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)
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.