Is it rude to recline your seat on an airplane?

[Amira]

Does your height or the height of the person behind you matter at all?  Would you use a device that prevented the person in front of you from reclining?  

 

I'm wondering what others' opinions are after reading this article about a flight getting diverted because of an argument over legroom.  Obviously, this is an extreme example, but I know people who have strong feelings about reclining and I'm wondering what people here think.

[Ellie]

I would not consider it to be rude. I would not use a device that prevented the person in front of me from reclining.

 

I do not expect the same kind of comfort on an airplane that I do at home. If I did, I would save up my money for years and years so I could fly first class, KWIM? I fly coach because that's what I can afford, and I expect to be cozy with my neighbors.

 

Now, I do expect my neighbors not to kick the back of my seat, or to whistle. :-)

[maize]

It is not rude to recline, it is rude to prevent someone else from reclining.

[Word Nerd]

I do think it is rude to recline because the space behind you is not yours to use. However, I would just stew in silence and not try to prevent the person in front of me from making me uncomfortable.

[wapiti]

The *very* frequent fliers that I know were discussing this on FB.  They all agree that it would be rude to use the device *and* that reclining is rude, at least or especially without checking that there aren't drinks or a laptop behind them.

[maize]

Most of the flights I have been on were long international flights. EVERYONE reclines their seats to try to sleep. I would not pay for a seat that did not recline on such a flight. I do consider the space across which my seat reclines to be part of the space included in my seat ticket; by the same rule, the space across which the seat in from of me reclines belongs to that seat and its occupant.

 

Seats should be brought upright during meals however.

[catz]

The only time I think it's rude to recline is when they're bringing around food.  The table still is useful for a drink if the seat is reclined.  If you don't want to deal with that, you should upgrade to first class.  Flying stinks.  It's just a fact of life. 

 

I also always feel bad for the person that gets the back row that does not recline!

[AlmiraGulch]

The *very* frequent fliers that I know were discussing this on FB.  They all agree that it would be rude to use the device *and* that reclining is rude, at least or especially without checking that there aren't drinks or a laptop behind them.

 

I agree with this.

 

I am a frequent flier.  

 

You just don't recline, in most circumstances.  Particularly if the person behind you is trying to use their tray for something, be it a laptop for work, or anything else.  

 

Obviously this is just a general rule, as I wouldn't expect someone not to every recline on a red eye, or an overseas flight, for example.

 

You also should never, ever use a device to prevent someone else from doing so, since technically they are allowed to do so.

[medawyn]

I fly frequently, and I don't think it is rude to recline.  I think most frequent fliers tend to check what's behind them, and many people I know just do a partial recline.

 

That being said, I'm 28 weeks pregnant and traveling with my 18 month old on my lap.  I'm really crossing my fingers that the passenger in front of me does not recline his or her seat on my upcoming flight - I barely have enough room as it is!

 

I definitely agree with not kicking/frequently bumping the seat in front of you.  I don't even let my DS *touch* the seat in front right now, to establish that habit.  The adults who frequently jostle my seat deserve the fussy, woken up baby they get.

[vonfirmath]

I do think it is rude to recline because the space behind you is not yours to use. However, I would just stew in silence and not try to prevent the person in front of me from making me uncomfortable.

 

Agreed. With the tiny amount of space on airplanes, I don't know why they have the option to recline and even more decrease the space of the person behind you.  For this reason, when I fly, I refuse to recline my chair.

 

[dirty ethel rackham]

I do think it is rude to recline.  Seats are small enough that one someone reclines into your space, it is really unworkable.  I can't cross or uncross my legs when the seat in front of me reclines. I am 5'8" - somewhat tall for a woman, but fairly short for a man, plus I am mostly average for weight.    I can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be for someone larger than me. 

 

I also think it is rude to let splay your legs into someone else's seat space. I had a very fit-looking young man take up my leg room. Since it was a business trip, I happened to have a leather notepad portfolio with metal corners.  I used that to protect my space.  I really did not want his bare legs touching my bare legs. 

