Originally Posted by
LTN Phobia
I don't agree that the ability to recline should be removed, because often there is no-one behind, which means there is no-one to affect. Or, even if there is someone behind, that person is fast asleep in a reclined state and there is no way it would affect them anyway.
However, there should be an etiquette-based rule that the seat must be put upright during meal service if there is anyone behind you, or the person behind minds having the seat reclined into him for a reasonable reason (trying to work on his laptop but there is no space to open it, or is tall and has his legs against the seat back etc).
I do not mind if someone reclines into me as long as I still have enough space to do what I want to do. I do not find it rude if someone reclines towards me, except during meal service, although I do not recline unless there is no-one behind me or it's not possible for me to adversely affect the person behind me for whatever reason.
The interesting thing for me is that if i had a crystal ball and could know that the person in front of me would recline their seat, in club europe, for a large % of the flight, then i wouldn't be buying a club europe seat, i'd be in economy.
Club Europe should mean that a passenger has a good amount of room to enjoy the flight at all times and when the seat in front is reclined, this is simply not the case. For me thats unacceptable for a business class product.
I do have another Club Europe booking but after this latest experience i'll be saving myself some money and going in economy in future.