An aggressive passenger in the American Airlines forum on Reddit declares that (1) passengers should not recline their seats, and (2) seats should not recline.
If you recline your seat you are diminishing the space that the passenger behind you has. I don’t know why planes even have the option.
…Don’t recline. Don’t. Just don’t. ..When you recline your seat, what..do you think happens to the person behind you??
Calling seat recliners “entitled,” the passenger says that if a passenger in front of them reclines they’ll “tug on” their seat and “do whatever I can to make yo[ur] trip miserable.”
And since this is a commonly-held view, it seems to be one worth correcting.
- Seat recline is important for passengers on long flights with poorly-padded seats. Recline works to distribute passenger weight and reduce back stress.
- Reclining is also a passenger’s right when it’s a feature of your seat. A passenger controls their own seat. Airlines ban the Knee Defender device, which prevents recline – a device was designed to stop reclining. While their interest is prevent damage to the seat, they do not allow the passenger seated behind to interfere with the recline function.
- If you want to ensure that the passenger in front of you cannot recline, get a bulkhead seat – or fly Spirit Airlines or Frontier. Their seats don’t recline.
That said, there is an etiquette to exercising your right to recline. Don’t recline during mealtime. Try not to recline unless it serves a real purpose (if it doesn’t actually benefit your comfort, don’t recline). And recline slowly, don’t slam your seat into the person’s laptop behind you.
If you don’t want the passenger in front of you to recline, politely ask them not to. And if they want to recline and you don’t want them to, consider whether it’s worth your while to make not reclining worth their while.
Usually I want to work. I can sometimes do that with Southwest Airlines’ seat pitch, they give 1-2 more inches of legroom than most airlines do in their regular coach seats. And I can generally work in extra legroom coach. But I’m going to have a hard time using my laptop in coach with 30 inches between seats. If the passenger in front of you reclines, all bets are off. Politely ask them if you might work for a bit before they recline, offer to buy them a cocktail, or even to switch seats with them. Or if it’s valuable to you, then offer a small amount of cash.
Seats recline, full stop. Stop whining about it.
@William Martell, while I have a great deal of sympathy for you as I’ve seen how tall people have a problem in economy, I have a very bad back and the shape of the seats is a killer to me especially if the seat have that top of seat angled forward. It’s always in the wrong place for me. I can take a half hour of non-recline and will sit up during a meal, but other than that I’m in a full recline and I do it with no guilt whatsoever.
What you fail to recognize is that for every tall person there are many others that need that recline due to the terrible standard angle of the seats, their lack of reasonable padding, and the awful headrests that make the seats impossible for many, particularly those who are shorter.
The Captains seat reclines – you essentially pay the Captain – hence, you should be able to recline too.
@John A, for many of us, even a 1-2 hour flight can be hell on our backs if we have to stay in the upright position for the entire flight. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is.
I’ll recline slowly. I’ll stay upright during the meal. I’ll warn the person behind that I’m reclining. But that said, I recline as otherwise they’re going to have to bring a wheelchair and a doctor at the destination. With the terrible design of most airplane seats these days the recline for many of us, particularly as we get older is essential.
You said it’s a complicated issue. It’s not. Everyone should be polite about reclining, but there is nothing wrong with reclining.
Kudos to Spirit and Frontier airlines for having non reclining seats – let those who feel entitled or have back problems fly in business class with the option of reclining seats. Airlines themselves are to blame for this problem as certain homo sapiens cannot be trusted to consider anyone but themselves.
Ok, I usually recline slow and am considerate. But if I recline and you start tugging on my seat and mess with me I will bring it up, wait for your laptop or food and then slam it back, breaking your laptop or spilling your drink all over you. Too bad aggressive Reddit passenger.
I was just on a long-haul from Doha. The woman in front of me immediately reclined her seat to the max and left it there the entire flight. During the night, I got up to use the restroom and found her sound asleep across all three seats. Her kids had gone to sit with her husband. You can be sure I pressed that button and put her seat back into the full upright position.
