Who was unreasonable regarding plane seat ?

[planerider]

Inspired by another thread.

This happened a few years ago, but it annoyed me.

The flight was around 7 hours long. I had paid extra to have the exit seat in economy, as I was suffering from a bad back. I paid quite a lot extra for the seat, it's something I try to do, as I have back problems and it helps.

The woman behind me had quite a big child on her lap during the flight and was sat next to the child's father.

Because of this, I was unable to recline my seat for the entire flight. I tried very gently reclining it a little at some stage ( before I had seen the child ) but she was angry and swore, so I put it upright.

Who was unreasonable here ? Or do we generally think anyone reclining their seat is unreasonable ? I tend to recline my seat on very long flights, when the lights are dimmed for sleeping, as do most others on those flights. I don't recline on short hall.

Everytime she tapped I moved it up a bit.... rather than reclining it over and over again. I only ever fly to south africa (family) so I don't know about other long haul destinations, but on a night flight about an hour after take off (so midnight, since the last flight out of OR Tambo International is just after 11) they turn the cabin lights right down and everyone goes to sleep. Every single person on my row and the row in front had their seats fully reclined, so I'm glad the flight attendant sorted it out for me.

I did find this article:

abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=5475316&page=1

There is a special place in hell for recliners

I regularly fly transatlantic, soon as the meals have been cleared my seat is reclined.

Just can’t see how anyone will ever be happy with recliner seats in economy when there just isn’t the room. They just shouldn’t make them.

Totally agree with this.

Spot on.

Totally agree

This drives me potty. If the seat reclines, I can recline it.

You DO know economy covers long haul? 18-hour flights?

And your point is? Even more reason why the limited amount of space you get shouldn’t be encroached on. It is possible to go to sleep sitting up - God knows I’ve done it plenty of times when it’s been embarrassing!

The point is that the number of people who find sitting upright for 18 hours uncomfortable and are less bothered by having space in front of them reduced if they can also recline is greater (probably far greater) than those who are more bothered by the space issue. As is clearly evidenced on any long haul flight - the overwhelming majority of seats go back after the meal service, most people try to sleep some or all of the time, others lie back and watch films. Posters saying economy seats ‘shouldn’t’ go back don’t seem to realise you can’t please everyone on this issue and they are the minority.

I don't think planes should have reclining seats as there just isn't enough space! In order to have reclining seats comfortably the number of seats would need to be reduced in the planes

Thanks for sharing!

🤣

With all due respect, depending on how old the child is, if hes younger than 1 year old then I'd say the childs parents are at fault. But if the child is older than 2, then its the person reclining the chairs fault however that child on the image should be in his/her own seat.

If reclining for your comfort causes someone real physical pain then don't. Better that both are slightly uncomfortable than one being comfortable and the other comfortable.
Ridiculous someone with long legs is expected to pay more for a different seat. Some people can't afford more.
The seats should be spaced out better, rather than the airline trying to make as much money as possible.

One being comfortable and the other in pain*

I can't see how you could recline an economy seat with a small child sitting on a parent's lap behind without having your seat back practically crushing the child against their parent, given the limited space.

And crushing a small child just because you want to recline your seat does seem slightly unreasonable. Not to mention that you'd presumably have said small child hanging over the top of your seat like a little gremlin for the rest of the flight, no doubt encouraged by their irate parent.

Exactly and as a parent I wouldn't stop them in this scenario. Consideration goes both ways.