Its like a lot of things, it depends how you do it. If I am in coach, I usually try not to recline unless I really need to and if I do I sort of check to make sure somebody doesnt have a laptop or something up that could get caught on the tray and GENTLY recline. All this being said, I am not shy nor am I a fool and if I met this woman from Rockville, I can assure you my seat would go all the way back the whole way there even if that meant having dinner on my lap.