I pity the man who spends hard earned dollars on a device like "knee defender." Pathetic.

Banned or not, it won't be used on my seat.

Both of which are legislated, around here (even if poorly enforced, in the case of "slower traffi keep right.")

I resemble that remark.

^ ^ ^

Good way to get the person in front of you really angry (and get the FA involved) if they'd been smart enough to make sure the seat wasn't broken when they first sat down - something you

I've never had them do so on AA, but on both JL and CX I've had the FAs do exactly that.


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WRT the general point of the thread, I recline except during meals. Courtesy, IMO, is reclining gently (not slamming, or doing it too quickly to move something out of the way.)

One good trick is to wait until the person in front of you heads to the lav, usually I can push the seat up a few degrees and upon return they are none the wiser.

Yes, imposing your will on others in a sneaky way is always a good idea.

How about this idea - you let other people do what the airline intends for them to be allowed to do, what you knew they could do when you booked your ticket and what they are fully entitled to do?

How about you try to control your reactions, like an adult, instead of wasting time trying to figure out how to control others, to take what isn't justifiably yours? The space in which the seat ahead can recline is not yours.

Do you also wait for your friends to walk out of the room when you are visiting their homes so you can sneak their money or possessions into your pockets? Do you wait for the people sitting next to you at the restaurant to look the other way so you can take their drinks? Let's face it. What you are doing on the plane - taking space obviously meant for the person whose seat is designed to use that space - is the same taking as the money or drinks, isn't it? (Any attempts at rationalization aside. Rationalization is, after all, trying to justify something you want when all ethical roadmaps point towards it being wrong.)

Grow up. Learn how to live in a society where you need to share and consider that what others want and are entitled to may not be what you want. I'm sorry, but this sets me off. Have we really become this selfish and self centered? I'm not sure which amazes me more; That a grown adult would push the seat forward or that a grown adult would admit to this in public, let alone advocate its use. "If I want what isn't mine, I'll just take it when nobody is looking" doesn't look good either way.

A reclining seat has never killed the person behind, caused grave illness or otherwise seriously impacted the other person. Flights are limited duration. If you cannot control yourself for a few hours while someone's seat is closer than you would like, perhaps you should either only fly private jets or just stay at home.

Two weeks ago, I was flying JFK-EZE and the gentleman beside me fell fast asleep, leaving his overhead light and tv on at about 1am. I waited 30 minutes or so for him to wake up and turn his stuff off, but wanting to go to sleep myself, I eventually reached over, turned off the tv (he wasn't wearing his headphones). found his little controller and turned off his light.

Prolly shouldn't have done that, huh? Imposing myself and my selfish desires on him.

I hope you are this passionate about important things in life.

It's not like if the passenger re-reclines I start kicking his seat. I try and make life more comfortable for the person behind me, but that's just me. I don't recline for the sake of it.

Safe travels.

The airlines will take away offering wifi if they see it's being used for threads like this.

That seems reasonable, as long as you didn't take his money or drinks.....

This thread is increasingly showing why threads of this topic are so often closed: inability to discuss the subject without attacking or slurring other FlyerTalk members. If you want to keep the thread open, please discuss the topic without making personal attacks. Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.

I'd estimate around an 80% success rate in my personal experience.

No, that sounds reasonable to me. I've had neighbors fall asleep with their reading light on or window open and have done roughly the same thing with those.

Won't work with me. I put the seat in the upright position when I go to the Lav!

I have some FC day and night flights coming up. I still will recline at my discretion but I will adjust my recline if the person behind me asks politely. I'll even adjust it for the Op but I hope I have enough time to duck when the stones are thrown and he/she runs.

Apart from the dirty look when OP had to touch the seat to get his stuff.