Reclining seat on a plane

[darksideofthemooncup]

I don't think I was being unreasonable but wanted to get others' take on it. BA economy flight, middle seat, man in front of me reclined his seat then had a go at me because he could feel my knees through the back of his seat. I explained that a 5,10'', short of amputation there wasn't a lot I could do about it and perhaps the problem was more about him reclining his seat onto my knees. At which point he then doubled down and said I should book first class. I'm afraid I didn't cover myself in glory and told him in no uncertain terms where to go. So, my position is that on economy flights where space is limited, just because you can recline your seat, it doesn't mean you should, AIBU?

You clearly dont care about the person behind, extrapolating that you are generally inconsiderate about other people so logically if you were a smoker you would feel comfortable lighting up.

Why didn't you just recline yours? Problem solved. You were making an issue by refusing to recline. The family behind you could have reclined also. I'm not sure why everything had to be a fight these days.

That’s a hell of a reach!

Where my seat is made to recline I will always recline, short or long haul. Seating bolt upright is difficult for many people & just because it's a daytime flight doesn't mean it's everyone's body clock time. Last week I came off 12 hour nightshift, straight to airport and a 90 minute flight meant I was getting as much shuteye as I could before having a 3 hour layover and facing a 13 hour flight. Just because I recline I am not a dickhead as many have suggested, but I am someone who has paid for a service that I need to use. If you're not happy where seats are made to recline, take it up with airline or use another airline with more space

Gosh, this reminds me of when I reclined on an early morning flight and the utter buffoon behind me kept kneeing me in the back. I went back upright, gave it a few minutes then rammed the seat into his knees. Two can play at that game 🤣 He was giving a running commentary so I knew he was just deliberately being a dick.

I'm torn. I'm a leggy 5'9 but generally accspt people can recline outside of mealtimes. It can be frustrating if people recline when it doesn't work for you but they give so little space on flights that an extra couple of inches feels worth it.

I like that some airlines have seats that don't recline! That's a very good idea.
I wouldn't do it myself, but if someone started complaining about my knees in their back after reclining into me, they can put up with it - I wouldn't be moving them out the way or making an effort to keep still for their benefit.

Honestly, I don't think reclining is a problem, as others said, it's such a small amount that it doesn't make much difference.

I've flown economy short haul and long haul a lot of times.

At 6ft myself, I've never had an issue with my knees digging into the seat in front.

I've also never had a problem with the person on front of me reclining their seat. The only time I might prefer some notice if i had a drink on the table.

Tbh, if its such a problem then they shouldn't be made to recline. There's a lot of unspoken rules about reclining that I've never heard, which makes me wonder if it's a British thing? If you complained to the flight attendants that the seat in front of you was reclined, they're not going to tell that person to return it upright. They aren't doing anything wrong.

The man's attitude was completely wrong, but why shouldn't he recline the seat. How do you know he didn't have a bad back and the recline eased it a little? (Doesn't sound like it but just thinking of reasons other people might need to).

Don't be ridiculous. Seats in an upright position are very uncomfortable for a long flight. Especially a night flight. Your husband should book the extra legroom seats if he knows this will cause an issue for the people in front of him. Lots of people need to recline because if back problems etc. it's not fair for you to just take that option away from them. It will also mean your husband M is more comfortable as there is very little legroom on flights these days which I suspect has caused this ongoing issue. Rather than get annoyed with the person who is just using the facilities they have paid for, perhaps complain to the airline about the ridiculously tiny amount of legroom they now provide and the knock on effect this is having.

If the seat reclines then you shouldn’t feel bad reclining it. Yelling at you was wrong. Reclining is fine.

He’s perfectly entitled to recline his seat anytime except for during meal
service - unless you were deliberately kneeing him in the back (which I have had people do) then he shouldn’t have had a go at you.

Requiring someone not to recline, which they are entitled to do, because you are tall is special treatment.

If your point is just that he shouldn’t complain if you move occasionally and he can feel it then I agree with you - if you recline then you take the risk that you may feel the occasional movement (different if you were pushing against the seat which some people do when annoyed that someone has reclined but I’m assuming you didn’t do that). However, you seem to be complaining about him reclining at all.

Yanbu, assuming it’s day time, I hate reclining seats - makes me feel claustrophobic. Why should every one have to recline their seats just because this guy has - basically his solution is for you to recline and it’s a domino effect.

😂 he reclined his seat into her knees then moaned about it but she's the one being unreasonable ok then. He was a rude twat OP there are lots of them about though

I'd never recline on a 4 hour day time flight, even though I'd love to 😂 If I'm flying economy on a short haul I almost expect to be uncomfortable for a time to be honest. I've never come across mealtimes on a short economy flight but people often are using the drop down trays for drinks and sandwiches.

You're not a unicorn there, millions of people do the same and manage to get their doze in without fully reclining their seat. Being respectful of the fact that the vast majority of people on a daytime flight will be awake and reading/eating/working and using the space in front of them.

Airlines are gradually removing reclining seats so unlucky for all those who recline because even the airlines recognise it's a dick move.

It's not special treatment.

Reclining is taking someone's space. It's rude, theres barely any space anyway. Flights are bad enough without inconsiderate dicks reclining their seats.

If you asked the person before reclining into their space what do you think they would say?

I am pleased airlines are removing reclining seats.

I hate when people recline their seats. Sometimes you do not know what plane you're going to get or they change it from say a dreamliner to an old biddy plane and I've been on an older plane where the seat in front is not very far from my face, the tray goes into my belly, and my legs are already digging into the seat prior to recline as a 5ft3/4 slim person. My other half walked off the plane like he needed a good oiling at his hip and knees. Also a bit like he shit his pants.

And those suggesting people don't go economy... some people can only afford to go on holiday on standard flights. Does that mean no holiday at all?

I think that this is to do with social etiquette and the guy created the problem without consideration and then complained to someone else, who was being affected (should be the complainer).

It's the airlines fault in reality, if they cared there would be less seats so that it was more feasible. Its hard enough to go to the loo as a slim person when the seats are upright in front. And they will always be people who only care about themselves.

Perhaps reclining seats should be the next airline add on? I’d happily pay the extra to get away from the “recliners are inconsiderate/entitled/selfish” brigade.

I had someone in front of me recline on a 2.5 hour flight to Stockholm the other day.

You did nothing wrong OP. I personally hate it when someone reclines fully on day flights, it’s so entitled. Outside of take off and landing with young DC I pretty much always have my tray out with our drinks
on as they are usually using theirs for colouring.

Can't believe the number of people on this thread who think the OP can somehow have shorter legs.

Or think that the taller person they know doesn't have an issue in airplane seats therefore OP is unreasonable.

OP YANBU - reclining is absolutely a dick move on a short haul flight and to complain about reclining onto someone else is just incredible.

We’e never going to get universal agreement on MN on this.

”reclining is absolutely a dick move on a short haul flight ”

Sounds “dick” until you’re the individual who has had a night out of bed before connecting with a AM short haul flight and needs to catch up on some Zzzzzz’s.