Seat survey: 2/3 of pax never recline

[Ian Corrigible]

Calling time on reclined airline seats
Skyscanner (http://www.skyscanner.net/news/calling-time-reclined-airline-seats) Thursday, 3 October 2013

A massive 9 out of 10 travellers want to see an end to reclining seats on planes, according to our latest international survey.

91% of people who took part in our survey said short-haul flights should either ban or set times for seat reclining. We also found that of over 1,000 flyers surveyed, 43% even felt that long-haul flights should implement set times when passengers are permitted to recline their seat. Almost a third of those surveyed said a reclined seat had caused them discomfort, and 3% revealed they’d even suffered an injury.

Furthermore, a ban could well be music to the ears of cabin crew with over 60% of international cabin crew surveyed* saying they have been involved in, or witness to, an argument between passengers on the subject of reclined seats.

“The strong support for a change in reclined seat procedures makes sense”, says psychologist Dr. Becky Spelman, Clinical Director at the Private Therapy Clinic in Harley Street. “The effect of people reclining their seat can result in various negative emotions such as anger, stress, anxiety, frustration and upset for the passenger behind them. This emotional impact can result in a whole range of unhelpful behaviours, including air rage.”

"This is partly because there are two general personality types while travelling. There’s the ‘Altruistic Soul’, who is considerate of others, and the ‘Selfish Ego’. The latter of which will look to increase their comfort at the expense of others.”

In fact, our survey found that 70% of selfish egos would not be put off reclining their seat even if the person behind was pregnant while 80% wouldn’t care if the person behind was elderly or frail.

Women aged 18-24 were the most likely to display ‘Altruistic Soul’ tendencies in the survey, while men over the age of 35 were more likely to exhibit ‘Selfish Ego’ characteristics.

While negative emotions could be reduced by a fellow passenger asking permission to recline their seat, the study found that a third of passengers are too worried about the reaction they’d receive, and most people (64%) have never done so.

“With competing ‘Selfish Egos’ and ‘Altruistic Souls’, set times for seat reclining on planes could actually make for an improved experience for passengers” says Dr Spelman.

“Such rules tend to ensure better social cohesion, as people are conditioned to obey boundaries. While these rules place a limit on the personal choice passengers have over their own comfort, people will generally adhere to them, accepting that it is fair. This could lead to a more pleasant flying experience for the majority.”

[MG23]

I like the way that people who expect to be able to recline the seat they paid for are 'selfish', while those don't want the person in front to recline their seat because they're a special snowflake who should be able to tell others what to do are 'considerate of others'.

[Basil]

I'm well into 'selfish ego' with two caveats:
1. I don't recline during meals.
2. When I do, I do it slowly.

If the guy behind wants to kick off then he can present his case to the local police after landing.

[ExXB]

Much of EasyJet's fleet now has seats that are'pre-reclined', meaning that they don't move front to back. I love it! I can't wait until all airlines do the same. Not only do they keep the majority of passengers happy, they weigh less too.
:ok:

[Davef68]

I don't think I've ever reclined my seat in all my years lying a pax (and that's a lot of flights) but mainly short haul within the UK.

That said, anyone in front of me is welcome to try and recline their seat, but they can equally expect to enjoy a knee in the back for the rest of the flight, being as I am well over 6 ft tall!

[ShyTorque]

That said, anyone in front of me is welcome to try and recline their seat, but they can equally expect to enjoy a knee in the back for the rest of the flight, being as I am well over 6 ft tall!

"Can you feel something sticking in your back? Sorry about that - it's just that there's something about a reclined seat that gives me an erection" :E

[superq7]

What I hate is when pax in front suddenly reclines the seat without asking if I mind, just bad manners IMO.

[PAXboy]

For short haul, I see no reason for a recline. Long haul is different and one of the problems you would encounter is perception. Not how much the seat reclines - but that it CAN be reclined.

I agree that, when reclining in Y or Y+ (P.E./WT+) , one should ease back a bit and wait a minute or two - then go back more. Possibly taking three stages to get to full recline. Unfortuantely, I never sit in front of me ... :(

[vctenderness]

I had to break up two fights in the economy cabin, one between two women, during my career due to seat reclining issues.

I made a habit of making an announcement during meal service asking that all customers put seats in the upright position for that time. You would not believe the bloody mindness of some people who refuse to comply.

[ruddman]

The trouble with long haul seats is that they recline further back. So if you're awake sitting up playing golf on the entertainment system and the guy in front reclines, there goes all hope of anything with a head basically sitting in your lap.

A hard one because to sleep, some reclining helps. But too much affects the person behind.

But I have the solution. Only fly during the daytime. Personally I think all this leave at certain hours, fly through the night, land in the early hours of the morning to give the impression you have actually have travelled all night and jet lag wont be a problem, mood lighting features etc, is one big SCAM.


So why do airlines spend millions on the latest entertainment systems for the aircraft if you get to spend a few measley hours at best using it, having a couple meals perhaps and thats it?

Fly (mostly) through the daylight hours, which means more movies to watch. More golf to play. More free food and drink from the service. More moneys worth!! I dont want to pay a couple grand to just sleep.



