The etiquette of reclining seats on flights

dw85

Normally, im one of those passive travellers. Dont mind people reclining aslong as i can work around it.
What got me recently on an Air Newzealand flight from LA was i was served a beer in a tall, thin can which i rested on my tray table whilst enjoying a film. The person in front decided to recline their seat with no warning (Why would they?) which sent my half full beer can all over me.:mad: Not ideal on a warm plane with 7 hours flight time left and only an extra jumper which didnt help wet jeans. After dabbing as much excess off i had to sit damp and beer smelling,and hiding under a blanket as it wasnt worth kicking off as nothing could be done.
I am considering investing in one of those tray locks though...:rotfl:

VestanPance

Biggles wrote: »

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.

No it doesn't. Reclining your seat does not move your legs or knees away from the chair in front.

As a tall lanky person airline seat reclining is a pet hate of mine, particularly when some 5ft midget does it with their legs swinging in fresh air almost knee caps you five minutes into the flight. I always pay for extra legroom when I have the chance, but have been known to just keep continually booting the back of the chair in front when they recline when stuck in cramped seating.

That air defender sounds like a great gadget. Would buy.

johannalf88

All these people have such strong opinions! I always recline on a long hall flight, mostly because they are night flights, and that's the only way I can get any moments of sleep at all!

I always do it really slowly though, ie I imagine the person behind me suddenly wonders when that happened. Didn't realise it was such a faux pas to do it without asking. What happens if you ask and they say no?! Whose discomfort is more important? My lack of sleep (+ my husband having to deal with me being stroppy!) or there lack of space?

Curious...

DomRavioli

kizkiz wrote: »

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!)

I find that a bit harsh - I'm 5'2, quite petite but pay for the extra leg room seats as my OH is 6'7 and finds it almost impossible to get in a normal seat - I want to sit next to him (he's a bit cagey about flying), and I like having the extra room. I'm off on a short haul in October and there were both bulkhead and extra legroom seats (some classify them as different) available for either £25 or £15 each way respectively.

I may not "need" to be there, but I will happily pay for the privilege. We have squeezed him in a standard economy seat once, but never again.

And I'd never fly transatlantic with BA, I've had some horrendous experiences with them; there are better carriers out there which go to the majority of destinations.

VestanPance

johannalf88 wrote: »

I always do it really slowly though, ie I imagine the person behind me suddenly wonders when that happened. Didn't realise it was such a faux pas to do it without asking. What happens if you ask and they say no?! Whose discomfort is more important? My lack of sleep (+ my husband having to deal with me being stroppy!) or there lack of space?

Curious...

You aren't "suffering" discomfort. You are just sitting.

From experience I can tell you if the person behind is tall they can be in actual physical pain when someone reclines, as the seat in front is quiet literally crushing them.

johannalf88

Well while I will defer to you on the actual pain, I am pretty sure sleep deprevation is used as a form of torture! Plus it will ruin the flight and the first days holiday the same. Instead of leg pain it will be due to tiredness and in many cases tiredness means short temperdness. :rotfl:

I think what it comes down to is you can pay more for extra room seats, but they all come reclining (long haul) as standard. If you had to pay for a reclining seat would it be seen as as much of a problem? Then you would have paid for it? I just want a reclining seat, that's included in my ticket, I try not to do it at mealtimes, as I do think that is rude, and I will do it very slowly, not jolt it down. If the person behind wants extra leg room then that's a problem with their ticket surely? (Ready to be beaten )

VestanPance

Don't worry. You wouldn't sleep with me behind you as I'd be kicking your chair for the duration of the flight, or until the seat was moved back to the upright position.

Personally I think the ability to recline the chairs should be removed if the aircraft can't provide adequate leg room for the properly evolved.

mgdavid

johannalf88 wrote: »

............
I think what it comes down to is you can pay more for extra room seats, but they all come reclining (long haul) as standard. If you had to pay for a reclining seat would it be seen as as much of a problem? Then you would have paid for it? I just want a reclining seat, that's included in my ticket, I try not to do it at mealtimes, as I do think that is rude, and I will do it very slowly, not jolt it down. If the person behind wants extra leg room then that's a problem with their ticket surely? (Ready to be beaten )

^^^this; I agree entirely. No-one forces the larger than average people to only buy economy seats, or indeed to fly anywhere. It's all part of diversity, upsides and downsides.

nykied

VestanPance wrote: »

Personally I think the ability to recline the chairs should be removed if the aircraft can't provide adequate leg room for the properly evolved.

I see it as growing until perfect. I was perfect at 5 feet and 5 inches (insert wink smilie here as they're not working)

ferf1223

VestanPance wrote: »

No it doesn't. Reclining your seat does not move your legs or knees away from the chair in front.

thank you, thank you!

I have just sat here in my chair leaning backward and forward in demonstration mode. My knees never moved any distance from where they started. Let's all try it, shall we?! I have always said this is a silly argument...the if everyone reclines thing. If my knees are crushed, my leaning back further makes no difference...my knees are still smashed up against the seat in front maybe at a very very slightly different angle.