I was on a international flight recently that spanned about 11 hours in the day and the person in front kept putting thier chair back.
Now I know people want to relax but i’m using the screen in the chair and i’m hoping the inflight meal will at least be passable enough to digest.
So on a long haul flight that happens in the day would you put your chair back?
Would you keep trying to put it back every hour (i havent moved chairs). even though you have been asked not to?
- now by the cabin crew btw
PSA for anyone using a laptop during flights, the tray tables do not change angle or height when the person in front of you puts their seat all the way back. I almost had someone break my laptop screen a few years ago because the top of my screen got caught under the exposed edges where my tray table would fold up into, as the seat back came angling down towards my tray table. I was quick enough to be able to pull my laptop towards me and remove the screen before the full force was applied to the screen housing.
During cabin service which usually is the beginning and end of the flight, I’ll have it up. But it’s reclined while I’m watching the screen or sleeping. Person behind me can adjust, much like I adjust.
It’s a part of the plane. We all know the seat pitch is tight. We all know that the recline feature is there. If it bothers you, book the emergency row, fly first class, or don’t fly.
The way I look at it, it’s a shared resource. You are just as “entitled” to the space as the person behind you.
If I need the space, I will try and use it. But, I will move back slowly, and stop if I meet any resistance. There is nothing worse than having someone slam their seat back into your laptop (or worse, onto your knees…)
That’s a fair approach, and I was recently on a plane with someone who was all legs and over 6’ (Denmark, wow) and I would have negotiated the situation in that case - but I’d argue they should get priority on the bulkheads or emergency row with nobody in front.
But we don’t get priority on seats that fit. We used to but now airlines upcharge everything. Even if you can afford paying extra fees, they go fast: I have rarely seen them available.
FYI - on many planes the bulkhead isn’t even beneficial for tall people. The thing is it’s a flat wall. Even though there’s more room overall, there may be no place for feet/legs. Normal seats are much closer together, but there can be more room for your feet under the seat in front
If it bothers you [pay about five times as much].
That’s a very grounded and reasonable take.
In this particular case I did pay extra for a decent seat (work paid i added some extra)
It’s like $10 extra for the row with no one in front of you.
You might look at airline fees again. I’ve typically seen $50 or more. Even worse, since airlines now charge for everything, if I want both legroom and for my family to sit together, there are times when it would double my ticket price
That’s a bit rough. What airlines are charging >$50?
Lowest fair available:
Lowest fair available where you can select a seat with extra leg room:
And that $459 USD difference is only an 8 hour flight. For an 11 hour flight you can expect that to be greater.
Why is it so expensive there? Are there other significant differences between those tickets? Over here you just book your flight and then on the seat picker click a row with no one in front of you, pay the $20 or whatever the premium is for that row
Depends on the airline, and that’s definitely not first class which was the proposal.
You don’t need to fly first class though, you don’t even need to fly business
Okay, but that wasn’t the proposal I was snarkly replying to.
I’ve taken dozens of flights and never once have the upgraded seats only cost $10. A basic ass drink costs more than $10.
You all getting ripped off wherever you’re from lol
I’m in the US. Where are you from?
Australia, people here don’t care so much about these minor flying details so maybe not much demand for fancy seating
Is it just me or does this come off as entitled and rude?
I bring it up 'cos you’re forcing your choices onto the person behind you… But you’ve probably got the decency to ask first or some polite way to deal with?
As someone who’s 6’3, I do find it entitled and rude. When people in front of me do this, it crushes my knees, so I repay the favor by constantly shifting my legs and pushing back into their seat. If I need to use the bathroom, I may also grab and pull hard on their headrest as leverage when standing up. If you want to recline and lounge on a plane then you should pay extra for first class. I just want the space provided for me and nothing more. I personally think they should remove the recline feature if they’re going to pack us in like sardines.
So, just like you adjust to more room and comfort, the person behind you should adjust to less room, less comfort for your entitlement? Do you really see them the same?
Flights are for sleeping, friend. I personally don’t see any benefit from reclining my seat so I don’t, but you should understand: reclined IS the default.
I’m 6’4" (193cm). The seat in front of me reclining means my knees are pressed into the seat back, and that’s uncomfortable for both of us. I don’t want to do that to anyone else so I never put my seat back.
Same. If the person in front of me puts their seat back, I’m going to ensure that it doesn’t bring them any extra comfort. I’m not typically a confrontational person but airport security and being treated like cattle usually puts me on edge.
Complaining about someone using a seat as designed feels entitled to me. Sorry. I’ve always so confused how some people consider it encroaching. Sure it’s all shared space, but that means you are sharing it with others. Reclining inherently uses that chairs fair space.
There is no etiquette. That’s a flawed argument.
The seats are designed the way they are by the airlines. They allow the minimum amount of space for the maximum amount of money.
The airlines could make all seats non-reclining with very little effort. But they would lose money because non-reclining seats would be a dealbreaker to a small but not insignificant number of customers…me for one.
The airlines could also make seats more comfortable and reclinable by allowing more space for each seat. But they would lose money because they would sell less seats.
The seats recline the small amount they do because of the natural equilibrium that the market allows between comfort and profit. End of story.
You peasants arguing about which other peasant is a terrible person are blaming the wrong people.
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They paid for a seat, they can use it as they wish within its designed and permitted capabilities. You don’t know what time zone they’ve come from or where they’re going, when they sleep is their business. You don’t know what back/ physical issues they may have. If you don’t want to sit behind a reclining seat that upsets your delicate sensibilities don’t buy a ticket that sits you behind a reclining seat that upsets your delicate sensibilities. Who the hell do you think you are to dictate what others should do because you don’t like your own life choices.
I’ve never even tried to learn how to put the seats back, because it just seems rude to me. I wouldn’t want the person in front of me doing that, so I don’t do it to anyone else.
I never put my seat back. I think they should take that feature out of airplane seats entirely.
i dont mind it for night flights - the entire plane goes back so you dont notice the difference
I don’t. I just feel bad for the person behind me :(
I always keep mine back, except during meals and when it’s not allowed. It’s better for my back this way.
Some basic etiquette: Recline carefully - there are people with stuff behind you.
If I want to recline I’m reclining. My comfort shouldn’t be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in back of me.
Ok, Boomer.
No boomer just someone that’s gonna use the features they paid for. If you don’t like the possibility of someone reclining buy a cabin seat with better seat pitch
Maybe you should fork out for a better seat so your entitlement doesn’t affect others.
I’m not the one with the problem with my seat back.
Just because you were born later than the rest of them, doesn’t mean you don’t belong in the “I got mine, fuck everyone else” group.
I do wonder if they’re trolling, because their attitude could apply equally to the person behind them on a flight.
“My comfort shouldn’t be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in front of me.”
I have no reason to believe they aren’t being honest about their selfishness.
That’s not selfishness. I paid to be in the same cabin you are. You refusing to utilize what you’ve paid for is not my problem.
not my problem.
I rest my case.
People will read this name and then the content of the comment and still take it seriously and that’s why we as a species are doomed to fail
Is the name supposed to mean something to most people?
Usually godless communists would not be pro free market capitalism
Today I learned that reclining seats on an aircraft is pro free market capitalism.
Nope but blaming people for being dissatisfied with their material conditions because they had the option to buy something else is
The problem is not the reclining seats, it’s that we are now packed like cattle.
I never put my seat back and consider it rude when other people do it. There was even one instance in which I made a stink I demanded the person in front of me put their seat back up (thankfully, they complied).
As others have pointed out, this is a situation created by the airlines and their shitty business models.
