On Delta 1291 at the moment in 6B. As soon as we hit 10K ft., 5B decides he doesn't have enough room so He has pushed his seatback as far as it can go. I've measured the space left for me to get out of my seat and it is three inches. The only way I can open my laptop is to push my seatback all the way back. And I still can't open it all the way. Thank goodness there is nothing but bulkhead behind me. So while I was trying to retrieve my laptop from my backpack underneath 5B, I had to put my hand on 5B's seat. And with the seatback all the way back, my head and shoulders had to push up against the seatback to get under the seat. 5B turned around and gave me a dirty look.

I am not confrontational. I never push my seatback back unless I ask the person behind me if its OK with them.

Am I too meek? Should I get an attitude on? Should I assume that because I am in FC, I have to right to whatever space I can grab?

Never-ending debate here and I don't think you'll get a satisfactory answer, for what it's worth. My humble opinion. The aircraft seats are designed with a recline feature, and the occupant of the seat can choose to take advantage of that feature at his/her discretion. However, unless the seat is a hard shell seat, where the recline does not impinge on another passenger's space, or if the flight is a night flight or an early morning flight when it is reasonable to expect people to be sleeping, I think it is rude to recline to max, but that is just me.

Since breakfast is now being served, 5B pulled the seat up. So I have a couple of minutes of freedom.

The recline button for his seat is on his seat, not your seat. As long as he doesn't do a "rocket recline" there's nothing for you to get "confrontational" about.

Agree with jimrpa. Your gripe is not with the person sitting in front of you, who is using the seat as intended. Your gripe is with the airline and the distance between the seats. It is unreasonable for your to request/demand that the person in front of you not recline his seat. It would be selfish.

Some suggestions: But your computer bag on your lap and put the computer on top of that. Often, that allows you additional space to open the computer. Or try opening your computer to as close to 180 degrees as possible, putting the screen towards the top of his seat, giving you more room to work. Finally, I travel with both an 11-inch MacBookAir and a much larger Dell. The MacBookAir alleviates the space problem.

Ask him nicely to recline just half way.

If he is traveling alone and 4B isnt reclined, politely explain that you want to work on your laptop and ask if he would switch seats with you. But ask quickly because you will be descending in about 30 min.

Don't believe in doing things just because I can. Our actions have to be tempered by their effect on others. It's call civility.

Why?

Have we really become this selfish? "I want space so it doesn't matter that you are doing what you are allowed to do. I knew when I booked an airline flight that the seats recline and the person in front of me might want to take advantage of that, but since I'm more important, I'm going to ask that person to inconvenience himself so I can do what I want to do!"

Geez.

Reach over and start running your hands through his hair whilst singing Levon by Elton John...

works every time...

You might call it civility, but the person on the other end would likely call it chutzpah. Civility is understanding that others do things for their own reasons, and as long as that person is doing what is allowed, acceptable and expected, which the person in front of you is doing, then civility demands you don't bother him, doesn't it?

Some people seem to think civility means inconveniencing others to get what they want, rather than making accomodation themselves.

Why not ask the FA to ask the other person not to recline so you can work? I'm sure the FA would politely let you know that isn't going to happen!

Or go to the back, find someone who isn't reclining and ask to switch seats with the person sitting behind the non-recliner?

You have the RIGHT to walk as slowly on a busy sidewalk as you want, to take as long ordering your latte at starbucks as you like and to take two extra seats at the gate to pile your stuff, but most of us try to consider others when doing these things. I dont think it is selfish to expect some consideration when personal space is involved. Some planes have seats that are too close together. We all know these planes. If your knees are hitting the seat in front of you, you know that reclining fully will significantly affect the comfort of someone behind you. Some dont care, but I try to be considerate.....

What a great idea! I knew fellow FTer's would come through. His seat is still up and he's staring off into space. So no need to be unshy at the moment.

And yes, FlightAware tells me we only have 37 minutes left. So I'm probably good for the rest of the flight

Bulkhead next time?

This is one reason I love my 1B.