Reclined airline seats debate

[Flyrdrive]

My last trip in an AA MD80 I had folks in front recline.  They were 2.5 hour flights, and no meals, but I could sure see someone in my seat being pissed off by not being able to use a laptop or whatever because of the recliner in front.  Much of this problem lies in the seat pitch or spacing used nowadays, it just sucks.  And no, I don't recline in coach, and I would sit up if asked.

I have a bit of a problem with the "It's MY seat, I paid for it" group.  Courtesy is a dying trait.  I imagine you wouldn't be so happy if the guy next to you smelled of last night's frat party and BO and played a shoot-em-up movie on his DVD player with no ear buds.  He paid for HIS seat too.  It seems the people who care most about THEIR rights and comfort care least about anyone else's.  In other words, it's all about ME.

[Big C]

Nope. Never recline. It's not like you get such an amazing amount of comfort by the few inches you get when reclining. However, for big guys like me every single inch of leg room matters. Reclining is rude and selfish. Period. No argument. Discussion closed.

If you recline, you're just a jerk. You're much like the people who cut lines, hit two tee balls when a group is waiting, etc. No, be quiet .... No argument. Discussion over.

Interesting discussion. I have never begrudged someone their right to recline their seat back, and I've never asked permission from the person behind me in those instances when I choose to do so. Come to think of it, in the countless times I have flown I don't think I have EVER seen somebody ask permission to recline their seat. I don't consider myself a rude person, but seeing the passion from the "no recline" side of the table, I guess I'll pay more attention to who is sitting behind me in future flights.

Honest question for Vinsk and the O.P. - if the issue bothers you so much and you recognize that you are in the minority, why don't you pay the extra $$$ and fly in the extra leg room seats that just about every airline offers?

[Lihu]

Some airlines make obese people pay for two seats. This brings up a lot of other problems, like defining what is "obese".

Interesting discussion. I have never begrudged someone their right to recline their seat back, and I've never asked permission from the person behind me in those instances when I choose to do so. Come to think of it, in the countless times I have flown I don't think I have EVER seen somebody ask permission to recline their seat. I don't consider myself a rude person, but seeing the passion from the "no recline" side of the table, I guess I'll pay more attention to who is sitting behind me in future flights.

Honest question for Vinsk and the O.P. - if the issue bothers you so much and you recognize that you are in the minority, why don't you pay the extra $$$ and fly in the extra leg room seats that just about every airline offers?

Being in the under 5'11" crowd has it's advantages. I never gave this any thought either, prior to this discussion. My knees barely touch the lower part of the seat in front.

Now, if someone as big as @Golfingdad sat behind me I would ask if it's okay, and if someone as nice as Golfingdad says it's fine, I might be inclined to only squeak the seat back the tiniest bit, if at all.

[Vinsk]

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them. 2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific. To the silly comment about paying for better seats, you're missing the point entirely. I always fly first class I'm just making a point. But someone shouldn't have to spend money because of others being inconsiderate. Most rational and kind people know reclining is inconsiderate. We are not the minority. Paying extra is just like saying you should pay more money to play exclusive golf courses if you don't like inconsiderate behavior on your golf course.

[Lihu]

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them.

2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific.

To the silly comment about paying for better seats, you're missing the point entirely. I always fly first class I'm just making a point. But someone shouldn't have to spend money because of others being inconsiderate.

Most rational and kind people know reclining is inconsiderate. We are not the minority. Paying extra is just like saying you should pay more money to play exclusive golf courses if you don't like inconsiderate behavior on your golf course.

I added "if at all" later. Basically, if I look back and see a larger person who looks like he or she needs all the room they can get, I would not recline.

I think what I mean is that if someone does not feel entitled to it, I would be more willing to accommodate.

[rehmwa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinsk

Period. No argument. Discussion closed.
No, be quiet .... No argument. Discussion over.

yeah....it's all about courtesy....

Do you share the armrest?

Quote:

LiHu - I think what I mean is that if someone does not feel entitled to it, I would be more willing to accommodate.

this applies so well

[David in FL]

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them.

2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific.

To the silly comment about paying for better seats, you're missing the point entirely. I always fly first class I'm just making a point. But someone shouldn't have to spend money because of others being inconsiderate.

Most rational and kind people know reclining is inconsiderate. We are not the minority. Paying extra is just like saying you should pay more money to play exclusive golf courses if you don't like inconsiderate behavior on your golf course.

I fly every week, and I've never even thought to ask that someone refrain from reclining their seat the scant 3 or 4 inches that they can.  I would consider doing that inconsiderate of them .

[Golfingdad]

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them.

2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific.

How do you know that reclining the seat back an inch or two doesn't provide them with more comfort?  Just because it doesn't provide you with more comfort?  Isn't that the same as the short person saying that they can recline back because the person in front of them reclining back doesn't bother them?

I am about as big as they come without getting into the obese-need-to-fly-first-class-or-pay-for-two-seats category and while I have had my legroom infringed upon by recliners, I've never had an issue with my food tray.  It's not like it tilts back and spills all of your food on you when they recline.  And I've always found that the tray itself telescopes such that you can keep it in the same place regardless of where the seat in front of you moves to.

To the silly comment about paying for better seats, you're missing the point entirely. I always fly first class I'm just making a point. But someone shouldn't have to spend money because of others being inconsiderate.

Most rational and kind people know reclining is inconsiderate. We are not the minority. Paying extra is just like saying you should pay more money to play exclusive golf courses if you don't like inconsiderate behavior on your golf course.

