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)
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