“…cannot be trusted to consider anyone but themselves.”. Bruce, you sound like the person you’re describing.
Just kick their seat 100 times like an 8 year old.
I have long legs but can cross them and that usually puts them right against the seat in front. If they recline it will not go far. Most give up when it will not move.
My seat. I payed for it. You mess with me we’re going to have a problem. And last I flew, and it’s been many a year, they only reclined about 2″. You can’t handle that ? Like others have said, I cramp up if I can’t recline those seats, if you want to call that reclining.
My back would be in agony if I could not recline due to a past injury. If people are so upset about seats reclining then tell the airlines to allow more space between seats instead of cramming everyone in like sardines. Not everyone is in 5’2″ and in good shape. Even if the airline would make a section for non reclining seats. Also a section for screaming kids and babies.
I respect the right of the person in front of me to recline because I want the person in back of me to respect my right to recline. If it really bothered me that much I would pay for business class or get a seat where people in front of me can’t recline (the bulkhead or the emergency exit row).
I wish they would recline more . I wish I could afford those expensive seats in the front on long trips.If your going to whine about reclining then drive , it is uncomfortable for everyone you big baby . I’m 6,2 and I have to recline and if someone tries to make my life horrible . I will let you know back worse than what you do to me .
Reclining is entirely up to the passenger that paid for the seat, just like raising or lowering the tray table or selecting the entertainment channel, it has nothing to do with anybody else, in any other seat. If you want more leg room or you want to work, then pay for a seat upgrade or pay for business class. End of story.
Fly first class if you need to recline.
Like 6’6” tall with incredibly long legs here…. And while I respect your right to recline, it’s just not happening with me behind you. It’s not intentional of course , it’s that there will be nowhere for you to go! That’s not on me to fix. It’s bad enough that I’ll be in excruciating pain the entire time. Take your complaints up with the airline.
The author wrote: “ And if they want to recline and you don’t want them to, consider whether it’s worth your while to make not reclining worth their while.” The author is encouraging self-interested behavior. Whether it is “worth your while to make not reclining worth their while” is irrelevant. All that matters is that the passenger in front of you had a right to recline and you do not have the right to harass them.
The airlines need to stop packing us in like sardines. It’s not comfortable for anyone. It’s ridiculous how we are being expected to fly on long flights in such an uncomfortable tiny space. No wonder they have people raging in the skies.
It’s a shame there’s no privacy-sparing method to make sure that the people who are in pain if they don’t recline don’t get seated in front of the people who are in pain if the person in front of them reclines.
To make it clear, full sympathy for both groups. I really do wish we could work it out. Dueling accessibility needs are never fun for anyone.
Check your privilege, those of you saying people should pay for first class. Not everyone can afford it. Probably more than average of the people reading this blog, but *I* have never flown first class. Fortunately, I have my own privilege…that of being small enough to fit into an economy seat without issues.
Seats recline. I don’t make the rules I just follow them. If it bothers you that much talk to the airline or get a different seat/airline.
I don’t recline my seat because I am aware of people around me, and I’m not a jerk (in my opinion lol). I think it is rude if the person in front of me to recline without at least asking if I mind. I won’t, however, make a stink about it. I don’t intentionally bump or pull on the seat when they do, but I won’t make any special effort not to either. If you recline, you must realize you are restricting the ability of the person behind you to get up and down and move around, and if I have to bump your seat and wake you up to do so, that was your choice.
The seats recline. Period. Dont like it? Fly business class. End of story.
Don’t mess with someone that’s reclining their seat. Do you want to get banned from air travel?
The seats are made to recline for a reason, and everyone is entitled to do. Don’t sign up for an economy seat and then complain about its features. If you don’t want the issue, pay more for a business class, first class or bulkhead seat. Simple.
Most of you should be on a greyhound bus! The trash that I see on US air carriers these days wow.
Airline seats should NOT recline. Then problem solved!
