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?

It's perfectly possible to sleep upright - my dad does it all the time

I do quite a lot of long-haul and it's a little irritating if people recline before the food service but afterwards I don't see the issue - if everyone does it then everyone still has the same amount of space, and it's a more comfortable position for sleeping.

I agree probably better to have non-reclineable seats on short-haul journeys.

Strikes me what a lot of big babies there are around - not comfortable unless reclining with something in their mouths. Can't go half an hour without being offered a meal, a drink or something to buy. Need to be told that the hot tap is hot and that a bag of peanuts may contain nuts. Incapable of sitting upright for more than 5 minutes......Infantilised much?

Navy Where does thought for other people start and stop, though? How about that child that runs up and down the aisle or keeps asking questions of its mum very loudly when you're in the seat next door trying to sleep? Or that loud group of passengers who may have had one too many in the bar first?

IF we all want to be comfortable on long haul or even short haul flights, then we need airlines to design better seats, improve legroom, perhaps have quite compartments, a creche compartment.... Except it would cost so much, half of us would never go away again.

Again, it's the AIRLINE causing the problem, not the passenger. It's not a question of being right or wrong to recline your seat. The seat reclines. Silly to have a function that makes your life a tiny bit more comfortable on a 7+ hour flight than has cost you £600 and not use it.

Strikes me what a lot of big babies there are around
I'll swap my height and number of air miles for yours any day of the week (I don't travel for fun) then let me know if you feel the same. As for how you think a hot tap labelled hot is the same as being able to recline my seat on an 11 hour flight - I think your logic is failing a bit.

Sorry but they did put their seats up when the food was being served, not really sure what they have done wrong.

If you don't like the lack of space - pay for an upgrade. Don't make other's suffer because you are not happy about the space airlines offer- yes, a shove would have been unreasonable.

the worse for me was a twunt who reclined her seat with such force she whacked my 1yo who had to seat on my knee - on a 2h flight, so there was really no need.

At least check behind you in case there are infants on the parent's laps!

The airline offers a range of experiences, with associated different comfort levels, at different price points. It's up to the consumer, the passenger, which price point/comfort level to choose.

After years of flying, from my schooldays onwards, I now only travel in the business class seats. I travel a lot less than I did and quite enjoy the experience.

Also, never had a problem getting out of seats when seats are reclined - it's totally doable (and has to be for emergencies).

Think you are making a bit of a mountain out of a mole hill OP to be honest. It's a flight, people need to be able to recline their seats when they wish apart from at meal times, and when seatbelt signs are on.

I've never been on an airline that didn't ensure the person in front didn't have their seat upright during service times.

Yes, you're unreasonable to act like a PA wanker and bang the seat in front of you. Would you have poured drink on him had he used his reading light when you wanted to sleep? The fact you didn't even talk to him before wanting to bang his seat shows just what issues you have.

For what it's worth, there are none of these issues if you pay a bit more for your seat.

had the twat not reclined I would have had space

Devorak Well it happened to me on a BA flight so it's not impossible.

In an ideal world everyone would go first class, but not everyone can afford that luxury. If people were considerate on a flight and didn't recline the second their arse hit the seat then people behind them wouldn't be in put in an uncomfortable position.

Don't get me wrong, my spine condition is my problem but when the persons seat in front is so far back, I can't get out, I can't watch the tv screen because of the angle and I can't even move my legs without touching his chair and I'm in a lot of pain as a result? I don't think that's fair.

I hate it when the person in front reclines their seat. I think it is anti social. If it is someone in the front row who does it, then I am afraid I get even grumpier about it.

There are all SORTS of anti social things that are not illegal, but people tend not to do. Picking your nose and eating it, for example (although this does not cause physical discomfort for the watchers, but it was the first thing that came to mind!), being exceptionally fat and over flowing into my seat also irritates. And if I am sitting next to an over flower and behind a seat recliner, by the time I leave the plane I am almost incapable of speech.

So shoot me. I cannot help the way I feel - 12 shorthaul trips per month minimum I am entitled to get grumpy about it!

For what it's worth, there are none of these issues if you pay a bit more for your seat.

