To Recline or Not to Recline

[peewakio]

If somebody reclined their seat in front of me without asking if it was OK to do so I would find to be really rude, especially if you have paid extra to upgrade. So I would have to have words I'm afraid. However if it was on the way home and getting late I'm sure I could cope with that. I wouldn't recline myself unless I knew that the person behind was also reclined and even then I would have the courtesy to let them know.

 

[BruTamUK]

on returning from orlando in january this year I had an elderley lady in front of me who decided to put her seat back as soon as the seat belt sign was switched off. Being over 6ft tall my knees were pressed hard against the back of the seat. she promptly stood up (along with her two friends) and asked me to move my knees. I told her that i couldn't move them and that if she wanted her seat reclined that i was happy but she would have to put up with my knees in her back. she said that she only put her seat back because the person infront of her decided to put his back. she wanted me to tell him to return his seat into the upright position as though i had some sought of authority over other passengers! at this point other people on the flight decided to stand up as the argument was getting a little heated. the old lady called for the stewardess and claimed that i was being abusive towalds her! she then came out with a story about having to return from her holiday for a family funeral (this was said loud enough so that all the passengers could hear), and apparently in her opinion everyone over 6ft tall should buy a first class ticket! thankfully the stewardess took my side and told the lady that if she wanted her seat reclined she would have to put up with my knees in her back.
i am sure virgin have incidents like this quite often but nothing ever seems to be done to resolve them, ie none reclining seats/larger seat pitch.
NO TO RECLINING SEATS!!!!

 

[stevefry]

Maybe we, as fare-paying passengers don't complain enough to the penny-pinching Airlines about the way that we're crammed like sardines into our seats? - I suppose the Airlines would then reply by saying that it's the only way they can reduce the cost of the flights. One thing's for sure, there's an awful lot of people out there who don't seem to have much consideration for the well-being of others.
Steve.

 

[SimonY]

Coming back from Orlando last year (Virgin economy) the person in front of me reclined early and as far back as possible (and as quickly as possible too). I put up with it for as long as I could but eventually decided that I had to recline as well. I tried to do this as gently as I could. There was an immediate shout from behind - I picked the exact moment that the lady behind was taking out her contact lenses!

I got alot of dirty looks (although I suppose she couldn't have been seeing me too well!) from her and her partner the rest of the flight. It's no good trying to explain in these circumstances. Perhaps I should have looked first but it never occurred to me.

If, by chance, you are that lady and read this post I do apologise - I was quite happy being upright until the person in front me wasn't.

 

[TraceyL]

Don't think I've ever been on a flight where the seats around me weren't reclined the majority of the time. Really annoys me at meal times

 

[Minniespal]

I don't recline either.

 

[Enright78]

I'd like to request a seat behind any of you guys next time I fly!! I seldom recline except when the person in front does, which feels like every time!!

 

[UKAnnie]

I wouldn't think of reclining (except on the flight back after meal), but I thought I was the only one who had the inconsiderate person in front of me on the way out who reclines as soon as the seat belt sign goes out! It makes me so mad!

One of our trips out the guy in front of my 6ft tall husband reclined straight away, and jammed my husband. My husband had a quiet word with him about how uncomfortable it was but he refused to sit upright. Next thing we know he complained to the FA about my husband's protest and THEY UPGRADED HIM AND HIS WIFE TO PE!! He turned and smirked at my DH as he left!

How's that for being inconsiderate then gloating when you've been upgraded! At least it meant no reclined seats in front of us for the rest of the trip! I would have thought it would have been fairer to upgrade us!

Ann.

 

[kazzie]

This reminds me of our first ever flight in 1995 to Orlando.The person in front of me reclined immediately so not being aware of any reclining ettiquette (sp!) assumes it was OK to recline mine too.The man (a very aggressive looking man) didn't just push but violently shoved my chair back upright.

