A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
I am always cognizant of my recline in narrowbody F. It's still fairly close quarters up there: when the person in front of me reclines, I usually have to move my knees to make room. It's not awful, but it's definitely something to consider. That said, I usually will slowly recline an inch or two after the meal (if there is one).
In Y, I don't recline at all on the vast majority of my domestic flights...I just know how painful it is for the person behind me. Every now and then, if I sneak a peek at a very small person or a child behind me, I might recline an inch or two. If I'm in Y, the seat behind me is almost always the most-desirable E- seat, so unfortunately it is never empty. (17F on the 757, for example.)
I recline after dinner on overnighters. I do believe that's a generally-accepted etiquette: when dinner is taken away, most of the cabin reclines. I don't see a problem with that.