Posted on 02/16/2020 8:36:44 AM PST by rktman
It is an active struggle to live in harmony on an airplane. It’s amazing that more conflict doesn’t ensue when you smash a dozen to a couple hundred people into a confined space with conflicting cultural norms, minimal elbow room and limited bathroom availability.
One of the touchiest subjects in all of air travel is the seat recline. To some, leaning your seat back on a flight is a no-brainer. Why wouldn’t you take that precious spare space for relief? For others, the sight of the seat in front barreling toward them is a living nightmare. Not only would they never recline — they think the practice is rude.
Chaos can erupt when opinions clash over the recline feature. Most recently, a passenger on a flight from New Orleans to Charlotte repeatedly punched and nudged the seat of a woman in front of him after she reclined. Another passenger filmed the incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I don’t recline in an airplane chair.. I don’t like backing into the remaining few millimeters of the folks behind me. At 6’4”, with my knees already up against the seat in front of the seat ahead of me, I don’t appreciate it either. That said.. I’m in CA visiting family.. flew out from VA yesterday.. the travel leg between Philly and Chicago was glorious.. modern aircraft with plenty of seats to choose from and lots of legroom.. a throwback to the good old days.
Some Airlines have eliminated reclining seats in Coach and Business class. It would probably be a good idea for all Airlines to do the same.
I never recline my seat when I fly. I did once or twice, but when I saw how intrusive it was on the poor slob behind me, I stopped for good.
LOL! Pretty much done flying. Someone wants to see me, (yeah, right?) they can fly out here.
Once in a blue moon I do, but just like one click.
I also don't travel in my pajamas and slippers.
The behavior of this guy is part of the coarsening of American culture - they have no respect for themselves, how do we expect them to have respect for anyone else?
“For others, the sight of the seat in front barreling toward them is a living nightmare.”
Exaggerate much, WaPo?
I don’t ever recline and I don’t want the person in front of me to either. I’m small! I’m only 5’3” and I feel so uncomfortable in such small confined spaces I want all the room I can get. I just can’t recline into my fellow passenger’s space. I started flying way back when there was far more room. Today it’s like being in a tin can.
The arguments that if seats recline fair to use that function, well, there are oxygen masks and emergency doors too. Nobody needs to test those out.
Think it was a burnee psychofan?
I agree. At 6'5" I barely have room if the person in front does not recline. If they are not going to provide room on planes to recline, there should be no reclining at all.
I do not recline by choice as it is rude.
I totally agree; unfortunately nowadays airline charge a premium price, but sometimes I’ll opt for it.
Did you SEE that guy? - I would say yes.
He looked like Kevin D Williamson minus about 150 pounds.
The solution is more leg room. i.e. increased seat spacing.
ScottinVA....I’m 5’8”, so I consider you a ‘Lucky Man’.
I do wonder, as a young man, did you ever get tired of strangers coming up to you demanding to know “How tall are you?”
or the old joke; “How’s the weather up there?”.
I have some tall friends who either go along with the silly questions, or others who will just pretend they didn’t hear it. People still do that in today’s world.
It’s a nightmare for me, and a big reason why I choose not to fly.
What wasn't noted ... the fact the guy nudging the seat in front of him was seated in a no recline seat that backed up to a bulkhead. That said I rarely recline my seat and when I do it's because the passenger seated in front of me reclines their seat.
Having the bulkhead seat does suck.
Just did a round trip from Knoxville, TN to Sarasota, FL on Allegiant Airbus A320. Tada! Seat DON’T recline. No worries, Mate.
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