Airlines, seats, passive aggression

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

I was on a long haul flight over the weekend, 2 lots of 7 hour flights with a 3 hour stopover in the middle - it was never going to be a pleasant journey.

The first bit was OK but on the 2nd flight the people in the row in front sat down and immediately put their chairs back. Not just a little tilt either. They were practically in our laps. Our dropdown trays were hardly usable and the screen was difficult to see.

Of course they were perfectly entitled to do it and I could have done the same. Except I didn't because it's so bloody horrible for the person behind.

I don't get why airlines put these type of seats in, even using the tilt doesn't make them relaxing in any way. All it does it make it slightly less uncomfortable for the person in that seat - but 100 times worse for the hapless person behind.

My AIBU is whether giving it an extra hard shove when trying to use my tray or pick up my bag is U or not?

And if you are someone who does drop your seat back like that then don't you realise how horrible it is for the person behind you?

I don't recline so that I can sleep. I recline (in between meals, of course) so that I can actually still walk off the plane at the end of the flight. Prolonged upright sitting is murder on my sciatica. I also try very hard not to fly at all...1 return flight in the last 5 years.

I think the reason the seats don't recline on shorthaul airlines like Easyjet and Monarch is probably one of cost rather that not being 'allowed' to recline because of the journey time.

I imagine they save money wherever they can on the interior spec of their planes because they are budget airlines as as they never fly that far they don't think it's a big deal if people can't get terribly comfortable.

If there was some rule that it wasn't allowed on short haul flights then it would be across all airlines. Any airline daft enough to implement a rule that made the majority of passengers less comfortable while it's competitors did not implement the same rule would go out of business pretty quickly unless the tickets were tuppence.

And even non budget airlines will sometimes have non reclining seats but it's to do with the size and spec of the planes they use for short hop journeys, not because of some belief that people shouldn't be 'allowed' to recline.

"It is really unreasonable of people to fully recline their seats in economy because it really does very little to help the person in that seat get a sleep, and is of huge detriment to the person sitting behind. "

I find the exact opposite.

The reason low cost airlines don't provide reclining seats , apart from not flying long haul, is that they don't want anyone to fall asleep: they want them awake and buying stuff!

I've booked exit row out and extra leg room back for my flights next month. Bliss!!
It cost £30 to select my seat or £45 for extra leg room. On a 9 hour flight that's a no brainer to me really. The exit row was £50 so a bit More, but the only time I have ever slept well on a plane was in the exit row.
Tall people, stop being so tight!

And I've just booked exit row way in advance for £55 each as me and DH are tall, it is worth the money. I wouldn't recline on a 2 hour flight but having said that, I thought all airlines on short haul had non reclinable seats, haven't seen them for ages.

But for those of you that think it's selfish to recline (not at mealtimes) on a 13 hour flight... well, I think you are selfish for wanting to subject me to what is the equivalent of torture sat upright when the lights are out and people are trying to sleep! I don't ask but there again I don't whack my seat back either. I very very slowly recline it so that allows the person behind me to adjust their screen and accept I want to rest and/or sleep. No one in front of me has ever asked if they can recline their seat and I wouldn't expect them to... just do it slowly please.

We flew back from NZ at the weekend and everyone had their seats reclined. Didn't seem to matter one bit, much easier to sleep leaning back a bit and every one put them up when the food came round.

@bigbluebus "It was a little over 2 hr flight in the middle of the day so no need to go to sleep."

How did your DH know that no one on that flight had just transferred from a 13 hour long haul flight?

God your such a martyr. Just recline your seat too. I don't care when the person in front reclines theirs, it doesn't affect me watching films and I can even eat like it if I have to (it's not ideal but can't get worked up about it). You spent a whole flight sitting there angry and not reclining when it's entirely possible that the people behind you didn't give a shit.

Coming back to this late. I travelled with a toddler. People then asked why. We did it because DH is Kiwi and we thought his Dad was dying. We just about managed to scrape together the money to go so he could meet for the first, and so far only, time, his granddaughter. We could barely afford what we paid for. We couldn't save for the extra seat in the time w ethought we had. Is that ok? Next time don't judge. As it is, he seems to have recovered, but not being psychic, we didn't know he might.

babybythesea Fine, as long as you weren't complaining about the person in front of you reclining their seat...

