The etiquette of reclining seats on flights

danandjens_worldtravels

On a Virgin flight from Shanghai some years ago I had the quickest ever reclining seat! The man in front sat down and reclined his seat as I was stood behind him (to allow the other people in the isle to continue to board) putting a bag in the overhead locker. He knocked me over and got a hell of a 'shove' and a 'sincere' apology when I stood up again!

Singapore airlines were also very good recently and when serving food asked all reclined seats to move them forward so people could eat.

I don't mind reclining seats (well I do but on long hall its necessary), I feel more an invasion of personal space when people put their arms over their heads and trail their hands down the seat - oh at these times I wish the tray table was a little bigger and I could snap their bloody fingers off!! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

I seem to get my fair share of seats that are faulty and recline on there own, these make me feel very guilty, the sooner all short haul seats are fixed the better

kizkiz

I am 6'7" and I pity the poor beggar in the chair in front of me, as it will not recline due to my legs being there.
I always pay the extra to get a fire exit seat if possible, or check in at the very first second online to choose one, but every flight I have ever got I find most of the extra leg room seats filled with people who have no actual need to be there


I am fliying to USA in November, and have booked the flight, but BA do not let you pay for extra leg room seats until 14 days before the flight, which seems a bit weird. I may have to do a very long and painful longhaul flight (the price just to go to world traveller + was an extra grand each!)

richardw

I think average heights are getting bigger and airlines in the longer term won't have enough extra legroom seats.

Murphy_The_Cat

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

I always had you down as a petite middle-aged lady.

The perils of internet forums !

I'm a 6ft 3in 18 stone middle aged chap :beer:

Gloomendoom

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

Being just over 6 foot, and having travelled for 5 hours in Thomson's 29" economy seat, with the one in front reclined, and still being fine, I personally think everyone's just being a little overdramatic.

I'm 6'4 with long legs. Reclined seats can be agony for me. Painful enough for me to fork out considerable sums for seats with extra legroom on the return flight.

esuhl

I'd never thought there was any etiquette involved in reclining your seat. The aircraft and seats have been specifically designed for the purpose and wouldn't recline if it wasn't suitable to do so.

If there isn't enough room, then that's the fault of the airline for setting the seats too closely together.

Biggles

Kedi_Yavrusu wrote: »

The last flight I went on the seats were fixed. Problem solved as no-one can recline.

Yes, I've been on Ryanair too. It might solve what you see as a problem, but it creates far more. The most uncomfortable seats you can imagine, hard with absolutely no lumbar support. For one hour they are almost passable. After two hours, you've had enough.

Some people speak of reclining seats as though they are stealing your air or something; if everyone is reclined, everyone has the same space as before. I've never seen a problem with it and don't generally even notice if the guy in front reclines his seat.

tomtontom

esuhl wrote: »

I'd never thought there was any etiquette involved in reclining your seat. The aircraft and seats have been specifically designed for the purpose and wouldn't recline if it wasn't suitable to do so.

If there isn't enough room, then that's the fault of the airline for setting the seats too closely together.

You entirely miss the point - etiquette is about making the journey as pleasant as possible for you and those around you, not 'I can do it so I shall'.

Gloomendoom

esuhl wrote: »

I'd never thought there was any etiquette involved in reclining your seat. The aircraft and seats have been specifically designed for the purpose and wouldn't recline if it wasn't suitable to do so.

If there isn't enough room, then that's the fault of the airline for setting the seats too closely together.

Of course there is etiquette involved. If there is a short person behind you, reclining your seat probably wouldn't be a problem. On the other hand, if there is a tall person behind you, reclining your seat is likely to cause discomfort or even pain.

Common decency should dictate that you, as an individual, don't cause avoidable pain or discomfort to fellow human being.