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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Airplanes and reclining seats

336 replies

MrsCampbellBlack · 14/07/2011 11:29

So on flight with infant daughter on lap and woman in front keeps reclining her seat leaving us with very little space to even breathe. Not surprisingly DD gets a little ahem upset and screams loudly - god so loudly! Woman in front does lots of tutting.

Stewards asked her to put seat up but she reclines it as soon as they go away.

So am I mad to think she was being incredibly inconsiderate or is it just part and parcel of plane travel.

Other passengers utterly charming and Airplane staff agreed she was a nightmare but nothing they could do.

OP posts:
MissBeehiving · 14/07/2011 19:41

I feel your pain Mrs CB. I'm flying to Turkey with a 23 month old on my lap in two weeks time.

It's just good manners isn't it, to ask to person behind if they mind you reclining your seat?

shakey1500 · 14/07/2011 19:53

bupcakes can you try ever so hard to win the lottery this week and set up your airline PDQ as we're off to Corfu next week Grin, I shall salute you with..what...ouzo? Retsina? Tipero? Name your poison.

Fwiw, I agree it IS all about politeness. I wouldn't dream of reclining my seat if their was a toddler behind me.

Backinthebox · 14/07/2011 19:57

I work in aviation, fortunately in a role which means I do something that limits my contact with passengers. Otherwise I would feel the need to knock their heads together. I have actually had to be involved in physically separating passengers who were about to start thumping each other because one reclined his seat and the other kept kicking his seat. So childish - especially when you consider that both of them were heads of major companies. If it were down to me, I would sedate all passengers for the duration of the flight, and load them in boxes onto the aircraft - would make my life a whole lot easier! Just think - it would make flights even cheaper than they already are, as you could get even more people on, and wouldn't have to worry about food or drink or anything.

Anyway. Seats recline, passengers can use this if they wish, but a reasonable human being would take into consideration the person behind them. I'll just add my penn'orth about babies and seats - you can buy your baby a seat if they are between the age of 6 months and 23 months. It all depends on whether you want to spend the cash or not. I think if you don't want to, YADBU to expect the person in front to pay more for a business seat just so they can recline.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 14/07/2011 19:57

I fly a lot for work, short-haul mostly, and if I'm that tired, I can sleep perfectly well sitting up. I don't reclne my chair and don't want other people on my lap either.

if only I could buy and fly a plane myself...

Joins queue for Bupcakes Aviation Extraordinaire....

Mrsfluff · 14/07/2011 20:01

TheHumanCatapult, unfortunately I would be the person knocking your chair. Not on purpose, but because chances are, if you were to recline your chair, it wouldn't just be touching my legs, I'd be baring the weight.

Ripeberry · 14/07/2011 20:10

I had a nightmare journey years ago coming back from Uganda and a woman behind me kept stopping me even reclining my chair by one click, hardly anything.
If she saw me moving it, she would wack my chair. I got up to go to the toilet and she was almost horizontal and the poor person behind her was quite squashed.
She was nightmare for the whole 8hr flight Angry, but at the time I had to use the loo a lot as had a tummy bug anyway Sad.

onestepforward · 14/07/2011 20:32

Regardless of whether recline or not recline is 'right' this reclining lady was rude and selfish, oh and ignorant (imo Grin)

Letz · 14/07/2011 20:34

"Again.

You CANNOT buy seats for a child under TWO.

Thanks."

Errrr.

Yes you can.

Thanks.

Otherwise get Virgin Atlantic to give me my 700 quid back, Ta.

Backinthebox · 14/07/2011 20:41

Here - click on discounted fares for children and it will tell you how to buy a seat for your baby.

TheHumanCatapult · 14/07/2011 21:18

mrs fluff i would always try to comprimise and if was a young child on someone slap and there was not another family lap cild could not sit on .No i would not recline in that case .But i may not be able to move once flight has landed at all if that happened .am hoping airline will think ahead as they have been informed except for landing take of and lunch i will need to recline as can not sit straight whole way due to my spine

Mrsfluff · 14/07/2011 21:28

Catapult, you need my DH behind you - he's a short arse Wink

Rocky12 · 14/07/2011 21:30

Bupcakes - think you need to be a bit careful about making rude statements about not being able to buy seats for children under 2. You can! Flying a number of years ago does not make you the font of all knowledge.

