Airplanes and reclining seats

[MrsCampbellBlack]

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.

Er....I don't think the pro-recliners do it "so they can invade the personal space of the person sitting behind"; there's no agenda here. They're doing because they're allowed to.

In years of air travelling, I've never encountered anyone who has not put their seat up at mealtimes. If they recline, I recline.

The situation described by the OP isn't one I've encountered, but if an airline has new rules that you can't recline if a baby in arms is behind, then they need to inform their customers.

Disclaimer: I have travelled with a three month-old.

You dont have any personal space on a plane. You have just have the 28 inches you have paid for your seat pitch.

If you want a bigger seat pitch then use this site

www.seatguru.com/charts/shorthaul_economy.php

and choose an airline that gives a larger pitch and pay for it acordingly

You get reclining seats on planes.

Some people think it's fine to recline

Others don't

Brief enough for you?

I always travel club class now, upgrading to first class if it's available. More space and opportunity to have a proper snooze.

Gosh - why didn;t anyone else think of that?

I must travel on some super special planes. Because every one I've ever flown on has the seat/table arrangement as such that there is a gap between the table and the seat back. Therefore a reclined seat makes no difference to the positioning of the table and doesn't wedge it up against your midriff at all. Well, it does mine anyway because I'm one if those dreaded fat people on planes, you know, the ones who are hated even more that seat recliners.

I have had the misfortune to fly all over the world since DD was a baby (thankfully, I finally have roots and no longer have to)

I have usually followed these rules -

No reclining before meals. No reclining on short-hauls (less than 3 hours)

Except, life isn't always that simple. I was flying BA from Mumbai to Edmonton, with a ten hour layover in London. With a two year old. The flight from Mumbai left at 2 AM. DD, understandably, completely befuddled. We were right at the back of the plane with no recline. Giant American guy in front of us reclines his seas so I have a seat shoved up in my face. DD wakes in the middle of the night, she's in her own seat, but very upset, so I try and comfort her. She wants a cuddle, so I very gently pick her up on my lap, trying extremely hard not to disturb said guy in front. DD wants to watch seatback TV, so I very gently again try and find a channel for her.

Giant guy leaps out of his seat, leans right over me, and in a very threatening voice says 'if that kid kicks the back of my seat again I am going to call the stewardess'... DD did not kick his seat, it was me trying to figure out the channels. I cower, and apologise. DD is very upset at this point, so I try again to get a channel, and I get another hiss from guy in front. This time, I am mad enough, so I get up and tell him not to bully me, and go to find the stewardess myself... and burst into tears (yeah, helpful :)) Luckily, the stewardess finds me a cabin crew seat, and DD and I watch the sun coming up over London. I hope that idiot guy gets his comeuppance somewhere!!! Can you tell I am still bitter?

Oh, and to add to my misery, after the 10 hours in London, DD and I are on a flight to Vancouver (we overnighted before heading to YEG) I am lucky enough to have a bulkhead seat with DD in her own seat again and a nice couple with a teeny baby. Guess who I have behind me? A giant drunk guy who decided to loudly complain about why children were given bulkhead seats while cunts people like him were stuck behind us. He then proceeded to knee my seat upright every time I tried to recline it (its a ten hour overnight flight). Sweet!

I am never flying again if I can help it... but sadly I will have to seeing as my folks live half way across the world again.

OP, YANBU!!! I really feel for you, and hope you'll have a better experience soon.

Yikes, that was a long post... apologies!

Yabu.
Someone who has paid for their seat has every right to use it. For all you know, the seat in front of her could have been reclined, she may have neck or back problems and felt extremely uncomfortable upright....
I agree with others that the airlines are at fault if they provide seats which recline without sufficient space to use them properly. I would prefer non reclining seats. Or a message to all passengers not to recline their seats on this particular flight. But if the option is a available then you cant blame another passenger for using it.

Best idea is not to fly and holiday closer to home

Well quick update - lovely holiday company arranged for us to have extra seat for DD and also sat us with 2 empty rows in front of us

DD was still a little screamy upon descent - next time think i may upgrade and leave DH in the back with the dc's

Micro - DH keeps muttering about holidays in Wales funnilly enough