Second Flight Diverted Due to Passengers Battling Over Reclining Seats
Jeff Edwards August 29, 2014
A Miami to Paris-bound American Airlines flight was diverted to Boston on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of a passenger following yet another fevered exchange over a reclining seat. This incident follows one on August 24 in which a Denver-bound United Airlines flight was diverted to Chicago to remove two passengers involved in a heated physical exchange over a Knee Defender device which blocked the seat in front of those employing the device from reclining.
The latest episode on the American flight did not require a Knee Defender for the situation to become overheated. The Associated Press reported that a man who resides in Paris had to be restrained by federal air marshals after becoming agitated because the passenger in front of him had reclined her seat. The man allegedly grabbed a flight attendant who was attempting to calm him before he was subdued.
United took to Facebook Friday to remind passengers that the use of Knee Defenders is not allowed for the purpose of preventing seats from reclining on its flights. The airline suggested alternative uses for the gadget including a business card holder, a purse hook and as an adorable elephant desk pet.
A poll conducted by CabinCrew.com found that nearly 60 percent of flight attendants surveyed have witnessed a fight over reclining seats.
Meanwhile, U.S. budget carriers Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air have decided that passengers cannot be trusted with reclining seats. Both airlines have removed reclining seat mechanisms from their aircraft.
[Photo: iStock]
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I've never seen a fight either. Last flight I was on, I was so tired I think my seat was tilted back on takeoff and I was asleep before the wheels were up. Oh and I'm 6'4" with long legs and a shorter torso. It's possible to not have your knees get dinged....except on Iberia.
I am shocked to heat that only 60 percent have witnessed disputes. Makes me wonder how they are defining "disputes". They certainly don't happen every day, but the happen often enough. However, in all but a few occasions, the situation resolves (as far as the crew is aware, anyway) as soon as one whines to the crew member, and either: 1) we say that the person in front is in fact allowed to recline their seat or 2) we do in fact politely request that the person in front just put up their seat for the meal service. Most people chill out at that point, seeing that they don't have any further accepted recourse.
Please, I hope more airlines ban reclining seats. Time to be done with them.
If only 60 percent of cabin crew have seen reclining seat disputes then that means they don't happen very often.