PTravel:

Thanks for sharing your experiences~ I have no doubt other airlines have different ways of accomplishing the same goals. While UA may not have a "secure cabin" PA at 10K, they still secure the cabin. They still must make sure all service-items have been collected, all bags are stowed, all devices are off, all seatbelts fastened etc.

As for when to recline your seat. This is not the policy at my carrier either, it was just a little insight into the "why" of it all. I'm probably a little better equipped to answer some cabin safety issues as well because I have attended not only 2 airline trainings but also the FAA's cabin safety institute training which teaches you think "thinking" behind the action.

While technically (in terms of FAR's) it's most certainly acceptable to recline your seat after "wheels up", refer to my reasoning above for the recommendations in terms of safety. As a pax myself I wouldn't get too comfortable until 10K...that's when I most definitely know all is well!

I wish there was a way to share the thinking we (most cabin crew) have learned with pax, but it's a thin line we walk because we never want to scare anyone. I just had a pax recently ask about what it means to "crosscheck" doors for departure. Once I told him he said "Wow, I'll bet there's a lot I don't know...just never thought to ask." A little later (it was a long flight) he came to the back armed with more questions and I was delighted to share with him the "how and why" of it all..and he was just as eager to hear it! So many thing he'd though silly really made sense to him!

Policy, procedure and regulations generally come from history and experience. They're not always as arbitrary as they seem!