Why didn’t he? HE was the one that wanted to recline.
You’re simply assuming your conclusion here. The entire dispute in this thread is whether it’s a “normal expectation” when you buy a reclining seat to be able to recline it; or whether the normal expectation should be that you can only recline if the person behind acquiesces.
It seems more: you’re entitled to recline the seat you purchased…unless a tall person buys the sits behind you! Then, it’s too bad for you! Their comfort clearly is more important than yours!
It’s a hilarious discussion because these people are all complaining about short rides! I fly long haul a lot. Like 17hrs from Hong Kong to Toronto. After a snack, followed a few hours later by dinner, they then have everyone close the window blinds, make sure every seat has a pillow and a blanket and then they dim the lights. And, by a large majority, most everyone reclines and gets some sleep.
If you can imagine a scenario where the airline would prefer all 600 of those passengers stay up with NO sleep for 17hrs, you must be dreaming. Ain’t gonna happen any time soon, is my guess.
You could have moved two feet to your left. Or two feet to your right. And that would have entirely solved the problem and cost you absolutely nothing. But you chose to sit there and throw a tantrum instead. And 30 years later you are using this as an example of someone else’s bad behavior?
Were you a child at the time? Because what you’re describing only makes sense if you were a young child. I have no idea why you’d tell us this story if you were an adult at the time, as you do not come off well.
You made yourself more uncomfortable for two hours to punish him? Banging your knees repeatedly sounds worse than having someone recline into your space, and both sound worse than getting up and moving
See what I mean? A two hour flight. You can’t manage for a two hour ride? Without being upset and put out, and obnoxious. Two hours?
Hard to take seriously.
You…Oh my God, you’re serious, aren’t you.
Somehow, this doesn’t surprise me at all.
FTR I was 8 at the time and my thinking was if he wants to recline why should I have to be the one to move. Isn’t on him to be courteous and move over one seat if he wants to recline?
Think of it this way. Does a person have a right to stand in the doorway and make YOU go around THEM? Yes. Is it rude for them to do so if they can move? Yes
OK, your odd behavior is somewhat explained by your age at the time. But if the same thing happened today, what would you do?
I sort of agree with the poster that said that it depends on context, namely if it is a long nighttime flight with a lot of sleeping going on (reclining is reasonable) versus a shorter daytime flight (reclining is more obnoxious).
Although to be honest I don’t think that the available recline is very significant, and I’m equally uncomfortable and sleep deprived either way, so I’ve typically not even bothered reclining on long haul flights.
But I do find it obnoxious on daytime US domestic flights. The seat in front of me is right in my face and its somewhat claustrophobic. It’s also hard to use a laptop. I don’t recline my seat on these flights.
Context always matters for etiquette.
Another airplane example/counterexample:
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Had a cross-country domestic flight in which the woman in front of me (age 45 or so) played John Wick on her iPad, no headphones, full volume. Part of the flight after dark/lights out. At least eight other people (seatmates, rows ahead and behind) could hear it all. Certainly her “right.” Still: bad etiquette.
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Different cross-country domestic flight, young parents have two children under three. I’m seatmates with the father. For much of the flight he has his one-year old in his lap watching kiddie videos, full volume, no earphones. Rude? I think not.
Note that in both cases the airline provided personal device entertainment with no restrictions on “earphones,” so watching it is every bit the “right” that reclining a seat is.
I sort of agree with the poster that said that it depends on context, namely if it is a long nighttime flight with a lot of sleeping going on (reclining is reasonable) versus a shorter daytime flight (reclining is more obnoxious).
Although to be honest I don’t think that the available recline is very significant, and I’m equally uncomfortable and sleep deprived either way, so I’ve typically not even bothered reclining on long haul flights.
But I do find it obnoxious on daytime US domestic flights. The seat in front of me is right in my face and its somewhat claustrophobic. It’s also hard to use a laptop. I don’t recline my seat on these flights.
You were eight and a reclining passenger bothered you? How huge an eight year old were you? And what were your parents doing while you were banging the poor guy’s seat?
This story made no sense from the outset, and it wasn’t well thought out before it was posted so I don’t think you’re going to get an answer to this obvious question the same way there was no answer to the obvious “Why not just move to another empty seat?” question.