This I agree with though.  Good analogy on the golf course too.  (Also, nice humblebrag ;))

[RJH999]

I fly every week,

You need a new job! :-P

[Ernest Jones]

Nope. Never recline. It's not like you get such an amazing amount of comfort by the few inches you get when reclining. However, for big guys like me every single inch of leg room matters. Reclining is rude and selfish. Period. No argument. Discussion closed.

If you recline, you're just a jerk. You're much like the people who cut lines, hit two tee balls when a group is waiting, etc. No, be quiet .... No argument. Discussion over.

I guess I'm a jerk. I recline. Phew...sure glad this discussion is over.

[Golfingdad]

You need a new job!

Meh ... I don't hear his complaints cuz the dude plays golf like 100 times a year too.

[David in FL]

You need a new job! :-P

True dat! [quote name="Golfingdad" url="/t/76919/reclined-airline-seats-debate/54#post_1050504"]Meh ... I don't hear his complaints cuz the dude plays golf like 100 times a year too. [/quote] I'm thinking I could hit 125 if I could get off the road! ;-)

[iacas]

I have a bit of a problem with the "It's MY seat, I paid for it" group.  Courtesy is a dying trait.  I imagine you wouldn't be so happy if the guy next to you smelled of last night's frat party and BO and played a shoot-em-up movie on his DVD player with no ear buds.  He paid for HIS seat too.  It seems the people who care most about THEIR rights and comfort care least about anyone else's.  In other words, it's all about ME.

Those aren't the same thing at all.

Your seat reclines. Reclining in your seat is not a disallowed act, and only a few (a vocal few as we've learned) people consider it a "lack of courtesy." Virtually everyone would consider smelling, listening to a movie too loudly, etc. "lack of courtesy."

A stewardess would ask you to turn the movie off or use headphones for having a loud movie. She would not ask you to stop reclining if you were doing so.

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them.

Sometimes two inches is plenty.

If my head is near the edge of a window and I want to rest my head against it, sometimes two inches makes all the difference in the world.

Plus, if 2" is not enough to make someone else comfortable, clearly it's not enough to make someone ELSE un comfortable.

2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific.

Additionally, a seat that reclines 2" at the head does not move 2" at the knees.

[jimmyc]

Nope. Never recline. It's not like you get such an amazing amount of comfort by the few inches you get when reclining. However, for big guys like me every single inch of leg room matters. Reclining is rude and selfish. Period. No argument. Discussion closed.

If you recline, you're just a jerk. You're much like the people who cut lines, hit two tee balls when a group is waiting, etc. No, be quiet .... No argument. Discussion over.

Give us a break. Many people have back issues and need to recline. You're a jerk declaring a discussion is over per your views. The airlines install them, people use them. Simple.

You're a big guy? probably fat and over weight so we can't recline and up upset you're fat a**

Unbelievable !

[Golfingdad]

Give us a break. Many people have back issues and need to recline. You're a jerk declaring a discussion is over per your views. The airlines install them, people use them. Simple.

You're a big guy? probably fat and over weight so we can't recline and up upset you're fat a**

Unbelievable !

You shoulda hit "submit" right after you wrote "simple."

[mmoan2]

Set the seat back the tiniest bit? Stupid. You cannot tell me that brings you so much comfort they it's worth disturbing the person behind you. Not just leg room, if they have their tray down you're disrupting them.

2" offers zero comfort for reclining but when your knees are crammed against the seat 2" less is horrific.

To the silly comment about paying for better seats, you're missing the point entirely. I always fly first class I'm just making a point. But someone shouldn't have to spend money because of others being inconsiderate.

Most rational and kind people know reclining is inconsiderate. We are not the minority. Paying extra is just like saying you should pay more money to play exclusive golf courses if you don't like inconsiderate behavior on your golf course.

If I was on a plane in the seat in front of you and I knew you felt that way, I would probably recline not to enjoy any more comfort, but just to piss you off...

[RandallT]

I've never had an issue with my food tray.  It's not like it tilts back and spills all of your food on you when they recline.  And I've always found that the tray itself telescopes such that you can keep it in the same place regardless of where the seat in front of you moves to.

Correct me if I'm wrong but two of the three recent issues were because of the trays- not leg room. In one case a woman was resting her head on a pillow on the tray. In another, a guy was using his laptop on the tray. I'm sure the tray stayed where it was, but the seat came into contact with the woman's head or the laptop screen, from what I understand. The talk of legroom might be overblown- it seems to me it's just as much about your "personal space" in front of your body. Some can feel invaded by the top of the seat encroaching on them above the tray. That said, not a big deal to me. Recline away. I typically choose not to recline myself because of the chance it would bug the hell out of someone. Life's too short to add drama at 30,000 feet in a tiny tube.

[Vinsk]

Erik you couldn't be more wrong. The seats aren't hinged. If you recline the seat that my knees are already touching it pushed more on my knees. If what you stated is true, then how can my knees crammed against a seat prevent the seat from reclining? Unusual for you, but you're totally wrong on that. Also, poor logic regarding 2" no comfort no discomfort. If I pressed a 2x4 against your knee lightly, then without moving your knee I pressed it another 2"...you'd be pretty uncomfortable. When my knees are pressed against a seat, I can't shift at all, I'm stuck. Expecting someone to put up with the seats as they are especially when they're average size isn't asking much. But to actually cause significant discomfort to someone so you can recline a couple of inches is Assanine. You really blew this one. Dead wrong about the seats.