On a recent American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Toronto, I chose to sit in row 16 of the 737-800MCE series aircraft because (like in row 17, as well) the middle seat is blocked on each side. The airline has made a habit of blocking out four seats like this so they can pay one less flight attendant (here’s a deeper explanation). I usually choose one of the exit rows—which are directly in front—but because these planes have been flying 100% full recently and the seats are so tight (or I’m just getting bigger), I decided that having more space next to me was more important than having it in front of me. And so I booked row 16 to check things out.
Little did I know that these seats come with pretty much no legroom, and so I knew that when the passenger in front of me reclined I wouldn’t be able to do work on my laptop. So I offered the passenger in front of me a free Gogo session (I work with them a lot and they give me a handful of free Gogo passes that I usually give to friends and flight attendants).
All I did was tap him on his shoulder and said, “Excuse me, but is there anyway you can let me know when you recline since I’ll be working on my computer?” He said it was no problem. I then said I’d even make him a deal: “If you don’t recline, I’ll give you a free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi pass”—and he said, “done deal.” And since he was so nice about it, I gave one to his girlfriend as well. It was a win-win for everyone and made row 16 a great choice.
Would you take that deal? I posted the question on my personal Facebook page (here’s my work Facebook page) and most said they would. But there a few who said, “No way, Jose!” as well, so I want to hear even more thoughts. Let me know what you would do, and what it would take for you to agree not to recline your seat in the comments below.
UPDATED on September 2, 2014: In the past eight days there’ve been three U.S. flights that had to make unscheduled landings after passengers got into fights over the ability to recline their seats. The first one was started by a passenger using Knee Defender but I don’t recommend getting this contraption.
Hey Kendal. How is it that everything you agree to is the right thing to do and viva versa. And you harp on about others with a me me me attitude.
Why wouldn’t I agree on the right thing to do?
if I pay for a seat that reclines and you deny me that function then you are the selfish person. and I suspect you would also be in breach of the airlines t&c for interfering with aircraft normal operation .
you ask everyone else to be considerate but you fail to be considerate to them
Who has the most need for the space, is what I’d like to ask you? Many many people are able to survive their flight by stuffing pillows behind their back, or doing nothing at all, while still allowing the person behind them to keep their kneecaps/work on their computer/watch a movie that’s not 5 inches in front of their face/reach their belongings stored under your seat/exit their row when necessary. By just doing something because you CAN, and not because it’s absolutely necessary and there’s no alternative… that’s being selfish. Of course I can be more comfortable by reclining my seat. But I choose, in the spirit of community, to stick pillows, blankets, and my clothing (I lost 3 sweaters this way by forgetting them once…) in the small of my back to create a more comfortable seating position for myself, while respecting the space of the person behind me. Just because you CAN do something, doesn’t mean you should, especially if you are able to be kind to someone by NOT doing it.
I agree with you. That Rich is just yet another dick head who only thinks of himself, but that’s how it is in this society, most people are dick heads like Rich, thinking of themselves. Its such an obvious argument that isn’t about who deserves the space, both people obviously deserve it given that it’s the nature of the beast, but Rich is just inclined to say me me me.
I never knew that it affected people with laptops. I see that now. They should include something in their announcements in the beginning of the flight on how seat reclining should be handled, and educate everyone that its disturbing to tall people and people with laptops if you recline. I wonder if anyone ever thought to consider that the people who recline just simply don’t know they are bothering anyone. You normally can’t see behind you, and you don’t see who sits behind you when you are sitting down initially, unless they are already there and you can see they are a giant.
That woman who threw the drink is lucky that she didn’t receive a fist in the face. If she had dowsed me and my laptop I would have hit her and I would acquit anyone who hit her in the same circumstances if I were on that jury. The pilot made an asinine decision to divert the flight and every other passenger on that flight should sue the airline for the inconvenience caused them by the pilot’s poor decision making skills. Your concept of charging the assaulted passenger for the airline’s time is also asinine. The pilot’s decision to divert is almost as stupid and heinous as the SouthWest gate agent in Denver who tried to hide her shitty customer service skills by intimidating a father in front of his children to delete his tweet about her stupidity.. She should have been publicly reprimanded for her actions and I will never fly SouthWest again, who used to be my regular airline, unless that happens. Although I’m sure the Union would never let it happen. The idiot gate agent didn’t need to be fired but she did need to be reprimanded publicly.
