Reclining the seat in Economy: when is it ok?

[tiaretiti]

Who is ‘right’ to recline a seat in Economy?

My thoughts are that reclining the seat in Economy is perfectly fine overnight if it’s sleeping time. During meal times the seat should not be reclined as it’s unfair on the person behind. During the day it’s preferable not to recline fully unless sleeping.

Recently though, on an 8 hour day flight, the couple infront reclined their seat all the way back for the duration of the flight. They were watching films. They even ignored the air stewardess’ request for them to put the seat in the normal position when they serve food. I couldn’t even eat my food so I had to ask them to put it upright. They shrugged their shoulders until an air stewardess very firmly told them to consider other passengers.

Surely it's always unfair on the person behind as you're inevitably cutting into their space? Unless you can see that they too have reclined their seat?

It's ok any time. The person behind can also recline.

I’d never recline on a short haul flight. The action of an arsehole.

Any time apart from take off, landing and during meal service.

I never recline my seat because I can't sleep on planes anyway. I don't mind if someone reclines into me when it's time to sleep but I get really pissed off if they do it at any other time. People who do it on short haul daytime flights are the worst!

Just not during food.

Fine for flights over 6 hours. Upright for meals.

And one persons ‘short haul daytime’ could be a fellow passengers ‘connecting in the middle of the night’

Only when the lights are dimmed on a night flight.
not all seats are reclinable, as my oh found out on a long hall flight!

I always recline except for when food is being served.

Outside of meals it’s fair game.

Anytime except during meals.

A few years ago there was a design where the recline was made by pulling tour own seat forward rather than going back to the person behind. That would have solved a lit of problems.

It’s fine any time except meal time.

The person behind can also recline their seat.

I dont think the seats should be reclinable, the space is small enough as it is without someones head virtually in your face

They can, but it won’t make their legs any shorter.

Only when lights are dimmed on a night flight.

Buy business class then.

This it's a bit shit but you can also recline your seat so you have the same space.

If my seat reclines, I recline it. The only time I don't is during meal service. Cabin crew tend to be fairly hot on making sure all seats are upright at meal time(s).

Short haul = only satan worshippers recline.

Long haul = reclining is fine outside of awake times, drinks times, meal times, taxi and landing.

Economy has really nothing to do with it, I feel the same in premium economy too.

You should not decline during landing, take off, and meals. At all other times it is fine.

Any time apart from takeoff, landing and meals though I tend not to recline. People who do it during meals are annoying.

Agree with any time except for take off, landing and meal service. Day time for one can be night time for others travelling on multiple flights. Equally short haul for some can be connecting between multiple long flights for others

If people can’t tolerate the person in front reclining when the seat has the provision to do so (aside from above times), they should be saving up and travelling business, using an airline that doesn’t have reclining seats or not travelling at all