This is literally the dumbest advice I’ve ever read. You’re basically creating a space for Karens & Kevins to thrive. Shame on you lol. Good luck on getting to your destination without a flight diversion lol
First, AA should ban that passenger. Second, seats recline if you can’t handle that in economy fly first class, business, bulk head or take a bus. Do I like people reclining on me? No, but its their seat and its not my home…so I have to accept it. They paid for their seat just like I paid for mine… For me banning screaming babies on a 14 hour flight would be much more beneficial…
Imagine being one of the losers here complaining about people using things they paid for (like reclining seats)
You sound brain dead as hell saying “oh if you want to recline pay for first class” like no you idiot you are the one who wants to use the facilities in some special way they weren’t designed (ie without dealing with recliners) so you pay for the first class
i always recline… it’s a matter of comfort, especially since the airlines have reduced the legroom by 4” since i started flying in the 70’s. Since everyone can recline except that exit row and the last seat…. well that sucks to be them. If I sat in front of the non-recliner seat I probably wouldn’t recline as much, and yes, buy those people a drink…. although the airlines should do that for them. Just one persons opinion.
I pay for a seat. If it reclines, I paid for that too. If I recline my seat and an adult passenger bangs on it tugs on it or otherwise interferes with its operation or makes me physically uncomfortable, I will stand up amd make that person physically uncomfortable. Albeit we will probably get kicked off the flight on landing, however play stupid games you are entitled to stupid prizes.
Immature brats on both sides of the issue. Airlines hold the blame for a lot of what drives the flying public to the depths of boorish and outlandish behavior! Flying is not pleasurable in any way any more!
The problem is airline deregulation! Before deregulation, air travel prices were fixed by the government. As a result, airlines had to compete by offering better service, comfort, and amenities. Then deregulation happened and we experienced a race to the bottom. The lowest airfare results in the sardine-packed planes, as little service as possible, and a distant memory of what an inflight pillow, blanket, or other amenity might have been like. If the airlines could save a penny by stopping your seat from reclining – the seats would never move again. But since it costs them nothing – they leave it the way it is and are happy that passengers argue about matters like this rather than concerns about cutbacks on safety (remember Boeing 737 Max), maintenance (remember Airbus A350), staffing (choose your airline). Something as important as air travel should be regulated – just as utilities, and the financial sector are supposed to be.
Someone does this when my seat is reclined and it will become a F around and find out lesson for them.
The seat should be designed so that when you recline, it at the same time moves forward.
This way it would keep the leg space for the person behind constant and instead decrease the declining persons legspace.
@Robert, that is a really intriguing idea, but I wonder if putting the seats on tracks would weaken them too much…car seats don’t have to be as rigid/secure as plane seats.
I don’t think there are any engineers around who could weigh in?
You mean like the seats on some Asian airlines? Those seat DO exist just not on us flights. Thats why on international flights ALWAYS fly foreign…
I understand that some people need to recline, and as long as they don’t do it at meal time or when I am trying to use my laptop, I generally don’t have issues with it. (I also often recline on long flights when I want to sleep). But I also have the right to be comfortable during the flight so if my constant changing of positions and switching which leg is crossed or (therefore pressing or banging your headrest as I adjust-and not maliciously, but due to of lack of space to do it without pressing against your seat) then you need to deal with that too. If I need to grab your seat to get up to pee because you have encroached on the space I would normally be able to stand up unassisted in, deal with that too. (I understand that if I am reclined it is next to impossible for someone to get up and use the bathroom without either banging my seat or grabbing it to get up and I deal with it as a very short-lived discomfort, it’s not like it goes on for minutes or hours at at time). Neither of us has more right to be comfortable than the other person and if your need to be comfortable means you need to recline, then deal with it when my need to be comfortable requires me to press on or bang your seat as I switch positions or pull on your head rest as I get up to use the bathroom. It has to go both ways. If everyone just accepted that we are in a ridiculously impractical situation and it’s no one’s fault but the airline’s due to their greed and desire to cram in as many seats as possible, we could stop blaming everyone else for our discomfort. People need to stop being so self-centred, realize that everyone is in the same uncomfortable boat and deal with it. If people could stop focusing on just themselves, life on airplanes would be so much more enjoyable.
