Why is it everytime I fly on a plane,

[krnlmustrd]

Given that the basic design (which has hardly changed at all in my lifetime) came about long before laptops existed I do not think a valid argument can be made for them being designed for laptop use

I disagree. Look at the airlines advertising and retrofiting power ports between seats. I belive that's acknowledging and encouraging the use of laptops. And what about wireless access now on planes?

 

[declansdad]

Actually, I'm platinum elite on Continental and fly first class more often than not. Or in the exit row. I was really just making a point. I can't even remember the last time I flew in regular coach. But when I did, I remember how rude people were just throwing their seats back with no regard to people - and their laptops - behind them. But turning what you said above around... those tray tables are there for a reason too - so people can use them.

If I ever recline - only on longer flights - I recline SLOWLY and usually only a small amount. It's just consideration for your fellow passengers.

I have never had a problem using a tray table when the seat in front of my has been reclined.

Don't you think the engineers that design these things think of this situation???

 

[rgf207]

I disagree. Look at the airlines advertising and retrofiting power ports between seats. I belive that's acknowledging and encouraging the use of laptops. And what about wireless access now on planes?

tray tables still have not changed

 

[declansdad]

I'm Chairman's preferred on U.S Airways and never had a problem with tray tables and reclined seats. I am unable to open my laptop fully on a tray table when the seat is reclined but the tray tables were not designed for laptops. They were designed for food service.

Absolutely, and before the previous poster replies regarding their tray table -- they can still use the tray table for what it was intended, for holding small snacks and drinks, even when the seat is reclined. Folks who want to use more than what they're provided was originally intended to offer them should seek out alternatives, rather than trying to deprive others of what they were provided.

Stop being so logical.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I disagree. Look at the airlines advertising and retrofiting power ports between seats. I belive that's acknowledging and encouraging the use of laptops. And what about wireless access now on planes?

I have not seen a single advertisement saying the airlines have retorfitted the planes with laptop trays.

 

[Magic Mom]

If you know your actions make someone else's flight more uncomfortable than that is rude.
The reason I do not like recling seats are if I, or anyone else in my row, have to use the restroom it is much more difficult to get past people if someone in front of them has their seat reclined. You are invading their space enough by trying to get to the aisle, it is really bad when you have to lean over to get past the reclined seat.

What if your insistance that the person in front of you keeps his seat up makes that person uncomfortable because of hip or back problems? Is that rude?

 

[AshleyW]

I disagree. Look at the airlines advertising and retrofiting power ports between seats. I belive that's acknowledging and encouraging the use of laptops. And what about wireless access now on planes?

Laptops aren't the only things that use wireless access and power ports.. I've never brought a laptop on a flight, but I bring my Zune every time, and I use both the wireless and the power plugs for that. I doubt that laptops are the sole reason that these features have been installed.

Personally, I recline my seat on every. single. flight. If someone had a problem and nicely asked me to put it up, I would. Otherwise - I'm going to be comfortable.

 

[NHdisneylover]

If your laptop will not fit on the tray table, you could always try a novel approach and take the name at face value and put the laptop on your lap

 

[bettymae1121]

I don't mind if people in front of me recline, as long as they do it slowly. You never know what the person behind you has on the tray, like a drink or something.

I don't recline, but only because I can't sleep on an airplane anyway, and sitting up is more comfortable for me, and I know the person behind me probably wants the space. But I would recline if I wanted to or needed to.

 

[rgf207]

If your laptop will not fit on the tray table, you could always try a novel approach and take the name at face value and put the laptop on your lap

what?!? That's Obsurd!!!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I have never flown in an airplane where seats recline enough for this to be an issue. This argument always surprises me.

No kidding. They recline all of maybe 4in and I'm being really generous with the 4in. I will recline my seat. I however always get stuck near the person with really, really smelly food or the kid with the crappy diaper that the parent refuses to change.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

If your laptop will not fit on the tray table, you could always try a novel approach and take the name at face value and put the laptop on your lap

Now why didn't I think of that!

 

[1957]

Are all airline seats the same? I only fly Southwest and I've never noticed any difference when the person in front of me reclines their seat..