Being the unconfontational sort I didn't say anything and nor could I tell DH who asked a few times if I was alright.If I'd told DH,well I can imagine what would happen and I was more worried about my 3 children being upset by a row,so said nothing.I still remember that vivdly as a bad memory though

 

[jana]

I only recline to sleep. I don't mind the person in front of me reclining. I'm small so it doesn't bother me. During meals it makes the tray closer to me and I don't have to slide up in my seat LOL.

 

[wendy_uk]

No we dont recline our seats either. i think it is so in considerate of people who do. On the majority of our flights long or short haul the people of reclined there seats in front of us. my kids usually manage to do several loo trips so it must be uncomfortable for them with the kids getting in and out all of the time.

 

[Muppet]

I don't recline but people try to with me.

I ask nicely then ask them why they think they are entitled to my seat space. God help anyone who reclines on Nic hes 6ft 2 and speaks his mind.

One thing that gets to me is people who yank the back of each seat when the walk. I lost a load of hair last time from the accidently yanking it out.

I find the kids a lot easier to travel with than the adults.

 

[2 Point]

I don't find that reclining makes the seat any more comfortable. I keep mine bolt upright for as long as I can, then drop it back a notch or two. I can sleep standing up, so I don't need to be reclined to drop off.

The ones who recline to the max, just because they can, irritate me, a polite request to put it up for meals has always been accepted. The viewing angle on Virgin seatback TV's is the main gripe for me when the seat in front is reclined. On our last break this was the case, revenge was sweet though, the guy's shoes had been pushed back under his seat, the temptation to tie the laces together and tie them to the seat leg was too much for me.

 

[LINCLAIRE]

Did you really do that to his shoes??
NICE ONE!!!!!!!!!!
Lin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[charlottebetty]

On a JMC flight my son who is 6 foot 3 and only 16 years old had a man in front of him reclined his seat as soon as possible. Being brought up to be polite my son asked him very nicely if he would mind not reclining because his knees were wedged against the seat. The man put his seat up but then when my son went to the toilet reclined as much as he could.

Returning, my son had to sit with his knees wedged against the seat. The man turned around and shouted at my son because he could feel his knees. He told him to move then, my son asked where he was to put them (27 inch seat pitch). He became obusive and the FA came. She said that the man was using his space and my son should keep his knees out of the way!!!

We will never fly JMC again it was the worst flight ever. I did however make sure that I 'struggled' out of my seat to go to the toilet banging his chair as I did so.

This rude man was still glaring at us and baring our way in the aisle as we got off the plane and we didnt feel safe until we were in our taxi on the way home.

It should be up to the FA's to sort out this sort of problem wewouldnt allow this to spoil our holiday be it so easily could have.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by 2 Point

On our last break this was the case, revenge was sweet though, the guy's shoes had been pushed back under his seat, the temptation to tie the laces together and tie them to the seat leg was too much for me.

Sir, I salute you

 

[SEVANS2208]

The only time I reclined was when I had a snotty nosed kid pulling the back of my chair & I wanted revenge (I was tired!!!). I have my own snotty nosed kids & they can behave, it makes me mad that people can't/don't control their kids.

Overall though a "NO" to reclining except for exceptional circumstances. I had a disabled kid in front of me on the way out & he asked if I minded if he put his seat back a bit. You can hardly say no, can you?

 

[LINCLAIRE]

After reading all these posts, I am going to be brave and if I get a recliner, I am going to politely ask them to put the seat back especially when I want to eat my meal.
If all else fails, I'll just be forced to superglue their hair to the seatback!!!
Only Kidding
What really gets up my nose is like the holiday I have recently returned from in Greece, when 2 kids of around 12 & 14 reclined straight away and spent most of the flight looking around to see if they were still annoying me and then to cap it all, the father joined in with them and reclined back as well to have a laugh.
He didn't laugh as hard when my DH who was across the aisle, dropped his bag from the overhead locker, right bang on top of his beautiful polished head!!!
Of course it was an accident
Oh how childish we can get but revenge is certainly a dish best served cold!!!
lin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx