jsnearline

I was on a WN flight from GEG to DEN over the weekend. After takeoff, I kept getting a sensation in my back like the passenger behind me was pressing their foot against the back of my chair. My seat was in the full upright position (I usually don’t recline my seat out of consideration for the passenger behind me). I normally wouldn’t make an issue of something like this, but I was in an auto accident last week, so what I was feeling was particularly uncomfortable. So, once the seatbelt sign was off, I turned around and politely asked the guy behind me if by any chance he might be using my seat as a foot rest. He said no. A few minutes later, I was back to feeling the same thing again. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was just a tall guy who may not have realized what he was doing, but I am curious what the proper etiquette is for handling a situation like this, since it’s not the first time it’s happened to me on a flight.

flyer4512

That's what you get for not reclining your seat, lol

jsnearline

I suppose I could have reclined my seat as far back as it would go once it was clear he wasn’t going to stop.

it’s amazing how much you can feel through the seat when someone does that. It honestly felt like the guy was digging his shoe into my back,

nsx

Really tall people have negative knee room in the 143-seat cabins. This did not happen with 137 seats. I will guess that he was crossing his legs, which projects one knee forward into the center of the seat.

rickg523

Guy was a complete tool. He could have worked with you, no matter how tall he is.

davistev

Could be just his knees against the seat. Not much can do done in that situation except maybe ask to switch seats with him

azepine00

unless the guy is a contortionist this can not be done in a coach seat.
More likely someone with long legs suffering behind you with knees pressed against your seat and your annoyance is completely misdirected..

NoStressHere

I will go with knees as well.

jsnearline

So if someone is jamming their knee into my back. Is there anything I can really do? Was it bad form for me to say something to the guy behind me?

I’m just glad that It was a relatively short flight. With the person in front of me fully reclined and the one behind me pressing into my back, it was not the most comfortable flight.

BearX220

If the guy doesn't fit, he doesn't fit.

dmbolp

Change seats if flight wasn't full

fiuchris

As an alternate theory, I have noticed that thick, rigid items items placed in the seatback (water bottles, large hardback books, metal toys, etc.) have the same sensation of knees to the person in front. I discovered this on a a flight when it felt like someone was kneeing me but it was a child (who wasn't kicking) and there was some toy that had been placed in the seatback pocket. Then, everytime the seatback was touched it would poke into me. So it could be that he honestly wasn't kneeing you but he didn't make the connection that the feeling was coming from whatever he had placed in there.

AllThePants

property etiquette is a swift roundhouse kick to the face

unfortunately, I don't think there's enough clearance to execute that properly in the 143-seat cabins.

nsx

The Evolve seats are thinner than the old seats we loved. That can't help.

Annerk

I disagree. Just like the manspreaders who claim their legs are too long to fit in their seat without taking half of your leg room as well.

Spend the cash to buy an extra legroom or exit row seat.