Same here! It's never bothered me at all! I just eat my peanuts and sip on my 1/3 can of Diet Coke! (Actually, I get a full can when I ask). SW only uses 737s. I do recline my seat, but ask if it's OK. Never had a problem.

When I've had a B or C boarding group, I've been unlucky to have gotten a middle seat between two companions who felt just fine to lean in front of me from both sides to carry on heated conversations for hours at a time.....after looking grumpily acknowledging that I could sit there on a full flight.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Same here! It's never bothered me at all! I just eat my peanuts and sip on my 1/3 can of Diet Coke! (Actually, I get a full can when I ask). SW only uses 737s. I do recline my seat, but ask if it's OK. Never had a problem.

When I've had a B or C boarding group, I've been unlucky to have gotten a middle seat between two companions who felt just fine to lean in front of me from both sides to carry on heated conversations for hours at a time.

how awful! <that is rude behaviour. I a msure they would hoping the middle seat would remain empty, but when it did not they needed to either offer to switch with you OR not have the conversations. sheesh

 

[jen0610]

Absolutely, and before the previous poster replies regarding their tray table -- they can still use the tray table for what it was intended, for holding small snacks and drinks, even when the seat is reclined. Folks who want to use more than what they're provided was originally intended to offer them should seek out alternatives, rather than trying to deprive others of what they were provided.

Ding, Ding!! And here we have a winner. People need to remember that the design of airlines seats was done way before the invention of laptop, portable gaming systems or what ever electronic devise you may want to to use.

The trays were designed to have a SMALL snack and SMALL cup of soda to sit on them. And if there was a meal being served, every flight I have ever been one, the flight crew always reminded people to return their seats to full upright position so that the meals could be placed on the trays.

 

[sbell111]

Actually, I'm platinum elite on Continental and fly first class more often than not. Or in the exit row. I was really just making a point. I can't even remember the last time I flew in regular coach. But when I did, I remember how rude people were just throwing their seats back with no regard to people - and their laptops - behind them. But turning what you said above around... those tray tables are there for a reason too - so people can use them.

If I ever recline - only on longer flights - I recline SLOWLY and usually only a small amount. It's just consideration for your fellow passengers.

Yes, because we all know how fast these seats recline. Why, they travel those two or three inches in just a blink, don't they?

Those passengers are in the last row of the plane. Anyone who flies frequently knows never to sit there as those seats do not recline and in most cases have less leg room so it's apples and oranges.

I'm willing to bet that that pic isn't of a US flagged plane, either.

I disagree. Look at the airlines advertising and retrofiting power ports between seats. I belive that's acknowledging and encouraging the use of laptops. And what about wireless access now on planes?

Ummm, that guy's using his laptop, even though the seat in front has reclined those precious two or three inches.

If your laptop will not fit on the tray table, you could always try a novel approach and take the name at face value and put the laptop on your lap

Alternatively, it might be time to get rid of the massive laptop and buy one that can easily be used onboard an airplane, especially if you are a Super Special Elite flyer.

 

[jen0610]

If your laptop will not fit on the tray table, you could always try a novel approach and take the name at face value and put the laptop on your lap

OMG...did that make me laugh.

And really, if the average "joe" "NEEDS" to be on a computer for a short, less then 4 hr flight, to fight off bordeem, then that person has issues. Read a book or magazine. Do a cross word puzzle. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. If your heading to your destination, day dream about what you are going to do. Heading home, reflect on the time you just had or look forward to returning home to loved ones.

And for anyone who is a traveler on business that says they have to have a laptop to stay in contact, there's these really neat new things out there that you should check out. They are handheld devices that let you make phone calls, surf the web, check e-mails, play games, create all kinds of different documents - it all depends on how much you want to send on one of these super-duper phones.

 

[kpm76]

I am sorry, you are correct that you did not imply that. It was the person you quoted who said "If you recline your seat though, don't think I am going to go nuts trying to keep her from disturbing you....." and I should have gone back and quoted her directly.

I still do not think any blame should be palced on the person who reclined back either. Personally, after one flight with the carseat I stopped using them on planes. My kids did fine sitting in the seat and as toddlers their feet did not reach the seat in front of them (even when reclined) if they could sit all the way back. I realize others feel teh seat is so much safer (I figure odds are HUGE that either you survive a crash or you don't, there is very little mid gorund in planes) or that their child behaves beter in the seat (I did not want to give mine the feeling they are in the car, where the rules are different and they can have music without headphones, sing loudly, etc. I wanted to do my best to make it clear that this was a different enviornemnt with different rules) and that is FINE too. But, still not the fault of the poor person in front of a toddler who is stuck choosing what is least comfortable to him (sitting up stragiht after a long day of flights or being kicked in the back after said long day)

That was me. And what I meant is that there is no way to prevent a small child from kicking if the seat is reclined. Of course I will still make the effort but after a while it's a lost cause. I will feel bad that the person in front of me was disturbed but the flight could have been better for them if they did not recline....

Flying without DD's carseat is not an option. I will go back to my original statement that just because you can does not mean you should. Bottom line, it IS safer to fly in the carseat. We fly a lot, many trips cross-country so we are no strangers to flying. We were recently on the most turbulent flight I have ever experienced. FAs never left their seats so no beverage serve etc. I cannot imagine how dangerous it would have been for a small child flying on someone's lap.....

 

[1957]

how awful! <that is rude behaviour. I a msure they would hoping the middle seat would remain empty, but when it did not they needed to either offer to switch with you OR not have the conversations. sheesh

I offered to switch seats - they refused! Yeah - they took the aisle and window seats hoping no one would want the middle seat, but when there's a full flight, someone (like me) will have take the middle seat. This has happened twice to me, and as they were 3-4 hour flights, these folks had no problem forgetting that I sat between them!

 

[NHdisneylover]

That was me. And what I meant is that there is no way to prevent a small child from kicking if the seat is reclined. Of course I will still make the effort but after a while it's a lost cause. I will feel bad that the person in front of me was disturbed but the flight could have been better for them if they did not recline....

Flying without DD's carseat is not an option. I will go back to my original statement that just because you can does not mean you should. Bottom line, it IS safer to fly in the carseat. We fly a lot, many trips cross-country so we are no strangers to flying. We were recently on the most turbulent flight I have ever experienced. FAs never left their seats so no beverage serve etc. I cannot imagine how dangerous it would have been for a small child flying on someone's lap.....

To the bolded part--okay maybe you could not get your child to stop that one day; toddlers do have their uncontrollable moments (but since you stopped trying we'll never really know will we?) but as a general thing this statement is way over the top. I bet lots of parents of toddlers (yes even ones eventually diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, AUstism or any number of other things) have managed this impossible feat at least once.
WE had very bad turbullance once when DS was quite small. He was not in a lap but rather in his own seat belted in. You can cinch those seat belts up tight and they will hold even a super skinny toddler like my DS was for turbulence (not a crash likely). Everyone has different levels of what they are comfortable with and that is FINE--but I do not think it is okay to give up on trying to get the kid to stop kicking someone. I knew when I decided to become a parent I would have loooong days and have to keep on my kid at tiems when all I wanted to do was rest, but the otehr person on the plane did not sign up to put up with my kid's behaviour I did. If you flew with your son that often didn't he get used to it and learn any way While there are times when trying your (general you here everyone) very hardest is not enough to calm a child in a plane and then other passengers should be nice about it--if you make the decision to take a young child on a flight you have to know that you are responsible for doing everything in your power to keep that child behaving throught the entire flight time. Flying is one of the fw situations where you cannot jsut up and leave if your child will not calm down--and the people your child will be botehring cannot leave either and you know that going into it so you have to be prepared to at least try

I offered to switch seats - they refused! Yeah - they took the aisle and window seats hoping no one would want the middle seat, but when there's a full flight, someone (like me) will have take the middle seat. This has happened twice to me, and as they were 3-4 hour flights, these folks had no problem forgetting that I sat between them!

Oh you poor thing You need to statr throwing a newspaper in your carry on to hold up and open in front of you (in your own space mind you) effectivly blocking the people on either side from seeing each other since you tend to attract such seat mates