Reclining aeroplane seats?

[MrsRaegan]

Flew to Spain yesterday with DS who had to sit on my lap. We were the row behind extra leg room.

Woman in front tried to recline her seat but there was literally no room for her to do so. We couldn't even put the tray down when her seat was fully upright as he had to sit on my knee.

She then ranted like a mad woman to her husband about "inconsiderate parents" I'd like to point out DS slept for most of the journey.

So AIBU to think on a 3 hour flight with a toddler on a parents knee behind you, you don't really need to recline your seat?

YAnbu OP.

Eurochick's etiquette is spot on.

I agree Jassy. A wonderfully entertaining read. DS was a PITA on a plane journey at 2 so we didn't bother flying again until he was able to behave himself. I wouldn't have wanted to subject anybody else to any screaming / tantrums / bad behaviour. Shouldn't that be the accepted etiquette? You don't HAVE to go abroad on holiday, nor fly.

what I don't get, is why the recliner's entitlement to recline trumps the OP's right to travel with an infant on her lap, as suggested by some. It's a form of public transport and sometimes you have to sit near someone who annoys you in some way, that's life, you either get over it or charter a private jet next time.

To answer others from earlier if you have a small child its different and anything to keep them busy. People understand how hard it is when they are restless. The reason it annoys me so much is because they end up bumping into those sitting in the aisle. For the person who must walk the aisle, I feel for you but I would not be flying if that was me. Especially in Europe there are so many alternative options such as taking the train.

I'm very thankful that air travel is so much cheaper today than it was 20 years ago when service was better. It enables us to visit family who live 2500-3000 miles away in opposite directions. For those who said to buy business, you can get a much better seat with economy plus which is much more affordable. I did that when mine were under 2.

Im not going to apologize for my post sounding obnoxious. It does get my goat when people don't think of others and recline on a short haul flight. Those who travel more frequently tend to be a little more aware of how awful flying can be and make allowances for others.

Finally, it isn't free to fly with a child under 2. You pay a nominal charge plus 100% of the taxes. It was eye opening/ watering to see how high the taxes are and how much more accessible more of the world would be if those taxes were removed.

Loving the way some posters languidly saying 'oh what an entertaining thread' seem to assume that we all think 'ooh they're sophisticated. We must abide by their opinion'.

Ballet, dear, what opinion did I share, apart from the fact that I found it amusing?

I did. The hyperbole, unrecognised double standards and self-contradiction gave me a good chuckle.

Don't give a particular fuck whether people think I'm 'sophisticated'. (What on earth does that even mean over the age of 15, anyway?) Dr I don't tend to post with that sort of aim in mind...

No, ballet. I have no claim to being sophisticated and certainly no opinion for anyone to abide by about to recline or not. Just bored and having a look on MN to see what people are discussing. in my flying days I was a bit irritated if someone reclined but soon got used to the reduced space. Children behind me kicking the seat or standing on the chair and bashing my head did annoy me. As did a child talking loudly most of the way through a night flight. Particularly as the mother did little about it (and dad switched to an empty seat at the back of the plane!).

want if the travel to Europe by train, avoid flights was aimed at me -it takes 48+hrs Athens by train from London - it takes less than 4hrs flying...
(And it takes me about 6/7hrs to get to London by train...flight is 1 hr- admit airport faffing, check ins etc add on a lot of time but still ....not that long...)
So the 7 day family holiday will involve 4 days travelling...keeping DCs occupied cooped up on a train etc...doesn't sound like a fun holiday to me!

unlucky For a holiday I would pick somewhere closer than Athens. Plenty of places you can get to via train or boat in less than 48 hours. I would def consider the boat to Bilbao and doing San sebastian if you want a bit of beach/ culture holiday. If further north, Ireland is lovely and you can take the ferry from Liverpool. Alternatively there is France, Holland and Germany if taking the train.

My MIL has issues now with flying so we fly to her. Holidays are them driving from Denmark to Austria, Germany or northern Italy.

want DD1 is doing classics...she wants to go to Athens.
Maybe next year we will go to Italy. (We have also been to Egypt)
Seeing as I realised I had a problem at 24 (not 84 or 64 or even 44) I don't think I am being unreasonable wanting to fly sometimes -when the only inconvenience it causes anyone is me 'going to the loo' once an hour...