To recline or not to recline...

[elaine amj]

I don't recline my seat out of consideration for the person behind me and I expect the person in front of me to do the same. You all can see by this thread how well that works.

If you want to recline your seat, buy a first class ticket.

I don't understand why the person who wants the space they are entitled to has to pay to upgrade their seat. Why not the person who feels the current space in economy is too small when the seats are used as intended with the recline feature? If the space is too small when used as intended, pay for exit row, pay for first row, pay for economy comfort, etc.

OR - even better. Vote with your wallet. Choose the airlines with more space between seats or airlines which don't offer recline (Frontier seats come already slightly reclined and are stationary).

Since coach seats recline passengers don't have to sit in first class in order too.
Those people who want more space are the ones who need to buy a first class ticket.
But you won't of course you'll just complain about other people not giving you more space that you can very easily get yourself where it's provided.

This.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I saw this on twitter and was pretty surprised by how many people were cheering the guy on. Even if you are in the it's rude to recline camp, it doesn't make what that guy was doing OK.

I thought that too. That's the equivalent of a child kicking the seat really and most don't take kindly to that.

 

[DisTXMom]

Airlines have shrunk passenger space so small that honestly I don't think they should have reclining seats except in 1st Class where they still have ample space. Find the angle most comfortable like stationary movie theater seats, lock them at that and let those who want to sleep bring the proper neck support. With the shrinking space should come shrinking amenities ... let recliners be the first to go.

100%!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What are your thoughts on this article or reclining airline seats in general?

Sadly, there are people who cannot sit straight up for hours on end (even for "short" flights). I am among them. I can handle the straight back for a short time, but I have to recline some. I try not to do a lot, and to look behind when I do it.

My thought is- the airlines need to add a forward slide to the recline, such that the back of the seat doesnt recline back.. rather the seat part of the seat slides forward. Thus when you recline, you are taking up your OWN leg room.

While I think that's a great idea, I have to ask "what leg room?" They've put the rows in the planes so close together now, that not all rows even have a window. I'm fairly short, and even I find the "leg room" cramped.

 

[HopperFan]

Sadly, there are people who cannot sit straight up for hours on end (even for "short" flights). I am among them. I can handle the straight back for a short time, but I have to recline some. I try not to do a lot, and to look behind when I do it.


While I think that's a great idea, I have to ask "what leg room?" They've put the rows in the planes so close together now, that not all rows even have a window. I'm fairly short, and even I find the "leg room" cramped.

Your comments kinda contradict themselves. You acknowledge that the person behind you has minimal room in front of them for their legs and tray with the cramped space, and yet you plan to recline into that space and remove even more.

The airlines have created this issue, they need to fix again. With all the charges they have for "upgrades" like picking your seat, certain locations cost more, bags, etc ................ they should go ahead and offer stationary seats with no charge and offer reclining seats for an upcharge for those that want that extra service. It would end all these issues once in the air.

 

[MarkLT1]

The airlines have created this issue, they need to fix again. With all the charges they have for "upgrades" like picking your seat, certain locations cost more, bags, etc ................ they should go ahead and offer stationary seats with no charge and offer reclining seats for an upcharge for those that want that extra service. It would end all these issues once in the air.

Or, simply limit the amount the seats recline, proportional to how much they've reduced the leg-room. As I said in a previous message- if a person reclines an inch or two, no big deal. The problem (IMO) are seats that allow you to recline back 6-8" or more, in a modern coach seating arrangement. There are a lot of ways the airlines could fix this issue, but like most industries that have a captive audience, why would they?

Note- I have been on many flights that have much more limited reclining in coach- you get enough recline to make yourself marginally more comfortable, while not laying your head in the person's lap behind you. I have also been on many flights where the opposite was true.

 

[Disneypro1]

I choose my seat on a flight, I would never choose a seat that doesn't recline.
I pay for a seat, so I will use that seat as I see fit. If I want to recline, I will.
If the person behind me has a problem with that take it up with the airlines.

Agreed. My seat. I paid for it. It reclines and I am allowed to do it. So. I will if I want.

 

[Boopuff]

I think of it this way. If I'm on a short flight 1-3 hours, I can just sit there. No recline necessary. Once you get to longer flights 4+ hours or international (or really early/late flights) i expect that many people will be snoozing and reclining just makes for a more comfortable snooze. I never recline the full extent of the seat, just an inch. This is the never ending debate....

 

[Jennasis]

I don't recline. It's pointless. The seat goes back like 2 inches. It is in no way more comfortable for me. YMMV.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you want to recline your seat, buy a first class ticket.

If you don't want the person in front of you reclining, buy a bulkhead seat or one behind an exit row.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't recline my seat out of consideration for the person behind me and I expect the person in front of me to do the same. You all can see by this thread how well that works.

If you want to recline your seat, buy a first class ticket.

