Is it considered rude to lean your seat back on the plane?

[ducklite]

I never recline during mealtimes, and will recline ever so slightly sometimes during a daytime flight. During late night flights I almost always recline, although I look behind me first to make sure anyone in that seat isn't eating or trying to juggle a laptop, drink, and paperwork--if so I give them notice before I recline so they can get situated.

If the person behind me is being an idiot and kicking the seat or something like that, I recline, FULLY and FAST. It often quickly stops the offending behaviour.

Anne

 

[manhattan]

I don't recline if there is someone behind me. Although this does bring back memories of a flight where my 6'2" DH was sitting and the guy in front of him reclined his seat right after takeoff only to have him turn around and say to my DH that his knees were bothering his back, that he could feel them through the seat and if he could trade seats with someone else on the plane! It was for a 2.5 hour flight and he said he had a connecting flight that totaled 8 hours and he did not want to be uncomfortable for any part of his flights! DH said if I am not complaining that you are hurting my knees you should be happy. Guy tries to get FA involved who said full flight I can't switch passengers. I offered to trade with DH but he could not believe someone could be so arrogant and didn't want me being behind a psycho!

 

[Liz]

I never dreamed my little question would get so many responses! Thanks to everyone for providing your opinion (except the poster who said he used a wedge to keep the seat in front of him from reclining - - I swear I was sitting in front of you on a flight once!)

I'm going to have a discussion with my family before we fly the end of May about seat reclining courtesy!

Thanks again!

 

[NCRedding]

I don't recline my seat, because I feel less comfortable with it reclined. I also feel it is rude. On one trip I was on, my seat reclined automatically and would not stop, no matter how hard I pressed the button, so I kept having to jerk it to sit up--very annoying!!

 

[Lewisc]

The seat is designed to recline. You're entitled to recline. I'd almost go far as to say the space that's required to recline the seat belongs to the person in the seat in front of you. Rude is the person who uses a wedge. Sorry but if that prevents you from using your laptop you either should have your employer pay for business class, try to get a bulkhead seat or nicely ask the person in front of you.

 

[lsteadman]

We we first board, I always ask the person in front of me to please let me know if your are going to recline your seat. I have never had a problem with this approach.

I agree that is okay to recline your seat; especially, on long international flights. On domestic flights, I agree to recline WITH COURTESY!!!!

Have safe and enjoyable trips and I will remember this post when I flight.

 

[Gale Thompson]

The problem with reclining is that all airplane seats don't recline. On a recent 4-hour flight, the man in front of my 6"3" husband reclined his seat. We were in seats next to the emergency exit, which did not recline. As you would expect, my husband had a very uncomfortable four hours!

 

[magicmouse2]

If the seat would not recline I would have got an air hostess over to see if it could be fixed or ask to move seats.

 

[ducklite]

If the seat would not recline I would have got an air hostess over to see if it could be fixed or ask to move seats.

None of the seats in front of an exit row recline for safety purposes. A fligh attendant can't fix what isn't broken to begin with.

Anne

 

[sgtdisney]

I think it depends on the time of day and the amount of recline. On a night flight when the entire cabin lighting is dimmed and it is assumed that people are sleeping it is fine to recline IMHO. During the day when meal or drink service is being provided I think it is only polite to keep your seat more upright. Space is at such a premium on commercial aircraft lately, and when you are dealing with close quarters it is really confining to have a seatback in your lap.

I suppose it is a person's right to fully recline if they chose, but just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should. I also have the right so sneeze and cough on the top of a person's head if they are reclined into my lap, but I try not to if I can help it. I know this subject came up before on here, but I wonder this. To the people who are the 'recliners' and say it is your right to recline, how would you feel if someone sat next to you and swore like a sailor (no offense to the sailors here) or was reading a XXX magazine or popped in a XXX movie on their DVD player. Would that bother you? It is their right to do so.

Seriously, a little common courtesy goes so far sometimes. You can recline a seat an inch or two so you aren't sitting so upright, without putting it all the way back into someone's lap. Sometimes I just wish the airlines would make the seats all be unable to recline, it would solve a lot of problems.

