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?

It does irritate me if someone reclines on me, but I’m too much of a wuss to ever actually say anything.

You shouldn't be asking someone not to recline, unless it's a meal or drink time. And they're not reclining on you! They're reclining their seat. I am quite happy to tell someone not to recline their seat at mealtimes.

To the PP who had the heavyset man recline his seat a lot due to his weight, maybe you should have asked the crew if you could move?

I don't usually fly long haul economy, although I am short I find it really uncomfortable as I struggle to sleep if not lying flat. I will recline if trying to rest though, the seats are built in this way for this purpose. If I thought someone was trying to deliberately hurt me by jabbing the seat back with their knees I would just speak to the cabin crew. On shorter overnight flights I don't bother with food, just face mask and sleeping pill, and will just sleep though the flight if I was flying enconomy I would therefore have my seat reclined from the start I guess. The problem is the lack of space in airplanes now, not passengers using seats the way they were built to be used.

I can't bear having a reclined seat in front of me, I feel quite trapped. I also don't like being reclined myself so it doesn't matter that I can just lean back too.

It doesn't even recline enough to be comfortable when sleeping so I think it's entirely pointless.

Love the seat reclining threads!

Yes I recline

• you can gain the lost space by reclining your own seat. This works as well if you have a bany on your lap. Literally, the exact sale amount of space.
• my back hurts when the seat is straight, way less when reclined. To those saying "a couple of degrees doesn't make a difference" 1) to me it does, 2) if you think it doesn't make a difference to me then why claim it does to the person behind?

Apparently to give the illusion of decent decline, the seats are much more upright than is natural in the upright position.

In aircrafts where they have fixed seats, they are all at a much more comfortable angle.

I recline my seat on long haul flights. Ime everyone does, then everyone has still got exactly the same amount of space, just in a more comfortable position.

I don't recline on short haul, unless it's a flight I've caught after my long haul one and have to sleep.

On Flyertalk.com I think the assumed rule is

Day Flights no
Night flights okay

But always best to have a polite request to the person in the seat behind.

The thing that annoys me way more than a reclining seat is when the airline splits parents up from their children! Another post though I guess!

To those saying "a couple of degrees doesn't make a difference" 1) to me it does, 2) if you think it doesn't make a difference to me then why claim it does to the person behind?

Ha ha! Yes, exactly.

Am I the only person who doesn't care about this? My legroom stays the same as it's only the back of the seat that reclines and my knees aren't at back height. The screen is usually fine or can be pulled out a little way to keep it parallel to me. It really doesn't bother me.

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

Exaggeration Airways, who sometimes codeshare with Air Bullshit.

I encountered a complete pair of plonkers flying from Portugal to Bournemouth - not a very long flight!

They made a big fuss of taking aspirin and pulling on flight socks, and then the minute the seated light went off they reclined their seats fully. Just before landing they stood up and were doing all sorts of ostentatious exercises in the gangway. I wonder if they did this in the cinema or the theatre where one is seated for a similar length of time.

Apparently to give the illusion of decent decline, the seats are much more upright than is natural in the upright position
This makes sense!

Yes, if on a flight that is longer than 2 hours and at a time where a nap would be appropriate. However, I am usually in first or business, so nothing to worry about on the person behind scenario.

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

Yes, that's the nature of flying in commercial airliners. Seats are built with reclining capability, and anyone who flies is aware of the likelihood that the person in front will recline their seat at some point (excluding meals - if they do it during meals they're just a garden variety cunt).

Do you really expect the person sitting in front of you not to recline their seat even if the person in front of THEM has??

I flew longhaul in the summer. The lady in front reclined her seat back - I’m 5ft 10 and have long legs. Unfortunately there was an issue with her seat in that it was nearly flat like a bed. My legs were jammed in and my knees stuck into the seat.

I couldn’t recline my seat - DH was unwell with a very swollen leg (possibly a DVT - it thankfully wasn’t) and we were just trying to get through the flight.

The lady turned round and asked me what was sticking into her back. I told her my legs but there was nothing I could do about. She turned around and proceeded to tell me that I was making it very difficult for her to sleep and that her seat was uncomfortable.

I informed her I couldn’t do much about my legs aside from amputating them & that she had reclined her seat back almost on my lap. The lady sitting next to me told me that the lady in front was incredibly rude.

Said lady moved her seat up to a more reasonable and comfortable position. If she only wanted a bed she should have gone business class ! Some people are just so ignorant.

As am aside, when you have long legs it makes a big difference !

No, Poor, you are not. I don't give a flying fuck. I fly long haul once a year, the person in front usually always reclines. Meh. I recline, too. We all get there. Everyone lives.

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

Not in the slightest.

Seven years ago I decided never to fly again as I have a bad back and flying was just too uncomfortable. I suspect there are many people like me who can't cope with being jammed into such a small space but the majority of people are happy to accept cheap air fares and put up with cramped conditions including reclining seats.

I wonder if it's still possible to buy the gadget which fixes somehow on the seat in front to prevent them reclining? I remember reading something about it a while back.
If they are still available I may buy one.

I am in the 'don't recline' camp. I HATE having the seat inches from my face just because the giant toddler in front can't go a few hours without sleeping.

just because the giant toddler in front can't go a few hours without sleeping.

But you're OK being a giant toddler behind can't deal with someone reclining.

The position of a non reclined seat leaves me in pain.

I do find it amusing that the non-recliners complain about the recliners being "entitled", whilst simultaneously trying to force their own wishes upon the reclining group.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Plane-diverted-after-row-over-reclining-seat-device/

"Knee defender" - banned by most US airlines.

(FWIW, I fly business so avoid all this. It's only one return longhaul flight every 2 years so not that extravagant)