[wendyroo]

I don't think it is rude to recline your seat, but I think kindness can go a long way toward making the flight as pleasant as possible for everyone.  Before I recline my seat I try to surreptitiously glace back, and if a person in the row behind me is elderly, obese, wrangling a small child, etc. then I decide they need the space more than I do and I keep my seat upright.

 

Once when I was flying by myself with my 2 year old and 4 month old the man in front of me put his seat back and then got told off by his wife for being rude and thoughtless.  I tended to agree with her in that particular circumstance (and I was grateful for the extra space as I tried to nurse the baby and read to the toddler at the same time), but I'm betting the guy was just oblivious rather than rude.

 

Wendy

[Arcadia]

I installed my boy's car seat forward facing for the 7hr + 9hr plane ride across the Pacific Ocean (we took the bassinet row). I would ask for a change of seat if I can't recline my seat for whatever reasons. It is not so bad for an hour flight but it is horrible for long flights. Being allowed to recline is assumed to be part of the airfare unless stated.

[SemiSweet]

I don't think it's rude at all. I've never felt much more constricted than I already was when the person in front of me reclined. I almost always recline because I have sciatica and sitting like that makes my legs go numb. It's what, like 3 inches at the top? Not enough to be a big deal to me, either way.

[TammyS]

I don't think that it's rude to recline.  It IS my space to use, because it's designed into the seat that I paid to use.

 

That said, being on a plane is a tough spot for everyone.  A little grace and a little fortitude go a long way.  If you can manage to not recline (especially for a short flight) all the better.  Or just a partial recline.  If you've got a pregnant, with baby, or extra tall (hey, my son is 6'8" he doesn't need a device to prevent people from reclining)....see if you can manage not to, or if you're just bushed and need to, maybe ask them to swap seats.  Flexibility is helpful, ya know?

[Greta]

Maybe I've been flying on the wrong airlines, but the seats that I've been in only recline a couple of inches.  It doesn't take that much space from the person behind me, but the softer angle makes a lot of difference for me in the amount of pain I'm in by the end of a long flight (I have piriformis syndrome and sitting really aggravates it.)  So I recline.

 

I really think that the problem with this debate is not the people who want to recline, or the people who don't want the person in front of them to recline, but the airlines who cram more and more people into a confined space, offering less and less legroom and comfort.  I cannot afford to upgrade to first class.  But if there was an airline that eliminated the two-class system completely and distributed the room (and the expense) more evenly, I would be a devoted customer!

[Word Nerd]

I haven't flown for many years. Maybe seats don't recline as much as they used to?

[edelweiss]

Of course not.  The recline feature is part of the seat, so the passenger's airfare includes that feature.  I can't imagine how it could be rude to use a feature that you paid for and are entitled to.  

 

Now, I do agree that seating is tight, and it is important to be polite and courteous and to recline gradually and slowly.  However, I certainly would never begrudge anyone those few inches of recline.

 

I rarely recline my seat if the flight is only a couple of hours, but I certainly understand that some people have back issues, etc. that make it more comfortable to do so.  

[FriedClams]

I fly a lot.

 

I do not recline. I do not allow my kids to recline.

 

I think anything preventing reclining should be banned.

[Camelfeet]

I'm a frequent international flyer, and I think a device that stops a person from reclining would be rude.  I think the space into which my seat reclines is mine, and the space where the seat in front of me reclines is not mine.  I'm not going to spend 8+ hours sitting upright and not sleeping out of some misplaced sense of courtesy. 

 

Besides, most flights I've been on have seats that only recline slightly.  You can still use the table for food and drinks and watch the screen.  It isn't that big of a deal.

[Vera]

I recline unless the person behind me is in the last row. Nobody has ever minded.

[Miss Tick]

Why do we blame the paying passenger when that is one of the "features" of airplane seats? The manufacturers and the airlines know exactly what they are selling you. How convenient for them thatwe are blaming each other for using the commodity as they have designed it.

 

That said, I can't afford to fly anything other than coach when we fly. I just expect a hot, crowded, stressful time and hope that it all goes as smoothly as possible. If the person in front off me wants to recline that is just pay of the experience.

