Airline recliners!!

[Lizzy Lemon]

I read threads like this before flying long haul for the first time last year and it made me a bit nervous about what to expect. We were a couple of hours into our flight before the elderly couple in front reclined to read their books. I felt a bit crossed eyed watching the TV screen! Reclined mine a bit without asking and it was OK, some airlines must recline further than Virgin's as they weren't too bad. We were seated 3 and 1 and so had two aisle seats and its served my DH and eldest (taller than me) son. They were able to stretch their legs along the aisle when no one was walking by.

 

[Lady Radington]

We always go for back row of a section, then I can sleep all the way if I want and no need to sit up when food arrives. Only once I can remember being restricted, it hardly went back at all. All other times they have reclined at least same as middle seats and often more.

Thanks yeah we thought that too.

 

[PudseyChancer]

do the seats at the back of each section, with no one behind you, recline as much as the others? We're trying it on the way back this time so that we can be right next to the drinks.

I made this schoolboy error a few years back on a Virgin flight, we sat on the back seats of the section that was next to the gallery and the exit doors, we wanted access to the beer and a quick exit when we landed!

Unfortunately, I chose the ones with the stewardesses seats on the other side, so whilst the seats in front of us reclined, ours couldn't! I wasn't particularly bothered as I spent 9 hours looking out of the window, but my travelling companion at the time took it less enthusiastically, ensuring that the ache in my legs due to lack of moving space, was quickly surpassed by the ache I was receiving in my ears!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

but my travelling companion at the time took it less enthusiastically, ensuring that the ache in my legs due to lack of moving space, was quickly surpassed by the ache I was receiving in my ears!

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunately, I chose the ones with the stewardesses seats on the other side, so whilst the seats in front of us reclined, ours couldn't!

These are the seats we always book this is from my online check in 48H, 48J, 48K Like I say they always recline very well, apart from one trip they would not recline at all. Must be just one plane that has problems and you got it, we love these seats as we can just help ourselves to drinks right next to us and 99% of time recline very well.

 

[Lady Radington]

Crossing my fingers for the 99%! Like most, ours is a night flight so we really want to get some sleep. We decided on these as last time we had noisy families in front and behind, so at least that shouldn't be so bad.

 

[lisadobson]

I do not oppose reclining for sleep/ comfort etc, but what i do oppose is when you recline your seat then sit up leaning on elbows, on your table in front of you reading. (as in when your back is not even touching the back of the chair) whilst the people behind you are trying to eat their meals and drink their drinks with a 1 1/2 year old on their laps. (there were no spare seats avaliable for our ds!)

But then again we did fly with thomas cook and we were very very cramped (I'm sure cattle get more space than we did when we flew!) and in foul moods before this happened because we had booked and paid for a seat for our son but he didn't have one when we checked in. Any how that is a complete other story.

 

[LORNA ANN]

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.

We too have asked people in the past to kindly put there seat back up as my husband is tall and although he could recline his seat his knees would still be squashed and he would still be in pain.Not saying people don't have the right to recline just saying sometimes your comfort is someone elses pain so it would be nice to look behind and think about the person before you do it. I have no problems as I'm short but have seen my husband have to stand for nearly all of the 9 hour flight because someone has reclined.And yes sometimes we do upgrade but cant afford to do it all the time !! Wish the airlines would do away with reclining seats and just pitch them comfortably for everyone

 

[LORNA ANN]

I do not oppose reclining for sleep/ comfort etc, but what i do oppose is when you recline your seat then sit up leaning on elbows, on your table in front of you reading. (as in when your back is not even touching the back of the chair) whilst the people behind you are trying to eat their meals and drink their drinks with a 1 1/2 year old on their laps. (there were no spare seats avaliable for our ds!)

But then again we did fly with thomas cook and we were very very cramped (I'm sure cattle get more space than we did when we flew!) and in foul moods before this happened because we had booked and paid for a seat for our son but he didn't have one when we checked in. Any how that is a complete other story.

Would love to hear this story as we fly thomas cook with DS 1 1/2year old in 3 mths and have paid for him to have his own seat !!! Now I'm nervous as he is quiet lively don't fancy him on my knee for 9hrs !