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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I’ve been on some flights that when a meal is served, flight attendants ensure that everyone’s seat is not reclined. It’s simple and avoids trouble. Why isn’t this standard on every flight?
I fly 75-100 1 way’s per year, most are 1-2 hrs, but about 20 of those are 3-5hrs. My personal take is that if you lower your seat slowly, instead of jamming it back, it does make a difference on how it’s perceived. Outside of that, I usually ask the passenger behind me if they’re ok with me reclining & that I’m trying to catch up on some sleep. I’ve only had 2 people object (out of 100’s), so I believe that part of it is in the approach.
Personally, I think the guy in the video needs a good ass-kicking, because it’s not her fault that he ended up in the last seat & if he can’t accept the situation, then don’t fly. If you chose that seat, you should know what you’re in for & just because you’re uncomfortable, doesn’t mean she needs to be. I think it’s a sign of the times- this is a spoiled, entitlement-driven behavior.
I feel that it is your choice I don’t recline mine butt I have no problem with people that do. Life is too short to fight over something so petty. Most people can recline theirs if the one in front of them is reclined which gives you the same space. Get over it.
As a frequent SW flier, I don’t recline often and mostly because I don’t think to do it. When the person in front of me reclines it doesn’t really bother me because it barely takes up any of my space and it doesn’t affect leg room at all. I think the man and flight attendant were in the wrong.
My sentiments 100% with Brenda. I lean my seat back as soon as I am allowed to whether it is 30 minutes or 3 hours. Period. The airlines keep jamming us in like cattle. And prices keep increasing. If we don’t have room to recline then don’t make reclining seats. And that guy should have been fiercly reprimanded. That behavior is disgusting. If I was the woman in front I might have tossed my drink on him and said it was becasue my seat kept moving.
If you recline to the first notch, just to get a little tilt, it should not be a problem, but it is pretty inconsiderate and downright rude to recline the seat into the lap of the person behind you. Just because the seat can be reclined into the lap of the person behind you doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk and do it. How would you feel if the person in front of you was laying in your lap?
It is time that the airlines treat their customers with the respect they deserve. You can’t squeeze people in these small seats with no leg or arm room and not expect manners and nerves to fray.
The airlines should be the first to accept blame. The other issue is one of civility that has gone the way of the dinosaurs it seems. Each of those people had they been at a party, and bumped into each other…..I am certain both would have said “oh, excuse me, or I’m sorry, accepting blame, or partial blame, or no blame…….BUT….the point is, they would have been civil to each other. So……what makes this situation so different?? The situation could have been avoided by simple civility……..The airlines have been squeezing people into planes like sardines, charging for luggage, uncharging exit rows,no blankets or pillows…..basically they have been taking away, but not giving anything back. One shouldn’t have to pay for first class in order to be comfortable for a two hour flight. One should get a decent seat and space.
And one last thing……I would be big money that if the person in the seat in front was a man……this dude would not have done what he did.
The entire event has so many variables. First, it’s the airlines fault for cramming more passengers in by adding more revenue seats. It simply makes people more protective of their perceived personal space “they own” for the flight’s duration. Secondly, it is polite to ask / check the person behind you if they are finished working on their computer or eating on their tray. I don’t usually recline on flights less that 2 hours. But sometimes I need to get in a different position so I may allow myself to adjust the seat just a tiny bit slowly and carefully. Gone are the days of blasting the seat back with force and everyone should be aware of this – you can hit folks who may be resting their heads on their trays! Lastly, this was allowed to escalate by the flight attendants who are supposed to be trained in mediation and are in charge of safety aboard under the captain. If seatbelt sign was not on, I would have asked him to come back to the service area for a chat. Usually the senior attendant takes care of these types of things. I was a flight attendant decades ago – but we did have larger seats! The guy was clearly physically aggressive and the lady was not willing to compromise either. I feel that if one person has to be blamed it’s the guy. And heck no, don’t offer any liquor!
You should not recline your seat unless no one is sitting behind you. Space is too tight these days. I sympathize with the guy behind the lady.
The blame needs to go to the airlines for shrinking the available space for passengers.
All seats should be fixed upright and not allowed to recline. Unfortunately people are inconsiderate about the space round them, so what do you do with selfish people.
The man doing the hitting on the back of her seat is wrong