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AIBU?

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Original poster

It's a Plane Etiquette one!! Was I AIBU?

354 replies

Belladonna90 · 29/04/2024 19:19

Night flight back from the US.
Cabin crew do meal service at around 4am (UK time) around 11pm (US). I'm hoping not to go to bed when I land (so can beat the jet lag and not stay in US time!). In economy class and have the blanket over my head so I can sleep (need the 'room' to be as dark as possible'). I had my seat reclined in the belief that chicken or beef would not be served at this time. How wrong I was! Cabin Crew passes me with meal trolley (happily doesn't disturb me to ask whether I want a meal...at that time absolutely not!). However, when she is asking the passenger behind me she reclines my seat back up which startled the life out of me as I was jostled back up!! I was so annoyed as I was fast asleep. I can understand for a safety related issue if she needed to do that for example for landing but for a service related issue it seemed completely rude of her. Was I wrong to challenge her and ask why she did that?? She told me for service all seats must be in the upright position....

OP posts:
Grasshopper7 · 29/04/2024 19:48

Extremely unreasonable. I can't stand people who recline their seats at all on a plane. It makes the journey so uncomfortable for the person behind.
You would surely of known that a meal was due to be served and that your seat would need to be upright. If you intended to sleep through the meal then you should never have reclined in the first place.

FrangipaniBlue · 29/04/2024 19:47

jeaux90 · 29/04/2024 19:28

YABU I do the US trip a lot and most people wait until the evening meal to be served before reclining and getting sleep. How are people supposed to eat with your chair back?

Exactly what I was going to say

KreedKafer · 29/04/2024 19:47

Every airline I’ve travelled with asks you to keep your seat upright during meal service. And any decent person would put their seat upright anyway, without being asked.

If you want a night’s sleep in complete darkness, my advice is either to splash your cash on business class or, if you can’t afford that, buy an eye mask and a neck pillow so you don’t need to recline with a blanket over your head.

PeloMom · 29/04/2024 19:46

I have always been told to have my seat upright during service. Many different airlines. YABU.

Potnoodlesarentantisocial · 29/04/2024 19:46

I'm sorry OP but you're so entitled.

Motheroffourdragons · 29/04/2024 19:46

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on behalf of the poster.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 29/04/2024 19:46

I am a bit shocked anyone thought you reasonable.

Haydenn · 29/04/2024 19:44

How on earth do you expect the person behind you to be able to eat with your seat reclined?

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 29/04/2024 19:43

On every airline I have been on (From Air New Zealand to Aeroflot) they ask / demand seats in upright position during meal service.

YABVU.

But they could have woken you more gently.

stormonaspringmorn · 29/04/2024 19:43

Is it possible cabin crew tried to get you to put your seat up? "Madam.... madam... please put your seat up for meal service... madam". Oh she's asleep, F it I'll do it myself.

It's etiquette to wait til meal service is over before you recline, including emirates and the like Grin

InfiniteGoodVibes · 29/04/2024 19:41

savoycabbage · 29/04/2024 19:36

I once got moved to business class because the bloke on front of me refused to move his seat upright. That was emirates. He argued with the cabin crew for ages first.

Result!!!

OP, you wanting to minimise jet lag doesn't take priority over meal service in economy class. YABU

Squirtleye · 29/04/2024 19:39

We flew red eye norse and it was fine eatibg with people reclined.
(A bigger problem was dd got the choc pudding all over her.

TinySaltLick · 29/04/2024 19:38

Belladonna90 · 29/04/2024 19:24

I've never had this when I have travelled with Emirates or Singapore whose cabin crew are in another league. This was with BA....

Show quote history

It's common practice for seats to be upright for meals, including on Singapore airlines so your statement is either false or you were unlucky with dodgy, poorly trained crew on your previous Singapore flights

Wishlist99 · 29/04/2024 19:37

Seats up for meal service in economy. That’s the case in emirates air Nz Qantas Malaysian ba singapore etc etc. I fly around the world a lot and that’s the deal - if you haven’t struck it before that’s just good luck / chance / crew not following the rules.

i totally hear what you’re saying about trying to get on local time as soon as you’re on the plane - that’s my tactic and why I go back row to recline (or use points or pay for an item on departure upgrade : cheapest way I’ve found to fly business if you’ve not got points)

Simonjt · 29/04/2024 19:37

Belladonna90 · 29/04/2024 19:24

I've never had this when I have travelled with Emirates or Singapore whose cabin crew are in another league. This was with BA....

Show quote history

I’ve flown with Singapore and Emirates a lot, seats always had to be upright for service and if people refused or couldn’t be roused staff would put them upright themselves.

QuillBill · 29/04/2024 19:37

I wish airlines would get rid of the recline.

SoEmbarrassed2024 · 29/04/2024 19:36

Yeah you were being unreasonable

savoycabbage · 29/04/2024 19:36

I once got moved to business class because the bloke on front of me refused to move his seat upright. That was emirates. He argued with the cabin crew for ages first.

RedToothBrush · 29/04/2024 19:35

Belladonna90 · 29/04/2024 19:24

I've never had this when I have travelled with Emirates or Singapore whose cabin crew are in another league. This was with BA....

Show quote history

The issue isn't with the staff or the airline. Don't try and blame them.

The issue is with your selfish attitude.

Of course the person behind should be able to use their table. The world doesn't revolve around you.

JanglingJack · 29/04/2024 19:35

More Primadonna than Bella I think.

mrsdineen2 · 29/04/2024 19:34

How were you expecting them to eat OP?

hazeydays14 · 29/04/2024 19:34

Singapore airlines were the same when we flew a few months ago, meals shortly after take off and all seats up though I do agree their cabin crew are amazing!
Yes, she could have asked rather than just done it but YWBU to expect to have your seat reclined during meal service

FeatheryStroker · 29/04/2024 19:34

I've never had this when I have travelled with Emirates or Singapore whose cabin crew are in another league. This was with BA....

I've travelled with those airlines countless times and I've never seen a passenger with their seat reclined during meal service.

helpfulperson · 29/04/2024 19:33

I would have expected them to wake you up and ask you move your seat, not just move it.

JMSA · 29/04/2024 19:32

I'm so sorry you had to slum it with BA.
YABU.

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