# 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:** 4
**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 28, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/61 "2016-06-28T03:46:11Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > 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.” Yeah, I’m intrigued by the book idea, but ordinarily, it is my knee that is preventing the seat from fully reclining. I doubt the stewardess is going to ask me to cut off my legs, nor make me upgrade so the guy in front of me can lean back another inch. I am not that large a person, and honestly find it puzzling that so many people seem to fit in the seat even when the seat in front is impinging on their space. Obviously, many do. And like others, I can’t upgrade when I’m flying for business. There isn’t any mechanism for me to pay the surcharge myself, and to buy it on the company dime would be a violation of company policy. For leisure, I am a fan of jet blue’s "even more space"seating, though. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/62 "2016-06-28T03:54:41Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Your short daytime hop may very well be the final leg of someone else’s twenty-seven hour jet lagged journey from New Zealand. Yeah, hell if I’m going to sit bolt-upright on the 11-hour nonstop redeye to Istanbul, which leaves after my full workday, and is followed by a layover and another flight before the 2-hour drive to the inlaws’ in a rental car on the wrong side of the road. ---
**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, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/63 "2016-06-28T05:01:32Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Your short daytime hop may very well be the final leg of someone else’s twenty-seven hour jet lagged journey from New Zealand. Yes, it might. It’s part of what makes air travel stressful. But whose side does this support? Trust me, it works both ways, and I know whereof I speak. If you’ve been traveling for almost 24 hours or more halfway around the world with no sleep, and end up redirected to a regional jet for the last leg home behind some asshat with a $20 fare who’s trying to get to Kalamazoo and who shoves his seatback straight in your aggrieved and sleep-deprived face, I’m pretty sure that in any just world IATA regulations should permit you to dump your gin and tonic on his furry head and massage it in firmly. ---
**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 28, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/64 "2016-06-28T05:06:34Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > 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. My inch and a half reclining ability is hardly something I would consider personal space. I’d consider it as “lumbar relief” or “fuck, my day was long it’dbereallygreatifIcouldjustlayback for a min-- AHHHHHH. Thank you, one-and-a-half-inch gods and goddesses for allowing me to–” No, it’s not that. It’s I paid for a seat on an airplane where I KNOW other people have seats with a silly button that let’s us “recline” during a long flight. My car reclines more than an airline seat. So does a go-cart. So does a Big Wheel. My point is, can’t take two inches, might as well not fly, or at least stare at the poorly upholstered seat with a knob in the middle stating “close the fucking tray”, or something close to that. If your on flight 717 tomorrow, and in the 11th row, i’m going to lean a whole inch and a half from your body. I wear lots of deodorant, no cologne, and laugh like hell at my MST3K films on cross-country flights. Plug in, we’ll watch, “Werewolf” together, until I start snoring loudly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/65 "2016-06-28T05:16:34Z")
> [@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 Which is fascinating cause I fly a lot. And I think 9 out of ten people are seat recliners. They don’t want someone else to recline on them, but the moment they can, their own seat is way back. I’ve even sat next to the idiots who both recline AND complain about the guy in front of them reclining. They want their extra two inches each way. I don’t know if the guy in front of me is reclining because it relieves back spasms and pain or if the guy behind me is 6’2" I figure everyone on the flight not in first class is uncomfortable, and pay extra for economy comfort when possible. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/66 "2016-06-28T08:56:43Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > What world do you live in? The real world, where adults don’t impose themselves on others. ---
**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, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/67 "2016-06-28T09:33:03Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The real world, where adults don’t impose themselves on others. So don’t claim the reclining space I paid for as your own. ---
**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 28, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/68 "2016-06-28T10:34:42Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Which is fascinating cause I fly a lot. And I think 9 out of ten people are seat recliners… Really? Maybe on overnight flights, but on ordinary daytime couple-hour flights I’d guess no more than 30% recline. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/69 "2016-06-28T11:14:47Z")
You know what would probably solve about half of this problem? Headrests _upon which you can actually rest your head_ My flights fall basically into two categories a) an hour and a half up the coast - in which case, meh, who cares b) twenty plus hour long haul to the other side of the world I’ve never met a reclinable seat (outside of business class) which recline any further than from what I’d consider ‘ramrod upright’ to ‘just normally upright’. I have no idea how people manage to sleep on those things, though I see them doing so. But you still need to use all your neck muscles to keep your head from hitting your neighbor’s shoulder! Whatever the trick is, I sure don’t have it. ISTM that if the seats were designed with a scoop in the headrest so that your head fitted into the groove, this would a) remove at least one reason people have for reclining their seats, b) not get in anyone’s way, c) allow a bunch of people to sleep who currently can’t do so. Don’t really see a downside. ---
