Friday fluff... reclining seats on a plane

ALittleBitter

So, after reading a certain Betoota article (😅 https://www.facebook.com/705676179527389/posts/4136750249753281/?d=n) it got me thinking.

Do you think it’s rude for people to put their seat back on a plane? Does your opinion change depending on how long the flight is, or something else?

I remember a late night flight back from Thailand, I had my 10month old baby on my lap and the person in front of me reclined their seat. I’m pretty tall too and it was so uncomfortable! I’ve never done it because I can’t stand it when it’s done to me.

What do you think? Rude or no big deal?

Wilding

ALittleBitter last trip to Thailand, my don had his knees literally around his ears, he has stated he is never flying again. He is like 6″8/6″9.

NightHawk

I’d put mine back for any long trip. That’s what they are designed to do.

Although last time I was in a plane, there was a guy behind me who had his knees digging into my back. I doubt my seat would go back and I wouldn’t try.

SatansWoman

Definitely recline for a long haul or for anything over say 3 hours ish

Anyone who reclines on SYD-MEL is a savage

Camokat

I think reclining seats in economy are an airline industry conspiracy to keep people who can afford it paying for business and first class seats. If economy seats didn’t suck plenty of those people would save the extra couple of thousand and fly cattle class.

CallMeAl

Allowed only when the lights are dimmed for sleep or when the person in front of you does it.

Gum-boots

Totally @SatansWoman !!

I think anything from 2.5 hours is ok though - for example Syd to Cairns

Chookas

But what if you’ve already been on a long haul flight? You might be on a short flight but if you’ve already been in transit for 10+ hours??? Just trying to be the voice of reason, been there done that. Not pretty 🤯

SeaStar

I never mind if the person in front of me reclines their seat, but I’m short so it doesn’t really impact me. Maybe the airlines should allocate seating based on who wants to recline and who doesn’t.

WidowWyncke

Seat Recliners are minions of hell.

Kreme

I recline when I’m sleeping, not just to relax in the seat. And that would only be on a long haul flight when the cabin has been darkened.

When DD and I flew to London a couple of years ago I was awake for the first leg to Singapore but when we got back on for the second leg it would have been 1 or 2 in the morning. I reclined my seat and the guy behind me started kicking my seat so viciously. The thing is I can literally sleep through a hurricane so it didn’t bother me, I just went to sleep. I saw him when I got up to go to the loo and he wasn’t above average height or weight. If he had asked me nicely and had a reason beyond just not liking it I would have considered not reclining but once he started kicking the shit out of my seat there was no way I was putting it back up.

RichardParker

Business class or I’m staying home.

Gum-boots

RichardParker yeah I’m not flying overseas again until I can afford business class which given COVID is an actual possibility ha ha

Morrigan

I think it’s rude to recline on a short flight (say 2-3 hours), but okay on a longer flight where a nap could work well. I think it’s really rude to recline quickly even on a sleeper flight.

Chic-n-Stu

I do respect your knee space and screen view angle but feel like the real question here is why the fuck can’t airlines spare an extra 10cm between passengers? Even 5cm?

Like, you got a plane up into the air travelling at 900km/h, would it really be crazy to give everyone their own armrest, is that just taking aviation technology too far?

Morrigan

Some airlines want to do this. They actually claim it is more covid safe. Yeah right. It won’t be, AND people will have to stare at each other the whole flight.

RichardParker

She looks so happy!

Morrigan

RichardParker I know. Nobody looks that happy on a plane. Not in economy, anyway.

wannabefree

Personally I don’t see the point in reclining on shorter flights. You must have your seat upright for take off and landing which is 30-45 mins each. Many airlines will tell you to raise your seat when the person behind is eating/drinking which is pretty much the entirety of the time in between.

AnnHiggins

i have been known to think very evil thoughts about recliners. Imay have even put those thoughts into writing back on old EB and incurred the wrath of an old timer. apparently i wasn’t thinking of people with chronic pain? but then again, maybe the recliners themselves aren’t thinking of people with chronic pain🤔? long haul it’s necessary obvs but a short domestic flight, no. i have just done a relatively short domestic flight on a qantas 737 (?) and you can’t recline: the seat won’t go back. so, it seems Allen Joyce agrees with my POV😀

wannabefree

AnnHiggins I remember that EB thread too! Until then, I had no idea people felt so strongly about their right to recline.