I get being respectful and slowly reclining your seat but at the end of the day, I choose and pay for a seat that I can recline in. I rest most of the flight and reclining is necessary so that I’m not flopping all over the place.
If you don’t want the person in front of you to recline, you can pay for that person’s seat and then you have the right to tell them not to recline.
Otherwise, buy a bulkhead or first class seat & you are good to go.
It’s not my fault that you have long legs or that you like to cross your legs during a flight. Basically, you are looking out for your comfort over the other person’s comfort but you seem to think that if they don’t follow “your” wishes, they are being selfish???
Sounds selfish to me.
To bruce and the other entitled princess lisa….if you’d resort to childish acts because of my seat position, I PROMISE you I’d make your miserable lives a hellish nightmare throughout the flight as well, reclined or not! In warfare, the enemy gets a say in your plans! And it will NOT be one-sided as you believe it would be! Now go put your masks back on, go get your 10th booster, and vote for biden, snowflakes!
If I am on a red eye and want to sleep, you bet I recline. Nowadays you pay extra for leg space, window or aisle seat. I pay for my chair to recline. And if it makes your space smaller then you can recline too! What does it decline anyways? 2-3cm. Jeez what are we talking about?
The entitlement of the comments on here surprise me. I feel no need to buy a more expensive ticket to exercise my right to recline. It could be said in counterpoint that if you don’t want to experience someone else exercising their right to recline….buy an upgraded bulkhead ticket. Problem Solved.
I have flown to Australia from the UK about 6 times and love the recline. I anyone thinks I should sit upright for 24 hours so they can play with their laptop they need to start thinking again. I’m only 5′ 7″ and am inconvenienced when people recline in front of me but I accept that that’s why reclining seats were introduced.
Here’s an idea – worked for me. Twat Lady in front waited for seatbelt sign off, then went for max recline – didn’t apologise, regardless of results. Didn’t unrecline for mealtime. So I turned my airvent to max and pointed it forward. Then did the same for one over the middle seat next to me. After 5 hours of ice cold air down her neck as we landed, I got the wonderful satisfaction of hearing thoughtless inconsiderate twat lady say to her partner “MY NECK IS IN AGONY! I CANNOT MOVE MY NECK!”
Funny how not one single person has stated anything remotely similar to accepting another person’s desire to recline or to have someone not recline for whatever reason.
I’m 6’7″ tall, I also fly southwest a lot so I have a better chance at a bulkhead or exit row. The only way I can be almost guaranteed enough legroom.
My knees get crushed if someone reclines suddenly and forcefully when I’m forced to sit behind someone in a non-exit row and they do that. Not a nice position to be put in.
My knees are already in the back of the seat in front of me in economy. If you recline I have no other option than to dig my knees into your back and to tap on the back of the seat relentlessly.
If I want to recline, I am doing so. If you don’t like that, then YOU buy business class. Your discomfort will not inconvenience me. My comfort comes first since I paid for my seat and any options it comes with. I am sick of all the entitled chits who think they can dictate what someone else can or cannot do with a seat they paid for. BTW, if you even think about kicking my seat, you better bring a change of clothes because I always order a Bloody Mary or can of tomato juice, which I promise you will be introduced to if you try that toddler behavior.
6’1″ and tired of airlines taking advantage says:
September 6, 2023 at 1:01 pm
My knees are already in the back of the seat in front of me in economy. If you recline I have no other option than to dig my knees into your back and to tap on the back of the seat relentlessly.
So you punishing me for the airlines seat design and you being 6’1″ and flying economy instead of bulkhead seat or business class…
The seats are WAY TOO CLOSE. You should be able to recline without inconveniencing the person behind you. The airlines are packing us in like sardines and causing us to fight eachother over space. We should be uniting to make the airlines give back the leg space they took away to pack more people in and create the so-called”Premium Coach”.