This Is the One Thing People Need to Stop Doing on Airplanes
Jackie Reddy April 12, 2019
Business woman sleep during night flight airplane cabin passengers
There are many very irritating things about air travel. But according to travel writer Abbey Gingras, those who thoughtlessly recline their seats at-will – especially on short flights – are the real menaces of the skies. She asks passengers to think long and hard before they lean back.
Many things about air travel are annoying and even downright uncomfortable, but according to travel writer Abbey Gingras, those passengers who recline their seats at-will are the absolute bane of the cabin.
This is especially true, she says, of those who opt to recline on short-haul journeys. Writing in Outside, she clarifies her position, saying, “Let me be clear: reclining is perfectly acceptable on flights longer than, say, four or five hours, especially if it’s an overnighter. If you are flying long enough to need real sleep, recline away.”
“But if you’re reclining your seat on a two-hour, midday puddle jump, I hope you miss your connection and get stuck at LaGuardia Airport without even an $8 coffee to comfort you,” Gingras adds.
Given the ever-shrinking size of plane seats and the similar increase in passenger density in the cabin, she entreats fellow travelers to think before they recline.
“Let’s get real. Those extra three degrees of slope on your reclined seat back aren’t going to make you more comfortable. Your legroom isn’t magically larger. All you’re doing is encroaching upon the person behind you who also paid $324 to be shipped to Dallas,” she writes.
And if there was any doubt surrounding Gingras’ feelings about those who lie back without a thought, she finishes her piece by saying, “The thing is, you know you suck when you hit that recline button, but just in case you truly are ignorant, hear this: your actions have direct consequences for the people around you—any space you take is taken from someone else.”
[Image Source: Shutterstock]
Abbey Gingras is completely wrong. Many of my shorthaul flights are connections from a longhaul flight. I carry my own pilllow. After travel time often exceeding 14-16 hours, the last flight may be a short haul flight. I may desperately need that 1-2 hours of sleep so as to be able to handle the last leg of my journey which is often a 1-2 hour train journey. Reclining on that short haul flight might be critical for my sleeping. I don't ask, maybe I don't even look behind. But I do recline slowly, so that the person seated behind is aware and can react appropriately. During mealtimes, I am happy to straighten the seat. If the person in front of me reclines on any flight, I recline my seat. I have absolutely no issue with the person in front of me reclining their seat.
Simply another immature rant by a self purported 'Dear Abbey" wannabe. It's really all about paying attention to what is going on around you and being sensitive to those you encounter. Like many others, no recline is extremely uncomfortable for my back after three surgeries, but I truly love flying and exploring the world. So I recline, but slowly and with at least some pre-check to make sure I'm not going to hit their computer screen if their on it. On the other hand, slam your seat back into me while I'm eating and you'll get an earful about paying attention, but no you will definitely not get kneed in the back the rest of the flight! What would be the point? And if you want to regularly knee me in the back after I have slowly and courteously reclined, I'll simply call the FA and get you reseated or disciplined. And I'll have no qualms whatsoever about reporting you to the proper authorities upon landing if you become abusive. Frankly, I've very, very rarely had any sort of incident over these matters in more than 5MM miles of flying on multiple airlines around the world. So my response to Abbey is that she can stuff it and go find a job with some disreputable rag such as Vox or the National Enquirer!!
Abbey, you are wronger than wrong. You should be advocating for larger seat pitch.
It is very easy to say "Those extra three degrees of slope on your reclined seat back aren’t going to make you more comfortable" if you are short, not six feet tall, and don't find your knees pressing against the back of the seat in front when sitting without reclining. In modern minimal seat pitch carriers I cannot get comfortable without reclining no matter how short the flight is. I do not recline during meal service and always warn the person behind me but I will continue to recline if the seat has that capability.
Unless you're sitting in row one, you're paying for the seat in front of you to recline. Take it up with the merchant if you don't like that.