Delta Air Lines Plans to Reduce Seat Recline in Bet to Make Flyers Happy
Apr 15, 2019, 11:14 am
#151
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, PMNW 1MM, DL 1MM
Posts: 557
I fully understand that people "need" to work whenever they can. But that doesn't mean everyone around them needs to cater to "their" needs.
Crammed in an airplane seat is not the most ideal place for many activities.
While they are "ok" to sleep, read, listen to music or watch a movie, they are "not so ok" to work on a laptop, recline or no recline.
I think if we are honest we can agree on that part.
Now, we are all in this together and some of us have a legitimate reason why we recline our seat.
I for one have a spinal condition that is extremely uncomfortable sitting upright. Upright in F or upright in Y doesn't make much of a difference. So in order for me to have a half way decent flight I must recline my seat or else I'm in pain.
Does that "maybe" impact YOUR ability to comfortably hack away on your laptop? Probably but not necessarily.
Who's activity is more important ? In your view it is yours but in my view it is mine. Neither one of us is right here.
I have no other choice as far as my back pain goes. You have a choice of working on a laptop or doing what 90% of the others do on a plane. Whatever that is.
Apr 15, 2019, 11:18 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, PMNW 1MM, DL 1MM
Posts: 557
I don't know. Look around on a plane and see what 90% of the other people do. Read a book, listen to music, watch a movie, nap. Chat with someone next to you. I'm sure there's plenty more activities you can do that are not impeded by a reclined seat in front of you.
Apr 15, 2019, 11:26 am
#153
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
I respectfully disagree.
I fully understand that people "need" to work whenever they can. But that doesn't mean everyone around them needs to cater to "their" needs.
Crammed in an airplane seat is not the most ideal place for many activities.
While they are "ok" to sleep, read, listen to music or watch a movie, they are "not so ok" to work on a laptop, recline or no recline.
I think if we are honest we can agree on that part.
Now, we are all in this together and some of us have a legitimate reason why we recline our seat.
I for one have a spinal condition that is extremely uncomfortable sitting upright. Upright in F or upright in Y doesn't make much of a difference. So in order for me to have a half way decent flight I must recline my seat or else I'm in pain.
Does that "maybe" impact YOUR ability to comfortably hack away on your laptop? Probably but not necessarily.
Who's activity is more important ? In your view it is yours but in my view it is mine. Neither one of us is right here.
I have no other choice as far as my back pain goes. You have a choice of working on a laptop or doing what 90% of the others do on a plane. Whatever that is.
I fully understand that people "need" to work whenever they can. But that doesn't mean everyone around them needs to cater to "their" needs.
Crammed in an airplane seat is not the most ideal place for many activities.
While they are "ok" to sleep, read, listen to music or watch a movie, they are "not so ok" to work on a laptop, recline or no recline.
I think if we are honest we can agree on that part.
Now, we are all in this together and some of us have a legitimate reason why we recline our seat.
I for one have a spinal condition that is extremely uncomfortable sitting upright. Upright in F or upright in Y doesn't make much of a difference. So in order for me to have a half way decent flight I must recline my seat or else I'm in pain.
Does that "maybe" impact YOUR ability to comfortably hack away on your laptop? Probably but not necessarily.
Who's activity is more important ? In your view it is yours but in my view it is mine. Neither one of us is right here.
I have no other choice as far as my back pain goes. You have a choice of working on a laptop or doing what 90% of the others do on a plane. Whatever that is.
And for the record, people can be honest and disagree with you at the same time.
Apr 15, 2019, 2:27 pm
#154
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
I had an early morning flight on a UA ERJ45 (I think that's the aircraft. Old bird, no F) recently. 90% of the passengers slept on the plane and (gasp) had their seats reclined. Even for a lowly hour flight (well depending on if you counted wheels up to wheels down).
Apr 15, 2019, 2:32 pm
#155
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
Isn't AA making the Y recline the same as Delta for Project Oasis?
Unrefitted Boeing 738 to 7M8 or densified Oasis 738 aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
Not sure about F.
I thought I saw it was going from 4" to 2".
I also thought it was interesting that I didn't see any "yay, this is a good thing" (in regards to the recline) on the AA thread.
Maybe Delta passengers are different?
Unrefitted Boeing 738 to 7M8 or densified Oasis 738 aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
Not sure about F.
I thought I saw it was going from 4" to 2".
I also thought it was interesting that I didn't see any "yay, this is a good thing" (in regards to the recline) on the AA thread.
Maybe Delta passengers are different?
Apr 15, 2019, 4:07 pm
#156
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
There were FF upgrades in the 1980's, as well as the ability to redeem FF tickets at the airport, for any ticket available. In the late 80's my grandmother redeemed two Business Class tickets on Delta LAX-PKK for 150,000 miles. Now that was a FF program, not this Skypeso garbage.
