Is it rude to recline?

bitofabind

Saw this on youtube earlier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkybrp6cgO4

Made me think about how common an experience it is to have the back of someones seat in my face when im on a plane, it happens probably 80% of the time when i travel nowadays.


one time a fella turned around and gave me a heads up, which was nice. most of the time it happens the moment the plane takes off and occasionally causes disruption, like getting water spliied all over me as im mid-gulp or getting smacked in the face as im getting something out of the compartment on the back of the seat.

In my view it's pretty rude to do it without at least turning around and giving a nod, and especially if it's a tall person behind you who's got feck all leg room in the first place.

odyssey06

Just dont do it during food service, turbulence, take off or landing. Otherwise the seat is there to be reclined.

Always give a heads-up before reclining, never recline on a short haul, only on a night flight and even then only after food and drink service.

The real criminals are the airlines who don't give human beings over five foot a comfortable pocket of space and expect them to stay in a state of misery for hours on end. One of the few pluses of being small is being comfortable in an economy seat.

the_syco

I'll pay extra to sit in the emergency aisle seats, tbh.

Gregor Samsa

I never recline my seat on a plane. And I don’t like it when the person in front of me does it.

That said, reclining is a legitimate feature of the seats, and passengers are entitled to use the feature provided. I don’t actually think someone should be expected to give a heads up that they’re going to do it. I really don’t like interacting with people on planes, and I’d be pissed off of someone made me take my headphones off just so they could tell me that they were going to tilt their seat back.

I do remember on a horrible Bus Eireann bus years ago, some sham in front of me reclined his seat right into my knees. I kicked the seat back upright without saying a word to him. He didn’t try it again. That’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do on a bus, though. I wouldn’t do that on a plane.

bitofabind

Candie wrote: »

Always give a heads-up before reclining, never recline on a short haul, only on a night flight and even then only after food and drink service.

these etiquette things are never abided by though, at least in my experience. i travel mainly short-haul and experience it all the time, usually the minute the plane takes off and zero shytes given if ive got my tray down and am eating/drinking or not.

razorblunt

I’m 6’3, I only recline on transatlantic and I always check behind me incense the meal is done.
No problem with it being done in front of me either, if you don’t bring it forward for the food service you’re getting told.

riffmongous

I thought this was going to be about Rees-Mogg

JohnnyFlash

They can recline for a reason. Back it goes the minute I’m allowed to do so. Then crack open a beer and get down to watching some movies.

wench

The lack of reclining is one of the best features of Ryanair.

punisher5112

I'll recline if the seat allows sure why not.

anacc

I travel a lot, there’s been years where I’ve taken 80+ flights in that year. I just want to listen to music and relax when I’m on a flight. Reclining takes a good bit of pressure off the neck, so I will recline no matter what anybody else thinks. I don’t care if someone else in front of me reclines. It really doesn’t take up that much room. It’s not like someone is sitting on your lap.

Also one of the reasons I hate Ryanair because you can’t recline.

Aongus Von Bismarck

Obviously this is only an issue in cattle class, and not in business or first class. It’s always worth the extra money to upgrade to business class.

appledrop

There is absolutely no need to recline on a short flight.

No airline should allow anyone to recline on a long haul flight during the main meal especially when day time flight. I was on a transatlantic flight before + was half way through meal + gob****e in front wacked back the seat. Half the items went flying + not even an apology.

That's the height of ignorance. By all means on nighttime flight after meal fair enough but otherwise no need for it.

adocholiday

Don't decline a recline

Aongus Von Bismarck

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Obviously this is only an issue in cattle class, and not in business or first class. It’s always worth the extra money to upgrade to business class.

You've obviously experienced the perks of sitting up front in the Hiace. Can't be bouncing down back with the donkey.

Edgware

If they incline it easier to come over their hair

anacc

Never once have I seen “stuff go flying” because someone in front reclined. The tray table doesn’t move when someone reclines and you’d want to be some clown to have your bottle or glass jammed up against the seat in front anyway. The way some people talk about it you’d think someone has turned around and smacked a glass out of your hand and gave a clatter across the face.

Purple Mountain

I remember going on a plane with my little boy, his first time. He was only 5.
He was tapping the seat in front of him with his foot (not kicking it like a brat, more of a nervous twitch).
A woman turned around and aggressively told him to stop.
I could understand her annoyance but a little gentle 'hey, little guy will you stop your tapping?' would have been a better approach.
We were only going to London, so she wasn't stressed I should think.
He was really wounded and fell silent for the rest of the flight

Aongus Von Bismarck

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You've obviously experienced the perks of sitting up front in the Hiace. Can't be bouncing down back with the donkey.

