Reclining seats send airline tempers soaring
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Nowhere in the airline's advertising blurp do I see "when travelling in economy you may be subjected to hours of agonising discomfort should the passenger in front of you wish to recline their seat. This is what you paid for".
Give me a break
Give me a break
How about this?
"We offer reclining seats to all our passengers as part of our customer service package. When travelling in economy class some of our taller and/or larger passengers may experience discomfort should the passenger in front of them wish to recline their seat. We remind our customers that all passengers have equal rights to comfort and service they paid for, no matter what side of a reclining seat they may be on."
I'm 6'6" and hate it when people recline their seats in front of me as it makes things even more cramped in Y class. But I don't complain and I don't do the old knee trick (at least not on purpose but sometimes I really can't avoid it as my knees just get in the way).
At the end of the day the person in front of me has paid for their seat to recline, as have I. I generally don't do it as I know how annoying it is but sometimes I have no choice (if the seat is so far back in my lap that I am looking at the top of the head of the person in front of me).
What does bug me though is people reclining their seats during meal times as that will normally stop me from being able to eat (as the table won't go flat - although sometimes that doesn't matter as it won't go flat even when the seat is upright; ie Lufthansa).
But I pay my cheap price so I can't complain - but what I can do is fly with people who give me more for the same or similar cheap price (which is why I don't fly Lufthansa any more as on a long trip it becomes uncomfortable not being able to eat!).
Although it would also be nice to be able to get money back from the amount that goes into inflight entertainment as I can't watch that even when the seat in front is upright due to the angle I have to look at the screen - oh for the days of the single screen in the middle of the plane!!! :-)
At the end of the day the person in front of me has paid for their seat to recline, as have I. I generally don't do it as I know how annoying it is but sometimes I have no choice (if the seat is so far back in my lap that I am looking at the top of the head of the person in front of me).
What does bug me though is people reclining their seats during meal times as that will normally stop me from being able to eat (as the table won't go flat - although sometimes that doesn't matter as it won't go flat even when the seat is upright; ie Lufthansa).
But I pay my cheap price so I can't complain - but what I can do is fly with people who give me more for the same or similar cheap price (which is why I don't fly Lufthansa any more as on a long trip it becomes uncomfortable not being able to eat!).
Although it would also be nice to be able to get money back from the amount that goes into inflight entertainment as I can't watch that even when the seat in front is upright due to the angle I have to look at the screen - oh for the days of the single screen in the middle of the plane!!! :-)
Join Date: Jan 2007
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i agree with tightslot and yvonne lynch almost everyone will know at the time of booking the airlines seat pitch so if you go cattle class dont be bitchin when a seat goes back!! you get what you pay for .
For example, KLM has two types of seating in its 737-300s, the new and the old. While both are tight (same pitch), the new seating has thinner, more rounded backs and a higher seat base. This means the new seating is just about tolerable, while the old is painful even when not reclined.
Similarly, on the rails, I can sit comfortably in a Virgin Voyager seat, but not in an old Mk3 seat on an IC125, despite the latter having a *far* more generous actual pitch.
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Reclining seats in Economy class
They should be restricted in the amount of recline available so that both parties get the best of a bad situation.
I was once in a seat where the armrest on the aisle could not be lowered and with the seat in front on full recline, it would be extremely difficult to exit in an emergency,in the time set.
Tmb
I was once in a seat where the armrest on the aisle could not be lowered and with the seat in front on full recline, it would be extremely difficult to exit in an emergency,in the time set.
Tmb
N4790P
I would suggest that many of these posts reflect the declining standards of passengers in general.
In the early 70s the B747 layout on many carriers was worse than today, no business class and 10 abreast in economy.
I paxed 100s of long haul sectors and cannot recall any issues with seats being reclined. Fellow pax then used to show both consideration and courtesy.
Today courtesy is out of the window.
In the early 70s the B747 layout on many carriers was worse than today, no business class and 10 abreast in economy.
I paxed 100s of long haul sectors and cannot recall any issues with seats being reclined. Fellow pax then used to show both consideration and courtesy.
Today courtesy is out of the window.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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It is not arrogant ot disrespectful to recline your seat. They are designed just for that. No one likes the person in front of them to recline their seat, but it is supposed to be done.
I would agree though that it is not helpful during meals, but to say that it is arrogant is just silly.
Skintman
I would agree though that it is not helpful during meals, but to say that it is arrogant is just silly.
Skintman
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As a tall passenger, I can weigh in on both sides of the argument here. Seats that recline are designed for just that - reclining. I do like to recline my seat when I am trying to catch a nap (except on short haul where there's practically no time for one), but I do detest having someone simply reclining their seat without checking.
