Airplane seat etiquette!

[yitbos96bb]

Funny this thread should resurface since I encountered a "lap baby mother" on our way to MCO last week. DH is 6'5 and I'm 5'8 and we had DD in tow (bought her her own seat-always have, always will even though she's young enough to save a few bucks and fly lap). Anyway I get sick on flights especially with trying to keep DD occupied with toys until she passes out. She finally passed out and went to recline my seat to get a little extra room and try to relax myself before I really "got sick". Well as soon as I reclined my seat the woman behind me pushed my seat back up and said, "No that's not going to work, I have a baby back here." I was so floored I quickly apologized and lifted my seat back up (I was too shocked to even think it through). Needless to say as soon as we landed I had to run to the bathrooms. I just couldn't believe the nerve of that woman to ask?!? By asking like that you're putting someone in a very hard position. I KNEW I had a reason for reclining my seat but didn't want to be "rude" because she had a baby.

Here's how I feel. If you're going to consider taking your child as a lap baby do so assuming you'll be okay with the seat in front of you reclined. Space on a plane is precious and we non lap baby passengers have the right to recline just as much as you do. I had a kid to take care of, too but I bought her her own seat and didn't make my child someone elses problem!

Wow That woman was completely rude. I would have forced it right back on her and then called the Flight Attendant and complain about the seat kicking... all of which could be avoided by simply POLITELY ASKING me. There are just some really rude people out there.

 

[yitbos96bb]

You seem to miss the point... The default is the ability to recline. Hands down. Anyone impeding your ability to recline can be reported the Flight Attendant... make a scene and usually TSA will meet you off the plane... Something I have seen happen... Someone acted like a rude jerk and jammed their knees into the seat. The person Forced it back. The jerk kept kneeing the back. The man who reclined called the FA. The jerk had a hissy fit. The FA tell him he was WRONG, he got belligerant. His wife had the good sense to calm him down, however when we got off the plane, TSA was waiting for him and escorted him away.

And This "newbie" used to travel on a plan 70-100 times a year for several years... I recline EVERYTIME. If someone asks me politely I will move my seat up half way in a compromise. If someone acts like you do or your husband, then I'll call the FA and let her handle it.

I guess I should give a bit more details on my opinion: if the flight is short, no need to recline. Sorry, that is my opinion. My DH flies twice each month, so is no stranger to airlines and normally is upgraded to first class where it's not an issue. However, when we travel as a family and sit in coach, we notice it's usually the "newbie" travelers reclining, as if to say, "Oooh, reclining seats! Let's try it out!". Of course there are those who are sick or need to recline with a baby - that is life and is par for the course of air travel. But on a short flight, no baby, no illness, nothing like that...don't recline your seat. It just doesn't make sense and causes discomfort for the people behind you. Yeah, you paid for the seat, sure. But the person behind you paid for his/her seat too - including the "airspace" around it!

Frankly, I think airlines should be ashamed of themselves for creating these cramped spaces, reclining seats that have no business reclining, giving rude service by flight attendants, and charging an arm and a leg to be uncomfortable!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Nope, no complaints as of yet. He doesn't kick at the seat constantly, just gives a little nudge to let them know there IS someone back there. Maybe if the person realizes they are making someone uncomfortable, they'll realize it's not making a difference to recline and they'll maybe adjust a bit. It's really not a huge deal...

Of course he could act like an adult and just ASK THE PERSON!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Wow I can't believe this old thing resurfaced! ...but I will say it again, just because you have the "right" to do something doesn't make it the "right" thing to do. At 6' and 6'4" we are are ALREADY sitting our knees jammed against the seat in front of us, no tray, no baby, no recline needed. When you recline the seat in front it goes from being uncomfortable to painful. Like I said, there are a lot of things I have the "right" to do "because I paid for it" (such as stand in front of your child at a parade or show or make an elderly person stnd on the bus/monorail) but I wouldn't do it because it is not polite. All I am saying is be aware of those around you, be courteous, be nice.