I have no issues with people travelling with toddlers - i think it's great. Just don't expect people to sit in a less comfortable position because you have a toddler on your lap.

the reason seats on low cost won't recline has nothing to do with airline deciding it's rude. Fixed seats without recline mechanism are simply a lot cheaper to produce.

it really does very little to help the person in that seat get a sleep, and is of huge detriment to the person sitting behind
Talk for yourself.
Reclining is a lot of help for me and I don't mind the person in front reclining.
Funny how the non-recliner always think everybody's body works the same way as theirs.

something borrowed I only speak from experience. I have literally never had a person in front of me recline their seat and then proceed to sleep for the entire trip. I'm glad it works for you. But I really don't appreciate having a fully reclined seat in my face for an entire 12 hour flight.

I must travel on different planes to half of you. I'm almost 6 foot, a size 14 and even when the person in front reclines their seat fully I can still watch tv and eat a meal. It doesn't impede on your leg room, just brings the top of their seat slightly closer to your face. It's nicer if they don't recline until after the meal but I appreciate some folk just want to sleep rather than eat what is usually a poor excuse for dinner. It had genuinely never occurred to me that the person sitting behind be could be so outraged by me using my seat as it's designed.

I think seat reclining is fair game with a few conditions. Recline gradually and if possible check that the person behind you hasn't got a coffee or put their head forward for some reason. Always return to upright at meal times. Last trip I had to ask other passengers multiple times to put their seat up. Wish it was just a common courtesy but it seems not.

Cosmo - I didn't say a word. I cursed inwardly about seats that went back because we could not get the tray table down with DD on my lap so the colouring etc I'd brought with me was useless but after asking if we could possibly move to a bulkhead (we couldn't) we just got on with it and sucked it up. I just spent the entire time repeating the mantra "It's just a day. It's just for a day" to myself. I didn't speak to the person in front, and in fact tried to make sure that Dd didn't touch their seat. But I am allowed to complain, two years later, that it was a bit uncomfortable!

But I really don't appreciate having a fully reclined seat in my face for an entire 12 hour flight.

For crying out loud, for the last time there is absolutely NO NEED for this. Just recline your own seat too and you immediately get that exact space and distance back. What are people not understanding here?

The table and the TV are both designed to work just fine with your seat reclined. There is really no need to get so worked up about this. With the exception of mealtimes it's just bonkers to complain about something something so harmless and normal that passengers are perfectly entitled, indeed practically expected to do, and making them out to be anti social twats for doing it.

Especially when there is a perfectly easy solution for you if you don't like it.

I've honestly not known anyone recline a seat for a full 12-13 hour flight. They can't. By the time the seatbelt sign goes out, and then drinks and food come that takes an hour or two, then breakfast or the second meal etc... during which the stewardess will always ask them to put the seat up if you ask her etc, that will be a few hours gone.

Of course, I'd prefer to recline my seat and have the person in front of me not reclining theirs! But that ain't going to happen and if you pay economy prices, you have to expect that the seat in front of you will recline when meals are finished.

This thread has just persuaded me to upgrade my flights to SA this winter. Thanks MN.

I think if you're on a long flight you can tip your seat back, but the INSTANT food/drinks are served you should sit upright. I would ask someone to move their seat if they didn't do it automatically in those circumstances.

'This thread has just persuaded me to upgrade my flights to SA this winter. Thanks MN.'

I do whenever possible. The extra legroom seats are usually in emergency exit rows and you have to be 16+ to sit there so out for me for a few years as the wee ones are still too young. If on EasyJet or Ryannair I pay to make sure I'm sitting next to my DD or my mate who is a nervous flier but then I usually avoid and take the train where possible, booking seats at a table, a whole other story there! Never once booked such seats without finding some chancer in them. 'Excuse me, this is my seat, I need to sit in it.'

Thankfully the majority of regular fliers appear to be a lot less precious than many mumsnetters - never had an issue in many years of flying of either being annoyed by someone reclining their seat, or having complaints/being kicked in the back when I recline mine.

'Thankfully the majority of regular fliers appear to be a lot less precious than many mumsnetters - never had an issue in many years of flying of either being annoyed by someone reclining their seat, or having complaints/being kicked in the back when I recline mine.'

Nor have I.