[Sun]

I recline unless the person behind me is in the last row. Nobody has ever minded.

 

No, nobody has ever complained. I don't and wouldn't complain about others reclining their seats in front of me, but, yeah, I do mind.

 

I don't think it's necessarily rude to recline, but it's often not that considerate either. Shoving your seat back at full force without checking what's going on behind you is rude, however!

[Ewe Mama]

I don't recline unless trying to sleep during international flights. I have no problem if other people do recline in front of me. I have a smaller build, so I can usually shift one way or the other and still be ok.

 

I harbor a secret hope that, with so many in-flight rage problems occurring, airlines may build more spacious planes so everyone has more legroom. I can't think of anyone who enjoys that oh-so-cozy sardine feeling when being sandwiched between complete strangers on a 20 hour flight.

[mumto2]

In my experience the heavier the person is in front of you the more the seat reclines, I recently spent a flight with the top of some guy's head uncomfortably close. Seat might of been broken but I have looked and many seats appear to go far more than 2 inches. I never recline because I do think it is rude unless it is long haul and the person behind me has reclined. I have long legs and my knees normally naturally touch the back of the seat ahead when I sit properly. I really resent having to sit at an odd angle so someone can recline especially on an under 3 hour flight.

[Jane in NC]

I only recline on international flights or a redeye from CA--and never during meals.

 

The idea that one has paid for a certain amount of space and is hence entitled to it intrigues me.  How do you deal with the armrest that is shared by the person next to you? 

 

One a recent flight, the person next to me was watching The Wolf of Wall Street on his Ipad. I wondered what the film was because the Ipad went from his tray table to his lap where he would occasionally hold the device to his body to shield the content from those around him.  The problem was that every time this six foot, several inch guy moved the Ipad to his body, his elbows shot beyond the arm rests and into my space.  It was bizarre.  

 

I guess I view the space around my seat as "my space" and avoid reclining to enter into someone else's space--unless I can presume everyone is trying to sleep. 

[gingersmom]

I have been on the Newak-Denver flight many times and those people are crazy!!

 

Not surprised at what happened at all.

[wendyroo]

I harbor a secret hope that, with so many in-flight rage problems occurring, airlines may build more spacious planes so everyone has more legroom. I can't think of anyone who enjoys that oh-so-cozy sardine feeling when being sandwiched between complete strangers on a 20 hour flight.

 

They already have seats with more legroom: First Class.  If they gave all the people more legroom then they would not be able to fit as many seats in the plane and they would have to raise the prices for everyone in order to stay in business.  In this day and age where everything is focus-tested, I think we can assume that the airlines are doing their best to balance comfort and price point (and, of course, safety).

 

Wendy

[Mrs Mungo]

I mostly fly on long flights. It isn't comfortable (to say the least) to not recline at all. The seats do not recline very much. I haven't ever really had trouble eating a meal on the tray table because the person in front of me had reclined their seat. This hasn't really been an issue for me. The way laptops open, they aren't terribly compatible with sitting on the tray table. Most people seem to fly with some sort of tablet.

 

I do feel sorry for tall people.

 

If people reclining their seats make you engage in crazy behavior, then you should probably pay to upgrade your seat to business class or first class (it isn't always even *that* much more expensive).

[wintermom]

Why on earth would it be rude to use the airline's chair as it was designed to be used? 

[In The Great White North]

 

 

I haven't flown for many years. Maybe seats don't recline as much as they used to?

 

No, they don't recline as much as they used to.  They aren't as wide as they used to be (which never was as wide as a person's shoulders).  There isn't as much leg room as there used to be.  The aisles are narrower than they used to be.  Google "airplane seat size changes"

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/airlines-trim-seat-sizes-weights-boost-capacity-reduce-fuel-costs-article-1.1486440

 

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/the-shrinking-airline-seat

 

To make matters worse, it depends on which aircraft you get, which can switch at the last minute.

[TranquilMind]

I do think it is rude to recline because the space behind you is not yours to use. However, I would just stew in silence and not try to prevent the person in front of me from making me uncomfortable.

