This thread has come around to my pet peeve: Recliners.

With the exception of MRTC AA planes and OAL exit row seats, it is impossible for normal size adults to get out of any seat (except the aisle seat) without grabing the reclined seats between them and the aisle. Don't blame me for a snapped neck; blame the airline.

That is just one of the prices to be paid for being a Recliner. If you put your head and seat in my lap, it is you who will have put your seat into my knees, and not vice-versa. If the movement of my long legs then makes you uncomfortable, that is your problem.

Some posters above say it is "their seat" - front and back. Do they also claim the tray table? And the seat pocket? You can bet the ranch that the table will be jumping when I am using it for paperwork.

Oh! And also you better have earplugs and wear a hat because my airvent will be open and full forward; and I will be rattling newspapers or magazines when reading.

I prefer the exit rows, not only for greater pitch but because the seats in the row in front do not recline. And I am consistent - like Burkey, I never recline in Coach!

Amen kappa! I only recline when there is no one behind me. That includes when someone in front of me insists on being rude.

So DHacker, is it rude for me to put a carry on underneath the seat in front of me (i.e. where my feet go)? Based on your logic, that space belongs to the person sitting above that space, right? If the sliver of space where my seat reclines back is not my space, why do the seats recline. I think your beef isn't with people who recline, it's with airlines that make seats that recline. Next time, don't get mad at the person in front of you who takes advantage of part of the price of their ticket (i.e. the right to recline), take it up with the airline that makes seats that recline. Or better yet, find an airline that doesn't have reclining seats and stick to it!

Well, I think it also has something to do with the particular flight -- I'm a lot less annoyed when the person in front of me goes
all the way back if it's a redeye (or a transoceanic overnight) than if it's a 2
hour midday flight (especially during
meals...).

Dan

I cant believe that I am telling this story here. But I really really really love it

My boss was on red eye home after he reaped havoc on me for a week. There was a family behind him AND in front of him. 2 Adults and 3-4 kids.

Kid behind him kept kicking his seat. Mean boss politely asked parent to control kid. Kid didnt stop. Boss, now drunk, made a fuss.

Parent in row behind boss gave kid to parent in front of boss. Kid kept turning around and kept making faces at mean drunk boss.

Plane hit air pocket and kid puked (can you say projectile vomiting??) all over boss.

This dosent help in thread regarding seat kickers BUT it sure brings a smile to MY face

I have always considered it the right of the person infront of me to recline, by the same logic, it would also be right to recline as well. I haven't really thought of it any other way until now probably because nobody complains when I recline and since I do it politely (Ie. Pushing back slowly, unreclining at meal times or if I hear they are getting up)
In response to those who complain about recliners: I must say that if you aren't willing to pay, with either miles or cash, to fly upfront, then you should except the fact that economy is cramped with pax who have been given the choice whether or not to recline by the airline. Ofcourse your complaints about unruly/insensitive pax who recline during meals is totaly justified but I just cant seem to see the logic that since you need to use your tray table to work, the pax in front of you can't use his seat to rest.

So many responses...!

dhacker, you'll have to excuse me if I don't take the time to check out your physical make up and perform and anlysis of what would make you most comfortable! With all of the ruckus of boarding a flight, I infrequently pay attention to the person next to me let alone he who is seated behind me. Don't hold it against me and dent my seatback if I recline whilst in front of you.

Richard and Richard, I agree with both of you in moderation but you both do sound a bit spoiled or selfish. I would politely ask the parent to try to have the child quick kicking my seat. I would NEVER kick or bump someone else's because they push the button and lean back...that is their right as far as I'm concerned. Just like I don't get out of my seat and close the window shade during a movie if someone does not do so on their own accord. It's their option.