Apr 15, 2019, 5:53 pm
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL Lost Luggage
Programs: Kettle with Kryptonium Medallion Tags
Posts: 10,309
Apr 15, 2019, 10:02 pm
#158
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,034
What makes you qualified to think it is a psychological issue? It is very physical to me.
What if your back DID feel the difference?
See here is the thing. I agree with the statement that MOST people do go back as far as they can. Doesn't that say something? They aren't all obvious to the people reclining into them but they still do it....like me. How could they be that obvious when they have a seat back right in front of them that is back. I use a laptop from time to time in coach and I have a big screen and I can still make it work. No, it isn't ideal. But I don't expect it to be either.
Now, a friend of mine (I can't take credit) has come up with an idea. Why not make the left side not recline and the right side recline? Or the right side recline more? Plainly spell it out and make it clear you still aren't promised any particular seat. You couldn't be any worse off than you are today if the non-recliners have to sit on the other side. I can hear the counter argument now....too complicated. Yeah....well it wouldn't be any more complicated than the mess of stuff now.
What if your back DID feel the difference?
See here is the thing. I agree with the statement that MOST people do go back as far as they can. Doesn't that say something? They aren't all obvious to the people reclining into them but they still do it....like me. How could they be that obvious when they have a seat back right in front of them that is back. I use a laptop from time to time in coach and I have a big screen and I can still make it work. No, it isn't ideal. But I don't expect it to be either.
Now, a friend of mine (I can't take credit) has come up with an idea. Why not make the left side not recline and the right side recline? Or the right side recline more? Plainly spell it out and make it clear you still aren't promised any particular seat. You couldn't be any worse off than you are today if the non-recliners have to sit on the other side. I can hear the counter argument now....too complicated. Yeah....well it wouldn't be any more complicated than the mess of stuff now.
If Delta really wants to try a test then they should try having seats where the cushion slides forward as opposed to the back reclining. I wonder how many people would take the maximum angle in that case.
Apr 15, 2019, 10:05 pm
#159
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,034
Apr 16, 2019, 12:35 am
#160
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
Programs: Delta DM for now
Posts: 474
I'm honestly surprised with the number of people claiming 'bad backs' saying that full recline is the only way they're comfortable. My experience has been the total opposite because full recline leads to a more slouched position and overall bad posture. This might relieve the pressure for a bit, but I will certainly feel it for days afterwards. I usually only recline partway because this seems to strike the best balance between good posture and comfort, so I'm all for 2" limits in Y.
Apr 16, 2019, 4:48 am
#161
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
I would love to see a Venn diagram consisting of people who
A) Want to decide whether to use their own seat recline AND want to decide whether the person in front of them can use theirs
compared to
B) People who want aisle seats AND want to control the window shade
I am picturing the intersection as just being a circle.
Edit to add: you could add a third criteria - people who define "polite" as "What I want/What benefits me" and probably still retain the circle.
A) Want to decide whether to use their own seat recline AND want to decide whether the person in front of them can use theirs
compared to
B) People who want aisle seats AND want to control the window shade
I am picturing the intersection as just being a circle.
Edit to add: you could add a third criteria - people who define "polite" as "What I want/What benefits me" and probably still retain the circle.
787s with lockable window shades and hard shell premium economy or business seats are my jam.
Apr 16, 2019, 8:21 am
#162
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Isn't AA making the Y recline the same as Delta for Project Oasis?
Unrefitted Boeing 738 to 7M8 or densified Oasis 738 aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
Not sure about F.
I thought I saw it was going from 4" to 2".
I also thought it was interesting that I didn't see any "yay, this is a good thing" (in regards to the recline) on the AA thread.
Maybe Delta passengers are different?
Unrefitted Boeing 738 to 7M8 or densified Oasis 738 aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
Not sure about F.
I thought I saw it was going from 4" to 2".
I also thought it was interesting that I didn't see any "yay, this is a good thing" (in regards to the recline) on the AA thread.
Maybe Delta passengers are different?
If Delta announced a 30" seat pitch and reduced recline, I am sure the negative cries would be similar here too.
Apr 16, 2019, 8:36 am
#163
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
IME the best thing for my back in a coach seat is a small pillow for lumbar support. Actually the little coach airplane pillows work well for this.
Apr 16, 2019, 9:31 am
#164
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, PMNW 1MM, DL 1MM
Posts: 557
Apr 16, 2019, 11:54 am
#165
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
Again, read my post. Where did I say I even supported a reduced recline? You seem to have an agenda that you want to push regardless of the facts.