Me too.  I don't recline and place myself right up in the next person's grill.  Just not cool.  I stay in my space and hope they will stay in theirs.  I'm already tall, so my head will be RIGHT THERE in front of the next guy's face.  I'm not comfortable with that. 

[TranquilMind]

They already have seats with more legroom: First Class.  If they gave all the people more legroom then they would not be able to fit as many seats in the plane and they would have to raise the prices for everyone in order to stay in business.  In this day and age where everything is focus-tested, I think we can assume that the airlines are doing their best to balance comfort and price point (and, of course, safety).

 

Wendy

Some airlines do not have First class at all.  Southwest, for example.  First come, first served. 

 

I still think it works better if everyone just stays in his own space, and doesn't recline or encroach into the space of others. 

[TranquilMind]

In my experience the heavier the person is in front of you the more the seat reclines, I recently spent a flight with the top of some guy's head uncomfortably close. Seat might of been broken but I have looked and many seats appear to go far more than 2 inches. I never recline because I do think it is rude unless it is long haul and the person behind me has reclined. I have long legs and my knees normally naturally touch the back of the seat ahead when I sit properly. I really resent having to sit at an odd angle so someone can recline especially on an under 3 hour flight.

This! 

[Mrs Mungo]

Some airlines do not have First class at all.  Southwest, for example.  First come, first served.

You don't have to fly those airlines. Also, I think this is much less of an issue on regional airlines. Southwest isn't flying from CONUS to Europe or Hawaii or Australia.

 

I still think it works better if everyone just stays in his own space, and doesn't recline or encroach into the space of others.

Sorry, but I don't think most people can comfortably sit *that* straight upright on long flights. The vast majority of people I see recline their seats on those types of flights. Granted, there isn't as much need on short flights.

[8circles]

Lol! No, not rude to recline. Yes, rude to prevent others reclining

[PrincessMommy]

I would not consider it to be rude. I would not use a device that prevented the person in front of me from reclining.

 

I do not expect the same kind of comfort on an airplane that I do at home. If I did, I would save up my money for years and years so I could fly first class, KWIM? I fly coach because that's what I can afford, and I expect to be cozy with my neighbors.

 

Now, I do expect my neighbors not to kick the back of my seat, or to whistle. :-)

 

I agree with all of this... but I'll add, that I also think it's rude to prevent the person in front of me to not recline.   I may not like it, but that's the price for flying cheap.

[Jean in Newcastle]

In the article posted, the device used was actually banned by the airline they were on.  

[Mrs Mungo]

In the article posted, the device used was actually banned by the airline they were on.

I wish we knew the full story here. Did the Flight Crew know the devices were banned by the airline? Had they been trained in how to deal with the issue? Did the woman alert the Flight Crew to the problem? Using such a device is rude, IMO, but dumping water on someone is completely insane public behavior.

[Jane in NC]

In the article posted, the device used was actually banned by the airline they were on.  

 

Unfortunately certain bans don't apply to special people.  The last flight I was on, the person behind me took a phone call as we began our descent.  Clearly the rule about electronics in "airplane mode" did not apply to her!

[Jean in Newcastle]

I wish we knew the full story here. Did the Flight Crew know the devices were banned by the airline? Had they been trained in how to deal with the issue? Did the woman alert the Flight Crew to the problem? Using such a device is rude, IMO, but dumping water on someone is completely insane public behavior.

At least it was just water. . .     I do think that the whole thing was way over-the-top. I wonder if both of them had assertiveness training!   :lol:

[Jane in NC]

At least it was just water. . .     I do think that the whole thing was way over-the-top. I wonder if both of them had assertiveness training!   :lol:

 

We need a term comparable to road rage.  Plane pique? Air vexation? Cattle car rampage?

 

[Chris in VA]

I wish we knew the full story here. Did the Flight Crew know the devices were banned by the airline? Had they been trained in how to deal with the issue? Did the woman alert the Flight Crew to the problem? Using such a device is rude, IMO, but dumping water on someone is completely insane public behavior.

