Seat recline etiquette— is there such a thing?
#78
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
Seriously? Maybe in D1, but not on a 757 or smaller. I always (politely) request the person in front of me to put their seatback up while I'm eating. It is very difficult otherwise. Also, I always notify the person behind me when I recline, just to give them a heads-up so I don't mess with their laptop / drink / etc.
Common sense ain't so common, and neither apparently is common courtesy, unfortunately.
Common sense ain't so common, and neither apparently is common courtesy, unfortunately.
#79
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
Even paid first passengers should try to be considerate. Reminds me of a flight where my wife and I were seperated in first class each in an aisle seat with a guy in the row between us guy in front of me throws back his seat as far is it will go making it impossible for me to work. My wife offered to change seats as she just wanted to sleep. The passive aggressiveness in my took over and as soon as I got into the seat in front of the guy I flung it back. He immediately complained. some people are just very much about themselves good news is most people are fairly considerate
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Ugh, another thread on this only a few days after the last one?
Seat recline etiquette— is there such a thing?
Seat recline etiquette— is there such a thing?
#81
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Seriously? Maybe in D1, but not on a 757 or smaller. I always (politely) request the person in front of me to put their seatback up while I'm eating. It is very difficult otherwise. Also, I always notify the person behind me when I recline, just to give them a heads-up so I don't mess with their laptop / drink / etc. Common sense ain't so common, and neither apparently is common courtesy, unfortunately.
#83
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
I have no problem eating or working in any DL first class seat with the person in front of me reclined. It would never occur to me to be so discourteous as to attempt to deny the person in front of me the use of their seat. Apparently, some don't have the same consideration for others.
I'm 6'3" 280 pounds and build like a barrel-chested meat packing plant, so I barely fit into many FC seats as it is. When a person reclines, there is often only 8-12 inches between the back of their seat and my chest. It makes eating very difficult, so I will politely request that they not recline fully during the meal. After that, knock yourself out (though a common-courtesy glance back to be sure you're not going to cause any harm to the pax behind you would seem to be the basically decent thing to do).
That's OK though if they don't. I deal with the entitled and self-important all day long, so I brush it off as normal behavior and the proverbial "sign of the times."
Last edited by TheHorta; Jun 5, 2018 at 5:55 pm
#85
Join Date: May 2002
Location: STL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, DL SkClub LT, Marr LT Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 2,005
#86
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 64
(unless some creative person offers more) and that is to either eliminate all reclining or add more space. Or split the difference. Or charge for reclining.
Aha,,,that is it. Charge 50$ to recline.$25 goes to passenger behind you. Damages.....
#87
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
This person deserves to have six 250lb passengers sit in their lap since nothing is theirs. The height of arrogance! There are only two solutions that seem proper
(unless some creative person offers more) and that is to either eliminate all reclining or add more space. Or split the difference. Or charge for reclining.
Aha,,,that is it. Charge 50$ to recline.$25 goes to passenger behind you. Damages.....
(unless some creative person offers more) and that is to either eliminate all reclining or add more space. Or split the difference. Or charge for reclining.
Aha,,,that is it. Charge 50$ to recline.$25 goes to passenger behind you. Damages.....
#88
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Home Airport: PDX
Programs: Delta Skymiles 1M & DM ; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 116
FWIW, when I carried a larger laptop for which the screen could be cracked, I informed the PAX in front of me that I needed warning before recline. Only about half did it. During that time, I started putting my hand in between the laptop and the screen unless I was outright typing with both hands just so I'd get an extra bit of warning. I was amazed that people weren't willing to warn even when I asked and explained why I needed warning.
The thing that bothers me, though, is that people will leave the recline down even when they are up and walking about. How lazy can you be that you can't put your seat upright before you walk around.
I have no qualms about reaching up and hitting the button when there is no one in the seat in front of him, although I had a pax once tell me I had no right to put her seat up while she was gone after she took a 15 minute excursion away from her seat.
The thing that bothers me, though, is that people will leave the recline down even when they are up and walking about. How lazy can you be that you can't put your seat upright before you walk around.
I have no qualms about reaching up and hitting the button when there is no one in the seat in front of him, although I had a pax once tell me I had no right to put her seat up while she was gone after she took a 15 minute excursion away from her seat.
#89
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
I have been thinking about this.....
We have 88 posts on this and almost all of them claim to be models of polite society where they always ask before they recline etc....
I have 2 million miles on Delta.
I have NEVER been asked by the person in front of me if it's OK if the seat reclines. As a general rule in First I often notice that as soon as the FA is out of the line of sight the seats go back, well before the plane is fully in the air.
I honestly cannot recall ever noticing anyone around me ask anyone else if it's OK if they recline their seat.
I can recall some "entitled" people demanding that other's not recline their seats while the "entitled" slammed their seat back into the person behind them with as much force as possible (Hint repeatedly slamming the seat back doesn't increase the recline)
So either the posters on here are a huge minority or some of us aren't telling the truth.
I honestly admit I don't ask before I recline. I do check to see what's going on behind me, but it's generally not an issue as I don't like the seat all the way back anyway.
We have 88 posts on this and almost all of them claim to be models of polite society where they always ask before they recline etc....
I have 2 million miles on Delta.
I have NEVER been asked by the person in front of me if it's OK if the seat reclines. As a general rule in First I often notice that as soon as the FA is out of the line of sight the seats go back, well before the plane is fully in the air.
I honestly cannot recall ever noticing anyone around me ask anyone else if it's OK if they recline their seat.
I can recall some "entitled" people demanding that other's not recline their seats while the "entitled" slammed their seat back into the person behind them with as much force as possible (Hint repeatedly slamming the seat back doesn't increase the recline)
So either the posters on here are a huge minority or some of us aren't telling the truth.
I honestly admit I don't ask before I recline. I do check to see what's going on behind me, but it's generally not an issue as I don't like the seat all the way back anyway.
#90
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,358
I have been thinking about this.....
We have 88 posts on this and almost all of them claim to be models of polite society where they always ask before they recline etc....
I have 2 million miles on Delta.
I have NEVER been asked by the person in front of me if it's OK if the seat reclines. As a general rule in First I often notice that as soon as the FA is out of the line of sight the seats go back, well before the plane is fully in the air.
I honestly cannot recall ever noticing anyone around me ask anyone else if it's OK if they recline their seat.
I can recall some "entitled" people demanding that other's not recline their seats while the "entitled" slammed their seat back into the person behind them with as much force as possible (Hint repeatedly slamming the seat back doesn't increase the recline)
So either the posters on here are a huge minority or some of us aren't telling the truth.
I honestly admit I don't ask before I recline. I do check to see what's going on behind me, but it's generally not an issue as I don't like the seat all the way back anyway.
We have 88 posts on this and almost all of them claim to be models of polite society where they always ask before they recline etc....
I have 2 million miles on Delta.
I have NEVER been asked by the person in front of me if it's OK if the seat reclines. As a general rule in First I often notice that as soon as the FA is out of the line of sight the seats go back, well before the plane is fully in the air.
I honestly cannot recall ever noticing anyone around me ask anyone else if it's OK if they recline their seat.
I can recall some "entitled" people demanding that other's not recline their seats while the "entitled" slammed their seat back into the person behind them with as much force as possible (Hint repeatedly slamming the seat back doesn't increase the recline)
So either the posters on here are a huge minority or some of us aren't telling the truth.
I honestly admit I don't ask before I recline. I do check to see what's going on behind me, but it's generally not an issue as I don't like the seat all the way back anyway.