Sean Scott, and others like minded: a couple of things here. The seated DID adjust, the wrong way, in terms of passenger comfort! They got narrower, less padded, and closer together; I’ve been flying a good number of decades. Thank deregulation in the early ’80s for that. Now the other thing…and this is for the “wide bodies”, who just can’squeeze into that 18″ seat, which has included me, at times in my past: there’s a little thing called tim, about which most non- pilots haven’t a clue. Planes move in 3 dimensions unlike cars or trains. For that reason weight and it’s distribution are exceedingly important, as part of the cargo loading, passenger distribution in the cabin, even how the fuel is loaded and distributed. It’s part of the complex flight plan pilots used to hand figure, by now computers do that (I know because my Dad was a pilot with TWA back in the “dark ages” when flying was fun and comfortable, people dressed for the occasion, and real food was served on real dishes). If your trim is off, or gets off in flight due to something shifting, you crash. So when you are asked to pay for the 2nd seat you’re occupying, it’s to cover the extra fuel needed to move you from point A to point B, and to accommodate the trim needs. If you’d prefer to crash because you feel entitled to 2 seats, please don’t fly at all; nobody else on the plane does want to crash, especially not the crew. Last time I flew even my 12 lb cat had to be paid for, about 1/2 the price of a seat she never used. On a plane, there is no “entitlement” for special privileges, there’s no room for it. Even 1st class isn’t all that roomy any more, but everyone pays extra for it too.
You know I have a bad back, I upgrade my seat to comfort plus, I am not going to ask permission or apologize to anyone for reclining my seat. I check behind me and make sure it’s ok and clear, my veiw is this, I know not everyone can afford to upgrade, but please don’t complain, reclining is an option for a reason, I fly from the west in America to Scotland to visit my family and I’m afraid one of my legs is usually 10 hours, I have degenerative disc’s in my back, so I upgraded and pick my seat so I am going to recline. I won’t apologize for doing so. If someone kicks or pushes on my seat, I will make a formal complaint, im not being a Karen, I’ve only ever had one person do this, I complained to the air crew who did nothing. So I made a formal complaint to the airline when I got home. As a frequent flyer with lots of air miles, they refunded my whole flight. Please stand up for your rights, and if your too tall, big, or uncomfortable to fly, I’m sorry, just dont.
The reclining issue is something that one should ask before doing as too often people do only what they feel is for them period. Not even considering how reclining can hurt the person behind them, who might have leg/issues etc who are already in cramped spaces. If the person in the front had the decency to stop with the me only attitude, and asked first, then perhaps a different compromise could if been reacheched. ie the one sitting in the back might of informed her he was having leg cramping or knee pain etc and would appreciate maybe not the entire flight etc.
Bunch of whiners. People been reclining for decades so grow up. Seats are very uncomfortable and I will continue to recline without your permission
I’m gonna get every bit of what I paid for. Fuck anyone who doesn’t like. Fucking drive if you can’t handle it.
So what I’ve learn from the comments is that people are a-holes both in front & back and there will be arm to arm combat on planes.
This is the sh_t America has become.
Don’t treat people like you want to be treated, you get what’s coming.
So don’t cry if you recline into someone’s meal & there’s a seat back coming into yours most likely. I’ll make sure of it.
Karma.
When you recline your seat,you are basically invading the space of the person behind you.
Regardless of what you think, the person behind you has also paid a full fare to travel in comfort as well.
You need to show a little consideration to your fellow passengers and speak to them first.
A 30 second discussion could save a lot of problems.
But i also agree with a lot of other people.
Some planes should NOT allow seat reclining due to the leg room between the seats.
Your ticket is for your seat, but this woman i guess was born with entitlement and no manners.
I would have stuck my knees against the back of the seat and made her day for her.
I flew 10 years for business travel and hated when the person in front of me reclined. I have had the beverage on my tray spill on me more than once, and it is almost impossible to get work done on a laptop when your in mid sentence and the seat in front of you drops back. Try working when you’re unable to position your laptop on a tiny table. Sure people who recliner have the controls but what about my space that I paid for? Recliners have paid for their space plus now are taking an extra 3 inches of my space which I bought. Airlines should not allow reclining on flights unless the flight is over 8 hours.. There are too many “Karen’s” flying today who only care about themselves, and not about the person’s comfort behind them.
