endzone_dave Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 This issue has been in the news lately, where people flip out about it and cause the plane they are on to be diverted. Do you think it's rude for a person to lean their seat all the way back. I think it's inconsiderate, much like talking in a movie theater or driving 55 mph in the fast lane of the beltway. Flying sucks already, why make the life of the person behind you worse. I think that's what makes flying bad in the first place. It's people blaring music on their headphones so loud it's loud for everyone else, it's people taking up your legroom, it's people using all the overhead space, it's people letting their young kids kick the back of your seat. Flying would be ok if it weren't for other people being on the plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RawBBQSauce Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Depends. If I assess the person sitting behind me to be, A.) incredibly rude, B.) short, or C.) both, I lean my seat back. Why? Because I can. That's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingGibbs Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm 6'4 and don't recline my seat. Wouldn't want it done to me. Respect others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistertim Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Depends. If you're in a seating section with more space then I think it's probably ok. If you're in coach with little to no room then I think it is inconsiderate. I certainly wouldn't go nuts and make a huge deal of it but I would ask politely if they could move it back up a little bit, especially if it is a long flight. Agree with KingGibbs. If you wouldn't want someone to do it to you, then think before you do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetoaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm 6'4 and don't recline my seat. Wouldn't want it done to me. Respect others. Agreed. I am 6'2, and I don't do it. Ultimately, its the airlines that have caused this situation by packing everyone in so tightly, but I just don't think its considerate. I don't want someone in my lap, and I can't imagine someone wants me in theirs. I am fine reading or sleeping sitting straight up. I guess the easiest thing would be to not let the seats recline, except in areas where there is actually room to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I think we need to stop adding to the great list of things considered entirely outrageous and unacceptable. As for reclining, I just check with the person behind me. I know that talking and asking people stuff might be considered offensive to some (how dare they make YOU the bad guy for saying no!) but I'm old school like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipwhich Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I have never heard it was an issue. It's never bothered me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetoaster Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I have never heard it was an issue. It's never bothered me. No kidding. I don't recline my seat, but I am really not going to get that upset if someone reclines in front of me. It's not going to ruin my day, or cause me to start an altercation, as has happened a few times recently. I think the main problem is that many people have lost the ability to be nice to each other. I can't imagine that there were many kind words exchanged in those situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endzone_dave Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 I think we need to stop adding to the great list of things considered entirely outrageous and unacceptable. As for reclining, I just check with the person behind me. I know that talking and asking people stuff might be considered offensive to some (how dare they make YOU the bad guy for saying no!) but I'm old school like that. I'm just the opposite. I think the world would be a much better place if people were concerned for people other than themselves. Usually it's the little things people can do that makes things better for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacase Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Its not an issue most of the time. I never had a problem with it except for once I was on a Jet Blue flight and I truly believe the person's seat was broke. They were so far back I could not get up or even use the tray table. I asked the flight attendant to have the person move forward and her response was they can recline the seat back as far as they want. I tried to ask the person but they were faking being asleep. Thankfully it was only an hour and a half flight. I think the issue is coming up as airlines are trying to crowd more and more people in smaller spaces. Seats are getting smaller on some airlines and space between seats is shrinking. This is one are I would like FAA to step in and dictate a minimum amount of seat space for all flyers to be comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Yes, I think that it is rude. Especially when you can see that the person behind you is tall. No, I do not recline my seat (unless I am in business and there is plenty of room). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I think we need to stop adding to the great list of things considered entirely outrageous and unacceptable. As for reclining, I just check with the person behind me. I know that talking and asking people stuff might be considered offensive to some (how dare they make YOU the bad guy for saying no!) but I'm old school like that. LOL. So simple isnt it. I always ask, and dont get mad if they ask me not to do it. That said, I bought my seat, if I WANT to do it, I can. That doesnt mean I wouldnt be a d-bag for doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balki1867 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I fly a lot (100+ flights last year) and the more I've flown the more sympathetic I've gotten to the people who actually deal with airline customers. (The whole process of paying bag fees, TSA, overbooked flights, fighting for overhead space and then sitting together in a cramped space seriously puts people on edge, and I've witnessed a few acts of customer stupidity that ensued.) I'm not personally a recliner (I'm 5'11", so I'm taller than the average American, but I wouldn't call myself exceptionally tall) but