topic Re: To Recline Or Not? in Community Chat

To Recline Or Not?

Nancy Drew — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:00:20 GMT

By now everyone has seen the video of the man punching repeatedly a woman's seat on an airplane because she used her recline button. Do you use the recline function? Do you mind if someone reclines in front of you? We never had these problems before.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Tessa Mendoza — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:17:33 GMT

I rarely recline my seat on an airplane and if I do, it's only slightly. We are all so close together and have no room as it is. It seems inconsiderate to intrude on someone's limited space.

I don't agree with those who say, well. the button is there and I paid for my seat! Just seems selfish.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

phoenixbrd — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:18:08 GMT

@Nancy Drew I think it is because space has become such a premium on flights. The seat space is excruciating small...especially for long flights.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Tessa Mendoza — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:20:17 GMT

Forgot to add - yes, I do mind if someone reclines way back. Hate having someone practically in my face.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Kachina624 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:28:40 GMT

People are so crammed into small spaces in planes they get stressed. Where else do you sit thigh to thigh with a strange man? I'm surprised there aren't more incidents than there are.

I usually recline the minimum. In the upright position, the seat is too upright and uncomfortable for the duration of the average trip.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:36:10 GMT

The woman he was punching was on TMZ. She explained he was trally pushing and hitting the seat way worse BEFORE she video taped him.

She explained how unprofessional the stewardess was acting toward her. She said she took into account that the stewardess was MAYBE trying to de-escalate him regarding the situation. However, her manner ( verbal) and eye-rolling toward Wendy ( the other passenger) was terrible.

She also said the airlines are the one’s who told her to call the FBI since it happened on an airline.

She is an articulate teacher. She’s not just someone who’s “flying off the handle”.

Again, she wanted to make it clear that the video posted was LATER. He’d been really pushing the seat way worse before she taped him. She taped him, she said, hoping he’d see how seriously bad he was acting and stop punching the seat.

She did put her seat upright while they ate the snack and then reclined again later.

The flight attendant, she said should have offered him another seat, if one was available. Her main problem, I think, is more with the flight attendant.

I fly first class...well, that and the fact I have to stretch out my legs because both knees have been replaced.

I always sit in the first seat outside aisle. My daughter makes the arrangements for me.

The airlines cram everyone into these planes so they can hardly move. Add that to getting to where the plane boards ( it always seems like miles away) and by the time you set your butt down in the seat....well...you feel like your head will explode.

Anyway, she said she put it on Twitter because she wanted to know who he is so she can make the report.

Oh! And she said the flight attendant told her she MUST erase the videotape...which she obviously didn’t. I don’t blame her.

My guess is with the guy in the very last seat he probably requested it or maybe was a last minute addition. His seat didn’t recline.

This is the world we live in today. Rudeness is the word for the day. I wonder what Mr Rodgers would say about this interaction.

Too bad we don’t have Mr Rogers around anymore. We sure could use some kind words and smiles these days.🙄😩

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Kachina624 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:51:29 GMT

@Annabellethecat66. Good grief, if this genteel lady was aggravating this man so much, why didn't she raise her seat? Reclining was not necessary. It sounds as though she was enjoying the little scene and did every thing possible to escalate it, including video taping it. You can recline slightly without laying yourself in someone's lap.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

sunshine45 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:53:42 GMT

the seats hardly recline anymore anyways.

this is why when i can i really prefer first class, especially on a long flight.

yes, i do recline and i dont mind if the person in front of me reclines.

i absolutely also need a window seat AND i prefer to sit closer to the back of the plane.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

GCR18 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:57:19 GMT

I don't recline and don't like to be behind a recliner. I flew home yesterday. The man in front of me reclined as far as he could go. Didn't put his seat upright when we landed either.

I think this incident was totally mishandled. The guy punching the seat was ridiculous. It's similar to road rage. I understand he was cramped, but he took it too far. The flight attendant was making matters worse. I don't like it, but the lady wasn't doing anything wrong by reclining.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Icegoddess — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 05:08:23 GMT

I don't sit in the bolt upright position, but I don't recline all the way, but I don't care if the person in front of me reclines. It's their right (as long as they don't do it during takeoff/landing) and it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is lack of leg room. I worry about blood clots since that runs in the family. I always choose an aisle seat even if I have to sit in the back of the plane and I'll choose another aisle seat either across from me or one row ahead or behind me for my husband who is large. The middle seat is the absolute worst. I keep to myself, usually working jigsaw puzzles on my tablet as long as it's not a bumpy flight.