Thankfully I've been spoilt on my flights lately - I check in early to get the first seat row, which means I get the legroom of business without payng for a business class seat, and I don't have to recline my seat. On long-haul I check in early also, then stump up the cash for an emergency exit seat.
What annoys me though is that airlines do try to squeeze as many SLF as possible into a plane (understandably), but not taking the needs of all customers into account (imposible to do). But giving people a bit more legroom would be nice.
S.
Thankfully I've been spoilt on my flights lately - I check in early to get the first seat row, which means I get the legroom of business without payng for a business class seat, and I don't have to recline my seat. On long-haul I check in early also, then stump up the cash for an emergency exit seat.
What annoys me though is that airlines do try to squeeze as many SLF as possible into a plane (understandably), but not taking the needs of all customers into account (imposible to do). But giving people a bit more legroom would be nice.
S.
Paxing All Over The World
Being of average height, this is not such an issue for me but let me throw a little JetA1 on the smouldering cigarette butt left in the toilet ...
The reason that I rarely recline the seat is that it makes so little difference. Even on long haul, the very short distance that it reclines makes almost no physical difference to the body - it seems to me. The effect of the recline, I often think, is more in the mind.
Unfortunately, the people in front of me usually consider those few degrees of recline to be vital to their way of life.
Airlines greedier? Only because people will not pay for more space. AA rather famously had a biiiiig campaign to remove Y rows and open up the pitch. TV adverts showed them physically throwing seats off the machine. So - rewarded with extra bookings? Millions flocking to get onto these new open fields? As I understand it, they have now (quietly) reversed this policy.
Predominantly, people do not want to pay more money but will bitch about the lack of space. Given the recession that the UK and USA is now in, do not expect this to improve any time soon. If you travel SH from the UK, use RyanAir as their seats do not recline.
The reason that I rarely recline the seat is that it makes so little difference. Even on long haul, the very short distance that it reclines makes almost no physical difference to the body - it seems to me. The effect of the recline, I often think, is more in the mind.
Unfortunately, the people in front of me usually consider those few degrees of recline to be vital to their way of life.
Airlines greedier? Only because people will not pay for more space. AA rather famously had a biiiiig campaign to remove Y rows and open up the pitch. TV adverts showed them physically throwing seats off the machine. So - rewarded with extra bookings? Millions flocking to get onto these new open fields? As I understand it, they have now (quietly) reversed this policy.
Predominantly, people do not want to pay more money but will bitch about the lack of space. Given the recession that the UK and USA is now in, do not expect this to improve any time soon. If you travel SH from the UK, use RyanAir as their seats do not recline.
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An age old problem that will never be properly solved unless everyone puts in Cathay Pacific style "Y" class seats. As cabin crew I see this all of the time, but the bottom line is that the customer pays for a certain class of travel, should make educated choices before they book a certain seat, and if that choice is an economy seat with a recline button they should be able to use that facilty outside of meal services. However I would say that reclining should be done in a gentle, considerate manner.
As an aside when I am travelling as a fare paying customer and 6' 2" tall and someone in front of me reclines I don't get into a child like strop over it. Also if you are one of the many that choose to knee-dig me when sat behind when I recline even slightly, when you next visit the toilet expect to return from the toilet with my seat reclined fully.
It's my ticket, my seat for those hours, and my choice to relax in it as best I can, you also have a recline button you can use outside meal services.
And it's worth noting that seats that don't recline are generally issued last - so get to the airport earlier next time, no good trying to say you haven't got a decent seat when there are 260+ seats and you/your party are 258, 259 and 260 to check in on the manifest.
Cool Wavy NG738 leaves to put on his flameproof jacket - lol
As an aside when I am travelling as a fare paying customer and 6' 2" tall and someone in front of me reclines I don't get into a child like strop over it. Also if you are one of the many that choose to knee-dig me when sat behind when I recline even slightly, when you next visit the toilet expect to return from the toilet with my seat reclined fully.
It's my ticket, my seat for those hours, and my choice to relax in it as best I can, you also have a recline button you can use outside meal services.
And it's worth noting that seats that don't recline are generally issued last - so get to the airport earlier next time, no good trying to say you haven't got a decent seat when there are 260+ seats and you/your party are 258, 259 and 260 to check in on the manifest.
Cool Wavy NG738 leaves to put on his flameproof jacket - lol
Totally agree there isn't really enough room in most econ layouts.
But to blame your fellow passengers is a bit illogical (though I have seen some fairly rude and uncompromising behaviour at times.)
To blame the airline is a somewhat valid argument. I would have thought it the airlines' responsibility to make sure the product suited the intended use.
If, however, the airline can not stay in business because its product puts it at a significant commercial disadvantage, who is left to blame?
We (en masse) voted, with our wallets, for these traveling conditions. I see it as a great shame when an airline (as referenced above in PAXboy's post) tries to improve inflight conditions, but can't maintain the service because of inadequate patronage.