Is this some sort of culchie parable? I haven’t a clue what point you are trying to make.

the_syco

adocholiday wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbpfKzY9ZkA

pl4ichjgy17zwd

anacc wrote:

Never once have I seen “stuff go flying†because someone in front reclined. The tray table doesn’t move when someone reclines and you’d want to be some clown to have your bottle or glass jammed up against the seat in front anyway. The way some people talk about it you’d think someone has turned around and smacked a glass out of your hand and gave a clatter across the face.

The table definitely moves. The whole seat in front jerks. Someone did it to me after leaving their tray in an empty seat without considering that others still have theirs. My entire tray was upturned against my stomach and the half-full cup went flying.

punisher5112

I fooking hate ryanair

Abba987

Simon Dazzling Quagmire wrote: »

The table definitely moves. The whole seat in front jerks. Someone did it to me after leaving their tray in an empty seat without considering that others still have theirs. My entire tray was upturned against my stomach and the half-full cup went flying.

Isnt it attached to the seat? Its bound to move alright

punisher5112

I'm 183cm small.....

I get off a plane in agony just like when I get off a bus.....

The seats are shocking.....


The very few times I've been on a plane with recliner seats was a dream to anything else even though they were still quite cramped.

appledrop

anacc wrote: »

Never once have I seen “stuff go flying” because someone in front reclined. The tray table doesn’t move when someone reclines and you’d want to be some clown to have your bottle or glass jammed up against the seat in front anyway. The way some people talk about it you’d think someone has turned around and smacked a glass out of your hand and gave a clatter across the face.

Well you must not fly a lot so. Of course the table moves. When someone reclines it slants back + things fly off it especially when dope in front does so with no warning.

cournioni

People who recline should be shot, dead. That is all.

Yamanoto

I'm 6'2" and have hauled ass on several transatlantic flights so far this year, doing about 200k miles in total over the past 2 years. The majority of that travel has been long haul, in the economy cabin. I'd say most folks recline for a period over the course of a lengthy flight & for the most part it's all done with little attendant fuss - no fistfights, kicking of seats or the promise of pistols at dawn.

I honestly don't recognise the descriptions of physical torment some seem to have experienced - I've certainly never been hobbled, knee capped or put through bodily pain akin to a crucifixion by the person in front gaining the most marginal of benefit by adjusting their seating position just a touch.

But because carriers look to squeeze yet more profit from finite cabin space (by reducing seat pitch / width & even adding seats to their already cramped configuration), the recliner perceives that extra bit of room as making far more of a difference than it does in reality & likewise the person sitting behind feels their personal space is being hugely compromised by the fairly minor encroachment of the passenger in front.

As for reclining on short haul, someone may be connecting inbound to Ireland after a mammoth schlep from Hong Kong or LA & then have to hop into a car to drive an hour or two down the road. Row 13 on an EI A320 guarantees nobody can recline in front of you or just plump for FR if you cannot abide the practice.

FarmerBrowne

adocholiday wrote: »

Don't decline a recline

Was just about to post this, good old David Senior, the soup is super!!

punisher5112

cournioni wrote: »

People who recline should be shot, dead. That is all.

Mods should ban you.... ;-)

greencap

paid for a reclining seat.

all rights reserved.

Gregor Samsa

appledrop wrote: »

Well you must not fly a lot so. Of course the table moves. When someone reclines it slants back + things fly off it especially when dope in front does so with no warning.

All the planes I’ve been on with reclining seats, the table is attached to the base of the seat (that doesn’t move) via support arms, not the back of the seat that reclines. The reason for this is to allow the seat in front to recline without moving your table. The seat back reclines in between the table support arms. This is how those recline stopper devices work - they clamp onto the support arms of the table and stop the seat reclining inside them.

Maybe I’ve just got lucky. Ryanair’s tables are hinged on the seat back itself, but they don’t recline.

anacc

appledrop wrote: »

Well you must not fly a lot so. Of course the table moves. When someone reclines it slants back + things fly off it especially when dope in front does so with no warning.

I’m pretty sure I fly more than most on this thread. Have another 3 flights to take before the end of this week.

The table is attached to arms at the side of the seat near the back of the armrests. There is space in between the table and the seat for the seat to move back. The table does not move when the seat is reclined.

anacc

Abba987 wrote: »

Isnt it attached to the seat? Its bound to move alright

See my post just above this.

Feisar

I'm 6'3'' not that tall but if the person in front of me reclines I'm in for a ****ty time.

JohnnyFlash

Feisar wrote: »

I'm 6'3'' not that tall but if the person in front of me reclines I'm in for a ****ty time.

Why?

Stark

The recliner seats on Aer Lingus transatlantic are a disaster. Don't mind someone reclining a little but the AL transatlantic seats recline all the way to your face pretty much. Fine if it's in the middle of the night and people want to sleep but not so much if it's daytime.

B_ecke_r

unless there's no one behind me ( or a small child) I won't do it

Feisar

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Why?

I've to sit bolt upright or my knees are wedged against the back of the seat.