Are you serious??

wason I wrote the post quickly and a little tongue in cheek. I had in mind short haul flights and selfish behaviour.
The hot tap/nuts comment was meant to illustrate the thoughtlessness and stupidity of some people - the same who instantly fully recline their seat on short haul before take off.
I take a lot of flights too - 8 in the last three months. I'm average height though and slim so may be more comfortable. My approach is to insulate myself against others' poor behaviour. I carry as little as possible and adopt a zen mind set. I sit upright, stay quiet and if necessary plug my audiobook or music in. Obviously there's nothing you can do about your height unless you buy extra room.
I think the issue lies with both the airlines designing comfortable cabins and seats but also with individuals thinking about how their behaviour impacts on others.

only on MN.

seats are designed to go back because it really kills your back if they don't. Seats should be upright for take off and landing, and when meals are served. Cabin crew usually ask people to do this - and insist at take off and landing because it slightly reduces your chances of dying in a crash.

Otherwise everyone leans back, except the poor bugger in the back row who didn't realise when they booked that these seats don't recline.

if you want comfortable long-haul, don't fly economy. It is cheap for a reason. Naivety is your problem.

Ryanair FTW re seats that do not recline. Obv short haul.

On long haul after food service and everything is picked up, I look backwards and say to those behind, hey I'm going to recline the seat now, that OK? Never a problem.

It's those in front though......

It's the self absorbed, entitled people with no emotional intelligence who just tip the seat back. Whew.

I agree and think that the tilting thing shouldn't work unless the flight is one where it's going to be after ten o clock pm and people want to sleep.

Sit the fuck up people.

Special your back "kills" if you sit up straight in a chair? How the hell do you cope generally in life? Have you literally NO stomach muscle or something?

Given that the seat only goes back by about 2 or 3" it's hardly intruding into your space that much - it's more to do with being crammed in like sardines, the lack of oxygen and claustrophobia that make people so cranky about the seating. I've only ever flown long haul once and I'm in no hurry whatsoever to repeat the experience. Our last flight was to Prague and my 2 DDs are very nervous fliers (as I am but was trying to hide it). My youngest was nearly in tears and the man from in front turned round and yelled "can you stop upsetting my wife please, she's anxious enough as it is without your non stop moaning......" .... she apologised when we landed but people really do seem to lose all sense of etiquette and manners when mid-air.

I fly a lot. General etiquette seems to be seat back up for meals and take/off and landing, free to recline otherwise. I'm almost 6 foot, with long legs and often have a child on my lap. Never had an issue with being unable to get out of my seat when the person in front has reclined. Seat back TVs tilt so you can adjust the position depending on whether or not the seat is reclined. Just recline your own seat if it bothers you. It's not like the person behind can't do the same.

if you want comfortable long-haul, don't fly economy.

You are the second person to say that - why the fuck should we not expect some degree of comfort?

If you drop your seat back it affects the person behind. That is a fact. And if you choose to do it as soon as you get in your place, raise your seat whilst you guzzle your grub and then put it back again immediately, then that is anti-social and well deserving of a shove in the back.

@FinallyHere I now only travel in the business class seats. I travel a lot less than I did and quite enjoy the experience.

After comparing the same long flight in both economy and business, OH and I have decided that we would prefer to travel less frequently, but in business class seats when we do. The difference is astounding.

(Anyone who has come off one of the Far East/Aus/NZ flights that land at Heathrow at 5am will know how shitty the economy experience is. We walked out feeling pretty normal!)

Christ on a bike. Choosing to recline your reclining seat (which you've paid a fair whack of money for) is anti-social and well deserving of a shove in the back. You're delightful, OP.

Do I get your frustration? Yes.
Does it make it acceptable to punch the back of another passenger's seat? Absolutely not.

Complain to the airlines and campaign for a change of design (which will increase the price of your ticket, don't forget) but whacking other passenger's seats makes you more anti-social and a bit of an arsehole quite frankly.

totally agree that chairs shouldn't be 'released' to tilt except for overnight chunks that are at least 30 mins after the end of a food service.

I think you should ask someone to pop their seat back up if you are still eating when they recline it. I don't think you should bang it.