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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it's actually OK to recline your seat on a long haul flight?

407 replies

winterwonder1 · 04/07/2025 19:21

I always thought it was just one of those things, but this poll seems to make out it's anti-social behaviour. And that hack is just batshit.

Best life hack to stop air passengers reclining their seat | Chester and District Standard

Flier shares 'best life hack' to stop passengers in front reclining their seat

Traveller shares her 'best life hack', involving a tub of Pringles, but is branded 'pathetic' and 'a horrible person'.

https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/25287018.best-life-hack-stop-air-passengers-reclining-seat/

OP posts:
noodlebugz · 06/07/2025 21:33

It’s selfish at meal service, hard to eat in economy! BA just let them do it.

Morgenrot25 · 06/07/2025 21:15

EvilDJ · 06/07/2025 21:00

I don’t recline because it really annoys me when people recline into me. You’ll probably feel my knee in your back if you recline into me.

Are you always rude, or just on planes?

Melx42 · 06/07/2025 21:14

Foreverm0re · 04/07/2025 19:28

The person in front of me fully reclined the moment we were in the air all the way to California, throughout meal services and all. It was annoying.

If you ask the stewards they will ask them to put their seats up during meal service

ThistleTits · 06/07/2025 21:12

SirRodneyEfffing · 04/07/2025 19:28

Yep, we’re taking an 18 hour plane journey in about 10 days. Too right, as soon as meal service is cleared I’ll be reclining as far back as possible. If the person behind feels that restricts their space, then they’re quite at liberty to recline too

As long as you remember the passenger behind you may be eating, even when you have finished. Pretty difficult to recline when eating and drinking.

EvilDJ · 06/07/2025 21:00

I don’t recline because it really annoys me when people recline into me. You’ll probably feel my knee in your back if you recline into me.

kenyaswhiterefrigerator · 06/07/2025 20:52

As others say, blame the airlines. Only small babies fit into bassinet's and any baby over 6 months needs their own seat because people always recline.

I’m all in favour of fixed seats on economy flights. You don’t have reclining seats on a bus or train for a couple of hours. You know what to expect.

RosyDaysAhead · 06/07/2025 20:43

I always try to book a front row - the ability to recline without someone else reclining into you!

But everyone has paid for a reclining seat and everyone can recline - but seats should be upright for meals

Hulabalu · 06/07/2025 20:15

caffelattetogo · 06/07/2025 16:14

I think the lap infant issue is that they don’t consider that issue when they repeatedly reduce the pitch of seats in the economy cabin. We always paid for a seat - unless we had bulk head seats with a basinette - when ours were small, but many people can’t afford the extra for a seat for a one-year-old.

If can’t afford then don’t fly - simples

Hulabalu · 06/07/2025 20:10

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/07/2025 14:06

I think people anger is misplaced. People are getter taller on average, but space between seats is getting smaller so people are getting squashed. Similarly the airlines are selling lap infant tickets.

Get angry at the airlines!

So true! They pack us in like cattle being transported. I bet they will intro a standing option soon to squeeze in more of us.

JuniperKeats · 06/07/2025 19:54

Sure, recline if nobody behind you.
would u want someone reclining over you?

Dawnb19 · 06/07/2025 19:11

Anything more than 5 hours I'd recline If I was trying to nap. If the person behind me wanted more space than they could recline too.

Panterusblackish · 06/07/2025 18:46

Perfectly fine as long as it's not during meal service.

It doesn't impinge on the person behind because their seat reclines too.

heroinechic · 06/07/2025 18:45

Dolphin78 · 06/07/2025 18:41

Mmm I don’t get the issue. I’m six foot with long legs and fine if people recline (not during meals) it doesn’t bother me. There is an angle so you have exactly the same amount of room…weird.
However twice in my life (and I’ve travelled a lot) have people kicked off. My favourite being a flight to Peru. My pal and I were very hungover nearly missed the flight and were keen to sleep so back we went. The VERY short man behind went nuts. We actually ignored him and I went and had a chat with the crew. He was yelling a lot and I had a hangover..
Anyway along came Pursor Jackie Brown (she was so gorgeous) and said “ladies it’s your lucky day” and whisked us off to Business! Yeehah!
My parting shot was “so long Napoleon” as I flounced off to quaff champagne.
Never be like Napoleon!

