To recline or not to recline that is the question
Nov 17, 2018, 1:41 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG & BoardRoom
Posts: 289
I personally don't recline.
Having said that, it is a feature of the seat. So anyone who chooses to recline is in their full right to do so. It falls in the same category as screaming children, snoring, swearing & cyber flashing. If I can no longer deal with these things it's time to not leave the house anymore.
Having said that, it is a feature of the seat. So anyone who chooses to recline is in their full right to do so. It falls in the same category as screaming children, snoring, swearing & cyber flashing. If I can no longer deal with these things it's time to not leave the house anymore.
I am surprised by this thread and interested that so many serious flyers make the decision not to recline as a courtesy to those behind them. The majority has spoken so it is with some embarrasment that I now admit that I am a recliner and atleast half the time I spend reclined, I confess I am fully reclined. Personally, I think my courtesy to the pax seated behind me extends only so much that I recline slowly or incrementally and, ofcourse, I sit upright at meals until trays are removed.
A “bygone era”? Interesting. With so many pax rights being relinquished involuntarily by air carriers, I am surprised so many here willingly give up one of the few remaining. My opinion is that if someone does not wish to be reclined upon then they need to monitor the seat selections frequently or speak to the GA and get assigned a seat immediately behind the bulkhead or an empty seat. I am typically thought of as a considerate person and have never been described as “rude”, I am simply of the opinion that if a seat I have purchased has the option to recline then I am within my rights to recline it just as the person in front of me and behind me has that equal right.
Respectfully, to the original poster, aren’t the first row behind the bulkhead typically reserved for pax with babies and many aircraft even have a bassinet installed or available for use?
I often have the tray table down and have the laptop out or crosswords or Sudoku but by all means, please exercise your right to recline if seated in front of me. I would never intentionally infringe on your right. I consider that space behind your seat to be bought and paid for by you !
Last edited by arcticflier; Nov 17, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Nov 17, 2018, 3:01 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 38
This has been quite an interesting thread to read. Does anyone know if BA has an official policy or general attitude towards reclining seats? Obviously there's the take off and landing part but, what happens when there is a conflict of interest like the ones in this thread e.g. person A is reclining but, is causing inconvenience to person B? Person A doesn't want to unrecline (sp?) their seat but, person B insists they do. Is it simply a case-by-case basis or is there something more concrete?
As a pocket sized human who mostly travels CW or WT+, I'm generally not affected by most of the matters discussed. However, some of the self-entitlement attitudes and respect for others (or lack thereof) are quite remarkable. Are people really that passionate about being able to recline their seat in the most basic fares (despite their infamy for being relatively uncomfortable regardless of a person's height, width, age, or disposition) or is this just a FT thing?
As a pocket sized human who mostly travels CW or WT+, I'm generally not affected by most of the matters discussed. However, some of the self-entitlement attitudes and respect for others (or lack thereof) are quite remarkable. Are people really that passionate about being able to recline their seat in the most basic fares (despite their infamy for being relatively uncomfortable regardless of a person's height, width, age, or disposition) or is this just a FT thing?
Nov 17, 2018, 3:26 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
This has been quite an interesting thread to read. Does anyone know if BA has an official policy or general attitude towards reclining seats? Obviously there's the take off and landing part but, what happens when there is a conflict of interest like the ones in this thread e.g. person A is reclining but, is causing inconvenience to person B? Person A doesn't want to unrecline (sp?) their seat but, person B insists they do. Is it simply a case-by-case basis or is there something more concrete?
As a pocket sized human who mostly travels CW or WT+, I'm generally not affected by most of the matters discussed. However, some of the self-entitlement attitudes and respect for others (or lack thereof) are quite remarkable. Are people really that passionate about being able to recline their seat in the most basic fares (despite their infamy for being relatively uncomfortable regardless of a person's height, width, age, or disposition) or is this just a FT thing?
As a pocket sized human who mostly travels CW or WT+, I'm generally not affected by most of the matters discussed. However, some of the self-entitlement attitudes and respect for others (or lack thereof) are quite remarkable. Are people really that passionate about being able to recline their seat in the most basic fares (despite their infamy for being relatively uncomfortable regardless of a person's height, width, age, or disposition) or is this just a FT thing?
Nov 17, 2018, 3:40 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 38
I'm sorry, I don't understand what the price you paid for a ticket has to do with the right to recline? It's a facility that is available to all seats, irrespective of what price you paid. Also how do you distinguish someone who has paid for a basic fare vs the unlucky sod that has to shell out for a full fare Y ticket at the last minute?
Last edited by Talking Penguin; Nov 17, 2018 at 3:42 pm Reason: spelling error
Nov 17, 2018, 4:02 pm
#53
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YLMQ
Programs: QF Gold, WY Gold
Posts: 682
I was referring to ET/WT seats in general, rather than differentiating between those who have paid for hand baggage or not - either way the seat is the same and well known for being less than comfortable. The price is more to do with having more space to recline freely if, when, and how much so you choose, which you generally achieve via WT+ and above. Your seat has the function to recline but, it also has the function of hurting others. My post was trying to figure where does this line lie and if there was a hardened policy or more a case-by-case basis in dealing with such incidents.
On most long haul/red eye flights with almost any airline you will see about 70% or more of the seats are reclined so most passengers must consider it acceptable.
I’m 6ft and have no issues with anyone reclining into me, I just hit the button straight after.
Nov 17, 2018, 4:19 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 38
Nov 17, 2018, 5:56 pm
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
When stuck in the back and I want to recline, I do. I make an effort to let the person behind me know by reclining just a tiny bit. I don't engage that person because I'm not asking and don't want to have an argument, just want them to realize that it is coming.
Nov 17, 2018, 11:12 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BAEC OW Gold/Emerald
Posts: 538
I’m one of those annoying selfish persons who slam the seat back fast and hard as soon as the plane takes off. Am I bothered? No. Do I look bothered? No. I do what I do because on a short night time TATL flight from the US east coast to London I want to get as much sleep as possible. I’ve never heard a complaint about my reclining seat maybe because I am comatose, but also because I always choose a seat in the last row of the WTP+ cabin and when I flew in the WT cabin would always choose a back row seat.
Nov 18, 2018, 12:09 am
#58
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,991
Having the person in front of you recline is sometimes annoying, but it is their absolute right to do so.
Nov 18, 2018, 12:53 am
#59
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 50
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.
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.
Once though I had a really angry person in front of me in ET when I was in the exit row. He pressed the cabin bell to get a crew member and he said, in a rather loud tone, that "the customer behind is blocking my seat recline with his knees". I'm fairly sure that his seat didn't have a button to press to recline, as he just seemed to be trying to get the seat to recline by barging back on it hard, which produced some interesting theatre for me. The crew member informed him that on that aircraft the seat was designed not to recline into an exit row for safety reasons, and he remained most put out. He turned round and glared at me and I hope that my helpful smile made him feel better....
Nov 18, 2018, 1:52 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
Programs: BA Plastic. HH Diamond. Speedwell Bar Lifetime Platinum.
Posts: 1,425
I’m one of those annoying selfish persons who slam the seat back fast and hard as soon as the plane takes off. Am I bothered? No. Do I look bothered? No. I do what I do because on a short night time TATL flight from the US east coast to London I want to get as much sleep as possible. I’ve never heard a complaint about my reclining seat maybe because I am comatose, but also because I always choose a seat in the last row of the WTP+ cabin and when I flew in the WT cabin would always choose a back row seat.