XsApollo

I check the person behind me , if they have reclined I whack mine back.
If they haven’t then I usually wait till well into the flight when everybody is bunking down and will give a heads up.

B_ecke_r

if I was any taller than I am I would definitely consider emergency exit seats all the time

Wabbit Ears

short haul should all be like ryanair and not be able to recline.

Long haul, you just gotta assume folk will recline and not put things in a position to be knocked.

Wabbit Ears

Purple Mountain wrote: »

I remember going on a plane with my little boy, his first time. He was only 5.
He was tapping the seat in front of him with his foot (not kicking it like a brat, more of a nervous twitch).
A woman turned around and aggressively told him to stop.
I could understand her annoyance but a little gentle 'hey, little guy will you stop your tapping?' would have been a better approach.
We were only going to London, so she wasn't stressed I should think.
He was really wounded and fell silent for the rest of the flight

you're literally the devil for thinking for a second that your kid wasn't being a brat and didn't deserve a stern telling off.

Bigbagofcans

Feisar wrote: »

I'm 6'3'' not that tall but if the person in front of me reclines I'm in for a ****ty time.

6'3 is tall! The average height of an Irish man (assuming you're male) is 5'10.

jiltloop

I'm 6ft 4" and flying short haul flights are generally very cramped for me, if someone in front decides to recline their seat my knees are usually getting crushed.

I've no problem with people reclining on long haul flights and there's generally more room on these planes to accommodate that. However on short haul flights there's just no need or room for it.

I blame the airlines more than the recliners though.

Sexual Chocolate

When I flew from Melbourne to Doha in March about 2/3 hours into the flight two blokes were only short of exchanging fists over this. Thought for a moment that we were going to be diverted to Perth.

This wasn't during meal service or anything, your man behind was the bigger sap though, he wanted the other man to not recline his seat for the entire 13 hours.

As someone else said the airlines are the biggest criminals here in my opinion.

Feisar

Bigbagofcans wrote: »

6'3 is tall! The average height of an Irish man (assuming you're male) is 5'10.

Ah yea but it's not unusually so or anything.

Padraig Mor

Fortunately I mostly travel Ryanair so don't have the problem but it boils my blood when someone reclines in front of me on short haul - I'd never do it with someone behind, it's just plain courtesy. Anyone who says it doesn't intrude into the space behind is just wrong. Was on a Tarom flight from Amsterdam to Bucharest in April - not long haul, but still ~3 hrs. Plane was ancient with 'thicker' seats than I've ever seen so I was already cramped when the wagon in front of me reclines immediately after take off and left it there for the whole flight, including food service. No amount of kicking or pushing knees into her chair would get her to move it forward. I literally had to skip the meal as the tray wouldn't sit down straight.

the14thwarrior

use the recline if you need to. i use when i need to. according to my needs, can't be figuring out the needs of people behind me I travel quite a bit. Usually after the meal cos i'd be eating the meal myself.

I was on a flight recently, after literally 12 hours travelling / waiting / etc. and i got on my flight (5.5 hours) and as soon as I could i reclined the seat, took more pain killers, put on my eye mask and neck pillow and settled down....... within one minute a very loud, very entitled young American lady started asking me in a very loud, entitled voice to be more considerate and stop reclining the seat. And poked me in the shoulder to boot.

I called the flight attendant over, and told the attendant she had put her hand on me (assault) was loud and agressive and i had concerns she would continue to harress me during the flight. which in fairness the flight attendant told her to allow me to do what i wished with my recline.
Christ on crutches.
i didn't do it on purpose to annoy her.
i just wanted to sleep in a comfortable position.

the beer revolu

Strange how people's perceptions differ depending on their opinion.

There are people who insist that it is extremely ignorant to recline your seat. For these people, the table tilts with the seat back and the leg room diminishes a lot.

Then there are people who maintain that it is perfectly acceptable to recline a reclineable seat. These people observe that the tray is not attached to the tilting part of the seat and they find that your knees are at the pivot level of the seat so that the reclining seat makes little difference to the available leg room.


I once got on a bus and deliberately chose a seat with no one behind it so that I could recline my seat fully without bothering anyone ( I have a bad back and reclining eases my discomfort). A woman got on the not full bus, sat behind me and asked me to put my seat forward. I politely told her that she could sit elsewhere but that my seat wasn't moving. I have no doubt that I would have compromised if the bus was full as on this bus the recline really did invade on the person's space.

Badly Drunk Boy

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Obviously this is only an issue in cattle class, and not in business or first class. It’s always worth the extra money to upgrade to business class.

I've only flown business class once, and on that occasion, I had very little leg-room and my knees were constantly in contact with what was on front of me. I'm 6'5" so I'm not an out-and-out freak, just a regular freak. I think I was flying with British Midlands so could that explain it?

I never recline my seat and I'd prefer if others didn't do it 'to' me but I've never made an issue of it. Actually, I don't bother flying anymore if I can help it so it's not an issue at all these days.