Personally, I'd prefer to spend a few extra $ for a comfy seat..don't care too much about IFE or other distractions. Since such an offer no longer exists around these parts, I tend to fly less often, 'coz it takes a lot longer to save for a business seat.
It's really just a sign of the times. Overpopulation, shortages (eg: water, oil, clean air, space, energy) etc, stress is just going to continue to increase, I'm afraid. This is just one sign of it. Try to develop a coping strategy.
But to blame your fellow passengers is a bit illogical (though I have seen some fairly rude and uncompromising behaviour at times.)
To blame the airline is a somewhat valid argument. I would have thought it the airlines' responsibility to make sure the product suited the intended use.
If, however, the airline can not stay in business because its product puts it at a significant commercial disadvantage, who is left to blame?
We (en masse) voted, with our wallets, for these traveling conditions. I see it as a great shame when an airline (as referenced above in PAXboy's post) tries to improve inflight conditions, but can't maintain the service because of inadequate patronage.
Personally, I'd prefer to spend a few extra $ for a comfy seat..don't care too much about IFE or other distractions. Since such an offer no longer exists around these parts, I tend to fly less often, 'coz it takes a lot longer to save for a business seat.
It's really just a sign of the times. Overpopulation, shortages (eg: water, oil, clean air, space, energy) etc, stress is just going to continue to increase, I'm afraid. This is just one sign of it. Try to develop a coping strategy.
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I flew to New Zealand last year with SIA and while the space in economy was OK, at 6'3 I did get a bit peeved when the lady in front reclined her seat while I was eating my dinner.
I politley asked if she might unrecline it so I could continue eating but she simply told me to
off and not to bother her again, her partner also decided he fancied a bit of this and was straight out of chair and in my face. I'm on this flight with my wife and two girls, both under ten I might add.
Being a big chap, I'm not going to accept this, so I say politely and with a smile on my face that this response in unacceptable and that the seat will go back up while I eat my dinner. The guy seeing how big I am decides to sit down at this point and put his headphones on. I ask her again and this time she complies with my instruction to lift the seat before, as I said to her, I do it for you. He says nothing.
CC come over and ask if everything is OK, I say that I believe it is, explain what happened and thank her for her attention.
She then moves these two to business class.
I politley asked if she might unrecline it so I could continue eating but she simply told me to
off and not to bother her again, her partner also decided he fancied a bit of this and was straight out of chair and in my face. I'm on this flight with my wife and two girls, both under ten I might add.Being a big chap, I'm not going to accept this, so I say politely and with a smile on my face that this response in unacceptable and that the seat will go back up while I eat my dinner. The guy seeing how big I am decides to sit down at this point and put his headphones on. I ask her again and this time she complies with my instruction to lift the seat before, as I said to her, I do it for you. He says nothing.
CC come over and ask if everything is OK, I say that I believe it is, explain what happened and thank her for her attention.
She then moves these two
to business class.
Airlines and aircraft manufacturers appear to have studied the way slaves were packed into ships for transport across the Atlantic, and have then used the same principles for packing passengers, especially in economy.
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Saw a prime example on Sunday last.
Guy gets into window seat in last row of C on A320, as soon as the aircraft starts rolling, he puts down window blinds and seat back.
Sleeps all the way through the meal service and the person behind has to eat breakfast with a fully reclined seat, in fact he kept the seat fully back for the whole 3 hour flight.
I thought that was extremely selfish.
Guy gets into window seat in last row of C on A320, as soon as the aircraft starts rolling, he puts down window blinds and seat back.
Sleeps all the way through the meal service and the person behind has to eat breakfast with a fully reclined seat, in fact he kept the seat fully back for the whole 3 hour flight.
I thought that was extremely selfish.
'nough said
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I had the exact same scenario all the way from Cape Town 3-4 years back - guy in front was asked by CC to at least let me eat without his seat on my face but oh no prima donna wouldn't have it so he spent 90% of the flight trying to force the seat back as much as possible and I kept on kicking it every time I sensed he was about to fall asleep. The crew I must say were next to useless on that occasion. Haven't flown since funnily enough 
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The airlines could help themselves by offering the emergency exit seats to tall people at checkin or embarkment. It would avoid a lot of aggravation for the cabin crew. I'm too tall to sit straight in standard seats, and so have to sit with my legs sideways, jutting into the personal space of my neighbours (who justifiably complain), or out into the aisle where they interfere with cabin crew.
On one recent Easyjet flight, as I was embarking, the attendant took one look at me and said "you're a tall chap, we'll but you in the emergency seats row". That was great service and something I wish would be done more often.
On one recent Easyjet flight, as I was embarking, the attendant took one look at me and said "you're a tall chap, we'll but you in the emergency seats row". That was great service and something I wish would be done more often.