SimonsMiles

I recently got into a "discussion" with a gentleman on a BA flight back from Istanbul. I usually fly Turkish on that route -- if you want to learn what a business lounge should look like, take a look at the CIP lounge in IST, far better than even GF in T5 -- but this time I happened to be on BA. I was in Y, on a short-haul configuration plane, and after the meal was finished I reclined my seat to site back and rest. The gentleman behind me objected to my reclining the seat, because it meant he couldn't use his laptop and he wanted to get some work done. He was shouting that he has a business meeting on arrival and needs to write a presentation to deliver at the meeting. I pointed out that it was his fault for leaving the work so late, and that I wasn't going to be inconvenienced by his requirements (as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"). The argument was resolved by the Pursar moving the gentleman to another seat with no-one in front of it (although he wasn't happy because that seat didn't have any recline -- it was right in front of the exit row).

So now it looks like people can buy a gadget to stop you from being able to recline your seat:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...reclining.html

Frankly I'd be incensed if someone did that to me. I wouldn't complain to BA, I'd complain to the person putting this thing on my seat (and would probably forcibly rip it off). Am I alone in this?

-simon

SteveF

Similar devices have been around for some years, but I've never seen one in use. If I did I'd bring it to the attention for the CC rather than start an argument (which it would inevitably become) with the person behind.

Joely

I'm on your side here but I have a feeling I may be in the minority as there was a big bust up a while about about seat reclining. Personally I think that you are within your rights as the possessor of a reclining seat to do just that (outside of meal times that is), if the chap with the laptop wanted more room he should have picked/paid for an exit row or bulkhead seat. That is what I do if I need to do some work in the air.

jacobitetraveller

so he was upset at you reclining but wanted his own seat to be able to recline ?

SimonsMiles

Indeed, that little bit of irony wasn't lost on the Pursar either (who was very polite to both of us and came to talk to me about it afterwards).

-simon

nux

See also:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...lane-seat.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-travel-y.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...rohibited.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...reclining.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...der-users.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...reclining.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...r-blocker.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/north...-aircraft.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...your-knee.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...-defender.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...r-product.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...seatbacks.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-bad-ugly.html


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...a-recline.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...ce-theirs.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...revention.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ahead-you.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ng-banned.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...clining-y.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...your-face.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ine-rules.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...ing-seats.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...reclining.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eat-backs.html

SCSA

I love that he was disgruntled about having to move to a non-reclining seat. If you want to assure your ability to conduct business on a plane, fly in business.

I flew Aer Lingus this winter, and a man behind shoved the seat back up as soon as I reclined it a couple of inches. I thought maybe something was wrong, so I tried again (by the point he'd gotten up from his seat). When he returned he shoved it again and told me I was required to seek his permission (which he wasn't going to give) before reclining.

My view is you paid for your seat, and you should be able to use it reasonably. If you don't want anyone reclining into you, book into the exit row or business class. I do have a look behind me now when reclining, however.

Joely

When I was flying to ORD last week (in Y) I reclined my seat after dinner service and the woman behind me seemed most disgruntled and tried to "knee in the back" me into submission. What she didn't realise is quite how stubborn I am and the fact that she was giving me quite a nice lower back massage! Ironically she too was reclined but I guess her comfort was more important than my own!

V10

You were quite right to stand your ground. Meals - which are an integral part of the service provided by the airline - are a matter of courtesy where seats should not be reclined.

Outside of that, tough. You, as a fellow passenger, have no right to mandate what I can and cannot do with my seat. That is why airlines who ban these antisocial and selfish knee defender devices are doing exactly the right thing.

And as for those printed cards they distribute with the knee defenders - don't be such a coward.

Paralytic

You're starting to muscle in on jerry a. laska's territory. I can see him sending the boys round

Greenpen

You may argue that you have bought a reclining seat but I might say I've bought the space in front of me. Reclining is a joke and is a marketing gimmick designed to make you think you are indulging in luxury travel. Having the seat pushed back into your knees, not being able to read a paper or book and being unable to focus on the TV screen are all much more uncomfortable.

If you want to recline on a plane buy a business class seat. Ryan Air have this right!

BigVince76

Reclining should be banned, it is not more comfortable! I actually find Y seats too reclined to begin with. The idea that slumping back 3 inches is somehow going to help you 'rest' is just daft. This is one area that Ryanair have it spot on, on their planes no one can recline.

V10

Whilst there's some merit in your initial argument, I'd be absolutely flabberghasted if anyone settled in to their seat in a BA 747 world traveller cabin and proclaimed it to be in any way "luxury".

If Ryanair *does* have this right, I'd also be interested to see anyone seriously argue that it was done in any way for passenger comfort, and nothing at all to do with saving costs and maximizing seating capacity.

TheBaps

Easy jet have this correct as well, basically if the seats don't recline no one feels hard done by. However if I'm purchasing a product that includs a reclining seat then I have every rigth to use it, anyone attempting to stop me with at least a) being nice about it and b) having a damn good reason for me to not use it, is going to be told where to go.

Joely

I think that everyone should declare their interest here and state whether they fly J or Y and short or long-haul. I would be interested to know if the folks saying that reclining should be banned have spent 8+ hours in WT.

For short hops I can understand the position of not wishing to recline as an hour or two sitting up is no great hardship but when you spend your life crammed into a tiny seat down the back for hours on end, as I do, then you want every inch you can get.