percysmith

I didn't think about it before either. But now that this blog post has got me thinking, I would've told my spouse to "film my space" before confronting the guy. And to make it very obvious to the guy behind she's doing it.

We've our equivalents of Daily Telegraph and The Sun who're very happy to take such videos - see "Gate Auntie" for instance.

I don't think any critique of Everywhereist is necessary. She didn't provoke or hit back.

missdimeaner

The BA crew handled it well enough. I had a very similar incident happen to me on AA. I was told in no uncertain terms by their crew that I was not to recline my seat at all - despite the lady in front being fully reclined (including during the meal service).
Sad to say it was a man too. I had to tell my husband not to intervene - it wouldn't have ended well and we would have definitely been in the wrong.
The end result was a very uncomfortable few days post flight with me ending up in hospital.
The AA crew were completely intimidated by the man and really couldn't have cared less about my discomfort.
I haven't flown them internationally since then, but I am giving them another go next week, time will tell if that is a good decision.

HarryHolden68

Absolutely unacceptable behaviour that is inexcusable.

However, I cannot help but think that the "Weak woman bullied by Alpha Male" angle only confuses the issue and that somehow, the blogger is turning the story into another issue that has nothing to do with aircraft. I know plenty of women who would have knocked the aggressive passenger into next week, and plenty of men who would have shied away from confrontation rather than meet it. I agree that nobody should have to feel like that, especially on an aircraft, but do not think the sex of the blogger has anything relevant to the story.

This story is about reclining a seat into a space which the person behind understands to be "theirs". Whilever airlines put reclining seats on their aircraft, this problem will always be there in some form. From people who mutter under their breath, to those like this idiot who feel it is within their rights to prevent it, there will be issues for the crew to deal with. Remove the ability to recline, end of issues. And BA save weight which is better for the fuel burn, hence environment, which is important for them according to their latest enhancements.

In this situation, I am surprised that the Captain was not made aware and that if they were, that they did not come to assess the situation. Maybe one of the crew on FT can advise, but is it possible that arrangements had been made for the idiot to be met at Seattle and detained for a while? In other words, is it possible that action is being taken and the blogger is not aware? Privacy act and all that may come into play?

LTN Phobia

I wish the man had been banned from BA - regardless of the writer's interpretation or presentation of the situation, it seems to me that the man behaved very badly, and he'd do it again to someone.

I don't really get the sexism angle to this - a nasty idiot would be a nasty idiot to everyone and it sounds like he's one of those.

He'd better not do that to me, or I'd be making sure that the police would be called.

orbitmic

I think that's very particular take on it. The poster speaks of what amounts to physical abuse. I have intervened when this has happened to my partner just in the same way as she has intervened when I was on the receiving end of what she equally saw as intolerable behaviour. It has nothing to do with man and woman or superheroes and saviours, it has to do with the fact that if you see your partner suffering the level of abuse that she interpreted this as being you just intervene because despite what others say, calm intervention by a third person often calms situations down between two people when it is uncontrollably escalating.

Flexible preferences

Either that, or publish a clear set of rules for the use of the recline, both for the recliner and the reclinee.

percysmith

CX tried it, and promptly divided their customer base http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...l#post23443000

We in the CX forum decided having recline was worth the space downside at least for long haul. Less downside for us cos I think our average height is shorter than FTers over at this forum.

The behaviour of this guy tho is to impose a Knee Defender by bullying Everywhereist and Rand. Don't think he deserves much sympathy for using such aggressive means.

simons1

Sadly in the heat of the moment, when it is happening, we don't always have the choice to rationalise and determine such a course of action.

That will never happen on long haul flights. A massive over-reaction which will needlessly impact the 99.9% of journeys (or whatever) when there is no issue. I can honestly say in 26 years of regular travel if I have not witnessed such an episode.

Doesn't the safety briefing say "the crew are here primarily for your comfort and safety"? In which case let them do their job, and deal with the miscreants. Endangering in flight safety gets you a criminal record and would rapidly curtail future US trips.

orbitmic

Absolutely. Thinking of the recline as the problem is to turn things upside down IMHO.

percysmith

Sometimes I find Flyertalk is contingency training for passengers akin to simulator training is contingency training for pilots.

jimlad48

I read it and found her language a little hyperbolic to put it mildly, although I don't doubt it was an extremely unpleasant experience.

The man in question, and the way he acted - I did wonder if it was possible that there may have been some kind of mental health issue that was kicking in? Not in any way trying to excuse him, but the language used (if true) did seem a bit bizarre, and I just wonder if he wasn't completely in control of himself?

dorothyr

Oh yes. I now have at least three snappy retorts ready to go if any "honeymooning couples" try to poach my window seat.

Flexible preferences

Yes, it did have that feel about it. Mind you, air travel can bring out extremes in people.

erifax

The offending pax may yet be so.

We don't know if any sanction was applied to said individual and we may never know. As bad as his actions were, BA should and probably will handle this privately.

krispy84

+1 ^

From the description he doesn't come across as someone in full control. It doesn't excuse his behaviour but may explain it.