FA dereclines me
 

AF Aisle seat in Y on A340. (want DL flyers opinion).

I was eating. I had headphones/music on.

The seat ahead of me was 100% reclined, which didn't bother me particularly (I'm 5'10" 180#).

I was ~ 70% recline.

FA points to me, I start to take off headphone to ask what she is talking about or asking.

She then quickly grabs the armrest, pushes the recline button and abruptly dereclines me. I nearly spill food.

I think to myself "..., what a B", but say nothing. After the meal is over, I rerecline to 50% or so and the flight proceeds uneventfully other than occasionally I feel a little kicking from the purple haired man behind me but no comments ever from him.

Question:

-If it's not an emergency (takeoff/landing/disturbance etc), shouldn't she talk to me first and ask/instruct me to derecline?

I would never disobey a FA especially over this issue.

Did you ask her why?

Sorry, I find it hard to believe that if you were situated normally in a reclined seat that just pushing the button would cause the seat to return to an upright position, especially with the force you describe.

It seems like she should have done two things differently. First, she should have instructed you, rather than doing it for you. (Unless, of course, she'd been standing there tryiing to get your attention for 5 minutes. ;) ) Second, she should have also requested that the pax in front of you "derecline."

I think requesting that seats be upright for meal service is not unreasonable, but it only works if it's enforced for all pax. It seems unfair to make you sit up, if she left the person ahead of you reclined.

Ok here's the image:

FA left hand goes to the button

FA right hand goes to the seat back and abruptly dereclines me.

She pushed me up.

wifey was reclined too, she said nothing.

per wifey, she had just arrived and immediately attacked my seat.

Some FAs are quite adept at pushing that button while pulling on the seat back. I've seen it happen more than once, and have even been on the receiving end a few times. The leverage that can be achieved is surprising.

...I would have pointed to the pax in front of me, and mentioned the reason you are reclined is because the pax in front of you has fully reclined and you need some space.

David

OK. Makes a difference. Apparently you did not question her action...why?

I have had this happen to me on Emirates and Qantas. I am 6'0'' 200 lbs and the FA has no trouble hitting the button with one hand and adjusting the seat with the other. Normally I see it though when the person has been asked and doesn't respond.

My guess, then, is that the person behind you complained. That doesn't explain why she didn't give you an opportunity to do it yourself, but maybe she thought she was being helpful?

Wrong forum?

#1 write to Delta, presumably you'd like some points out of the deal (and I think you deserve something - at least an apology and points make an apology more meaningful)

#2 if it ever happens again (has never happened to me!) be sure to ask why this was done - seems very rude at the least and potentially could cause a spill or other problem since you are not prepared for the sudden change.

He said he wanted DL Flyers' input

It happened to me on AF, while I was asleep. It did wake me up! Was not happy :(

Please reread the post. It happen on an AF A-340.

Delta won't care. It will also be a long while before they take delivery of any A-340s.