Airline recliners!!

[pixiepower04]

I understand it's going to happen but on our flight with United in 2004 we didn't have seat back tv's and so my kids had to occupy themselves but couldn't use the table for drawing and colouring because the seat in front came back a good 5 inches.

The other problem I have is that I am really claustrophobic and someone's seat being that close to my face was problematic but I survived and i'll have to figure something out for my next trip in September!

 

[UKDEB]

I'm not sure about other airlines, but on Virgin planes, the trays slide towards you to facilitate their use when the seat in front is reclined. I have no trouble using the tray for writing in this way, even when my seat is in the upright position and the seat in front is fully reclined, so I'm quite sure a child could manage. At least two people have mentioned that their children are not able to us their colouring books, so I'm wondering how many realise that the trays are adjustable. Hope this will help someone.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

There are 6 in my family, so we normally book seats behind each other like 2, 2 and a 2. this means we only risk two of us having the seat droped back on us. I have a permernant spinal injury but I dont normaly put my seat back just out of politeness I usually go and have a walk round instead. I must say we are lucky because all my family are little people, I'm only 5ft 5.
I dont mind seats droped back on me, as long as I'm asked first.

 

[PudseyChancer]

The only problem I have with "asking" the person behind you is what if they say they don't want you to recline it - then what do you do? One of you won't get what you want.

Totally agree, I'm not one for reclining the seat because I don't think it makes that much of a difference to be honest, but the fact of the matter is that the seats do recline, so people are fully entitled to recline them.

'Asking permission' to recline the seats leads to a potential scenario where someone could say no, and where do you go from there?

 

[amberandolly]

I haven't got a problem with seats being reclined, I don't expect to be asked for permission - but a glance behind and a "I'm putting my seat back now" comment would save resentment, there's nothing worse than leaning forward, whilst rummaging in the seat pocket etc. then someone slams their seat back all in one go and with full force! If I put my seat back, I either do it when the person is not in the seat, or I'll give them notice and do it very slowly.
It's all about courtesy and good manners.

 

[Shazzie B]

I haven't got a problem with seats being reclined, I don't expect to be asked for permission - but a glance behind and a "I'm putting my seat back now" comment would save resentment, there's nothing worse than leaning forward, whilst rummaging in the seat pocket etc. then someone slams their seat back all in one go and with full force! If I put my seat back, I either do it when the person is not in the seat, or I'll give them notice and do it very slowly.
It's all about courtesy and good manners.

Here Here

 

[seashoreCM]

Come on, now. People have the right to recline.

But,

1. If you hit someone or knock over or break something with your seatback, your backpack, your package (sorry about the word snake), your foot, etc. it is your fault.

2. It is your duty to excuse someone who wishes to get out of his seat if you are in his way whether you are beside or in front of him.

How about trading seats or bribing the person in front?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Deedee]

Being able to recline your seat too is all well and good at the top but if you are 6 foot 6 and have long legs like my hubby it is a nightmare. The number of times he has got off the flight with indents in his knees but he doesn't put up with it now he just tells the ones who have reclined to please put their seat back up as he has got no leg room. We do try to get leg room seats now DD is old enough to sit in them but my argument is why should we have to pay extra just so DH can have the same comfort as someone who is average height.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Being able to recline your seat too is all well and good at the top but if you are 6 foot 6 and have long legs like my hubby it is a nightmare. The number of times he has got off the flight with indents in his knees but he doesn't put up with it now he just tells the ones who have reclined to please put their seat back up as he has got no leg room. We do try to get leg room seats now DD is old enough to sit in them but my argument is why should we have to pay extra just so DH can have the same comfort as someone who is average height.

so because your husband is tall, other people shouldn't get the little bit of comfort they paid for if they sit in front of him?

 

[Deedee]

so because your husband is tall, other people shouldn't get the little bit of comfort they paid for if they sit in front of him?

My husband can't help being tall you usually find the poeople who recline are the ones with loads of room infront of them. So your saying my husband should be in discomfort just so average size peole can have even more comfort even though they have paid the same as what we have paid. I don't think so

 

[Neoshoegal]

My husband can't help being tall you usually find the poeople who recline are the ones with loads of room infront of them. So your saying my husband should be in discomfort just so average size peole can have even more comfort even though they have paid the same as what we have paid. I don't think so

I'm only 5ft3, however, as I mentioned earlier, I have a bad back, I can't help that, and if I don't recline I get horrible back aches with half an hour. I will recline, no matter how tall the person is behind me.
So your saying that I should be in discomfort so your husband can sit in comfort even though I've paid for my ticket just as your husband has. I don't think so either.
I can't believe you're taking this out on "average" size people. You should be taking this out on the airlines who decide on these seat pitches, not on other people, who have paid for a seat that reclines no matter what size they are.