 

Didn't read the article, but heard it on the news.

 

The person in the front seat tried to recline, but was prevented by the device.

The flight attendant told the person to remove the device; he declined to do so.

Then the person in front turned around and threw the water, and the fight ensued.

 

I think both were at fault.

 

I don't think it's rude to recline--never thought of that. The space behind you IS your space, as far as your seat reclines, just as that person has some space behind HIS chair.

 

[wapiti]

I saw some posts wondering whether they were both from NJ.

 

And speculating that perhaps they would end up together.

[FaithManor]

I don't think it is rude to recline. However, I do think it is appropriate if you are sleeping, to be awakened by a flight attendant and asked to bring your seat upright during the meal because it's harder for the people behind to eat.

 

What I do think is rude is for a large person to plop into the seat and sit on your husband's arm so that he can't move for 2.5 hours without being accused of something. DH didn't have any feeling in his arm when we landed. The flight attendant asked the person to adjust herself and get her body off his arm (she did it nicely but firmly), and the woman flipped the flight attendant the bird. Nothing was done after that. But, I thought failure to comply with requests from flight crew was illegal. We complained to get the money back from his ticket. It was ridiculous because she should have been forced to move. They refused to do anything. Word of warning, this was American Airlines.

[skimomma]

I don't recline unless on long flights and I ask the person behind me first.  I don't get bent out of shape if the person in front of me reclines, even without asking, even though it does annoy me.  How hard is it to give a little warning?  What does make me angry is people who aggressively recline while I have coffee on my tray.  There is nothing more fun than mopping up a lap full of spilled coffee......

 

And there are whole AIRPORTS that do not have flights out with first class.  Ours is in this category.  So that is not always an option.

[FaithManor]

We need a term comparable to road rage.  Plane pique? Air vexation? Cattle car rampage?

 

Jane, I think cattle car rampage sounds about right for economy class! LOL

[Grover]

I used to fly frequently for work.  I had my water spilled on me when the seat in fron suddenly reclined, my laptop smashed when it got caught under the edge of the seat as it reclined (the seat was faulty and the airline replaced the computer) and I once had to balance my lunch on my arm while I ate because the tray table was not able to sit flat with the seat reclined and the person in the seat refused to put it up during meal service.  I'd be quite happy if seats didn't recline. 

[FaithManor]

You don't have to fly those airlines. Also, I think this is much less of an issue on regional airlines. Southwest isn't flying from CONUS to Europe or Hawaii or Australia.

 

 

Sorry, but I don't think most people can comfortably sit *that* straight upright on long flights. The vast majority of people I see recline their seats on those types of flights. Granted, there isn't as much need on short flights.

This! We only had five hours to Iceland, but it was a red eye and sleep was a must. It was hard enough to relax without being able to adjust the seat. Poor dh, he ended up being the "armrest of the couch" since P put his pillow against my shoulder and leaned, and I put my pillow on dh and leaned. Dear man...he's such a good sport.

[Jane in NC]

I don't think it is rude to recline. However, I do think it is appropriate if you are sleeping, to be awakened by a flight attendant and asked to bring your seat upright during the meal because it's harder for the people behind to eat.

 

What I do think is rude is for a large person to plop into the seat and sit on your husband's arm so that he can't move for 2.5 hours without being accused of something. DH didn't have any feeling in his arm when we landed. The flight attendant asked the person to adjust herself and get her body off his arm (she did it nicely but firmly), and the woman flipped the flight attendant the bird. Nothing was done after that. But, I thought failure to comply with requests from flight crew was illegal. We complained to get the money back from his ticket. It was ridiculous because she should have been forced to move. They refused to do anything. Word of warning, this was American Airlines.

 

US Airways and  American have merged.  Living where I live, I am often on US Airways puddle jumpers to a hub.   Puddle jumpers are usually arranged with 2 by 2 seating.  It is the 3 by 3 situation in the cattle car that is awkward.  The middle person loses his arm rest if aisle and window passengers occupy both of theirs. Do some people feel claustrophobic if they are squeezed into the middle and then the guy in front reclines his seat?