Should you recline your seat on a short flight? For some people, that question may have a simple answer: If your seat reclines, you’re allowed to recline it. But what about the person behind you? What if their seat doesn’t recline, too? On a short flight, especially, shouldn’t you be mindful of that passenger and their space? RELATED: 10 Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Airplane Habits
The story of a dispute over reclining etiquette on an American Airlines flight from 2020 drew opinions from all sides of the issue. On a flight from New Orleans to Charlotte, passenger Wendi Williams recorded a video of the passenger behind her repeatedly jabbing her reclined seat with his hand, seemingly in response to her reclining her seat into his space. This, Wendi said, happened after he had already “punched” her seat nine times. The man’s own seat did not recline, and he had allegedly previously asked that she not recline while he ate, a request she complied with.
According to the Daily Mail, “Wendi also claims that despite complaining to a flight attendant, they offered the man a complimentary drink and threatened to have her escorted off the plane. She also says that after complaining to American Airlines, she was told she would have to get in touch with the FBI ‘to get any resolution.'” Here’s more about the incident if you haven’t already seen it:
My Take
This particular story may be old but the question persists: Is it ok to recline your seat? Personally, I usually don’t recline my seat on a short flight. But if I’m tired or if the person in front of me reclines into my space, then I will. When I do recline, I always give the person behind me a heads up that I’ll be leaning back so I don’t crush their laptop or food.
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Once, on a flight from Paris to Lyon, I reclined my seat because the person in front of me did and I’d just gotten off a 10-hour LAX-CDG flight on which I’d barely slept. I was exhausted. The American woman sitting behind me snapped at me, telling me that she had a bad back. I can understand a concern like that, but if the person in front of you reclines and you don’t, you end up squished. What made matters worse is that the woman had her own seat reclined but didn’t want me to recline mine. I told the woman to ask the person in front of me to sit up, and that if that person stopped reclining, then I would, too. If she hadn’t been so nasty about it, I would have just asked the person in front of me myself. If you ask me, she should have paid for first class or just stayed home.
Once I even paid the passenger in front of me not to recline by giving them a coupon for an inflight wi-fi Gogo session.
What do you think? Should you recline your seat on a short flight?
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The man-child (I’m being kind) should have been arrested for assault, or at least harassment, upon landing. The FA should be reprimanded. The lady passenger should be given a flight voucher. And the airlines ~ ALL of them ~ should realize air rage is just going to get worse unless they design planes to no longer cram passengers on top of each other.
As for those who lose their everloving minds when the person in front of them reclines, cough up some extra dough for a better seat, take a bus or train, or just stay home, m’kay?
He is the jerk, how irritating is that to have someone do that! And he gets rewarded! I put up with that behavior if it’s a child., And it doesn’t look like the table is up into his chest, it looks the same distance as a usual coach seat, the on!y difference is the seat doesn’t recline. I have had instances where I’ve had to sit there and I say to myself, well next time get to the airport earlier, or check in earlier. And, would be have done it with a in shape man sitting in front of him?
The man in the video was rude and disgusting. There are ways to solve problems like this with civility. I’m all for airplane etiquette. That also includes a dress code! His bad behavior was rewarded. Wrong. I am petite so I rarely recline my seat. My husband likes to recline his seat. There is no easy solution as the quarters are tight. Give passengers more room and hopefully that would help.
coach class seats should not recline. Problem solved.
If seats are not meant to recline then the airlines should change it so none of the seats recline. I think he was wrong and extremely rude! I can’t believe the airline was upset with her.
If my seat has the ability to recline, and I wish to recline, I am going to recline it.
Generally, I don’t recline my seat out of consideration for the person behind me. Many times I’ve had the person in front of me recline theirs without warning during the meal service which I find extremely annoying and inconsiderate. On a very long flight, at most I’ll recline my seat only half way. With the tight seat pitches these days, I wouldn’t object if the airlines deleted the ability. I believe many fliers would be happy with the move.
No one should have the right to hit, push or kick another passenger’s seat. He was completely wrong. He should have been arrested at landing departure.
No it is a pain in the 2 B’s if you do! Butt & Back! No matter if you do or don’t you are all stuck in a sardine can so keep your bitch to yourself!
The seat reclining problem matches allowing your child to rome from seat to seat in your row or to continue kicking the seat in front of them! Your child is not cute when they do that nor should it be allowed!
Manners people, again we are stuck together!!!
Of course the origin of the issue is the airlines’ continued efforts to maximize revenue by jamming in as many seats as possible. However, my view as a regular traveler is that the additional comfort of reclining your seat is marginal at best while the inconvenience to your fellow passenger is significant. Personally I never recline my seat for this reason as everyone one of us knows how unpleasant it is when the person in front does it to us. So, if you are happy to be ever so slightly more comfortable and are not really concerned with the impact on the person behind you go ahead and recline (aka the scourge of our time – selfishness).
There are lots of things you can do on a flight, but common courtesy would dictate otherwise. We’re all crammed in there and miserable together. Why make it worse?
I had a similar incident. Maybe hind me push forward when I reclined. He reclined his seat. I complained and the attendant told him to stop. He did, but once in a while hit the seat. I feel we have a right to reclin. If they don’t like. Het a seat with more leg room. I do.