What's your opinion of reclining seats?

[NMAmy]

Except for the poor sucker stuck in the last row, bumped up against the bathrooms so they can't recline.

Exactly. I've been in those seats before (last time on an international flight!) and they're miserable if the person in front of you tries to recline. Oh, and I was flying to my FIL's funeral so I didn't have a whole lot of choice on what seat/airline I used at that point--I had to take what I could get to make the funeral on time.

If you do insist on reclining, please do not repeatedly slam yourself against your seat back at totally random intervals in an attempt to get it to recline even further. I always seem to get seated behind that guy.

 

[Brian Noble]

If God hadn't wanted us to recline, He wouldn't have given us reclining seats.

I have no issues with it whatsoever, even as the "reclinee", even when I'm stuck in the Row From Hades (and, it's not just the last row; on many planes, the row in front of an exit row won't recline, either.)

But, I'm told that I'm unusually tolerant of others on airplanes. I didn't even begrudge the poor parents next to me on my MCO->DTW flight yesterday with the cranky toddler. They were doing everything they could think to keep her calm, but it just wasn't going to happen. Not their fault, and last I checked, toddlers are still allowed on the plane.

 

[Inkmahm]

No kidding....and he is followed by that nasty, stirrer-upper kaytieeldr!! Sheesh you guys.

But in any case...I seldom recline. If I do, it's only a very small amount. I find it more comfortable to remain upright. Especially on a shorter flight...I mean come on, who's sleeping on a three hour flight to MCO!!
If, and that's a bit 'if', people would check behind them before jerking their seat backwards, it might be easier to accept reclining. But the prevailing mentality that 'it's my space, and I'm gonna recline, so get over it' makes for some annoyed passengers.
Why is there so much of the 'you first, right after me' mentality lately????

Keep it polite kids...otherwise, this is getting shut down.

I often sleep on our 2 1/2 hour flight to MCO as I can easily sleep sitting up. I don't recline, but I do sleep. Especially if it is a really early morning flight!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hey! Who's the other person who voted with me (short poll writers)?

 

[Brian Noble]

who's sleeping on a three hour flight to MCO!!

It's not the flight there...it's the flight *back*.

 

[dudspizza]

I am VERY DISAPPOINTED with the poll results.... NO LOVE FOR DUDSPIZZA?

 

[dudspizza]

hey! Who's the other person who voted with me (short poll writers)?

i voted for myself!

 

[LidoDeck]

We fly frequently and have done so for many years. NEVER have I heard anyone question whether or not one should recline their own seat. They design the seats (most of them anyway) so you can recline to be more comfortable. I will recline my seat whenever I can and would never expect the passenger in front of me to refrain from doing so.

 

[mikehn]

Another option needs to be added:

When the airline charges $20 to recline, will you still recline?

Everyone knows that will be a reality soon.

 

[goofy4tink]

Its a feature equipped to the seat, it is your feature to use if you choose to. If you want extra leg room, book a different airline, your lack of planning should not be an inconvenience to me.

So....what happens if my dh is seated behind you...and when you try to recline your seat, you can't due to his very long knees. Even with the seat not reclined in front of him, his knees still hit the back of a lot of seats. So.....are you going to keep banging back, in order to get what you are 'entitled' to, all the time thinking of what an inconvenience his knees are to you??
We do fly JB a lot...just to escape this kind of issue. Common sense and common courtesy shouldn't be so hard to find.

Another option needs to be added:

When the airline charges $20 to recline, will you still recline?

Everyone knows that will be a reality soon.

Well...if there are any airline people reading this type thread, they will be charging for it soon!!! The airlines will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to make a few extra dollars from each passenger....too funny.


People...I enjoy a nice 'discussion' as much as the next person. But let's try to remember that everyone has 'rights' when flying.

 

[2Tiggies]

If you want more legroom pay for a seat with it.

But reclining your seat doesn't give you more legroom

 

[kaytieeldr]

i voted for myself!

Oh, well, um, I voted for you too... yeah, I did... that's my story and I'm sticking to it

 

[kaytieeldr]

So, question for those of you who wouldn't dream of not reclining your seat simply because the ability is there (and who, for example, wouldn't expect the person in front of you not to recline): do you ever take into consideration that the passengers in the row behnd you may not be able to recline? That the seats may be in front of the exit row and so for safety aren't able to recline? Or that they're the last row in the cabin, backing up against a solid wall - i.e. the bathroom? If not, would you in the future? And does this knowledge have any effect on future plans to recline?