I’m absolutely puzzled by the number of comments saying people should ask to recline their seats. Are they even flying? Reclining is a feature of the seat and there’s no reason to ask anyone permission to do it (coming from a 6″2 individual). If you feel your space is limited, recline your own seat or buy 1st class.
The recline function is the right of the person in the seat. You do not get to prevent another passenger from reclining their seat, period. Of the recline invades your “space” you should have booked a seat with more space, or on a different airline, period.
At 6’5″, if I have to sit in a regularly coach seat (non bulkhead or exit row), the person in front of me is not reclining, flat out. My knees are already pressed into the back of the seat in front of me in a normal sitting position, there is physically no room for their seat to go back and I am already in pain just sitting there without the seat pushed back.
I’ve had a few people over the years try to recline and force the seat back and get annoyed at me about it. What I’ve noticed is these people are always rather small, and as soon as the plane lands and we can all stand up and they see how big I am, well suddenly they are ashamed or terrifed and won’t make eye contact, they’ll just stare at their toes until they can escape from the plane. That’s my favorite part.
First why is everyone standing up? Two airline travelers have declined in Grace and respect. People used to wear nice clothes and feel the privilege to fly. Now it’s taken for granted and this stuff happens. If you don’t like reclining seats DONT FLY. And sit down people!!
I have a personal code. If you don’t recline your seat into my space, I don’t touch the back of your seat. If you do, it’s more than fair game because now we’re playing the comfort game. If I need to stretch out, I’ll make sure my knees extend every inch they can. If I need to stand up, I might need to use your seat instead of armrest as leverage since space is too tight now. Maybe I want to rest my head forward on my hands but I need space to do so. Hey it’s for my comfort too right?
Why not alter the seat design so that reclining uses the space in front of the recliner instead? Basically instead of the top of the seat going back, the bottom moves forward. Then the reclining passenger becomes the one losing the knee room.
Another possible design is a seat that rotates in place about a horizontal axis, like the way most modern car seats are adjusted for tilt. The seat front mates with the back on a circular track. That way the back of the seat doesn’t move at all but the front can slide along the track nto different orientations.
To me this is more about poor design and expecting passengers to just deal with it rather than putting in the resources to improve on it.
Easy soloution, recline. If the person in front of yor reclines, reclineing your seat gives you more space
I cannont stand sitting vertically, I always recline. I recline the entire flight, and also eat when reclined! They dont serve food on the planes I ride in, just cookies and tiny drinks. If you cant fit that on your table, I have no sympathy. If you are larger, just ask and be nice, i will unrecline. If you are an absolute ass about it, kick rocks. I have never had anyone complain to me in the hundreds of flights Ive taken. Never.
I think the real solution is the airlines including a little recline into the seat from the get go.
Purchasing an airline ticket has contractual rights and includes reclining your seat. I am surprised by the amount anarchistic comments. It seems more and more people only care about themselves. If you buy an airline ticket, either be ok with the terms and conditions attached to it or use alternative transportation.
What kind of inconsiderate twit thinks they have a right to prevent you from reading, computering, eating, or shifting by putting their head in your lap?
I have long legs and the first thing I do on a plane is jam my knees against the forward seat to let them know there’s a limit. If you think you’re going to get some sleep by invading my space, go ahead and try it.
How much of a loser do you have to be to get upset over someone reclining? I’m guessing it’s the same people who wouldn’t wear masks and voted for Biden. I know thos makes no sense and neither does bitchin about reclining.
Lol if reclining or not reclining makes people that uncomfortable just imagine crossing a country in say 1865 in a tarp covered wagon being dragged behind a big cow with people trying to rob rape a d kill you the whole way. I just think sometimes we should remember how minor some things are in comparison to what could be if that makes a y sense.
Idc if its a right or not u dont recline and make the person behind u uncomfortable, u both should sit there without the recliner bc it isnt fair to make the person behind u uncomfortable, and its rude,
Like if ur in my space id also push u back like id turn my vent thing on and point it at ur face like bc if u r gonna make me uncomfortable ill make u uncomfortable too its bs, ur not entitled to ur own comfort by taking someone elses away
Depending on the flight, if the seats are too close and the person in front reclines, hitting my knees, I politely ask them if they don’t mind putting their seat back up. Essentially they are touching me with their seat back and it’s really uncomfortable, on an already uncomfortable flught. I’ve never had someone refuse after asking. I don’t recline, unless the seat behind me is empty, and I file people who lean back, without any regard for the person behind them, in a folder labeled “piece of shit”. I can’t help it. That’s the folder they get.
The people who claim it is my right only recline because they can. They aren’t actually getting comfort out of reclining. Half the time they stay sitting upright, not even using the recline. This tells me you’re an arsehole and don’t deserve respect, so prepare to have my knee in your butt. The airlines need to remove the recline function in coach. If you want to recline buy first class. Or maybe charge the reclining person and give that fee to the person behind them. Maybe that will cut down on all the arseholishness. But probably not.
I am a frequent flyer. I paid for that seat best believe if I have the option to recline I’m going to recline to make myself comfortable. If the person behind me has an issue then they should pay extra for the leg room. I had one lady tell me not to recline for the whole 12 hour flight ofcourse I didn’t listen she made a complaint to the flight attendant of course the attendant sided with me is ridiculous.
Rease recently I took a flight to Dubai. I was in the middle seat. The person in front of me reclined their seat during dinner time while I was trying to eat now that is showing no courtesy at all. The person next to me asked them to please that their seat up. I blame the greedy airline companies who need to take out every middle row seat in their airplanes so that people can have some type of comfort and every second row seat. Especially when traveling a long distance.
If you’re abnormally tall, then book your flight early and get an emergency exit seat. I know they cost more, which is BS because all economy seats should cost the same. I remember the good ol’ days of 2010 when you could buy an economy seat then show up at the airport early and request an emergency exit seat and they would give you one of they could and it didn’t cost a penny more, but those days are gone. Yeah, it sucks, but it is what it is.
Besides, I’m sick of hearing tall men complain about this. Being a tall man gives you advantages in every aspect of life other than airline travel. Why can’t you just let people who are not of above average height have this?
We just flew Delta and the seats are so close together it’s clostrophobic even without inclined. They need to pull 2 rows and make it comfortable for everyone instead of squeezing more into coach.
Airlines are becoming the worst service ever! Is rally shameful
I am 5.11 and I need to pay always for extra leg room other wise is imposible to seat in an economy seat and of course it becomes worst if the person in front recline the seat. We all need to recline and deserve a better service
I am 6’7″ and I have no option when it comes to a person in front of trying to recline seat. There’s no other place to put my legs, so SUFFER they will .. IF I am not comfortable , so shall others. Don’t like it .. then drive!!
Technically, *both* seats have purchased that shared space — the airlines know that and hope the passengers can just work it out. It’s inherently a no-win situation.
However, there’s a basic rule of thumb: When everyone is sleeping at night, it’s more acceptable to recline (but check your surroundings). Not so during the day.
Never.
Never attempt to resolve these issues without contacting an FA to correct the errant behavior.
Airlines do this to us.
I am a wheelchair user with spinal cord issues and while flying home to the States from Turkey last month, I went to recline my seat only to be told by the 350 lbs passenger behind me that if I kept my seat reclined, I was “the most selfish person ever.” I attempted to explain my disability to which she further shamed my desire to recline my seat for my back health and completely dismissed my disability. She was one of the most evil and vile humans I have ever come in contact with. Her hurtful words had me not only in tears, but on the verge of a full blown panic attack. Thankfully EVERYONE else on the flight saw how truly awful she was. Because it was too difficult for me to change seats, and I was told I would be just as horrible of a person to “do it to someone else”, I was forced to endure 9.5 hours sitting in front of her. However, her disgusting behavior and words spread quickly through the cabin. Other passengers asked the flight attendants if they could switch to open seats so that the seat occupied next to me could then be freed up. I was blown away by the kindness of these strangers to find a way for my needs to be met without having to “selfishly recline” my seat. The flight attendants also continued to check on me throughout the flight and bring extra goodies from first class. Doubt that such a self-centered person even noticed, but she truly was a disgusting human.
