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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to recline my seat on a night flight?

59 replies

CoastalMummy · 23/02/2026 13:07

Just as the title states... Is it now considered unreasonable and inconsiderate to recline your seat on an overnight flight?

I was on a long haul flight, departing at 0130am, and was solo with two children.

After we departed, I reclined my seat as I had a small sleeping across my lap and tried to get some sleep. Next thing, I'm woken up with what I can only describe as violent shaking. The woman behind me was shaking, kicking, kneeing my chair and shouting how inconsiderate it is to recline a seat. This went on for an hour until I called cabin crew to intervene (I had naively thought she'd give up so I wouldn't have to get into a confrontation).

When the cabin crew told her to recline her seat too, she screamed that she would never be so inconsiderate!

AIBU here?!

OP posts:
BreakingBroken · 23/02/2026 13:15

Please tell me these airlines and planes where the “recline” is any more than 2 inches? Two inches which?? Makes the TV screen closer? The recline on Air Canada flights has very little impact.

unicornflakegirl · 23/02/2026 13:15

Peridoteage · 23/02/2026 13:11

Not every seat reclines. We were put in the backrow once & our seats didn't recline. The arseholes in front proceeded to recline straight back into our space.

Also if you are tall, the angle of reclined seats can be really uncomfortable against your knees - modern aircraft seating is much more cramped than it used to be despite the fact that we are taller.

How are they arseholes? If the person in front of them is reclined too they won't have space either.

I often book the back row on purpose as I like it, have flown back from the US on a night flight like that, doesn't bother me as I don't sleep on planes anyway and don't ever recline my seat as I don't find it relaxing.

@CoastalMummy if the person was actually shouting for an hour surely the cabin crew would have intervened sooner. But yes she was behaving like a prat for being so rude.

Morepositivemum · 23/02/2026 13:15

She is ott but I do think people have gotten so irrational and inconsiderate about everything now they flying is turning into an almost nerve inducing thing

Original poster
CoastalMummy · 23/02/2026 13:14

toomuchfaff · 23/02/2026 13:11

Not sure id give it any more headspace. If course she was being unreasonable to be kicking and shaking your seat. Your position was also confirmed by flight attendant.

You're absolutely right. It just really shook me if I'm honest. I travel a lot and that is the first time I've ever encountered such hostility and I just wanted to confirm I wasn't in the wrong.

OP posts:
Tryagain26 · 23/02/2026 13:13

Reclinable seats are on planes to be used, otherwise what's the point? She was wrong

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 23/02/2026 13:12

I don’t think it is inconsiderate on a long haul overnight flight at all, though I would wait until after food/drink service so people had some space for that.

Peridoteage · 23/02/2026 13:11

Not every seat reclines. We were put in the backrow once & our seats didn't recline. The arseholes in front proceeded to recline straight back into our space.

Also if you are tall, the angle of reclined seats can be really uncomfortable against your knees - modern aircraft seating is much more cramped than it used to be despite the fact that we are taller.

toomuchfaff · 23/02/2026 13:11

Not sure id give it any more headspace. If course she was being unreasonable to be kicking and shaking your seat. Your position was also confirmed by flight attendant.

Catza · 23/02/2026 13:10

She's is unhinged. Of course it is absolutely fine to recline your seat. The space on the long-haul flight should be sufficient for passengers to do that without landing on someone's lap.