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?

Brilliant! I never thought of this but will use it next time.

Eeek you are nice 😧 The leg room is un generous and reclining guy complaining of what is an obvious consequence is an arse

It's probably too expensive or there are safety reasons against it, but wouldn't it be great if airlines could install the type of seats that are on some trains that recline by moving the seat forward, so the person wanting to recline loses there own leg room and there is no effect on the person behind.

@Just4thisthreadtoday

"
she can sit how the fuck she likes in her seat! She's under no obligation to sit as you describe so some one one else can recline more comfortably."

Ok so she can sit the fuck how she likes in her seat but he can't?

Where is the logic in that?

Omg so many short people who know everything about having long legs and flying.
Husband 6ft 3ins 35 inside leg - knees touch the front seat, recline is dig in
Son 6ft 5 36.5 inside leg - knees are wedged in the padding without recline
Me 6ft 35 inside leg- knees touch the front seat

Have given up flying economy over 4 hrs due to the abuse from short entitled people who recline - we have no issue with -
refuse to decline at meal times - aresholes
complain when we try to get up and knees move when theya re in recline - tossers
Whingers who just moan - wankers

We loved the husband and wife who turned to berate my son for kneeing her in the back for the past 10 mins - the seat was empty, he was in the tilet queue.

Recline if you wish, my legs have right to space in my seat space, if you encroach my space then you will notice them - not my problem

Couple of reasons I can think off why it’s not done in economy:

You’d need to increase seat pitch to allow the reclining passenger’s knees to move forward as their seat pan slides forward, which would mean taking seat rows out of the aircraft - not going to happen - also the more complex mechanism would probably add weight to the seat…airlines don’t like weight.

And lots aren't.
DD has to buy jeans with a 34" leg length. She is 5'7.

Just read your post @takeittakeit
I suspect the non believers are vertically challenged and have never felt the discomfort us tall people face when sat in an airline seat with minimal seat pitch.

TBH we alway fork out for extra legroom seats now.

Everyone keeps saying to book extra leg room seats if you are tall. I would love to, but my experience is that they won't let me as I have a disability and couldn't open the door in an emergency so not always an option.

Women on average have longer legs and shorter bodies for their height than men. So less likely to be able to sit comfortably with limited leg room than a man of the same height.

You wouldn’t have to though. The person wanting to recline would just have to weigh up whether it’s worth it to them to lose their own space.

Honestly though, I think seat pitches just need to be bigger and flights cost a bit more - and I say that as an average height woman. Just to shut everyone up!

Everyone who says reclining seats is a dick move.
I have back issues but not severe enough to be classed as disabled, I just have to manage them.
I struggle with upright seats and those 2 inches make the difference me walking off the plane under my own steam or not.

What should I do? I’m afraid I can’t afford business class.

Edit to add - Will sit upright when required I.e mealtimes/take off etc but I can’t sit like that for 4 hours solid.

Flying economy is stress inducing. A lot of the passengers in that part of the plane will be very uncomfortable and somewhat irritable. Recline or don't, there will never be 100% consensus on this. I only fly economy. I try to get a seat on the last row so that I limit how many other people can have an impact on my uncomfortable journey.

Also, I'm 5'7" and my knees touch the back of the seat in front of me when reclined.

you did well only to move them around occasionally, a slight pressure on my knees would make me want to move them around a lot, 4 hours is a long time to have your knees being touched by a seat, urgh! he was a dick!

I totally fail to see the issue with reclining, except during meal service.

Are people meant to do a quick measure of the inside leg of the person behind them before determining whether they will need to sit bolt upright for the duration?

I will die on the hill that reclining your seat if someone is sitting behind you is a dickhead move and shows no regard for other people. I know that people are entitled to, they pay for their seat so should be able to do whatever they want with it etc etc. I've heard all the arguments, but I haven't heard one yet that's made me reconsider.

True to some extent but the issue is if you have long thighs bones you won’t have much if any knee/seat back room available to slide forwards into from the upright position.

TBH given that the airlines are set against weight and complex seats unless they can charge for the facility I think the idea of some form of more complex seat articulation is all a bit academic as far as economy seating is concerned...

You're missing the point: it wasn't the reclining per se that was the problem It was the fact that the man in front who reclined his seat was indeed a dickhead because having reclined his seat he then complained that the person behind him had the temerity to have knees and wouldn't "remove" them for his benefit

I flew to USA and the seat in front of me was broken plus having a 20st plus man reclining made it recline even more. I was asked to swap seats. The plane was about 93% full. I could count the number of hairs the balding guy had too.

Go on Jet2, Easyjet and Ryanair and their seats don't recline. Though wish Jet2's cupholders hold a bottle of water.

Then he should do that, really hope he doesn't fly long haul!

Airlines are gradually removing reclining seats. You can also Google what's CEOs of airlines have to say about people who recline. Essentially they are removing them because most people think people who recline seats are dicks and it causes problems on planes. Airline advice is to ask before reclining - do you ask first or are you a dick?

Sometimes I think I won’t ever fly again because it’s so stressful!

I also have back issues so do appreciate that need for just a little bit of recline.

What needs to be prevented somehow is anyone ended up as OP was - with a recliner in her lap but unable to recline herself due to luck as to who was behind her. And whilst she sat uncomfortably she was still the one criticised by a man who had seen to his own comfort first of all.

they are removing them because most people think people who recline seats are dicks and it causes problems

What is it with the d word?

Fundamentally the removal of reclining seats has little if anything to do with passenger reaction, but “caring” CEOs can make themselves appear to care about customer sentiment on the issue..

Recline removal is 99.999% about money. Removing weight from the airframe (not much, but marginal gains and all that) improves fuel economy, and also reduces the level of maintenance needed in the cabin, so reduces costs.

I really don’t get why people think reclining is their automatic right! The simple fact is that when I fly I have paid for my seat and that includes the space that the seat is in. And I can sit how I like in that seat/space, slouched or not, legs crossed or not because it’s mine. I’ve paid for it. Nobody else is entitled to just ‘steal’ some of the space I have paid for to get all of their space PLUS some of mine too! I have long legs, and I always cross them on a flight so that they reach the back of the seat in front, because that’s how I’m comfortable. The seat in front literally can’t go backwards because my legs are there. Do people seriously think that I should change my position and be uncomfortable just so that someone else can be comfortable in some of my space?? Blows my mind…

Totally with you OP, and @takeittakeit. I’m 6ft tall and most of my height seems to be in my femurs! So my knees almost touch the seat in front even when it’s upright.

I’ve had people get cross that my knees are in their back when they recline. Unfortunately, like you, I can’t pop my legs in checked luggage.