Colnic2011

I think I already know how this is going to go.

So Mrs Colnic2011 really does not like people reclining who are in front (Usually because when we fly as a family we have 2 year old colnic2011 with us and she is easier to manage with that extra little bit space) To be fair as I am a more regular flyer and I have mixed views.

My normal schedule is HEL > LHR > EDI I fly a mixture of ET and CE about 50/50. I myself am not a recliner for the simple reason I am 6ft 4 and I know the discomfort it can sometimes cause me if somebody fully reclines so I choose not to recline as I wouldn't want to cause discomfort to another passenger.

I try when flying in CE to get row 1 or in ET to get the exit row to avoid being reclined on. But this is not always possible.

Interested to see your opinions. And go easy on me if you are a full recliner its just opinions I'm asking for I'm not telling you that you shouldn't recline.

Oh and while you are here I'm Flying WTP next week LGW > MCO does the extra space make a big difference or is it just more of a reason for the recliners to do their thing?

Cheers,

Colnic2011

Infinite Possibilities

Colnic2011

Agreed, and on a separate point I really wish they would make CE better as well I'd rather have somebody sat next to me with extra space at my legs than extra space beside me and the same as ET at my legs.

LTN Phobia

Two easy decision-making methods, should you wish to recline:

One is to only recline when the one behind you does. That way, it should be relatively guilt-free (after all, the one behind, who will be affected by you, has chosen to affect the one behind him/her, so he/she can't really have a strong feeling about you reclining into him/her, unless he/she is terribly selfish, in which case they don't deserve much of your consideration ).

Two, is to outright ask the one behind you. Those who really have a genuine reason why they find it difficult to have someone recline into them (e.g. tall person whose knees would be seriously impacted, or holding a lap child) should hopefully be assertive enough to politely ask you to refrain.

I don't recline on short haul flights even if I want to sleep any more, with the very occasional exception of the Method One above. Two reasons - the most important one being that, I don't want to be woken up to put my seat upright minutes before landing - every minute of sleep counts, and it cuts into my sleep time!
Two, I genuinely don't want to encroach into the space of the people behind me when it's already tight.

P.S. Long haul seats where no-one would be affected by my reclining: definitely reclining it whenever I want/am allowed, although much of the time I fall asleep before getting around to doing so.

PPS if I am seated behind you, which is somewhat unlikely, go ahead and recline (preferably not during the meal though), as long as you do it gently. In all likelihood I would not even notice because I would probably be asleep, and If I am awake, I usually have my laptop on my knees in anything but row 1 in case someone suddenly reclines their seat and damages my laptop. I say slowly please, because you never know what the person behind you is doing unless you have eyes on the back of your head. Once, I was picking something from my bag and someone violently reclined, bashing my head. It wasn’t very nice!

Colnic2011

I like this view, and agree with all the points you have made here.

LCY8737

Misco60

I rarely recline when travelling ET, but it is my right to do so. I always try to warn the person sitting behind that I am about to do so, and might even apologise for the fact that I am about to do so, but don't seek their permission. The seats are designed to recline.

ThatT1Feeling

RobDBA

PETER01

Short haul, never, unless there's no one behind me.

Long haul yes, always, but I always say to the person behind or if they are snoozing I do it very slowly. However, during meal times I always put the seat right up and sometimes have to politely say to the person in front to put their seat up, or more often than not gesture to the CC to ask the person to do it.

Saying that, since I have been Gold I have the option to select exit seats which in itself is a great benefit to have and which eliminates the latter part of my statement above.

As for the WTP, which I was in last week to HKG on the A380 and is my usual choice of cabin, there's plenty of room for others to recline and it does make a big difference for a usually small price difference.

Previous threads for info

Seat reclining during take-off: rules and etiquette question

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/808742-seat-reclining-during-take-off-rules-etiquette-question.html

Pete

offtothehills

Short haul, no, ever, unless empty seat behind - I hate it being done to me.... yet, I am one of those who has to have the blind a wee bit open when it's light outside because I'm a bit claustrophobic. I guess it's the same as seat reclining - the blind is meant to go up, just as the seat is meant to recline and we all have different tolerance levels.

simons1

I don't recline, the only exception being if the person in front reclines back. If it becomes necessary I don't get into discussion or debate with other travellers.

Increasingly airlines seem to be avoiding 'recliner wars' by installing fixed (non recline) seating for short haul, I imagine BA will do the same at some point.

Yachtman

eugegall

Not for me under any circumstances!

TheJayHatch