I heard on the news that the lady had a neck problem and needed to recline. Don't know for sure if it's true or not, but that guy is scary which is probably why the flight attendant wouldn't say anything to him. It's one thing to be annoyed, but he went way past that to intimidation. The fact that he didn't completely stop once he realized he was being recorded is quite telling.

I don't know why she would need to post the video in hopes of finding out who he is. The FBI can get that information from the airline unless it was a Southwest flight whee it's a free-for-all for seating.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

jellyBEAN — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 06:11:41 GMT

I have not flown in ages, and have absolutely no desire to, but even back in the day I thought it was incredibly rude for the person in front of me to recline and be 6 or so inches in my face. Stay in your lane is what I say.

I think the seats should be made so that you cannot recline them. Just sit in your seat and leave everyone else alone. As far as the guy punching her seat, and her laying there recording the whole thing, why didn't she just compromise and not be reclined all the way back? Maybe if she just reclined 1/2 way they could have dealt with it better.

At least she didn't have long hair that she flung over the back of her seat as well. Yuck.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

sissel — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 06:32:48 GMT

Glad she did make a video but she said it was way worse before she thought to record. She even had her phone up high so the stewardess & the man behind her, knew she was recording. The man did not stop. The lady received a paper saying she was an unruly passenger or something like that, she showed it on TMZ. This I think will go to court. I hope we watch and see how this unfolds. Interesting case. Does she have the head injury like she claims? who knows, I am afraid we will get people doing the same thing when people recline. Someone said redesign the planes, that will take tons of money & probably less seats. Let's keep an eye on this case.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

sissel — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 06:35:58 GMT

Harvey Levin is all over this, maybe she should get Harvey as her lawyer. LOL

Re: To Recline Or Not?

RoughDraft — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 06:43:22 GMT

I think that as long. as airlines continue to cram passengers in like cattle, these incidents will continue.

I wouldn't board a plane these days unless I fly first class.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

sissel — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 07:00:24 GMT

@RoughDraft yes this has been a problem with seats and my DH says just pay the money for 1st class we hardly fly but it's not fun flying anymore. We are short people so doesn't bother me. What scares me is all the germs that float around in the plane. My cousin gets sinus problems everytime he flys.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

sipp — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 07:33:15 GMT

Obviously you also do not have neck, back and leg issues- sometimes you just HAVE to recline- We fly the same airline every time- and we pay a LOT of money for what they call "comfort" seats that give you a lousy 4 extra inches fbetween the seat in front of you- (( and I'm only 5'4") I cannot imagine paying for first class- that's way beyond our means) But the flights to Texas where our grandkids live are few and far between and that can also accomodate our schedules. As for reclining-- sometimes they don't even work and if they do- it's only a few inches as well -- we have never had anyone's head in our lap (I can't imagine doing that either- how goofy is that?) However- to sit straight up all through the flight is extremely uncomforable so the little that our seats do recline are just enough to not get stiff necks and sore backs. The middle seat is atrocious.they shouldn't even have them.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Lilysmom — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 08:35:01 GMT

Isn't flying awful now? I am at the stage where, if I can't drive, I rarely go. Not only is the seating awful but planes are like germ incubators. Ever go on a vacation only to be sick a day or so after arrival? Been there, done that. I read that aisle seats are the worst for germs/bacteria as people walking up and down the aisle handle the headrests for support.

As to reclining seats, I think they should not be an option on a plane where you are stuffed in like sardines. If someone fully reclines, it makes the table tray unusable as it is right in your personal space.

Thanks for the rant! LM

Re: To Recline Or Not?

qualitygal — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 09:30:18 GMT

Just out of common courtesy for a fellow traveler, I'd put my seat up. It's so little to ask. Was it transAtlantic? don't think so!

Re: To Recline Or Not?

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 10:27:28 GMT

I haven't flown for several years, but I do remember that flying was not really a fun experience. Everyone is so crammed together. DH and I always went business, never first class. I would never recline my seat as I think this is unfair due to such a lack of space, but I have had to experience this done by others. It truly is uncomfortable. I think airlines should fix the seats so they do not recline.

Re: To Recline Or Not?

Anonymous032819 — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 10:45:14 GMT

I never recline my seat, out of respect for the person sitting behind me.

Even in 2002, when I flew to Ireland, and had an overnight flight, as we crossed the Atlantic, I still didn't recline my seat.