shmoz · 14/07/2011 21:35

I usually fly with Ryanair, their seats don't recline so no need to worry about reclination etiquette Smile

pumpkincarver · 14/07/2011 21:36

from a cabin crew mmber's perspective:

  • reclining seat should be used keeping others in consideration; for example during the meal service or if the person behind you has a baby on their lap then it's very inconsiderate and selfish.
  • I often ask passengers to bring their seatbacks up if it's inconveniencing the person behind.
  • the fact that the reclining facility isd there doesn't mean that it can be used at any time.
  • people ae naturally territorial and everyone reacts in a different way when they think their space is being restricted, I totally understand that.
  • on an airplane all human interactions are somehow enhanced; more tolerance of others is necessary to share the limited space.
  • more than reclining seats, I often see people with filthy and smelly feet resting them on the back/top of the person in front's armrest. Ths is common esp on flights to/from India, must be because of the way many locals sit on the floor barefoot. Ok if you're in India, not ok on a flight.
  • Jesus I could write a book on all the arguments I've witnessed on flights! Grin
pumpkincarver · 14/07/2011 21:38

yes you can buy seats for under 2s.

TheHumanCatapult · 14/07/2011 21:38

Lol .trouble is i am first on and last of so chances are i will have 30 mins at least longer each side of journey than most people .

mind it will not be peoples knees in danger be toes when they drag my butt if need the toilet .

i do think people need to comprmise if at all possible .but i admit if anyone was kicking my seat i would not be happy and very likely would be in tears as slightest knock sends pain right up my back

Mind last time i flew we was at back next to toilets and was room to recline and no one behind obviously so we recline dwhole time .No squashed knees that time

Rocky12 · 14/07/2011 21:39

Pumkin - yuk with regard to the feet on arm rest. Do agree with the person grabbing YOUR seat to hoist themselves up. What do they think they are doing.....

TheHumanCatapult · 14/07/2011 21:43

ah se eRocky i would be the perfect person when come sto not hoisting myself to stand hauling on someones seat Wink as will not move once seated especially short haul and probably not long haul

pumpkincarver · 14/07/2011 21:43

Rocky, on a plane any seat is ok to grab hold of to balance yourself,I often have to do so as I walk down the aisle during turbulence. Safety comes before politeness.

pumpkincarver · 14/07/2011 21:45

HumanCatapult, then you're the perfect candidate for Deep Vein Thrombosis. You MUST get up and walk about during flights. If it's a short flight you can get away with just doing leg excercises in your seat; on a long haul flight, you should get up at every opportunity.

CurrySpice · 14/07/2011 21:46

I think people with bad backs and/or a sense of entitlement who need to recline their seats should pay extra

oldraver · 14/07/2011 21:56

Would you really

Rocky12 · 14/07/2011 21:57

There are lots on here, with bad backs, extra large children, extra tall, extra weight, not feeling well, need to lie down because they have come off another flight, etc. The fact is that plane journey's are not pleasant and you just have to make the best of it. This sense of entitlement as to what you or someone else cant do just makes the journey for everyone even more unpleasant.

Coming back from St Lucia a mother held up the flight because she was seated away from her 12 year old son. She wouldnt sit down, wanted to see a manager etc etc. Eventually a chap offered to swap seats but she was fully prepared to stand her ground because she thought she was 'entitled to sit next to her son'

TheHumanCatapult · 14/07/2011 21:58

sorry pumpkinBlush i should have explained .I will not be grabbing seat backs or moving around as i am paryalised from the waist down .

Curry sorry love but bit more than a bad back and ffs why sould i pay more I already can not fly some cheap seats on the cheapo lines as they will not allow me to fly alone as loosing use of my legs for some reasons means I am no longer classed as competent to travel alone Angry

oldraver · 14/07/2011 21:58

Oh dont think the link worked I was [shocked] at this

Booking a child into a different cabin from yourself

You may book your child to travel in a different cabin from you when you travel on the same flight.

No special booking procedure is required for children who are 12 years of age or over.

For children under 12 years of age, please note the following:

The child must be at least 5 years old.
The child can be booked into any cabin once you are booked to travel on the same flight.
The child must be checked in with you at a check-in desk and remain with you until they are taken into the care of British Airways? staff at the boarding gate.