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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reclining aeroplane seats?

260 replies

MrsRaegan · 05/06/2015 08:00

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?

OP posts:
Flippidyflap · 05/06/2015 20:42

Do those who have a medical need to recline have to avoid the newer planes then? If you can't sit in a plane without setting your seat back a bit that would be problematic would it not?

SomewhereIBelong · 05/06/2015 21:01

It's far ruder to tug on someone else's seat to stand up then it is to use a seat the way it was designed

haha yes I know it is, but I'm not going to sit there and pee my pants - there is no other choice, try standing up straight with a bad hip if you can't turn round - you have to have some assistance from something, so when the person in front will not put the seat up, tough.

bgottalent · 05/06/2015 21:11

I always try to get an isle seat so that I can get out from under a reclining seat without tugging at his/her seat back.
I'm flying shorthaul in the next few weeks and hope to god the plane seats don't recline. I hate having to recline because the person in front has done so. i find it really uncomfortable trying to read or watch TV in a reclined position.

Esssss · 05/06/2015 21:41

This thread makes me ??. I would feel awful if I had reclined my seat on top of someone who had a toddler on their lap....I wouldn't feel it was a gross injustice! Flights with toddlers are not easy and I would have hoped other mums would be empathetic. I think a lot of people have lost track of what the op said.

To the person who checked Thomas Cook's website in case the OP was lying about not being able to buy a seat - oh my god, was that necessary?

And I'm still open mouthed at the person who hates people who don't fly regularly as they mess up her flying experience.

And the person who just says, if you don't like being uncomfortable,pay the extra grand like the rest of us -- what planet are you living on!??

honeyroar · 05/06/2015 21:52

Thank you Sparklingbrook. My husband would roll on the floor laughing if he knew someone said I deserved a message for patience!

Sparklingbrook · 05/06/2015 21:54

But you sound lovely honeyroar, really thoughtful. tell him that too. Smile

notaplasticgnome · 05/06/2015 22:06

expat do you always have to be so rude?

honeyroar · 05/06/2015 22:08

Oh I will, don't worry!

We have a catch phrase at work.. "We've only got them for eight hours or so, some other poor sod has to live with them!"

Sparklingbrook · 05/06/2015 22:12
Grin
TerrifiedMothertobe · 05/06/2015 22:19

I fly every week. And the economy seats are jammed in. People should be considerate and check whether there is space to recline. Anyone using a laptop or a child on a lap.

Treat everyone how you expect to be treated.

So YANBU

CountryLovingGirl · 05/06/2015 22:31

We flew, with BA, to and from Germany last week. My poor husband! During both flights the person in front reclined their seat. The flight was 1.5 hours!
I think it is selfish and inconsiderate to recline your seat...especially on a short flight. I never, ever, recline my seat (even on long haul flights). Airlines should not allow it on short haul flights.
You have my sympathy OP. It was very inconsiderate of the woman to recline especially when you had a young child sat on your knee.

susanstryingterm · 05/06/2015 22:33

I agree. It's rude and inconsiderate. Since when do you have to 'buy' considerate behaviour from fellow passengers? Horrible attitude.

whippy33 · 05/06/2015 22:52

It is all well and good saying seats should not recline on short haul. Two months ago due to a deal I was subjected to a 30 hour journey home. By the time I had boarded my last plane I had been awake for almost 36 hours...I would've recline for the chance of an hours kip had I wished regardless. You do not know how far someone else has travelled or has to travel onwards even if your journey is a short hop.

whippy33 · 05/06/2015 22:52

delay*

Kaekae · 05/06/2015 23:03

I always end up with some inconsiderate twat who decides to recline their chair the minute they get on a 9 hour flight! Bastards.

balletnotlacrosse · 05/06/2015 23:20

It's inconsiderate and infringing on the space of the people behind you. But some people will always justify their bad manners.

ShatnersBassoon · 05/06/2015 23:23

Considerate that head- and chest-height area to be shared space. Which it is, because the seat in front can recline into it. It's not selfish then.

FeijoaSundae · 05/06/2015 23:31

You do not know how far someone else has travelled or has to travel onwards even if your journey is a short hop.

You can repeat this a million times, but non-recliners just refuse to hear / understand it!

It's inconsiderate to expect someone not to recline, and make themselves more uncomfortable, to enable your comfort.

Again, the woman in the OP was rude, but that doesn't mean reclining should be banned.

Sapat · 06/06/2015 00:02

Well I pay for my train ticket every morning and I don't necessarily get a seat. That makes me fume. You pay for a plane seat which may or may not recline doesn't entitle you to recline it automatically. Common courtesy still applies.

I think that seats on plane should not recline now that they pack people in like sardines on flights. I travel frequently with my three and it annoys me I can't pay for a separate seat for a child under 2. It is so uncomfortable. I think the woman in front was beyond rude.

And I don't understand why people up thread with sciatica think they deserve the space more than a fellow traveller with a babe in arms. On a mothers forum... Shame on you people! If you follow their logic, if you can't sit for the duration, don't fly. As a commuter into London with three pregnancies I have often noticed that women who are old enough to know better are the first to tut-tut at antisocial behaviour and the last to offer their seat. Closely followed by middle aged men who usually don't give a shit. The women care, but they think others should do it. Maybe they all have those terrible back troubles that plague pp...

blankgaze · 06/06/2015 00:49

Do these work on all types of aircraft seats?

www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html

unlucky83 · 06/06/2015 01:09

Sorry just have to say about blood clots! A walk around once an hour is better on long haul flights than just twisting your ankles and flight socks!
I had a probable DVT, a PE and a further 3 ft long DVT after a long haul flight before the dangers were known about. I am extremely lucky to be alive. (I also obviously have a tendency to clot.)
Even with anticoagulant injections and 'flight socks' on a short haul flight I am supposed to walk around.
And after my experience I would always wear flight socks anyway -they aren't that uncomfortable -or maybe they are - but what is more uncomfortable (and embarrassing) is due to my big clot I had to wear a full length (tie round the waist) compression stocking every day from the age of 24 supposedly for life (because I was so young my leg recovered better than predicted so I only had to wear it for 10+yrs) and also just before and then for 6 weeks after giving birth I had to wear the white surgical stockings 24/7.
Please take 'blood clots' and flying seriously.

SorchaN · 06/06/2015 01:09

By the time I had boarded my last plane I had been awake for almost 36 hours...I would've recline for the chance of an hours kip

I've been in this situation and I found that after being awake for 36 hours I had absolutely no difficulty sleeping in an unreclined sitting position.

AndNowItsSeven · 06/06/2015 01:34

Yanbu, selfish woman.

FeijoaSundae · 06/06/2015 01:42

I've been in this situation and I found that after being awake for 36 hours I had absolutely no difficulty sleeping in an unreclined sitting position.

And if you're happy to be a martyr do that, that's fine. Equally, if you wish to recline, it's fine too.

I used to fly frequently, not so much anymore, and I had people reclining in front of me pretty much without exception. And I'm tall. It never occurred to me to mind. It's only since reading reclining threads on here that I even realised it was an issue.

If you're ever sitting in front of me, knock yourself out. Kick back, relax (seriously! unclench), and make your journey a tiny bit more enjoyable. As long as you put your seat up for the meal!

SorchaN · 06/06/2015 02:10

Kick back, relax (seriously! unclench)

Grin You're very sweet, but after 36 hours awake, I've probably fallen asleep before take-off!

I do find it very interesting that some people don't mind at all if the person in front reclines, while others are outraged. I don't usually recline, but I don't consider myself a martyr. I don't find it any more comfortable than remaining 'upright'.