That woman is lucky she didn’t get a fist in her face in response to her throwing a drink, like a spoiled two year old. I would have struck her if she dowsed me and my laptop and I would have acquitted anyone who hit that woman in the exact same circumstances if i were on that jury. The airline acted moronically by diverting the flight. That was almost as stupid a move as the idiot at the gate for SouthWest who tried to hide her incredibly bad customer service by intimidating the father with his children in Denver a couple of months ago. Every passenger on that diverted flight should sue the airline for delaying and inconveniencing them through the pilot’s asinine decision.
In an email to CNN, ‘Johnny Jet’ says, “Beach should feel terrible. That diversion cost United Airlines about $6,000 per hour, he says.” I don’t think he should feel bad at all! If the airlines want to save money by decreasing leg room to the point that someone is actually laying in my lap, I have NO sympathy for the airline!!!
So, first of all sorry if this was addressed above–since there’s been 3 incidents recently I’ve read many back and forth comment sections and I just didn’t want to read all the way through this one as well. But to my point–
Isn’t it a bit spurious to offer this as an example to all in how to ‘solve’ this clearly divisive issue? Firstly you didn’t give up anything of value to you (in fact it was given to you as a freebie). Secondly you are in a special position that you have these coupons (almost nobody does). And thirdly, sometimes the person in front is amenable to a trade, but probably more of the time (given polling/surveys I’ve read) the person isn’t.
To summarize, you seem like the guy who says, ‘Middle East peace is easy, they just need to talk to each other!’
Thanks for the feedback. The point of the story was that you could offer to buy their WiFi, drink(s) or meal. I guess I should’ve made that more clear.
I am 6’0 tall. When the person in front of me reclines, I was able to do everything I could before the person reclined.
When a seat reclines in front of a person 6’3″ or 6’4″ and the person stretches their legs does the seat still hit their legs?
I hope the incidents continue and more flights get diverted. Oh, you don’t agree?? How else do you plan to get the greedy airlines’ attention to make changes?
In my opinion, more than a recliner being annoying is the person in the rear of my seat who grabs and pulls my seat back to get up especially during overnight flights when I may be asleep. If that doesn’t ‘t awaken me, pulling my hair during the “grab” in an effort to pull him/ herself up really will. Also talking really loud during “sleep” time is also offensive. Both things have happened to us during overnight flights and by the same man.
There will never be a correct answer for this. The airlines take more and more legroom away in the name of profits… There will always be people who put their own comfort ahead of others… There will always be people considerate of others. At some point, after a few more flight diversions caused by fights, the airlines will either limit or render the reclining ability inoperable. It costs airlines way more to divert a flight than have it continue on its destined route. As ever, when it comes to money, you can always count on the airlines to make the profitable choice. For them. Enjoy your reclining while you can, egoists!
Btw, 6’2″, and NEVER recline unless there’s empty seat behind.
Your solutions are band aid suggestions. The problem is greed and more concern for money than people who are now treated as sardines. And the greed/money factors are not just the fault of airlines but of people. We have lost respect for ourselves and others. Oh! yes we talk a good story but our actions tell the opposite.
I doubt the airlines are making some astronomical profit. the margin is usually 5 to 10%. Now that may well be because of their marketting/sales strategy, as well as pricing, but they aren’t making so much profit. I’m not saying they aren’t stupid though, and over pricing because their stupidity. But a lot more thought has to go into this. I agree its all about the general greed of people, but part of it is stupidity too. Also, most people are dicks.
Why should we have to pay extortion to protect the space that is already ours? Serial recliners,are only interested in self gratification. I can live with the person in front of me reclining a notch or two. Any more then that is a declaration of war. I’ll try the redirected cold air strategy. Hmm. I feel a sneeze coming on.