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?

[ShotsFired]

Jeez, if we combine this with the pramgate thread about path etiquette it's just an orgy of overly polite people tripping over themselves to apologise and thank everyone in 100m radius; versus a murderous crowd of pram shoving seat recliners doing what the fuck they want.

[Sparklingbrook]

Now prams on planes is a thread I would like to see. Make a change from prams on buses.

[Trafalgarxxx]

Tsunami when the person is experiencing inconvenience because they haven’t planned very well, why shod other people be inconvenienced by that lack of forward thinking?

Consideration does both ways.
From the person who is reclining but also from the person behind who could have made another choice (such as booking a seat for their dc).
Fwiw Ive never understood who on earth would want to travel with a wriggly 1yo in a plane with them in their knees. It was hard enough with baby but a toddler? You need to be mad sorry.
And being considerate means that you wouldn’t impose more disagreement to your fellow passenger by making them uncomfortable or unable to sleep (because they can’t recline their seat) when you are already behind them with a toddler who will be moving, grabbing the seat in front of them, babbling at least, crying probably too etc... (read all the stories about travelling with such a young child an the effect it has on people around)

[KatharinaRosalie]

So OP, it was a night flight and you are of the opinion that your wish to a) watch TV and b) not recline you seat trumps someone else's wish to sleep at night?

[CavoliRiscaldati]

I can understand both sides - even if I don't agree with both.

What I can't understand is the PA childish behaviour of some posters! Why can't you TALK to the passenger in front of you if they bother you? If you are medically shy, why don't you ask the cabin crew to do it for you?

If the person behind me starts kicking my seat or pushing their knees in my back, I would think they are a twat, not that I should push my seat forward. I get kicked in the back even on an economy flight, with no reclining seat, so it's not obvious when you are trying a new mode of communication, instead of you know, TALKING.

Frankly, if you start kicking a seat instead of asking nicely, I would be tempted to recline it even further.

Has it never occur to you that the person in front is reclining the seat only because the person in front of them has done it first, and they are only trying to get some space?

[MinervaSaidThar]

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.

YABU. I've paid for my seat so I'll recline it if I want to (except during meal/drink times). It's the only way I can sleep.

If you're not assertive enough to ask the person in front to put up their seat during meal times then that's your issue.

I doubt she was deliberately putting it 'right in your face'.

Recline your own seat so it's not in your face.

People who recline their seats during meal times and take offs and landings are twats.

[Emus]

I don’t recline on a short haul flight. On a long haul flight that is mostly during the day then I remain upright but at night I recline. I always check to see if the person behind me has reclined first though. If they have then I recline.

What annoys me is a person in front reclining as soon as the seatbelt signs have gone off - especially for short haul flights. I accept that they have a right to do so though.

[Faithless]

I only do it on long haul, over night flights when most people are going to try to sleep anyway. I think it's inconsiderate & unnecessary to do it on short day time flights, for example on flight to Spain at 10am.

[Bubblebubblepop]

No and recliners should be shot

[problembottom]

I once had a nightmare journey back from Australia when the passenger in front of me fully reclined the whole way. They were unusually heavy set and when they reclined the chair went back even further than other people’s. I felt very cramped, then meal time came and the stewardess couldn’t get my tray table down and asked the passenger to move her seat up. Passenger was completely stuck and when the stewardess finally managed to pop up her chair it was with such force that stuff went flying everywhere. Passenger kicked off.

This passenger and her husband who was also unusually heavy set had booked a window and aisle seat and when the middle passenger arrived, looked like a businessman, he went nuts saying he couldn’t fit in his seat. He got whisked off somewhere and the two passengers then kicked off saying he had been mean about them.

It was right old carry on but I guess not something that can be prevented? Is it BA’s fault for having crap economy seats or should passengers have to take responsibility for fitting into them?

[Elkilil]

I recline, No way I'm doing a long haul flights without reclining. The seat is made to do that as a selling point and since I paid for a ticket I'm entitled too. Nothing stopping the person behind me reclining too.
I always bring it back for meals though. If you are that hard done by in space then pay for extra leg room. The person in front shouldn't suffer sitting upright because you don't like something.

[TheFifthKey]

Isn't it a bit entitled to assume the person in front speaks English? So all this "just talk to them" is pointless if they won't understand you.

[Mittens1969]

My DH is very tall, 6’4, and long haul flights are a nightmare for him, but he’s never complained about passengers reclining in the seat in front of him. I’ve never found it an issue myself either.

There isn’t much space on flights anyway, that’s the real issue, I think.

[Bubblebubblepop]

What about the person on the back row then? How do they recline!

[eyebrowsonfleek]

I recline my chair and accept that the person in front will do the same. Surely you regain the same amount of space you lost when you recline?

[FruitCider]

* 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?*

Surely your baby occupies the space between your knees and your stomach/chest? Stop being daft!

[malmi]

What about the person on the back row then? How do they recline!

Most carriers have space behind the last row for them to recline although maybe not as far back as the other rows.

[Merryhobnobs]

It absolutely drives me bonkers - I lived abroad for a couple of years so flew frequently and I have long legs and was always squashed and uncomfortable by some delightful person reclining when I didn't have enough space to begin with. The seats just should not do it - or recline only if there is no-one behind. It is an invasion of space but really not being able to move my legs or my knees is painful! I can't believe how many inconsiderate people there are... it reclines so I am entitled... Grrr... it really is my pet peeve.

[timeisnotaline]

I would check with the people behind me so they could hold a drink/ not be bending forward etc but not ask, because I intend to recline on long haul flights, it's the only way to sleep. Everyone should unrecline for meals.

[SummerRoberts]

I don’t recline. Mostly because I’m the sad act that loves long haul flights for the movies and can never sleep on a plane anyway so I just don’t bother.
It does irritate me if someone reclines on me, but I’m too much of a wuss to ever actually say anything.
My DP is 6’6 so really struggles when people recline in front of him. We do try and pay for extra leg room seats though, or ones right at the front with nobody in front.
I do think it’s polite to just tell the person behind that you’re about to recline though.

[malmi]

Isn't it a bit entitled to assume the person in front speaks English? So all this "just talk to them" is pointless if they won't understand you

Yes, it's generally pointless talking to strangers because there is a possibility that they won't understand you.

[ginauk84]

Last few flights I have been on don't have the facility and the last flight was an overnight 5 hours long flight but the seats didn't recline.

[Walkingthedog46]

On a long haul flight - seats in front had their meal served first, but had finished eating and reclined their seats before we were even served. Flight attendant REFUSED to ask them to put their seats upright as they said lunch was now over. Impossible to eat with the tray under your chin!!!!

[glitterlips1]

I have been on several long haul flights. It can sometimes annoy me when the person in front recline straight away. I do think most of these people are scared to fly and just want to sleep to get through it. However, most people I have encountered on flights don't and only do it a few hours in to sleep. When they do recline and I don't feel I have much space then I just recline my seat and if I can will check if people behind me have drinks first. If anyone started kicking my chair I would certainly say something. I don't take any shit.

[glitterlips1]

What about the person on the back row then? How do they recline!

I have been on a back row and the seats did have space to recline. The downside was I was right near the loos and they stunk!