# Let's talk about airline seat recliners **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2016, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508 "2016-06-27T11:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/41 "2016-06-27T21:55:49Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Adults don’t unnecessarily inconvenience others for their own sake. What world do you live in? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/42 "2016-06-27T21:58:12Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > The unfortunate thing about flying is that it puts you in very close proximity with many people who don’t give a damn about other people. If they want to do it, they’ll do it. Excessive seat reclining is just one issue. There’s also the people who take their shoes off, eat stinky/messy food, play music/games without headsets, spill over into other seats, talk to you when you’re clearly not interested or trying to get work done, etc, etc, etc. > > It actually would be nice if seats reclined way back as long as everyone was polite. If there was no one behind you, recline all the way and relax. If someone was behind you, only recline a small amount. But the self-centered people will always recline to the max regardless of whether someone is behind them or not. > > It sounds like Southwest seats only recline a small amount while other airlines recline more. Given that there’s such a variety of passengers, it would be overall better for passenger happiness to have less recline rather than more. Yup. Except for the “spill into my seat”, none of those others bother me as much as reclining. (And the seat-spillers generally can’t help it, except for an enormous additional fee.) But I’ve certainly seen all of that on planes. Also crying babies, who also can’t help it, but are annoying as all get out. Flying can be a little stressful. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/43 "2016-06-27T22:17:15Z")
At the risk of being disagreeable to some of my fellow posters, this became a hot button with me back during a period when I used to fly once or twice a week on average, and business class was usually only on the long flights. I began to develop a palpable loathing for the inconsiderate seat recliners. > [@SpeedwayRyan](#): > > I’m over 6’ tall with fairly long legs, and when someone in front of me reclines their seat, it crams their seat back into my kneecaps. If I’m not expecting it, it’s quite painful. Then I can either sit that way or try to splay my legs in some awkward angle for the rest of the flight. Fun. I don’t really get angry about it unless someone does it aggressively, but it’s not enjoyable. > > I personally don’t recline my seat unless there’s an empty seat or a small child behind me – maybe if it’s a petite woman or something I’ll consider it, but I’ll ask if she would mind first. Reclining my seat doesn’t really make me much more comfortable, so I’ve decided that I’d rather not make someone else’s trip significantly less comfortable so that I can be marginally more comfortable, even if I “paid for it” or am well within my rights to do so. > [@filmore](#): > > It actually would be nice if seats reclined way back as long as everyone was polite. If there was no one behind you, recline all the way and relax. If someone was behind you, only recline a small amount. But the self-centered people will always recline to the max regardless of whether someone is behind them or not… Thank you, both. Nice to see there are still some of us around. > [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > hmm, so if I have been up all night working and then try and get some sleep on my daytime flight home I’m a jerk? Your words, not mine. I will just say that in those circumstances you’d have a much better rest staying over in a hotel an extra day if it’s a long flight instead of trying to turn your coach-class seat into an impromptu bed in the middle of a noisy daytime airline flight, or if you’re not far from home and it’s a short flight then you’re not going to get much sleep anyway, especially when I give you a shampoo with my gin and tonic when you stick the top of your head in my face. How does your right to expand your space to make yourself more horizontal trump my right to reasonable avoidance of real discomfort and to use the space I paid for to get some work done, read a book, or quietly use my laptop? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/44 "2016-06-27T22:18:21Z")
I recently flew on a Spirit Airlines flight. The seats did not recline at all! I think they will be my new first choice of airlines. On those planes where the seat \*does \*recline intrusively far into my space, I’ve found that a few “accidental” swift kicks to the seat, followed by a quickly muttered, “Oh! Sorry about that!” often cures the problem. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/45 "2016-06-27T22:44:58Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I recently flew on a Spirit Airlines flight. The seats did not recline at all! I think they will be my new first choice of airlines. > > On those planes where the seat \*does \*recline intrusively far into my space, I’ve found that a few “accidental” swift kicks to the seat, followed by a quickly muttered, “Oh! Sorry about that!” often cures the problem. But Spirit has other issues, like nickel&diming you for every detail of the flight, having long lines, and having less legroom than any other airline. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/46 "2016-06-27T22:58:56Z")
Tomorrow, I take my usual flight returning to Los Angeles from Philadelphia. The flight is six hours. As soon as the plane takes off, my seat is reclined and will remain reclined for at least 5 1/2 hours of flight until I am told by a flight attendant to raise it for landing. I’ve flown American, Delta, United and U.S. Airways on these trips. If my seat has reclined more than one inch on each flight, I’ll eat an airline, all of its employees and planes. Even if it is two inches, again, a six-hour flight. If anyone, especially someone flying economy like myself, complains I’m in their precious personal space, then they need to take a fucking bus. Hey, bigger windows might help the whole personal space bullshit. However, there is another solution: I usually buy emergency exit seats. They’re about $71 more, but you have the leg room, you board first and you don’t have to pay the $25-$50 bucks for checking a bag. Or the$25 carry-on bag fee for Spirit, Jet Blue or Southwest Airlines that were recently adopted. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/47 "2016-06-27T23:14:03Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Or the$25 carry-on bag fee for Spirit, Jet Blue or Southwest Airlines that were recently adopted. Southwest has no carry on bag fee. One bag, plus one personal item like a purse, briefcase or laptop are free. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/48 "2016-06-27T23:26:10Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > …If anyone, especially someone flying economy like myself, complains I’m in their precious personal space, then they need to take a fucking bus. Hey, bigger windows might help the whole personal space bullshit… I once took a bus trip with my infant daughter, and the asshole in front of me reclined, crushing her into my belly. So, that’s not an option… Anyhow, you seem to be at least as protective of “your precious personal space” as anyone in the thread. Why do you want to recline again? PResumably for your personal comfort. Guess what, that’s all that I want, too. I might jam something in the way so you don’t recline quite so far, but I’m not going to get into an altercation with you, though. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/49 "2016-06-27T23:32:53Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I might jam something in the way so you don’t recline quite so far, but I’m not going to get into an altercation with you, though. So there’s that. I certainly wouldn’t confront you. I would let the flight attendant do that. “Excuse me, there seems to be something wrong with my seat; it won’t recline. Can you help me with that?” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/50 "2016-06-28T00:58:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I certainly wouldn’t confront you. I would let the flight attendant do that. “Excuse me, there seems to be something wrong with my seat; it won’t recline. Can you help me with that?” Ooohhh – if I was a flight attendant! “No, sir, there’s nothing wrong with the seat, it seems that there is a human being seated behind you.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/51 "2016-06-28T01:33:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Ooohhh – if I was a flight attendant! “No, sir, there’s nothing wrong with the seat, it seems that there is a human being seated behind you.” 🙂 Guess I dodged a bullet that time, didn’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/52 "2016-06-28T02:01:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Your words, not mine. I will just say that in those circumstances you’d have a much better rest staying over in a hotel an extra day if it’s a long flight instead of trying to turn your coach-class seat into an impromptu bed in the middle of a noisy daytime airline flight, or if you’re not far from home and it’s a short flight then you’re not going to get much sleep anyway, especially when I give you a shampoo with my gin and tonic when you stick the top of your head in my face. How does your right to expand your space to make yourself more horizontal trump my right to reasonable avoidance of real discomfort and to use the space I paid for to get some work done, read a book, or quietly use my laptop? Nope, not my words, those were the words of the person I was responding to. I don’t have the option of staying an extra night, I go where my employer sends me. The thing is, the space my employer pays for actually includes the little bit of recline space behind the seat, that’s not your space, it’s mine, and you have also paid for the little bit of recline space behind your seat. Yes it is annoying when people recline but it’s the service we have all paid for. You have paid for a seat that has a reclining seat in front of it. That’s the deal, that’s what you are getting. Don’t pay for something and then complain that you got what you paid for. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/53 "2016-06-28T02:14:29Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/54 "2016-06-28T02:22:21Z")
Your short daytime hop may very well be the final leg of someone else’s twenty-seven hour jet lagged journey from New Zealand. Please do let us know what airline you are flying that accommodates “near-horizontal” reclines. Those of us who enjoy a good plane nap can seek them out, and the knee-defender crowd can avoid them-- everyone happy! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/55 "2016-06-28T02:22:38Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > So, for those who disagree with reclining seats, tell us how many letters YOU’VE written to the airline about this, to you, very important issue? > > DID you raise the issue when you purchased your ticket? When you arrived at the airport? > > What’s that? Not a single letter? Never remarked when you bought your ticket? Failed to mention it when you boarded? > > Then you have no complaint with the other passengers! As all the other adults on board are having no issues, you should look to them for how to behave maturely perhaps. Assume much? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/56 "2016-06-28T02:37:28Z")
For those who think that my (OP) opinion is in the minority, know that 9 out of 10 flyers in a recent poll believe that there should be _no_ reclining on short-haul flights (and 4 out of 10 on longer flights). mmm ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/57 "2016-06-28T02:49:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Ooohhh – if I was a flight attendant! “No, sir, there’s nothing wrong with the seat, it seems that there is a human being seated behind you.” 🙂 Ooohhh – if I was a flight attendant! “Sorry maam, but you can not prevent the gentleman in front of you from using the seat in the way that it is intended. I do believe we have a seat up front with more leg room which I would be happy to move you to for only the $380 upgrade fee… plus you would get free pistachios.” ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/58 "2016-06-28T02:50:41Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > For those who think that my (OP) opinion is in the minority, know that 9 out of 10 flyers in a recent poll believe that there should be _no_ reclining on short-haul flights (and 4 out of 10 on longer flights). > mmm Cite ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/59 "2016-06-28T03:04:38Z")
I’m 6’2", and I have very good luck in explaining to people in front of me that if they recline their seats, they will cause me great pain. I usually ask them to inform me before they recline (so I can adjust myself), and this always works – they will let me know when they want to recline, although typically they simply just don’t recline. Of course when flying on my own dime, I get Economy Plus or First Class, but like **Stranger** , when the company sends me somewhere I don’t get to choose my class. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/60 "2016-06-28T03:34:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > For those who think that my (OP) opinion is in the minority, know that 9 out of 10 flyers in a recent poll believe that there should be _no_ reclining on short-haul flights (and 4 out of 10 on longer flights). > mmm > [@Spud](#): > > Cite [Cite](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/airplane-reclining-seat-ban_n_4030767.html) mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508.md?page=4)