 

[wayneg]

My husband can't help being tall you usually find the poeople who recline are the ones with loads of room infront of them. So your saying my husband should be in discomfort just so average size peole can have even more comfort even though they have paid the same as what we have paid. I don't think so

But if you recline you have exactly the same space as the person in front of you, you have both paid for this reclining space and not the other persons problem.
I could do with extra width. If I sit next to a bean pole should I put the arm rest up and overflow to their seat?

 

[oceanscape]

so because your husband is tall, other people shouldn't get the little bit of comfort they paid for if they sit in front of him?

Totally agree. The seats recline, so people are entitled to use that feature. If you are not happy with it then pay the cash to upgrade. I, personally, think it is quite rude for someone to ask the person in front to put their seat up -- they shouldn't have to.

 

[Deedee]

I am onlyreplying to the original post.
BTW i have got a bad back so you don't need to tell me plus i am average size.
All i am saying is there is no room for tall people and having metal digging into your legs for 9 hours is no joke especially when you have paid the same money as the person in front who is able to go to sleep unlike hubby who is in pain. We have never had anyone object to putting their seat back when we have asked them as they can see the problem my hubby has.

 

[Deedee]

Totally agree. The seats recline, so people are entitled to use that feature. If you are not happy with it then pay the cash to upgrade. I, personally, think it is quite rude for someone to ask the person in front to put their seat up -- they shouldn't have to.

Are the likes of you going to pay for our upgrade? besides why should we i think it is rude of people to expect others to be uncomfortable thankfully not everyone feels the same.

 

[oceanscape]

Are the likes of you going to pay for our upgrade? besides why should we i think it is rude of people to expect others to be uncomfortable thankfully not everyone feels the same.

It's "rude" of people to use a feature provided by the airline?! Okay....

I would place my seat in the upright position if there was a tall person behind me who was experiencing discomfort, because they didn't realise the seat pitch would be so small -- but the fact that you and your DH even KNOW he will be uncomfortable is ridiculous. Save up for an upgrade, don't expect other people to sacrifice their in-flight comfort for your personal sake.

 

[UKDEB]

There is a very easy solution to your husband's problem which won't cost you anything and won't compromise other passengers' rights - you sit in front of him and keep your seat upright.

ETA: My husband is 6'3", but his lack of comfort is something he has to put up with. It's one of the few disadvantages of being tall, after all. At concerts, shows, sporting events, parades (to name a few) he never has the problem of a blocked view.

 

[UKDEB]

Just a reminder to keep things civil, guys. It's good to trade opinions, but some of these posts are bordering on personal attacks.

 

[Pootle]

There is a very easy solution to your husband's problem which won't cost you anything and won't compromise other passengers' rights - you sit in front of him and keep your seat upright.

Well this should work and sounds good in theory ..... until you actually try to do it (with Virgin). I'm sure it would be easy enough on American for instance.

For reasons I won't go into right now, my friend and I tried to book 2 aisle seats in PE downstairs. They had been changed when I came to do online check-in and we had been placed next to each other. I changed them back. When we got to the check-in desk with our luggage, we were told we could still be moved because we could be preventing a couple from sitting together - even after we had boarding passes!! We took the 2 seats together.

There were spare seats in PE a few days prior to departure, so I'm guessing that anyone who came into PE after that was an upgrade. Therefore we were not getting what we wanted on that journey because of keeping together (probably) people who hadn't paid as much as we had in the first place!

In the spirit of 'not sweating the small stuff' I let it go.

To Deedee, I have every sympathy with you and I would never recline until I'd done a subtle check on the height of the person behind me. DH is 6'2" but DS is 6'7" and there is a world of difference in their ability to sit in an economy seat. DH is ok with it, DS is not.

Being very tall certainly is not the same as someone large spreading over into another seat. One is totally unavoidable.

 

[paulh]

Being very tall certainly is not the same as someone large spreading over into another seat. One is totally unavoidable.

being overly wide is avoidable
Paulh