Lol at this guy Rich above me just a typical tall d*ickhead. How are you going to fly when it’s an overseas flight? We’re not talking short flights in the same country. I’d cut your legs off if you kept pushing them into my reclined seat the whole trip. Enjoy your life a lot shorter after that and then you won’t have the same issues 🙂
You people are nuts. I can’t stand flying. Enjoy.
On most flights, my knees touch the seat in front of me even before a seat is reclined. If a seat gets reclined, it becomes extremely uncomfortable. Why should I have to pay extra to move just because someone wants to recline their chair. Passengers argue amongst themselves but really, its the airlines that are the problem because all the rows are so close together.
“If you don’t want the passenger in front of you to recline, politely ask them not to.” You’re defending the right of people to recline and say something stupid like this?? If someone reclines, then you don’t have a right to complain according to the rest of this article.
Hey Rich. Take your own advice and drive. The rest of us shorter humans will recline until the airlines create decent size seats and space.
I flew a non stop Delta flight 6 days ago and my seat would not stay reclined… so my back is still hurting me. This is the 3rd Delta flight in 9 months that this has happened. It’s like Delta doesn’t want to fix any seats that break down.
I never recline my seat when people are eating but after service I will let the person behind me that I’m going to recline, if they say no or make a fuss, then I will wait until they have a drink in front of them ,and I will recline sharply, and they can have the results in their lap, and that will teach them a lesson, after all I was polite enough to let them know.
I am a 6’5″, working class man. You are reclining directly into my knees. You DO NOT have that right. Anyone expecting me to pay extra because I am tall is selfish and unrealistic. If you have to force your seat back in order to recline, you can’t recline. My legs have no where else to go.
Like it or not, we are all in this world together. We are all equal whether God created us to be 6’-4” or 5’-6” like me. Be mindful of how our actions affect the ones behind you. Your “right” to recline does not make it right.
Flying is mostly uncomfortable for all passengers, it gets worse if people are acting out.
Try to see the larger picture, we are all taking a miserable ride in a tuna can!!
If you enjoy being a miserable person inflicting strife on others then ride a train, you might run into someone who would toss you off on the tracks!
If I have purchased a reclining seat then I am going to recline. I’m small but I still don’t like sitting in the middle seat which is usually what I get if I don’t pay extra to choose an aisle seat. If you have extra needs to make yourself comfortable, then I suggest you pay the extra money. Please don’t make others give up their reclining rights because you are uncomfortable or, just suck it as I do if I get a middle seat. My philosophy is, it’s perhaps 2 to 6 hours of my life (and on a few occasions, 12 hours). I just do it.
I flew home on Hawaiian (has more room than most) the guy in front of me kept reclining as far back as he could and put in his hand over the top of the seat dropping down…. 2 times he bumped into my face, and about 10 time he rested his hands on my breast… every time I called the stewardess he had moved his hands so they did nothing. I finally got pissed and yelled at him to quit grabbing my tits you jackass (I was not quiet) point is to be considerate of the people behind you. Reclining if someone is larger person (height, weight etc) can make them very uncomfortable… be considerate don’t invade their space either. You have no clue how challenging it is for others to travel. I have been aggressively patted down because of my size, I have been humiliated by gate staff because of being overweight, other passengers can be outright cruel to others … normally I am traveling with family and my size only inconvenience is to them. I do my best to be a good passenger cooperative and aware of others … wish every could do that!!
Common courtesy and plane etiquette say never recline your seat. It gives you an inch and a quarter or back lean. Also middle seat gets the arm rests.
My motorcycle was designed to reach 185mph, doesn’t give me the “right” to exercise that feature whenever I want. But the capability is there should I find myself on a racetrack or drag strip one day.
We have no “right” to make the equally uncomfortable person behind us even less comfortable. If the seat behind us is empty though, then by all means can use the seat’s capability to recline.
If you are disabled you can’t sit in the emergency rows.
If you’re taller than 6′, people who recline their seats can injure you.
Don’t expect taller folks to be nice about it when you hurt us.
Not sure what planet several of you are from but some of the above analogies lack any logic
This is a commercial aircraft that has always allowed reclining seats and which has seats which are mechanically capable of reclining. Always been that way.