So indeed, I've solved the problem. Don't all congratulate me at one guys. :ok:



But the BIG problem is this. Aircraft manufactures making more fuel efficient aircraft. Or bigger.


We dont WANT bigger. We WANT FASTER!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveReidUK]

I made a habit of making an announcement during meal service asking that all customers put seats in the upright position for that time. You would not believe the bloody mindness of some people who refuse to comply.I wouldn't comply either, on principle, until you addressed me properly as a passenger, not a "customer". :O

[99jolegg]

Regarding the topic of not reclining on short haul...you neglect to realise that a lot of transit passengers could well be off their face with jet lag having flown in from the other side of the world, when you're feeling fresh as a daisy on local time.

The average short haul passenger doesn't think of that though...

[Hotel Tango]

When flying economy or in an economy layout, I personally find it easier to sleep sitting upright, elbow on the armrest and head on the cabin wall (or window) rather than reclining. We're all different and it's impossible to please all.

[rgsaero]

What a hysterical thread!

The most entertaining for me is Ruddman. Clearly he has never flown west east across the dateline, vice versa or north south or vice versa across the equator, let alone before the ultra long-range aircraft of today were introduced. Unless you want to stop for many hours every few hours you don't have a choice about "flying in daytime" unless your max range is across the Tasman. Here's a challenge Ruddman - propose a schedule for Oz to US or Europe which allows you to fly in the "daytime" only (and then state how many hours you would have been awake at the end!)!

The whole debate only arises because of the increasingly self-centred attitude of people today - do what YOU want regardless of the people around you and how your actions might affect them.

This is replicated in EVERY aspect of modern life. People barge/walk through others while talking on the phone, queue-jump, etc etc so who is surprised that they recline seats without any consideration for those around/behind them?

Well done vctenderness for trying! And DRUK, if you hadn't been a "customer" (ie paying your money) you wouldn't have had the pleasure of being a passenger! (OED - "Customer - a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business")

[Rwy in Sight]

I think Ruddman was making a joke or was cynical.

[DaveReidUK]

And DRUK, if you hadn't been a "customer" (ie paying your money) you wouldn't have had the pleasure of being a passenger! (OED - "Customer - a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business")True, I'm both. But "passenger" is still the most appropriate term to describe my situation.

And it's the only one that applies to the dead-heading crew member sitting on my left, and the chap on my right travelling on a staff ID100 - neither are "customers", but they both still have to put their seat backs upright when the F/A tells them to. :O

Symptomatic, sadly, of the gradual dumbing-down of the English language - why bother using a precise term when a woolly one will do? :ugh:

[PIK3141]

One of the good things about flying Ryanair is they have the problem sorted.

[Espada III]

Yep. The best thing about LOCO airlines is the non reclining seats.

[ZFT]

Interesting thread:-

1) It’s my choice to recline if I so desire if the seat has recline capabilities. (As other have stated, I may well have just deplaned from a long haul and be shattered)
2) I ALWAYS check behind before I do and ALWAYS move it back slowly
3) I NEVER recline it fully, only enough to be more comfortable
4) I ALWAYS return the seat to the upright position during meals
5) If you kick my seat because I’ve reclined it (in a civilized manner), I’m entitled to ‘kick back’ at your ignorance and this is where the problems start!!!

[flyin_phil]

I personally can't stand reclining seats, however I don't mind if they are polite enough to ask first, but not once have I been asked if they could recline, they just shove the seat back, and suddenly hot drink on table almost goes flying, but what is worse is when they are sitting in extra leg room (e.g 757 by the door) and it's still not enough space for them.

[Espada III]

The problems start with the front passenger reclining the seat under a variety of circumstances: -

1. Without warning
2. Rapidly
3. To the full extent
4. During meals (or not returning to the upright)
5. Before the plane has even taken off.

My worst experience was a young yuppy businessman type with a la-di-da Cheshire accent who was clearly unhappy at being in economy and simply sat down and reclined the seat. Cabin crew got him to raise it for take off, but it was slammed in face as soon as we left the ground.

The CC were unable to persuade him to raise it even a bit. In the end, I had to swap with my young daughter, to get enough space to read comfortably.

[PAXboy]

Indeed Espada III, recline on short haul not good at the pitch levels now used. FR called this one right but we have considerable numbers of aircraft with recline and carriers thinking it gives them an advantage over LCCs. Since they reduced their seat pitch - it doesn't.

I predict it will take 20 years for non-recline to become standard.

[Avionker]

Personally I don't recline my seat on short haul flights.

I find that a strategically placed knee, pushed against the table on the seat in front of me, just before the seat belt signs are switched off, works a treat. When they are unable to get the seat to recline after 2 or 3 attempts most people assume it's broken and give up. :E

[Druid77]

I saw these on Channel 4's Gadget Man a couple of weeks ago. Don't know how you would get on trying to use them without causing a riot.

The original Knee Defender - travel gadgets accessory - airplane legroom, DVT - travel accessories (http://www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html)