Regarding fully reclined seat at mealtime on a flight?

[Linguaphile]

What exactly is seat reclining etiquette on long haul flights? I was on a long haul flight last weekend (on the way home from visiting my parents for Christmas), and just as meals and drinks had been handed out, the woman in front of me abruptly fully reclined her seat and decided to sleep, nearly spilling my meal and drinks into my lap in the process. I had to sit like a pretzel during the entire meal with her chair digging into my knees and my tray shoved right up next to my body about an inch below my boobs, awkwardly trying to cut up food without elbowing the person next to me in the face. It wasn’t late at night, maybe 7pm. She stayed that way for the remainder of the flight, even after she had been told to put her seat upright for landing 7 hours later.

Now, I realise that some discomfort is to be expected in steerage class on flights, and I understand someone wanting to recline a bit to sleep once food has been cleared away and cabin lights are down (though even then I try not to recline all the way as I know how uncomfortable it is for the person behind me). But casually shoving your seat all the way down right at meal time when space is obviously already tight just felt... well... rude.

AIBU to have been irked?

Had to reply to this as had a very similar situation on a recent long haul flight. Flight out (10 hour day time flight with two toddlers) woman in front of me reclined all the way for the entire flight.. i asked her politely to put her chair back for meals and drinks service (which she did with no problems) even so though, i didn't see why she needed to do that for the entire flight especially as it was during the day. On the return (8.5 hours) same thing :-0 this time a bloke. He was v tall and it was a night flight tbf. So he asked ten mins after take off if i mind if he puts his seat back and i said no (i didn't), then his gf did the same, drinks service comes... doesn't move... meal service comes... doesn't move. I obvs asked them to put seats up for service and they did, then moved them straight back. But i shouldn't have had to ask. I’ve no objection with people reclining seats so they can have a nap or whatever, but doing it for the entire journey is just so rude and inconsiderate! And then... 20 mins before landing i started playing solitaire and he put his head over and was glaring at me, i ignored it, then he did it again and said i can feel that pressing on the chair!!! I told him it was because its a touch screen and carried on with my game. Not usually my form but I was so annoyed that he had inconvenienced me for the last 8 hours but was irritated he could feel me pressing the screen for five minutes!

So. No op you are not being unreasonable. People are just so bloody rude! Xx

Yanbu at all! What a selfish cow! Even if i am tired on a flight, i never recline my seat so as not to inconvenience the person behind me! 🙈 I wouls d have definitely asked her to put her seat back up. Some people are just awful.

I hate when people recline their seats in cattle class. It really does impact on you, especially on long haul as the TV screen is then uncomfortably close so I can't focus on it without getting eye strain. I think it should be banned.

The most annoying thing I've ever had happen to me though was a woman deciding to read a broad sheet newspaper in the seat behind me and balancing the top of it on my head!!! I politely asked her 4 times to take it off, and maybe fold it to read it, then pushed it off my head twice, cabin crew also asked her to not do it, when she did it again I reached back snatched it out of her hands, screwed it up and threw it on the floor.

Whyhavei i am actually laughing out loud!!! What a cheek! Some people are just entitled, they think the rest of us are here to.. well.. prop up their newspaper ;-)

On my recent long haul flights (virgin, BA & Thai) they ask passengers to put there seats up for mealtimes

The newspaper 😂😂

Recent long hall flight, woman in front reclined her seat for the entire flight. I could barely move my legs. Refused to put it up when the food was served - I asked her as flight attendant didn't.

I rather passive aggressively had to use the back of her seat to help me get out to go to the loo. She gave me the daggers for that. And I did use the touch screen quite a lot.

If this has happened to me at mealtime I ve always called one of the air stewards and they ve requested that the person in front raises their seat, it’s standard practice on the airlines I ve travelled with. I have no issues with people reclining seats at any other time but it becomes very cramped during mealtimes when space is required to eat comfortably

I honestly don't know why seats in economy recline. There is no way to recline without making it uncomfortable for the person behind you. I had my son on my lap.as a baby and the person infront reclined and the chair hit him on the head. I never recline my seat but wish the option was just taken away.

It is on budget airlines for short haul flights Underthecedartree

There's no way I will sit bolt upright for 12 hours, would kill my back. If someone reclines their seat, just recline yours as well, you'll get the space back.

I honestly don't know why seats in economy recline

Have you ever flown to Australia in economy?

@PhoneLock - no! I see your point but for shorthaul they are just a nuisance!

I hate when people recline their seats in cattle class. It really does impact on you, especially on long haul as the TV screen is then uncomfortably close so I can't focus on it without getting eye strain

But surely you also recline yours as well? So the distance is the same as if both were upright.

I'm 5'11 and fly 11-hour flights yearly. I also do short haul once or twice a year for work trips and holidays. Always economy class. Never ever ever had an issue with the seat in front reclining. Never felt it made any difference to my already tight space.

Recent long hall flight, woman in front reclined her seat for the entire flight

Totally normal. I would say most people do.

I'm 6'7" and barely fit in plane seats. Once flew short haul, only 45 minute flight, and guy in front tried to recline seat. I had to tap him on the shoulder and explain that his seat would not recline as my knees were in the way! He got very upset, stormed off, and I didn't see him again until we landed. Lol
Some airlines, such as aer lingus, I cannot even sit in the seat with the lack of leg room

He got very upset, stormed off, and I didn't see him again until we landed. Lol
Stormed off, on a 45 minute flight. Where did he go to?

I assume he went and loitered around the toilets at the back

The problem, at least with the major airlines, is that they quite often use the same airplanes for longer and shorter haul. So to restrict reclining in shorter flight, say to Dublin or Paris would mean that airplane could not be used to fly to Dubai or New York.
From a business point of view, it makes no sense.