I will recline 90% of the time except for meals and if the FA instructs otherwise.
The passenger seated in front of me has every right to recline their seat and I could care a less if they leave it reclined while I am eating.
Most of you just need something…anything…to complain about in order to spread your unhappiness and dissatisfaction with your station in life to everyone else.
If you attempt to kick my seat or knee me then I will contact the FA, had to do that before.
If this is too emotionally difficult for you to deal with, then perhaps you would be better off (as would the rest of us recliners) if you chose to stay home in your safe space.
I someone who likes to rec l ine during flights. People who do recline also need to be aware of who is behind them for that person’s comfort too. Sometimes there is a really tall person behind and it could hurt them, or sometimes there could be mom with a child in back then and two which can make space tight. There also could be larger person who needs the room to. When reclining people should be aware of those things and if they can’t recline and need to talk to a flight attendant about switching seats prior to take off. Simple. Both people above were in the wrong.
When I fly I look for the cheapest most convenient option. Yes I would like to have a bed on the plane with a personal attendant to see to my every need but I can’t afford it. If the airlines give more room in economy I’d have to pay more, simple. I’d rather suck-it-up and be uncomfortable for a few hours and get where I’m going safely and cheaply. Airlines equip for the ‘average’ person. If you’re extra large, or extra tall, why should everyone else pay for your comfort. So pay for a better seat, or two seats together if you need, don’t expect the rest of us subsidise your travel needs. It may not be your fault that you’re larger than average, but it’s your responsibility, not everyone else’s.
I will recline my seat. I will be considerate about it.
If you don’t like it, buy a first class ticket.
Or Greyhound. Stop being an eh-hole.
Ignorance at it’s best.
I see a lot of people complaining about their knees touching the seat..etc. You can book a first class seat…an exit row seat…etc.
I am a DM on Delta…have flown every week this year except for 2 (did a Hawaii-home for week-Finland trip). I will recline my seat whenever I want…
I fly frequently from the states to Dubai and further I usually get a window seat I recline because a 12 hour to 15 hour flight is extremely uncomfortable, but I only recline after meals and when everyone sleeps, if your tall then try for an aisle seat or emergency window seat I always try to be courteous but on smaller flights I always get the person behind me who constantly pushes or knees me in the back and I’m not reclined. So be courteous of the person in front of you.
This is an airline company issue, not a personal one. Flying has become so unbelievably inconvenient and uncomfortable in every way, but also unavoidable. When you put 150 miserable people in miserable conditions the result will be misery. I do not get in one of those cattle cars unless I have to, then I take a Xanax and just wait for it to be over, like a dentist appointment. I guess the govt is getting it’s wish, keeping us home, alone, broke and complacent. Airlines are businesses and are going to make money however they can, that’s what the FAA is for, but….
Stacy C. Hate to break it to you, but you’re the idiot. Airlines control the configuration of their planes. If the big words go over you’re head, Delta picks how many seats go on their planes. They pick the distance between the rows. Did you think they buy airplanes off the shelf? Do you’re homework before insulting others.
I tell you my biggest issue is that people can pay the money and get an exit row seat on a flight. The problem I have is when there’s like an 80-year-old man or woman, yes they paid for the seat so they can get it. And they say they’re capable of opening the emergency exit window, but when I’m looking at them they can’t even figure out how to lower the table behind the seat and yet they’re going to get me out of an airplane in an emergency. I’m not putting my life in their hands I’ll go right past them and I’m just being honest. if you think I’m going to wait for them to open that exit row window ? That’s not happening. Then they’re more than welcome to go out first after I get it open. but seriously I’m putting my life in their hands? they need to change that policy now. It’s about dough $$.
The airline configures the inside of the plane. The manufacturer builds to their specs. The airline chose to make the space smaller. The airline can make them bigger. It’s very simple. Cut an inch here and there. Add more seats. Make more money.
Want more proof, look at the seats in front of the doors on the right side of the plane. Not emergency exits. Doors.