**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, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/70 "2016-06-28T11:44:12Z")
I see folks citing 1 1/2 or 2 inches reclination (!) in this thread as if it were industry standard. Trust me, in the flights mentioned in my OP invaded a mere 2 inches this thread would not exist. mmm ---
**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 28, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/71 "2016-06-28T11:45:57Z")
Normally, they give you a little more leg room on that 20 hour flight, and I’ve never had anyone actually jam my knee on one of those, even though most people do recline for at least part of a long haul flight. It is obviously the fault of the airlines for creating this conflict between knees and backs. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/72 "2016-06-28T12:17:22Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So don’t claim the reclining space I paid for as your own. That’s silly. Let’s say you’re at a restaurant for dinner, and you are paying for your food and drinks, plus tax and tip. That doesn’t mean you can be obnoxious, to the point of annoying other patrons, just because you paid for your meal. ---
**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, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/73 "2016-06-28T12:22:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That’s silly. Let’s say you’re at a restaurant for dinner, and you are paying for your food and drinks, plus tax and tip. > > That doesn’t mean you can be obnoxious, to the point of annoying other patrons, just because you paid for your meal. But you certainly get to eat your entire meal, should you like, even if the patron behind you would prefer that you give 1/10th of your meal to him. ---
**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, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/74 "2016-06-28T12:25:55Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That’s silly. Let’s say you’re at a restaurant for dinner, and you are paying for your food and drinks, plus tax and tip. > > That doesn’t mean you can be obnoxious, to the point of annoying other patrons, just because you paid for your meal. If the restaurant sells curry, you don’t get to bitch about the smell. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/75 "2016-06-28T12:39:35Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It is obviously the fault of the airlines for creating this conflict between knees and backs. A contributing problem is the airlines squeezing the seats in closer over time. Back when there was more room between seats, seats could recline without getting so close to the person in back. Now with the seat 3-4" closer, the seat back gets that much closer to you. I suspect that if the airlines always had seats this close together, they would have never had reclining seats. Maybe there should be rules as to how much recline is allowed can recline based on the spacing of seats. So if the seats are 30", no recline is allowed. If the seats are 34", then 2" is allowed. That would also help with the airlines which have multiple fare zones in economy. The cheapo seats packet together wouldn’t recline, while the upgraded seats would have more room and recline. One thing that would also help is if your seat bottom slid forward as you reclined. That way the back wouldn’t press into the knees of the person behind. But it’s probably not practical in an airline seat. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/76 "2016-06-28T12:40:17Z")
Sorry, wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/77 "2016-06-28T12:40:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If the restaurant sells curry, you don’t get to bitch about the smell. False analogy. The restaurant selling curry is in no way the same as a restaurant patron deliberately annoying others. ---
**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, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/78 "2016-06-28T12:43:36Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > False analogy. The restaurant selling curry is in no way the same as a restaurant patron deliberately annoying others. But it is exactly the same as an airline providing reclining seats. You are bitching about the smell of my food, when all I did was try to enjoy the meal the restaurant provided. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/79 "2016-06-28T12:52:22Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > But it is exactly the same as an airline providing reclining seats. You are bitching about the smell of my food, when all I did was try to enjoy the meal the restaurant provided. If I was finishing my steak and the waiter told me I could eat the last bite, but I’d have to kick a random restaurant patron in the kneecap to be able to do so, I’d leave the last bite uneaten. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508/80 "2016-06-28T12:57:25Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Really? Maybe on overnight flights, but on ordinary daytime couple-hour flights I’d guess no more than 30% recline. No, ordinary flights. I fly out of Minnesota, maybe we are more dedicated to reclining that other populations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-airline-seat-recliners/758508.md?page=5)