Are you an aeroplane seat recliner??

[Sotuko]

If so, do you not feel a bit guilty about the poor sod sat behind you who now has even less space than they had before??

I don't understand why airlines still allow this, there isn't the room for it!

During a long flight last night/this morning/I don't know I've lost all track of time, I wasn't able to use my telly as the woman in front made sure it was RIGHT in my face and don't even get me started on meal time.

So are you a seat recliner and if so, do you think about the impact on the person behind you?

[Darlingsof]

I recline when I need to sleep on a plane but definitely NOT for meals, cabin crew usually make a recliner sit upright during meal services anyway. The seats recline so that people can sleep on long haul and overnight flights - there's no way I want to try to sleep completely upright on an eleven hour West coast USA - Europe flight. If you want a bit more space you also need to recline your seat. It wouldn't occur to me to ask the people behind if they minded, there's a reason the screens and all seats are adjustable.

[wasonthelist]

You want ME to pay more for my flights so that YOU can recline your seat?

Your choice - but the seat reclines so I am going to use it on a long flight - and if you kneed me in the back constantly during the entire flight
I wouldn't be thrilled either - just as he wasn't. It does come across as your idea of a revenge attack.

[TsunamiOfShit]

TsunamiOfShit yes. Reclining is completely normal and acceptable on long flights.

And what about when I fly with a baby on my lap and am not allowed to sit in the extra legroom seats? Just squash the baby?

[TsunamiOfShit]

Your choice - but the seat reclines so I am going to use it on a long flight - and if you kneed me in the back constantly during the entire flight
I wouldn't be thrilled either - just as he wasn't. It does come across as your idea of a revenge attack.

This was a two hour flight. I didn't do it as a revenge attack, I had no other choice. But yes, I was pleased that at least he couldn't sleep when he was being this inconsiderate.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

Emirates are awful. Old planes, often the in-flight entertainment does not work and the seats are as hard as rocks. Often the staff are rude too.

[wasonthelist]

Some people don't understand that if you aren't short, you cannot always physically sit down without having your legs pressed against the seat in front and you can't always afford to pay ££££ for the height tax to have more legroom.
I am willing to bet I am taller than anyone else posting on this thread. I don't mind people reclining their seats in front of me but I am going to put my seat back on a long haul flight - if it doesn't suit you, rather than kneeing me in the back fo other childish responses, take it up with the airline.

[malmi]

Tsunami, just recline your own seat so you get the space back, it's not complicated! Stop making your baby other people's problem.

[greendale17]

The seats are designed to recline And pax have every right to do so! The person behind can recline theirs!

^This

[Starwhisperer]

The only time I've taken issue with this was on a day time flight during meal service when the "offender" sat forwards in his seat to eat bit didn't think about pulling the chair forwards with him.

[Sashkin]

The airlines have really played a blinder here if they have managed to convince people that the issue is Evil People Using the Recline Function, and not cheapskate airlines packing in too many rows of seats...

[KatharinaRosalie]

You want ME to pay more for my flights so that YOU can recline your seat?

You expect ME not to use a feature of a seat I've paid for and sacrific my omfort for YOURS?

And most airlines allow to book a separate seat for your baby, you only need to have them on your lap for take off and landing, when reclining is not allowed anyway.

[Trafalgarxxx]

Tsumani fwiw when I travelled my my dc and they were under two, instill paid for a seat for them. So that they could be in my knees at take off and landing but otherwise had the space to sit.
The fact you have a 1yo with you isn’t other people responsibility. There are other options than them sitting on your knees for 4 hours or whatever the length of the flight is.

[JamPasty]

I have no problem with the person in front of me reclining. I'm not tiny either (average height)

[Trafalgarxxx]

katharina Xpost.

Great minds and all that....

[malmi]

You don't have to ask the person behind you before reclining on a night flight, because almost the whole plane will be reclining, and it would take too long for everyone to get permission from the person behind them.

On a short daytime flight where the seats recline, I would say that it's polite to ask first, but still not required. It's always nice to recline slowly so the person behind can rearrange themselves if they need to, rather than slamming the chair back.

Seats should be put upright during meal service.

If you can't cope with seats being reclined then book an airline/plane that doesn't have reclining seats (FlyBe, Ryanair...). Or pay for Economy+ or exit-seat row.

One tip if your knees are pressed into the seat in front is to remove all the guff from the seat pocket.

[TsunamiOfShit]

fwiw when I travelled my my dc and they were under two, instill paid for a seat for them. So that they could be in my knees at take off and landing but otherwise had the space to sit.
The fact you have a 1yo with you isn’t other people responsibility. There are other options than them sitting on your knees for 4 hours or whatever the length of the flight is.

All I'm trying to say is that people should show more consideration of others, even if they cannot be considered "normal". If for whatever reason, it is really inconvenient for the person behind you if you recline your seat, then I don't think you should do it just because you've paid for it.

[ShatnersWig]

Sorry, if a seat reclines, they are entitled to do so. I fail to see why people get angry with other passengers doing with their seat what it is built to do. Any anger should be aimed solely at the airlines for installing seats. Campaign to have them changed.

[MaidOfStars]

TV in face? FFS. I wear glasses for distance and a reclined seat in front of me doesn't even allow me to watch without them....

I sometimes recline, but will always check the passenger behind first. A quick look to see yet aren't using their tray to lean over (crossword, whatever). If it's just a drink on an open tray, I'll ask if it's OK to put my seat back. I've never been refused, not sure what I'd do if I was.

To be fair though, I am pretty small and the easiest way for me to relax on a plane seat is curl up in the chair without any great need to fully recline it.

[SPARKS17]

If you pay for a seat you either recline it or you don't, you paid for it, its your choice!

All the people who NEVER recline are just odd, and asking permission from the person behind is just bizarre, its not their decision on whether you recline your seat or not.

[PanGalaticGargleBlaster]

I thought general etiquette was that on long haul you reclined your seat after people had eaten.

[LambMadras]

There are a lot of intolerant and stressed people around. Frankly I’ve paid for my seat and if I want to recline it I will. And the person behind me is free to do the same. Other people’s personal circumstances are irrelevant. Everyone should show consideration at mealtime but the rest of the flight is fair game.

I’ve travelled with a baby on my lap and a reclining seat is the least of my worries.

How about order a glass of wine, recline your own seat and chill the fuck out.

[iamkahleesi]

Just got back from holiday, flying with Jet2, short haul daytime. Was a relief to discover chairs didn’t recline and there was good leg room, result!

[PanGalaticGargleBlaster]

Lol 'squashed babies' and 'Someone's head on my lap' , what airline is this?

[OnNaturesCourse]

I had someone who had their seat reclined the whole way through a 7 hour flight... That was after she put the seat back without checking and snacked me in the face with it as I was trying to retrieve something from the bag at my feet.

I'm 5'10 and my DP is 6'4 so there was literally no room. I couldn't even stand up to go to the loo without having to twist myself up and leaning over the top of her.

She was perfectly aware she hit me, that we had no room and I assume she seen me clambering out to the loo since I was pretty much nose to nose with her.

The full recline meant she blocked the window just enough to "control" the blind and kept it up the full flight. I couldn't recline my seat as I had a tall gentleman and family behind me. I also couldn't see the film as the light was bouncing in through the window and it was facing my crotch.

We eventually got moved to the front seats which meant loads of leg room and bigger TVs so it all worked out in the end...

In answer, I think they should recline but not so far as to trap others in, and people need to have some respect to others.