 

[Michelle2]

Anne, I seem to be following you to all the same threads! LOL
The only thing I have a problem with, is when they recline when they are not supposed to recline. I don't know why I always sit behind people that think that they can recline during take off and landings. I always motion to a flight attendant when this happens, or most of the time they see it and have to ask the person to bring it back up, but it is still annoying those 10 or so minutes before they do... I guess it is more noticable because if they recline, and I can't, then it is very squishy...At least if they recline (and I have never been asked, but I will do so from now on, after reading this thread) I can recline too, and the space is the same as if we both didn't recline, but when the announcement says to clearly bring all trays and seat backs up to their forward position, and people don't because they are just being ignorant....thats when I have a problem. (And no, most of the times they are NOT sleeping, if they were, that would be different.) Sorry for the rambling!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The seat is designed to recline. You're entitled to recline. I'd almost go far as to say the space that's required to recline the seat belongs to the person in the seat in front of you.

Very well put!

There are plenty of rude things that people do on airplanes -- but using their seats as designed is not one of them.

 

[javaj]

Actually, it is illegal in many states to be excessively profane and watch pornography in public. You can get arrested for that. Reclining an airline seat is not illegal.

To the people who are the 'recliners' and say it is your right to recline, how would you feel if someone sat next to you and swore like a sailor (no offense to the sailors here) or was reading a XXX magazine or popped in a XXX movie on their DVD player. Would that bother you? It is their right to do so.

 

[sgtdisney]

Actually, it is illegal in many states to be excessively profane and watch pornography in public. You can get arrested for that. Reclining an airline seat is not illegal.

Not from what I have heard on here. People have been seen looking at Playboy and Hustler on aircraft and no one, including the flight crew stopped them. How about someone watching an R rated movie with excessive gore and not using headphones in the seat next to you. That is their right, is it ok?

 

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Only Trash recline in thier seats on aircraft when there is someone behind them.

This thread is now closed

Thank you for looking

 

[*Fantasia*]

Only Trash recline in thier seats on aircraft when there is someone behind them.

This thread is now closed

Thank you for looking

Excuse me?!? Trash?!? Are you calling people who reclines their seat trash? That is very uncalled for. That was mean and that was harsh..

And btw... this thread is not closed. I just responded to your not so nice thread. See?!? Only CM can close the thread. You are not welcome.

 

[javaj]

If someone were watching ANY movie very loudly without headphones, I think that would be called "disturbing the peace."

Just because flight crew doesn't refrain someone from doing something doesn't mean it isn't illegal. However, even if something were illegal, what people choose to look at in their own seats doesn't bother me. If my son were present, I would make sure to shield my child from it by placing myself between my child and the offensive material.

Reclining your seat is definitely legal. At least nobody has argued that yet!

Not from what I have heard on here. People have been seen looking at Playboy and Hustler on aircraft and no one, including the flight crew stopped them. How about someone watching an R rated movie with excessive gore and not using headphones in the seat next to you. That is their right, is it ok?

 

[sgtdisney]

If someone were watching ANY movie very loudly without headphones, I think that would be called "disturbing the peace."

Just because flight crew doesn't refrain someone from doing something doesn't mean it isn't illegal. However, even if something were illegal, what people choose to look at in their own seats doesn't bother me. If my son were present, I would make sure to shield my child from it by placing myself between my child and the offensive material.

Reclining your seat is definitely legal. At least nobody has argued that yet!

Everything I mentioned was legal as well. It is just rude. That was my point. A little courtesy goes a long way on an airplane. It may be legal to recline your seat, just as it is legal for a person to bump into it, a person to sneeze on the person's head in front of them, or a baby to kick it for 2 hours. I am talking about consideration, that's all. It is hard enough to get comfortable on a plane. Fully reclining when there is a meal or beverage service is rude, but as you said it is legal so go for it.

 

[BostonRob]

That trash comment was narrow-minded and ignorant.

The whole issue of rights can usually be boiled down to this - your rights end where mine begin. So as far as pornography and swearing go, you have the right to do so on your own, but when they begin offending me and my family, thats where it ends. And I'm sure any flight attendant will back me up on that.

But the issue of seats is far simpler. The airline has determined where my rights end. That's exactly how far back I can recline. When the chair goes back as far as it can, I've extended my rights fully, without infringing upon the rights of the person behind me. That's how the plane is designed. If you don't like it, you don't have to fly.

 

[sgtdisney]

your rights end where mine begin.

I am sorry, but that is about as narrow minded as the trash comment.