Other things I do not do:

1. close other people's vents even when I am cold or don't want air blowing on me.
2. force people to eat the in flight food even though I firmly believe in the value of three square meals each day.
3. lambast people for not covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough on a flight.
4. pull out my mr. microphone and criticize people for putting the little pretzel wrappers in the seatback pockets.
5. put my carryon under the seat I am sitting in (have had that happen and I hate it).
6. inform the flight crew that their carryon luggage should be slightly smaller than a full grown elephant.
7. inform the ticket agent that it is in fact true what they say about how frowning does take more muscles than smiling.

I disagree strongly! This a pet peeve too. I am very average in size and I never use a seatback in front but always use armrests to support me as I leave a seat. If on the interior, the aisle is stepping out anyway. It is possible if you want to. For most people it's just not in their mind to try hard to avoid disturbing the person in front..reclined or not. They seek the most convenient means of exit from the aisle, not the most considerate.

I also think you are entitled to use the facilities you are renting during the flight, including the recline. If the person behind has a credible and visible difficulty with the amount of recline, the recliner has the option if requested to unrecline partially or wholey in order to to help.

If one has a very unusual height situation, he should book and plan ahead, buy biz or seek a flight with exit row available instead of imposing a constraint on another pax. Cuz that's what he's doing...imposing his constraint on another uninvolved pax.

Not sure I follow your argument -- you could have flown business class as well and reclined all you want. At least you were able to recline the seat at first (physically speaking). Other than on AA, if the person in front of me begins to recline, the process ends immediately due to the length of my legs; I'm tall but not that tall and I don't slump in my seat. The fact is that most airlines choose to place the seats very close together, and I'm not going sit in the brace position, or twist my legs sideways, just so the person in front of me can recline.

Reclining my seat doesn't help the person in front of me recline (besides the fact that it starts the domino effect). Reclining causes the top part of the seat to move back, but the bottom cushion, where my legs are located, is in the same place. My head is a few inches further back, but that's it. It's not all that more comfortable.

I've had my head snapped by the person behind getting up...as I recall I was on Northworst and I got one of those seats that recline by themselves. I was constantly pulling the seat forward. Then bozo behind me decides to get up and use the lav. Boom, he pulls me back into the fully reclined postion. I ignored it the first time. By the time the flight was over, he had done it three or four times. I was ready to go ballistic.
two:
Getting banged in the head with someones oversized luggage being lifted into the overhead compartment.
three:
Exiting the plane and someone decides to put on a jacket, then get something out of their luggage, then comb their hair, etc. etc. while blocking the aisle.
four:
Window seat passenger staking claim to BOTH armrests. Give some sympathy to the poor guy in the middle.
five:
The guy that has to cram that last monster bag into the compartment that your luggage is in, when their is room elsewhere.

I don't like seat kickers. usually parents will stop the child if approached nicely. If not then sometimes you endure for the flight.

I don't like inconsiderate recliners or arm rest hoggers either. We all have to be considerate of others on the airplane. It is not my seat and I can do anything I want, nor is it wrong at certain times to recline some or all the way. We have to live together for a few hours or so on the plane.

I was coming through IAH from LAS to DFW. It was a CO redeye into IAH and then a early morning short hop up to DFW. The aisle next to me leans way back on the guy behind him for the whole flight. While deplaning the guy in the back starts telling the recliner what he thinks of him. Looked like two guys in coats and ties were about to come to blows. Crazy and funny at the same time.

Had a kid really kicking the back of my sesat. I was able to reach around and grab his foot. The parents then decided that the kicking should stop, and it did.

Here is another perspective - I need to recline the seat to get the tray table to lay flat! So, my seat is reclined during meals only...

I think taking your two comments out of context pretty much sums up your attitude: one of an extremely selfish person.

If I'm not in an exit row, then usually a recliner would crush my knees, even if I sit straight up. In such a case, I'll ask the person to please not recline or I'll try to sit elsewhere if there's a seat available. Failing that....

Should you be seated in front of me and insist on causing me physical harm by reclining despite polite requests that you not do so, I can guarantee you the most miserable flight experience you've ever had.



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Time..... is on my side.

Spiff--I usually spread my legs and that lets my knees avoid being hit by the recliner.