Reclining my seat in First Class......

[drew64]

I recline in both first and coach - the seat does not go back all that much anyway.

Seat has a recline position for a reason.

I will pull it up during meal service though, but otherwise I do recline it.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would exercise my right to make your flight as uncomfortable as mine ... It's a means to an end. It's not a threat or a punishment.

Totally wrong. This is a threat and a punishment and you do not have "that" right.

It's sometimes even difficult ... use a laptop without making serious contact with the seat in front.

OT: (Ph.D. in theology needed) I regret that God did not create each one of us so that the average airline seat could accommodate both him and his laptop but if you were one of the damned (as opposed to one of the elect) you should reserve space for your laptop. (In practically all cases the laptop can fly in the overhead bin with no special action needed at the time of booking. Also, sometimes you can resume using your laptop by reclining yourself.)

And really....the "need" to recline the seat? Never heard of that one.

Airplane seats curl forward at the top, so if my seat is not reclined then I fall forward into my own lap.

 

[KevGuy]

Hey I recline my seat anytime I feel like it. If someone is getting up etc like behind me and I notice I will raise it up momentarily so they can exit easier. Lets face it though the seats recline so people should be able to do that without fear that they are offending someone lmao!!! If I recline my seat and you don't like it, TUFF!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Airplane seats curl forward at the top, so if my seat is not reclined then I fall forward into my own lap.

No. They slant backwards, then the headrest is at a SLIGHTLY more upright angle - about 10º,,, sorta like your car's seat.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Airline seats are shaped so that there is a built in headrest. Well, those of us under 5'10" do not fit in the seats correctly. If I don't recline the seat a bit, my head is being pushed forward in a very ackward way forcing my neck muscles to be flexed the entire trip in order to keep my head from flopping forward resulting in a massive headache by the time I reach my destination. By reclining a bit I can keep my head upright without the neck strain or pain. I don't consider this selfish or out of line in any way.

I do try to be considerate of the person behind me and only recline the seat enough to prevent my headache. I don't need to be back the whole way.

If the person in front of me reclines to the point that I feel claustrophobic then I will in turn recline more so that I have enough room for myself. It becomes a domino effect.

 

[uva185]

Are we still talking about reclining in First Class or has this just evolved to a general seat reclining debate?

IMO, the only time it is inappropriate to recline in coach is during the meal service.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Oh--the JOYS of flying!!!

 

[Anjelica]

Are we still talking about reclining in First Class or has this just evolved to a general seat reclining debate?

IMO, the only time it is inappropriate to recline in coach is during the meal service.

Agreed on the setting up your chair during meal time. Sometimes its difficult to eat appropriately a trayed meal when the person in front of you is fully reclined.

I agree with the previous poster who said they generally only recline enough to make sure your head isn't pushed forward. If its a short flight for me (like 3 or less hours) I generally leave the seat as is and don't recline. If its an international flight especially at nighttime I generally do recline it.

 

[uva185]

Agreed on the setting up your chair during meal time. Sometimes its difficult to eat appropriately a trayed meal when the person in front of you is fully reclined.

Once I was flying coach on Air New Zealand from Auckland to Cairns and was eating dinner with wine. I had just ordered another bottle of wine (free) when the person in front of me reclines their seat very quick knocking over my bottle of wine....not on me, but on my seatmate -- leaving me completely dry. The seatmate was pissed.

So even when you do recline, do it slowly.

 

[dudspizza]

Are we still talking about reclining in First Class or has this just evolved to a general seat reclining debate?

Honestly wasn't my intention.... I am flying first class for the first time next month and am trying to get "first class etiquette" down. Now, what should I wear?

Duds

 

[Anjelica]

Honestly wasn't my intention.... I am flying first class for the first time next month and am trying to get "first class etiquette" down. Now, what should I wear?

Duds

You will get "spoiled"...

Off-topic a bit:
Brian Regan - a very funny CLEAN comedian has one of the best spiels I have ever seen regarding flying. He starts this whole thing about first class passengers. When you have a few minutes definetly check it out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9em-ZCddWk

 

[uva185]

Honestly wasn't my intention.... I am flying first class for the first time next month and am trying to get "first class etiquette" down. Now, what should I wear?

Duds

My comment was not directed at you.

No official dress code. I have worn everything from a suit to shorts & flip flops.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

I truly can't believe you started this thread...shame on you!!

In any case...yes, the seats recline. But please, if you so moved to recline, please be aware of the person seated behind you. They may be tall and have long legs...not so great when someone in front of you slams their seat back. And yes, it has happened to me as well as to my dh who is 6'4" tall. We all have very long legs so we are always being banged into. One woman went so far as to keep banging back..she just couldn't figure out what was preventing her full recline. Oh, I don't know...could it have been my dh's knees!!!? Yep.

I seldom recline. I hate it when others do, so I don't do it myself. If I do recline, it is only a very small recline..enough to take the pressure off my lower back. And even then I look behind me to see if anyone will be negatively impacted.

 

[dudspizza]

My comment was not directed at you.

Oh, I know. I guess I saw this going on a tangent when I started the thread... these things just come to my mind and ask....... I am excited to try first class.... I do know that I will be back to coach next time, so I will enjoy it....

I truly can't believe you started this thread...shame on you!!

Who me?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You are such a troublemaker! Even mom says so!

Oh, I know. I guess I saw this going on a tangent when I started the thread... these things just come to my mind and ask....... I am excited to try first class.... I do know that I will be back to coach next time, so I will enjoy it....


Who me?

 

[uva185]

I am excited to try first class....

You'll enjoy it! You're flying AA First right?

I have only flown 1 segment in AA First (DFW-AUS). They are the only domestic airline to serve me a pre-departure drink (2 actually ) in glassware. All the other airlines serve pre-departure drinks in plastic.

People complain about domestic First but in the end its always better than coach (even US Airways First )

 

[LisaNJ25]

Oh--the JOYS of flying!!!

lol Im sitting here reading this going thank god I dont fly.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

ALLEGIANT AIR seats dont recline,,,at least the flight i was on they didnt

 

[Inkmahm]

I don't recline, either. Of course, I never get to sit in first class. Business class is the best I can get.

On flights I book for vacation I try to get exit row seats where the seats in front of me can't recline. I don't recline mine in any case because I find the seats to be comfortable enough just the way they are- upright.

For business, if I'm flying business class it is because I'm flying overnight to Europe. In that case, I recline my seat to be able to sleep.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Like a previous poster, I am over 6'5" tall and probably because of this, I always ask the person behind me if they would mind if I were to recline.

The fact that anyone consider reclining a "right" is beyond me. Nowhere on your ticket agreement does it state that you have that right.

That being said, what comes around goes around....

About three years ago, I asked the woman in front of me if she could reduce the amount of reclining she was doing as her seat was pressing hard on my knees. She refused. Coincidentally, on the day I was to return home, I saw her angling to get on the flight I had booked as her flight had been canceled. As my flight was booked solid, flight attendants offered us free round-trip vouchers, an overnight hotel stay and meal to bump as it was the last flight of the day. Had she been so kind to lift her seat up the slightest bit, I probably would have taken the offer, but for some reason, I decided to pass....