Comments on: Airplane Seat Etiquette

By: Tara

Tara — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:03:58 +0000

It is inconsiderate to recline without considering the people in back of you. Simply insisting on your consumer’s right to recline without considering that the reclining chairs were probably installed when the airlines provided more legroom… is a symptom of our grossly entitled society. You have a right to your seat, not the space behind you. And obviously, since you’re also in coach, you did not pay for COMFORT. The people behind you paid for safety and space to breathe, same as you did. By unthinkingly reclining into their breathing space you compromise the value of their seat and, if they are tall enough, pose a physical danger. Period.

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:37:21 +0000

It seems to me Michael that you are not reading the posts from your own site. If you are concerned about thoughtfulness and consideration then a simple scan of the conduct described in the posts above will confirm to you that the behavior of those who oppose reclining has often degenerated to a shocking and inexcusable level of vindictive childishness, all apparently in punishment for the crime of reclining a seat that the airline designed to recline. It is amusing to me that someone who has admitted to deliberately and repeatedly kicking a strangers reclined seatback in an airline cabin can then go on to complain about a lack consideration and courtesy in others. If you preach the gospel of consideration and courtesy, you had better not be acting like an obnoxious spoiled brat when the world doesn’t conform to your personal expectations. In our household, that is a bare minimum expectation of everyone over the age of six. If a seven year old can manage to maintain appropriate behavior, then it is sort of odd when a middle aged adult who claims to be preoccupied with concern for the feelings of others falls short.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:54:48 +0000

Jean: No, usually the people you are talking about don’t say anything to the person in front of them. They just suck it up. Also, most people recognize that it’s ok to recline your seat on a 7-hour overnight flight. Nobody is disputing that. What has been requested is:

1. Think to yourself if it will really make you that much more comfortable reclining your seat.

2. If the answer is yes, look behind you as a courtesy to make sure the person isn’t unusually tall, and optionally ask to recline the seat. If you don’t ask, just do it slowly to minimize collision risk.

3. If the answer is no, simply don’t recline your seat.

The complaint here is that many people don’t even think about it. Plane up = seat back. No thought whatsoever about the person behind you.

By: Jean

Jean — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:58:51 +0000

So just for the sake of clarification, some people are so polite, sensitive, and considerate to the needs of others that they find it rude when any airline passenger reclines a seat that was designed to recline. These same very considerate people then ask someone they have never met to sit upright and awake for seven hours on an overnight flight because they want or need the extra space behind the other passenger’s seat? The complete and utter hypocrisy of people never ceases to amaze me.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:27:09 +0000

This is not about working. It’s about one person getting in another person’s space inconsiderately. I rarely recline and never without checking on the person behind me – even if I plan to sleep. And yes it is difficult sleeping upright but I bear that burden so as not to impact the person behind me. I imagine many don’t realize the effect on the one behind them. But others just don’t care. Lot’s of folks are simply inconsiderate. Or at least not considerate of others.

By: John

John — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:18:10 +0000

2 trains of thought here — who “owns” the space the seat reclines into. My opinion is that the person in the seat has the right to recline and “owns” that space as the seat is sold that way. If I have my laptop and the person in front of me reclines, I have no say. The airline didn’t sell me space to use a laptop, but it did sell me a seat with a recline button. I do sleep on most flights, I also watch movies on my laptop sometimes. If the person in front of me reclines (they usually do), I reposition the computer. I do carry a smaller, more “recline friendly” laptop. I have no right to tell the person he can’t recline. He bought a seat that reclines. I do take issue, however, with seats packed so tightly together that a reclined seat crunches into my knees. That’s the airlines’ fault if it’s that bad. Also was on an Air France flight that made it impossible to watch the seatback TV with that seat reclined. That’s not right, as my seat was sold with the promise of AVOD in the seat. Once again, airline’s fault.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:13:26 +0000

Well I regularly take trips to and from England (family there). I went back for a week with my family for my grandmothers funeral, fell ill about 3 days in and didn’t fully recover for the flight home, then was due at school the next day. So yes to be fair, I used the reclining seat. I was sick, depressed, and absolutely exhausted.
Otherwise I will use it if I plan to sleep which might be for 2 hours of an 8 hour trip…I don’t really think that’s too much.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:31:12 +0000

I love it when people scream courtesy only when it serves them.

Let me start the rant.. Yes, I am entitled to recline my seat as far back as it will go.
I am using it as designed and in the manner the airline has intended.

There is no rudeness in using an object for its intended purpose.
Airplanes are for travel, they are not mobile workstations, beds or restaurants.

All the above can be done in a plane, but none are easy.

If my reclining will cause another great distress I will modify my behavior.

But I am doing you a kindness, as I am changing my legal and proper behavior to help you have a more enjoyable flight. You do not get to irritate me in any manner that a steward or stewardess will not allow. If you are a jerk or disruptive, I hope they restrain you from attacking my seat or causing a scene.

I have no automatic sympathy for tall or overweight or even normal people that have different flight experiences. It is just life, some things are easy some are hard.

People need to understand that life is not fair. That tall or obese people have a harder time flying. This goes alone with the agoraphobic and small children.

A plane is not an easy place for any of these people. If it is a huge problem find another way to get there,

But the fact that a short person has an advantage in comfort in this one area of life and you begrudge it to us is funny to me.