Here's the thing... Just because you are 6'4 doesn't mean you are uncomfortable if the seats recline. Pain tolerance and comfort are VERY PERSONAL... My Father in law is 6'10 and he has no problems if someone reclines... he's not uncomfortable at all. I have a friend who is 6'2 and is extremely uncomfortable if someone reclines. Its all about your comfort level. The people in front of you ARE NOT mind readers. If you don't say anything then most will assume you are fine. JUST ASK POLITELY. It will easily take care of things in a mature adult way.

 

[lovemyguys]

So your rude behavior justifies there behavior? You pushing into

What the heck is wrong with simply ASKING them not to recline all the way back in a polite way? Honestly, I'll tell you this, I would call the FA if you were rude enough to start pushing my seat up... And I'd bet money that if I want my seat to go down, its going down. I'm a reasonable person and would be happy to lean my seat upright part way if someone simply asked, but your rude behavior would not be tolerated.

Maybe you should slow down and READ the post before you give some heated reply! You show me WHERE in the post that you quoted of me where I said that I would push on your seat!! You really do not sound reasonable to me. "And I'd bet money that if I want my seat to go down, it's going down." Whatever!! You know what. I do not know who you think you are but if you ever talked to me like you are right now in real life quess what YOUR rude behaivor would not be tolerated!

You talk about the seat is made to recline. So what the heck is my tray table for?!?!? For me to look at while you take a nap??

 

[jm106]

I dont think there are reclining rules- maybe that will be part of flight attendants briefing,lol.
I would never expect someone NOT to recline, no matter what I am doing.(and I laugh at the "all the way back" because that what ,like 3"?!) Its their seat their reclining, yes my tray, but its on their seat. I also have never had an issue with anything spilling or being an issue with a tray. I was on a flight where a parent had a baby facing backwards in middle seat(like in a car) and flight attendant told them they had to turn the baby, it was interfering with my seat(I said nothing) and was against rules. I was ok with it, but I would have much rather been able to recline. I am small also, but its more comfortable to recline for sure. I only noticed because I couldnt recline, baby seat was against mine(which is why its not allowed and not safe backwards). I have traveled with lap child and also never even noticed if the person was or wasnt reclined, and if they did, great, I would hope they would make their travel comfortable for them, as I do for myself.
Oh and normally I do not check who is behind me, never thought about it honestly.
eta- DH is much bigger so I just asked him, he was like "why would I expect someone not to recline their seat?" so its not because I am small that I dont notice- I really dont think this much into what the person in front of me is doing with his/her seat.

 

[Colinsmom]

I was on a flight where a parent had a baby facing backwards in middle seat(like in a car) and flight attendant told them they had to turn the baby, it was interfering with my seat(I said nothing) and was against rules. I was ok with it, but I would have much rather been able to recline. I am small also, but its more comfortable to recline for sure. I only noticed because I couldnt recline, baby seat was against mine(which is why its not allowed and not safe backwards).

Actually, on the airplane, you are required to use a car seat in the same manner in which you use it in the car in order for it to be safe for the baby. For a smaller or younger child, that is rear-facing (in fact, that's the only way that some seats can be installed - though it is called aft-facing on a plane, see link below).

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2009/info09002.pdf

 

[jm106]

Actually, on the airplane, you are required to use a car seat in the same manner in which you use it in the car in order for it to be safe for the baby. For a smaller or younger child, that is rear-facing (in fact, that's the only way that some seats can be installed - though it is called aft-facing on a plane, see link below).

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2009/info09002.pdf

I guess it had something to do with #2 on that info, it wasnt fitting properly. I really do not know, I didnt have kids then and I have not used a rear facing seat flying.m Guess flight attendant should have offered an alternatate seat. I think it was the fact it was in middle also, the person in window was stuck because my seat would block them from exiting in emergency.
ETA- maybe(this was a while ago) they were told to move he seat, and I was thinking it was to be turned around, but moved to another seat was what FA was asking??)

 

[Colinsmom]

I am just repeating what I heard- I guess it had something to do with #2 on that info, it wasnt fitting properly. I really do not know, I didnt have kids then and I have not used a rear facing seat flying.m Guess flight attendant should have offered an alternatate seat. I think it was the fact it was in middle also, the person in window was stuck because my seat would block them from exiting in emergency.

