Yeah, but they had put their 'do not disturb' sticker on their chair so the cabin crew said nothing to them.

I was really polite saying look, would you mind, it is almost impossible for us to eat properly could you just adjust your seat for half an hour or so'

But no.

Never flying Emirates again
 

Where does it say you have to be woken up so someone can eat. Honestly I have no issue with it. If someone infront of me reclines I can eat my meal just fine. I consider it rude waking people up just so I have extra space for 20 mins vs disrupting their whole nights sleep. Virgin cabin crew were right in my view.

Except that in many cases the crew cannot "insist" upon it. If a crew member tries to insist rather than asking politely, I have refused ; it is not a safety issue and not something (on airlines I have done it on) the crew has the authority to insist on

Well, if you think you can play hardball against the crew, I'm pretty sure they will win.

Sorry Sir, you appear intoxicated, we can't give you any more alcohol.

No sorry sir, we've no spare food left.

No sorry sir, we've aaaaabsolutely no clue why your IFE keeps resetting 10min into your movie all the time.

etc. :p

No; when it happened last on Qantas, I spoke to the CSM and complained about it. The crew didn't "win"

Your suggestions of what the cabin crew would do out of spite are imo ridiculous

If a crew member would immediately tell you "hey, you id**t, move your seat up", I would understand your reaction.

But if they're like: "Sir, it's meal service, please put your seat upright", and you refuse to do so, then in my book, you're the annoyance.

And I do myself often recline - just not during meal times, that's just asocial.

Reminds me of a similar situation on an Emirates flight maybe 3-4 years ago. I was seated in the last row of the 777 (50G) with nobody behind me. However, when the meal service began, the brand new G2 woke me up despite a DND sticker and asked me to put my seat upright. She insisted that this was a regulation and that she could be fired if I didn't comply. SFS was summoned who quietly apologised and let me go back to sleep. Presumably the G2 was appropriately re-educated.

As I said, if asked politely I have no issues ; if the crew member tries to put it as an order, then that is very different

Going by many other (some very long) threads here on FT, you are very much in the minority as regards the etiquette in this situation.

Just because the situation doesn't give you personally a problem does not mean that everyone else feels the same.

If the person in front reclines encroaching on your space, then you have a choice of accepting it or reclining as well. Problem solved (except on certain rows which don't recline).

Clippity-clop clippity-clop, Who's that crossing my bridge?

seeing such behavoir: call FA - this guy will destroy IFE - at least he try - they will force you to stop, very quickly.....:D

Never flying Emirates again
 

Well we all have our view and I would say as dave noble has intimated it's not a rule so all up to the individual concerned. All I am saying is I wouldn't ever ask someone to put their seat forward as in my view its unnecessary and petty. Regardless of whose bridge it is! Certainly not a reason to never fly the airline again!

Well said. The OP needs a serious reality check. I mean, EK Cabin Crew can't tell passengers not to recline their seats during flight and further, EK offers more leg room in Y than other airlines.

LMAO, this thread was hilarious -- catchy title got me to open it, glad I did.