People doing regular, ordinary things they're perfectly entitled to do are not behaving badly; it's not inconsiderate just because it irks you. Foregoing your own comfort (if that's what's happening) by not reclining is very likely not registered by the passenger behind you as a courtesy - I certainly wouldn't feel like you were doing me a favor. Practically everybody expects people to recline in reclining seats. Recline or don't recline; it's up to you.

...Reclining is even worse when meals are served. Do you eat at your dining room table or in a restaurant in a seat that reclines? Why would you do so on an airplane. The person behind you may find it difficult to eat with their tray table crunched up against them.

I have great empathy for the person sitting behind me. I would hope all travelers would feel that way. Just because the uncaring airline puts in those awful seats does not mean we should take advantage of that situation.

Perhaps you're getting your seat classes confused; what are these "meals" of which you speak? Unless you're on a long-haul, meals aren't served in economy class. Food for purchase is available but it's served whenever it's ordered and that's not possible for the passenger in front to anticipate. As for the drinks and pretzels, well, I can manage those with my tray table down even when the seat in front is reclined.

THIS ^

I find it very interesting how Passenger A moving their chair into the very personal space of Passenger B, usually gaining more space for Passenger A is somehow considered a "get over it" for Passenger B. Passenger B should not have to forfeit their space. It is long time the airlines address this since they are the ones who eliminated the buffer space to begin with. OR maybe they should make the left half the plane reclining seats and right hand side stationary. Bigger planes, make all the middle section reclining and the sides with window views stationary. The passengers who want reclining can purchase them (upgrade fee of course for the maintenance) and those who wish to maintain personal space books a non-moving seat.

Based on this thread, there are apparently many here who think having non-reclining seats would be of value - how about you guys pay the premium for your "personal space"?

Didn't Passenger B PAY for the space that Passenger A is now in? Again, it's just a matter of who's comfort is deemed more important. Anyone who reclines is admitting their comfort is more important the person behind them, which is fine, look out for #1, but at least accept that's what you're saying when you do it.

Or, the person behind, who is annoyed by the recliner, is admitting their comfort is more important than the person in front. See how that works?

 

[skyblue17]

Or, the person behind, who is annoyed by the recliner, is admitting their comfort is more important than the person in front. See how that works?

Well, yes, I said in an earlier post that it just becomes about who's comfort is more important. The difference being that the person reclining is entering in the space behind them, whereas the person already there is not affecting the person in front of them.

 

[ronandannette]

Well, yes, I said in an earlier post that it just becomes about who's comfort is more important. The difference being that the person reclining is entering in the space behind them, whereas the person already there is not affecting the person in front of them.

Sorry, nope - that's just a rationalization.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, yes, I said in an earlier post that it just becomes about who's comfort is more important. The difference being that the person reclining is entering in the space behind them, whereas the person already there is not affecting the person in front of them.

But it's space they're entitled to. Either convince the airline to have non-reclining seats or pick a seat that's not behind one that reclines.

 

[skyblue17]

Sorry, nope - that's just a rationalization.

Care to explain how? If I'm sitting in my seat, me sitting there affects no one. But if the person in front of me reclines, I'm affected. So how are they equal?

 

[skyblue17]

But it's space they're entitled to. Either convince the airline to have non-reclining seats or pick a seat that's not behind one that reclines.

It's space TWO people are entitled to. Why is the person in front more entitled to it than the person behind them?

 

[rwdavis2]

In coach, no seat should recline. There is no room for it.

 

[ronandannette]

Care to explain how? If I'm sitting in my seat, me sitting there affects no one. But if the person in front of me reclines, I'm affected. So how are they equal?

That's not what we were talking about. We were discussing the idea that the "recliner" is values his own comfort over the person in the seat behind. It is equally true that if a person in a seat resents someone in front reclining, they are valuing their own comfort over that person. Looking out for #1 is the way you put it.

 

[skyblue17]

That's not what we were talking about. We were discussing the idea that the "recliner" is values his own comfort over the person in the seat behind. It is equally true that if a person in a seat resents someone in front reclining, they are valuing their own comfort over that person. Looking out for #1 is the way you put it.

It can't be equally true when only ONE person is losing space and the other is gaining it. There is no way for a person not reclining their seat to gain space. I can't affect your space if I'm just sitting in my seat. I also have no control over someone choosing to recline, that choice only lies with the person who chooses to recline, which is why that person is choosing their comfort over someone else's. I can resent you all I want, you can still do it!

 

[ronandannette]

It can't be equally true when only ONE person is losing space and the other is gaining it. There is no way for a person not reclining their seat to gain space. I can't affect your space if I'm just sitting in my seat. I also have no control over someone choosing to recline, that choice only lies with the person who chooses to recline, which is why that person is choosing their comfort over someone else's.

OK