The car seat is not allowed to block someone in (in the same row). You cannot use a car seat in the middle seat of a 3-3 config plane (forward facing or rear facing) but you can use a car seat in the middle seat of the middle section of a wide-body airplane. The FA was wrong to tell the parents to turn the child around - the right answer would have been to move the car seat to a window seat, in a different row if necessary. Not all FAs are very knowledgeable about car seat use on airplanes, though, unfortunately. So I believe that's what you heard, but it is not correct.

 

[02AggieGirl]

IDK, maybe it's just me but those seats really just don't recline that far back....I've taken many a plane ride with babies on my lap and have never noticed it making that much difference in the amount of space.....you should be ok I think

 

[Kathymcbain]

The more I think about it, the funnier this entire thread has become. I used to fly every week for work. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times people do or don't recline in front of me...it's not something I ever noticed.

It's an airplane, for crying out loud, they aren't supposed to be comfortable!

 

[lovemyguys]

I am leaving this thread and I only say that b/c if you ask a question about something I wrote I do not want you to think that I am just being rude and not answering. So quote all you want, do whatever you want with your seat, don't worry about those around you, keep calling the FA over,whatever. I will continue to keep my seat up(since I do not have a medical condition) and also teach my children not to bump your seat, mess with the tray table and talk quietly. That is what I think is proper behaivor so that is what I will continue to do. If you think that not caring about the person behind is proper behaivor then that is your choice.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Maybe you should slow down and READ the post before you give some heated reply! You show me WHERE in the post that you quoted of me where I said that I would push on your seat!! You really do not sound reasonable to me. "And I'd bet money that if I want my seat to go down, it's going down." Whatever!! You know what. I do not know who you think you are but if you ever talked to me like you are right now in real life quess what YOUR rude behaivor would not be tolerated!

You talk about the seat is made to recline. So what the heck is my tray table for?!?!? For me to look at while you take a nap??

1) My apologies... I misread you... you said you WOULD NOT push... I missed the not. My apologies.

2) As for the tray table... You can use a tray table for drinks, etc while its reclined. I do all the time. Now I will say using a laptop is nearly impossible.

3) The scenario specified was if you tried to force my seat up. I misread your original post. I stand by what I said though if someone tries to force my seat up.

 

[kinntj]

The more I think about it, the funnier this entire thread has become. I used to fly every week for work. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times people do or don't recline in front of me...it's not something I ever noticed.

It's an airplane, for crying out loud, they aren't supposed to be comfortable!

Most of the plane rides I've been on, most people in front of me have reclined at one point or another. I've never noticed it an inconvenience and they never asked or looked around to see what I was doing. I never expected them too.

I traveled to China 2 times and each time back with a baby we adopted. They were both lap babies, because they didn't like to be put down as expected. I'm pretty sure the people in front of us reclined, but we didn't notice we were uncomfortable. That flight was 13 hours. Some of you guys are complaining because....???

 

[all4fun]

It's an airplane, for crying out loud, they aren't supposed to be comfortable!

Too true!

 

[lolakat]

When I flew with my DD on my lap at 6 mo I did not notice a large difference in the room we had when the person in front of me reclined. It certainly was not enough to touch the baby. I think if the baby was larger (maybe over 1 year) it might have been a problem. Personally I would not do a lap child over 1 year b/c my DD is just too squirmy to allow it. If I was in you situation and felt anxious about this issue I might either buy the child a seat, split up my party to get a reclining seat or get a different flight all together.

Personally, I would not ask the person in front of me not to recline. You have a couple of other options for the baby's comfort and if you choose not to take them I dont' think it's fair to ask someone else to limit their comfort based on your choice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wish they designed the seat bottom to move forward with the back staying the same distance away. So the person reclining would be able to recline, but they would reduce the amount of knee space they had, not reduce the amount of knee space the person behind them had.

And if you must recline, don't spend most of the time sitting up and forward in your seat using the tray with the back reclined. That happened to me on Sunday. Either sit/lie back in your seat with it reclined or don't recline the seat.

 

[maxiesmom]

You have a couple of other options for the baby's comfort and if you choose not to take them I dont' think it's fair to ask someone else to limit their comfort based on your choice.

 

[Stacerita]

All this for a couple of inches?