My knees hit the seat in front of me when the seat is upright. If you choose to recline into them, yeah they’re going to be digging into the back of your seat. Tough luck
My most likely scenario sending me to jail is embedding my laptop into a plane recliner’s head. These are some of the most selfish and rude people in the world. They generally plop back into your lap without notice and in general as fast as humanly possible as if doing it fast might make it go unnoticed. I am aware of this breaking laptops first hand. I had status for a long time so was able to sit in the bulkhead or emergency rows (sometimes business) without having to worry about it. Just know the person behind your lean is sometimes contemplating driving a laptop into your head and IMO your deserve that anger.
NEVER KICK SOMEONES SEAT!!! THIS ENTILTED IDIOT BEHIND HER THINKS THAT THEY OWN THE PLANE!
TommyBoy says “This is a commercial aircraft that has always allowed reclining seats and which has seats which are mechanically capable of reclining. Always been that way.”
True, but other things changed: Aisles are closer together and seats are smaller than in the past. Planes are consistently full (no empty seat behind you unlike good old days). And people are larger today. All reasons to NOT recline. Times change, and it’s time to adapt and not recline.
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To the Tall arrogant men who use their height to dominate and intimidate other passengers. Shame on you. If you can afford to fly? Book business class, more room and your massive ego can be left alone. Its awful these men feel they need special consideration from the rest of us, because they are tall. You must be gems to live with and be around. Unreal. Not enough that your a male, now you need to shove your height into the equation. Self examination is long over due to these men.
Too many entitled people. Recliner those seats. There’s no way I’m sitting upright for a 10 hour flight. That’s just stupid and if I decided to sleep the whole flight reclined then so be it. The airlines are packing too many seats in, not everyone is 5ft tall. If your talk book extra leg room it’s not that hard and stops you being the dickhead on the flight with your legs rammed into the back of someone’s chair.
Jeff Smith. So.. because you need to use your laptop, others need to respect your decision to work on board and I cannot recline my seat? Seriously? Unreal. You need to relax and enjoy flight. Maybe revisit your priorities and time management skills.
Yes you have the right to recline, but Cmon Karen, situation doesn’t deserve all that noise and hustle!!
I can guarantee you 99% of the people on here complaining and feeling entitled are white. GUARANTEED. I fly international fights to Japan… ZERO complaining and whining. Whiteys need to learn to shut your mouths!!
I have my own health issues that I make it very uncomfortable for me to be upright for prolonged periods as it were, the minute the gear goes up, my seat goes back and any commentary from the peanut gallery behind will be met with equally viciously crafted replies from this Brooklyn born fella.
If you complain about those reclining in front of you, you better not recline your seat either.
I control the a/c nozzle over my seat and when they recline…I turn it on full blast and straight toward them. They will get sick of the air on their head.
I had my head down on the tray table sleeping when the lesson in from off me decided they wanted to recline. When the seat didn’t easily go back you know since my head was there. The lady threw her while body weight back into the seat. The seat finally moved except it slammed into my head and ended up giving me a concussion. If the seat doesn’t go back easily check before you slam backwards.
The real problem is the airlines. Delta & SouthWest are the two I fly most often and every other row of seats on both those airlines should be removed. The close proximity of seats today may work fine if the entire flight consists of short children, but the majority of flights include adults, many of whom are over 6 feet in height
The worst recline that ever happened to me was a flight from SFO to LHR. The guy in front of me reclined pretty much after takeoff. Then he got up. He didn’t return to his seat until we were on approach to Heathrow. Not only did I suffer a reclined seat for the whole flight but he didn’t even use it. For all I know, he sat somewhere else on the plane.
I would have asked the person sitting next to him. Please put the seat up and if they didn’t want to then I would do it myself. If he did come back he could always push it back.
If you fly on a budget airline or in catle class then you should expect 2 things.
1,hardly any leg room.
2,if the seats have a recline option then people will use it and if it’s part of the chair design then the function will be used.
If you don’t want the hassle then pay the extra and site up front where the grown-ups sit.
If the seat reclines then I’m going to recline it. I paid for the seat and if you don’t like people reclining then don’t fly or pay for a seat that doesn’t have someone reclining in front of you. If someone does recline their seat you can ask them politely to ease it forward some and if they want to do it then great. But if they don’t then there’s still no reason to act childish as it will only get the person reclining to be more determined in their desire to keep the seat back. I specifically pay extra to sit in certain seats and places on a plane and I do it for a reason since it’s worth the expense for me to fly more comfortably. I endured far too many deployment flights with my gear and other soldiers stacked literally on top of me. Someone reclining a seat they paid for is something far too stupid to get into an argument over and acting childish will only make it much worse. This isn’t an airline issue. This is a people feeling entitled to impose their will on others issue. You paid for the seat and all of the amenities that come with it.