my only advice would be that if you are going to recline don't just jam the button and lean back as hard as you can. If the person behind you is using a laptop it can/will get the screen jammed under the upper lip of the cavity that houses the tray table. (Even if they are not using their laptop and just happen to be leaning a little forward, you might bop them in the head, which is never a fun experience). Really its common courtesy. Likewise, the secondary common courtesy is that if your recline really does interfere with the person behind you and they politely ask you if you can make yourself a little more upright to accommodate, do it. Thirdly, if someone behind you is using one of those knee defender systems to lock your seat into an upright position, all bets are off. I would most likely find a way to dislodge those things and recline just to spite them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 This reminds me of a Fed Ex Field thread where people would get upset that I would stand up for exciting plays or stand, cheer and scream for the high points of the game. Too many grumpily refuse to stand for their team. Am I being rude for standing and high fiving and hollering and trying to scream on defense? Perhaps so, but that's part of the fun of being at a game. Likewise, it seems that there's some undue grumpitude about telling people that if you are in a reclining seat you can't recline or more to the point that ever reclining is a sign of rudeness. I don't jam chair all the way back, but I do tilt back a bit because of comfort... and a little bit because my back demands it. I figure the guy behind me and so forth have the ability and right to do the same. Do I feel for people much taller than me? Yep, and if asked I'll unrecline, but I rarely if ever have asked tall people to switch seats at the movie because they're blocking the view and that always happens. I think in all the years I've gone to the movie I've only seen a handful of times where a giant will switch seats if in front of a child or someone short. More often, I've heard them laugh about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistertim Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 LOL. So simple isnt it. I always ask, and dont get mad if they ask me not to do it. That said, I bought my seat, if I WANT to do it, I can. That doesnt mean I wouldnt be a d-bag for doing so. I had a situation some months back where the lady in front of me reclined her seat all the way back, giving me approximately 4 inches between my face and the back of her seat. I asked her very politely if she could perhaps move her seat up a little bit. She looked at me like I had just asked her if I could take a **** on her foot tray and said "I paid for this flight, I can recline my seat if I want" and turned back around. Some people really are just lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abdcskins Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Yes, it is. Particularly in coach. I usually fly business so it's all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 It bugs me a little bit but....then I just recline my seat and make more room for myself. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I think on overseas flights or red eyes it's ok. But on other short haul flights keep your seat upright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Seriously? The airline is responsible for this issue, not the passenger reclining the seat. If one is paying $$ for a seat that offers the option of reclining, and you choose to take advantage of that option, you are not being rude. That's like saying its rude to ask for a refill at dinner when the table next to you hasn't received their drinks yet. Complain to the airline. I'm 6'2, and I know it sucks when the person in front of me reclines. But that isn't their problem. They don't owe me anything, and I don't owe the person behind me anything. We are so damned sensitive nowadays, getting upset because the guy in front of you reclines? Seriously? They paid for the ability to recline. All the things going on in the world and we're concerned about reclining airline seats.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdlives Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm totally the other way on this one. I paid for my seat like everyone else and everything that comes with it. Not allowing me to recline is akin to asking me not to use the little television set or use my folding tray. If its an issue, it should be an issue to take up with the airline. There are plenty of carriers that offer more legroom, more space etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chachie Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 My observation is that the seats on airplanes don't recline far enough to be an issue. I mean really, what you get on a recline? 2 inches back? 3? They call it a "recline" but really it's just a slight amount. I never feel reclined in an airplane recliner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwpanic Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 explain how this isn't rude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 You paid for the seat so I guess you get to do whatever you want. With that being said its very rude. Everyone wants to recline their seat till someone does it to them. You don't have to hold the door open for people but irs rude to close it in their face. You don't need to do a lot of things but its just common courtesy. I think its somewhat acceptable if the person infront turns around and says "hey may I recline" or "I'm really tired so I'm going to have to recline, instead of just doing it. Another example is the window seat. If someone asks me to close it I will even tho I don't have to close it. But if someone reclines infront of me I'm opening the window so the sun shines in their eyes. Btw I'm talking about reclining all the way back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskins Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 If I want to sleep, I do. If not, I dont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I don't fly a whole lot but on every flight I've been on it seems like the seats don't recline enough to be a problem. I've never had anyone recline enough to cause me discomfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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