A win/win for all!

Dolphin78 · 06/07/2025 18:41

Mmm I don’t get the issue. I’m six foot with long legs and fine if people recline (not during meals) it doesn’t bother me. There is an angle so you have exactly the same amount of room…weird.
However twice in my life (and I’ve travelled a lot) have people kicked off. My favourite being a flight to Peru. My pal and I were very hungover nearly missed the flight and were keen to sleep so back we went. The VERY short man behind went nuts. We actually ignored him and I went and had a chat with the crew. He was yelling a lot and I had a hangover..
Anyway along came Pursor Jackie Brown (she was so gorgeous) and said “ladies it’s your lucky day” and whisked us off to Business! Yeehah!
My parting shot was “so long Napoleon” as I flounced off to quaff champagne.
Never be like Napoleon!

Lilactimes · 06/07/2025 18:26

If someone reclines in front of you, you just reangle your tv screen or pull your table nearer you. Most people put their seat up during meal times. What else is there to do but lie back. The angle of the recline is never horizontal in economy and is anchored at the base of the back. I agree it could hit the top of someone’s knees if they have big legs. But not the average person.

knor · 06/07/2025 18:19

I’ve done an average amount of flying (maybe 50 times over my lifetime?) and apart from meal times, I always recline. That’s what they’re there for??? I’m more likely to recline on a night flight of course so sometimes I don’t on a day flight but these polls/opinions are madness. Of course you should recline.
but if the lights are off and it’s night (and no meals) I’m reclined the WHOLE time (which is very normal)

notimagain · 06/07/2025 16:21

caffelattetogo · 06/07/2025 16:14

I think the lap infant issue is that they don’t consider that issue when they repeatedly reduce the pitch of seats in the economy cabin. We always paid for a seat - unless we had bulk head seats with a basinette - when ours were small, but many people can’t afford the extra for a seat for a one-year-old.

Ah ok, got it now, thanks

caffelattetogo · 06/07/2025 16:14

I think the lap infant issue is that they don’t consider that issue when they repeatedly reduce the pitch of seats in the economy cabin. We always paid for a seat - unless we had bulk head seats with a basinette - when ours were small, but many people can’t afford the extra for a seat for a one-year-old.

notimagain · 06/07/2025 14:19

...and the airlines will correctly point out that pretty much the first criteria people look at when choosing flights is price, but that if you are willing to pay more you can book a seat in economy plus/premium economy.

Not sure what you mean about infant lap tickets, I'm not sure there's been any real change in that area for a while.

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/07/2025 14:06

I think people anger is misplaced. People are getter taller on average, but space between seats is getting smaller so people are getting squashed. Similarly the airlines are selling lap infant tickets.

Get angry at the airlines!

notimagain · 06/07/2025 14:04

caffelattetogo · 06/07/2025 13:12

Business class is often four times the price of economy so unaffordable for most people.

True, but these days there's often the option of economy plus or similar and, Long Haul at least, that normally means a bit more room than standard economy.

RufustheFactualReindeer · 06/07/2025 13:46

Im working on the butt 😀

Hulabalu · 06/07/2025 13:40

RufustheFactualReindeer · 06/07/2025 13:21

I manage to get up without grabbing the persons reclined seat in front of me. You lean on your own seat rather than using someone else’s

i was in premium economy in may and misjudged the size of my butt 😀

no although i didn’t grab they did have quite the jolt!

plus my seat is someone else’s tray holder, grabbing that could disturb their drink

im as careful as i can be…but in anycase my point was that the steward wont do anything to someone grabbing a seat

gosh I don’t know what to tell you , maybe either get a bigger seat or a smaller butt 😅

RufustheFactualReindeer · 06/07/2025 13:21

I manage to get up without grabbing the persons reclined seat in front of me. You lean on your own seat rather than using someone else’s

i was in premium economy in may and misjudged the size of my butt 😀

no although i didn’t grab they did have quite the jolt!

plus my seat is someone else’s tray holder, grabbing that could disturb their drink

im as careful as i can be…but in anycase my point was that the steward wont do anything to someone grabbing a seat

caffelattetogo · 06/07/2025 13:12

Business class is often four times the price of economy so unaffordable for most people.