JUST curious.

 

[Scrubba2]

Except for the poor sucker stuck in the last row, bumped up against the bathrooms so they can't recline.

I am not a fan of reclining in coach and wish the airlines would go to non-reclining seats. We just flew recently and I felt so bad for my 16 yo 6'3" son, who has legs from here to Tuesday, and had his knees jammed up to his lap when the person in front of him decided to recline.

I will admit though, to checking the poll option that reclining is okay for everyone except for dudspizza. He is from MN, as am I, and I need to work to dispell the "Minnesota Nice" theory.

Hi neighbor I'm right across the river from you! I'm a former Minnesotan who rode the "crest of the wave" outward! So that is why I made my second post changing my mind if that last seat does not recline! (See, that IS MN nice!!)lol

Sorry to hear about your son being squished. I always feel bad about those really tall folks crammed into those seats man that is rough!

Okaaaay, maybe I'll change my mind entirely. Maybe. Maybe I'll at least look to see who is behind me....

 

[jlewisinsyr]

But reclining your seat doesn't give you more legroom

I don't think I insunated that it did, rather it is about the ability of the seat you are sitting in and the fact the feature is available for your personal comfort. Instead of trying to twist my statement to support your opinion, how about be redirect it as it was intended. If you have long legs or do not wish to have someone reclining in front of you due to space issues, either book a seat that doesn't have a reclining seat in front of it, book an extra leg room seat or another class that offers this comfort.

 

[ratmaster]

I don't think I insunated that it did, rather it is about the ability of the seat you are sitting in and the fact the feature is available for your personal comfort. Instead of trying to twist my statement to support your opinion, how about be redirect it as it was intended. If you have long legs or do not wish to have someone reclining in front of you due to space issues, either book a seat that doesn't have a reclining seat in front of it, book an extra leg room seat or another class that offers this comfort.

Just because the airline seat has the ability to recline does not necessarily make it right. It really depends on who's sitting behind you. We could all name a million products out there that have what people would descrbe as a design flaw. As you expect someone to pay for a seat with more room, which I think is a good idea when possible, if an airline stopped offering reclining seats, would you spend more money to fly on another airline who's seats did recline? Is it that important to you? When you are a passenger in a car, do you immediately recline the seat? That too was designed to recline. Other than maybe a small amount for those who find it more comfortable, I just can't see how the "right" to recline a seat trumps the comfort of the person behind you. At least have the common courtesy to ask if it bothers the person behind...especially when it's not a night flight.

 

[Tara]

Just because the airline seat has the ability to recline does not necessarily make it right. It really depends on who's sitting behind you. We could all name a million products out there that have what people would descrbe as a design flaw. As you expect someone to pay for a seat with more room, which I think is a good idea when possible, if an airline stopped offering reclining seats, would you spend more money to fly on another airline who's seats did recline? Is it that important to you? When you are a passenger in a car, do you immediately recline the seat? That too was designed to recline. Other than maybe a small amount for those who find it more comfortable, I just can't see how the "right" to recline a seat trumps the comfort of the person behind you. At least have the common courtesy to ask if it bothers the person behind...especially when it's not a night flight.

It's a stretch to call reclining seats a design flaw because airlines choose to put seat rows so close together. but that said, at what point does the comfort of the person behind a possible recliner become more important than the recliner's comfort? Why is one more important than the other?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I can't believe there was no "Everyone is entitled to recline except airline employees" choice. Oh, wait, Kaytie made the poll... nevermind

That being said, I'm off to blend in with the neighborhood and hide my credentials so that I'm not asked for free tickets or to switch seats in the movie theatre

DF says this is why he flies... so a) he has the best view and b) he doesn't have to deal with the person in front of him reclining. He also says that Duds is a troublemaker.

 

[kaytieeldr]

May I please have free tickets?
Will you change seats with me in the movie theater (my seat is broken)?
And, thank you for the reminder to add "dudspizza is a troublemaker" to ALL future polls!

 

[marivaid]

No reclining for me. I've been on the receiving end of too many 9-hour lap dances to inflict that on someone else.