Recline only if seat behind you is not sold.
I agree with some of the comments it goes a long way ,when we try to be respectful and polite to others , it softens the situation instead of escalating it. Especially when we’re all stuck in a metal box in mid air and hardly any where to go .
Best solution to fastest results:
Require ALL politicians to fly commercial airlines in economy class with regular passengers.
No first class, no premium upgrades, just standard cattle class flights like the rest of their constituents.
Watch the changes happen then.
Every other seat would be removed, seats would be able to recline comfortably again, etc.
I recline every time. I’m 6’3 235 and when I hit the seat, it goes back and it doesn’t go upright until we land. I have never had anyone even make a peep. There is no “etiquette” to seat reclining. Who makes this stuff up.
They should make the seats recline by making the bottom part of seat to slide forward also. This would allow reclining without bother the person behind them. Of course those with long legs would suffer!
Or make the back of seat base move forward. The part the person sits on won’t move just the back part.
You catch more flies with honey then vinegar. Maybe if the barracha, c u next Tuesday spoke like a human being with the person behind her, she would’ve gotten alot further. Unfortunately she just made herself look ridiculous.
I feel that a ticket purchase affords me not only the right to my seat but the space that it occupies. So if I am in a natural sitting position that is my space. And anyone encroaching upon that space should be in violation. It is not my fault that you have a backache or your meds have not kicked in or they have or you just want to be comfortable. I have a right to my space and the airlines should defend that right so I don’t have to. And if I wish to give up that right for however long I want to should also be my right.
Not sure if these people complaining are flying in bush planes or what. I fly often to Europe from the US in coach, im 6ft, I’ve never had my knees close to the seat in front of me. They can be reclined, the table still folds down to the same spot, which gives a few inches above my legs at least. This is at least with delta, american, united, german airlines, french airlines. I think the complainers just have some recliner complex.
I had a very heavy individual sit next to me. I fell asleep only to be awakened to having my tray being down in front of me. On it this person poured out a pile of M&Ms. I woke up and thought she was sharing her M&Ms with me. She curtly told me she couldn’t get her tray down because of her body size so decided to use mine. “No M&Ms for you”! I was appalled .
There’s NOT enough space for y person in front of me to lay their seat back in my face. It never fails that I not only get the person who is the only recliner of the three seats in front of me, but they bounce and jam the whole time. My laptop no longer fits on the table unless it’s one quarter closed with the tray pulled all the way out! One of two things needs to happen, more space between the seats or make the seeds no longer recline. I have a broken tailbone and a sore back, by the way.
Typically the exit row seats do not recline so people who can’t afford the exit row can sit for the same amount in the row behind the exit row with no one reclining in front of them. Book early!
I have an L3-SI lumbar fusion. The fully upright position of airline seats causes me to have pain so I do recline.
I fly round trip from LAX to ATL twice a year. The aircraft type, such as a Boeing 777,can make a difference as well.
Usually when I get a complaint I explain my situation and I’m not disturbing. Occasionally, though, someone complains throughout the entire flight. As we say in the South, some people just aren’t raised right
Seat reclines I will recline. I’ve been a traveler since propeller planes. This stopping the seat in front of you is something prima donnas created. The seat in front of me always reclined live with it. Self absorbed people think they have special rights. And dress like an adult when you travel with shoes and socks. The captain is the boss now sit down be quiet and grow up. These little flights are not that big a deal.
When tall people take the initiative at performances, particularly at a concert where everyone is standing at the same level, to move to the back of the room so it’s not to obscure the view of us much shorter people I will stop reclining my seat on the airplane. Until then the tall people can just deal with my seat being reclined while I look at the back of their freaking head at a concert. I was even in a concert recently where a 6-ft something guy was holding his arms up in the air to video the whole concert making it impossible for anyone around him to see. When someone like that is behind me on the plane they can eat their knees.