How many inches of leg room does a reclined seat take?
Sep 16, 2018, 12:39 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
Silly or not, it was his discussion prompt so we as students are not off on a tangent. Here's the link for the article that he asked us to read about it. This particular professor is the Dean of the school. Also, just so you don't think I'm an inexperienced 24 year old fresh out of undergrad, the program is a professional part-time program that's being offered as a hybrid online and in-person program. Because of this we have a period of 2 weeks where we don't see each other or him in-person and our work is all online line via reading, discussion forums, and video conferencing for office hours and sessions with our TAs to discuss material further.
How to Resolve Fights over Reclining Airplane Seats: Use Behavioral Economics - Evonomics
Anyhow, one person said it is an absolute known social contract that one does NOT recline seats in economy class. I tend not to on short flights or just a small amount but I know that many people do. Frankly, I only get irritated when they slam them back or forward with such force that they risk breaking laptops and spilling drinks. If my legs were long enough then I can see that slam back also banging knees but I don't personally have that issue. My feel is that while many people believe that one shouldn't recline it isn't a known social contract.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and input. I just wanted a sanity check on how much space we are talking about as I think sometimes people exaggerate.
How to Resolve Fights over Reclining Airplane Seats: Use Behavioral Economics - Evonomics
Anyhow, one person said it is an absolute known social contract that one does NOT recline seats in economy class. I tend not to on short flights or just a small amount but I know that many people do. Frankly, I only get irritated when they slam them back or forward with such force that they risk breaking laptops and spilling drinks. If my legs were long enough then I can see that slam back also banging knees but I don't personally have that issue. My feel is that while many people believe that one shouldn't recline it isn't a known social contract.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and input. I just wanted a sanity check on how much space we are talking about as I think sometimes people exaggerate.
Did your professor, in fact Dean, say that was a thing?
Sep 16, 2018, 7:53 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 183
Sep 16, 2018, 8:02 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
I will say I have had the misfortune of some airlines' (including UA's) worn out seats enforcing this posture, and it is exceptionally uncomfortable.
Sep 17, 2018, 8:00 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Programs: UA LT Gold, American Kettle, Hertz #1 Presidents Circle, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 927
Well thats the first I've heard of that. Both my DW and I do and will recline seats in economy class and I've seen plenty of other seats reclined on flights. So i don't see how that can be an 'absolute known social contract'.
Sep 17, 2018, 8:24 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,154
Yeah... I generally don't recline in Y (exception: last week's red eye...before that I can't think of the last time) but if it was an "absolute" social contract Y seats woundlt recline. $Diety knows that airlines would love to get rid of the maintenance involved with reclining seats if they could get away with it..
Sep 17, 2018, 9:22 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 89
I love how people engineer "social contracts" to expect another person to give up a feature of something they purchased so it benefits the contract engineer.
If I buy a seat that reclines, I use it.
If I buy a seat that reclines, I use it.
Sep 17, 2018, 12:48 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,879
I never heard this term before, facinating. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract
Sep 17, 2018, 1:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,189
LOL, I want to hear the detailed defense of the "absolute known social contract" idea. I generally don't bother reclining when in E but mainly because the amount of recline available just isn't worth constantly having to shift. When I want to recline, I recline -- and in the future I hope your classmate is the one behind me. ;-)
Sep 17, 2018, 3:42 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,395