Come on

I tell you what, all you poor tall people out there. How about you give me the extra money studies show you make for just being tall … I will trade you that for you’re the seat recline.

Anyone here want to trade height? I am 5’7 and would like to be 5’10 but all you six footers who have so many built in advantages just suck it up and deal with the one disadvantage.

Poor baby.

Find a mode of transport that will be conducive to working if it is that important to you. Otherwise just recline your seat back the same as me and we all have exactly the same amount of space we started with.

By: Doug (Vogel)

Doug (Vogel) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:54:47 +0000

Hi Mike,

Just reading back and noticed I forgot to answer your question about rear facing seats. United International Business Class offers rear facing seats on selected Boeing 767s and 777s. Some people have complained that they can provoke airsickness, but I have not found that to be the case personally. I’ve also flown in rear facing seats on other airlines, but can’t remember which carriers off hand. A hazard of aging I guess.-Doug

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:23:30 +0000

Hi Mike,
You mentioned that no one is disputing anyone’s right to recline. Check out Tim’s post above. Tim appears to be using a Delta Sky Magazine (a terrible and noxious rag) to prevent the person in front of him from reclining. I’d say Tim is not only disputing someone else’s right to recline, he is actively exercising his ability to insist that a total stranger remain bolt upright. So Mike, perhaps now we can all agree that this debate is about both rights and courtesy? -Doug

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:04:56 +0000

“Doug: The fact that you see “rights” and “courtesy” as a distinction without a difference is my point exactly. That is precisely the problem.”

Hi Mike,
Here’s the thing: I fully understand and appreciate the difference between rights and courtesy. In this case, for me, they are flip sides of the same coin. My point here is that the terms one would select in order to frame the debate say less about the subject itself and more about the writer/speaker’s attitude in the debate. So where you might say this is a discussion about “common courtesy”, perhaps another fellow might say this is about “rights”. In fact, the word choice seems to me to say less about the seat position in aircraft and more the writer’s position in the debate/discussion. If I made my point too casually, I apologise for my lack of clarity, but I assure you that I recognise, understand, and appreciate courtesy. Probably much like you, I think that courtesy is far too rare in our world today. In the end, while you and I probably both lamment its absense, and we may both long for more genteel times, we also may have a slightly different view of what courtesy might look like when expressed in an aircraft cabin. Anyway, I’ve truly enjoyed reading your blog on airline seatback position, and thank you for responding to my post. I have sincerely enjoyed the back and forth. -Doug

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:15:47 +0000

Doug: The fact that you see “rights” and “courtesy” as a distinction without a difference is my point exactly. That is precisely the problem.

Also, rear facing seats? “Club” seating? I’ve been flying for 35 years now and I’ve never seen either of those. You must either be from a different country or fly some pretty special airlines.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:53:20 +0000

Well, I flew today. I knew there was a leaner in front of me, so as soon as we went wheels up, I lowered my tray table and folded my magazine and stuffed it in the crevice which prevents the leaner from crunching my knees.

I’m glad the airline gives me those magazines to prevent my knees from being crushed. All the airlines need to do is redesign the seats with a button so the person behind can push it and lock the seat in front of you, preventing it from leaning. That would be fair. If you don’t mind leaning and are in front of someone that doesn’t mind being leaned upon, then the person doesn’t push the button and all is well. But if the person doesn’t want to be encroached upon, since they paid for that space, then they can push a button and keep the person in front of them upright…

But the Delta magazine did the same thing…

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:42:54 +0000

Mike, when you say it is not about rights, it seems to me that this is mere semantics, and a distinction without a difference. All you are really saying is that it is not about rights FOR YOU. Of course, as with any opinion, someone else may operate from a different perspective. In the end, whether you want to say that it is about rights, or control, or personal space, or common courtesy, or the golden rule, in my opinion it is rude to ask a complete stranger not to recline their seat. If you want more space on an aircraft, there are plenty of ways to accomplish that end (sleeper, club seating, first class, business class, rear facing seat, bulkhead seat, emergency exit rows, etc.) before you attempt to impose your will, your needs, and your preferences on a complete stranger. Bulkhead seats and emergency rows can usually be had for as little as $20 per flight segment, so if knee room or claustrophobia happens to be a critical issue for you, just a little planning ahead eliminates the entire problem. If someone would rather ask a complete stranger to sit bolt upright than to spend five minutes to review a seating plan and make the appropriate arrangements, then I have to say that I find that terribly discouraging.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:27:54 +0000

It continues to amaze me that people use “rights” as their reason for doing anything on a plane. This is not about rights.

Repeat after me.

This. Is. Not. About. Rights.

You have the right to recline your airplane seat. No one is disputing that. All people are asking is that before you recline your seat, you take these simple steps:

1. Realize that when you recline, you are making the person behind you either slightly less comfortable or massively less comfortable. You may decide this is fine. Just be conscious of it.

2. Ask yourself if you are are really making yourself more comfortable by reclining, or if you are doing it “just because you can”.

3. Look behind you quickly before you recline and size up who is sitting behind you. Is it a small person? Is it a 6 foot 7 person? Adjust your plan accordingly.

4. Optional: Ask the person if they mind if you recline. You don’t need to do this, but it’s a great (and disarming) show of courtesy.

5. Either recline your seat slowly, or decide you don’t need to.

That’s it.