It's no longer safe to recline your airplane seat

AP via Yahoo ^ | September 2, 2014 | Scott Mayerowitz

[EveningStar]

Squeezed into tighter and tighter spaces, airline passengers appear to be rebelling, taking their frustrations out on other fliers.

Three U.S. flights made unscheduled landings in the past eight days after passengers got into fights over the ability to recline their seats. Disputes over a tiny bit of personal space might seem petty, but for passengers whose knees are already banging into tray tables, every inch counts.

[SoothingDave]

Flew to Austrailia in ‘08 on an airline I can’t remember, but I remember the seats.

So much for the business model of offering a better seat so customers patronize you again.

[thackney]

It really depends both on the airline and which model of aircraft.

http://www.seatguru.com/charts/shorthaul_economy.php

[Sans-Culotte]

If airlines can force fat people to buy two seats (or fly business/first)...I think the courts have ruled that they can...then why can’t they force particularly tall people to pick particular seats in coach (a bulkhead,for example) or fly business/first?

If you equate being tall with being fat, do you also equate being gay with being black? (Hint: one is a choice).

[Sans-Culotte]

Well, like anything else, a little bit of common courtesy would have avoided the whole thing. My coworker was trapped in the last row of a plane where the seats do not recline because they are against the bulkhead. Then the a-hole in front of him decided to push his seat all the way back. He had zero room. That was not very courteous of the person in front. My coworker had to bang against the back of seat just to move and there was almost an altercation because the idiot up front thought he was doing it on purpose.

I never recline my seat on airplanes, and frankly, I think the recliners should be disabled if they are going to jam people in like sardines.

[sickoflibs]

For most of us we are mainly interested in domestic carriers.

If they are selling room in the middle of the plane for a Economy+ type type deal then you can bet they are getting that room by screwing the other seat holders,

If the flight is short then its not that big a deal, but two or three hours in a cattle car is painful.

If I have to fly United then I just pay the extra fee, but I try to avoid that carrier altogether,

Seat maps United_Airlines_Boeing_757-200 V Domestic

[9422WMR]

AA made me pay $27 for a window seat prior to exit row.
$32 for an aisle.
For no fee I could choose center seat last or near last row on plane.
That’s coach DFW to MSP $1200.00!!

[kjam22]

I never recline my seat on airplanes, and frankly, I think the recliners should be disabled if they are going to jam people in like sardines.

I agree. I'm someone that traveled for a living for a couple of years. If in coach... I never reclined a seat if the seat behind me was occupied. For me it was a courtesy thing.

[Cementjungle]

If the flight is short then its not that big a deal, but two or three hours in a cattle car is painful.

If it's just a few hours I can put up with pretty much anything. My recent trip was 7 hours from JFK to Amsterdam, and then 11 hours from there to Zambia. I did business class for those segments... makes a huge difference.

[cableguymn]

haven’t been on a plane since 1999 and not planing on changing that..

Just doing my part for those who still get in to those flying cans of Ebola..

[sickoflibs]

RE:”If it's just a few hours I can put up with pretty much anything. My recent trip was 7 hours from JFK to Amsterdam, and then 11 hours from there to Zambia. I did business class for those segments... makes a huge difference. ‘

I imagine so.

I used to have to fly from Maryland to CA for work and being cramps in a cattle car for three hours is painful.

I like to be able to use my laptop and in some of those seats its against my stomach.

[Cementjungle]

I always try to get an aisle seat so I can at least get up often and walk around and stretch out a bit without bothering people.

Flying just plain stinks these days. Between the lack of space in the seats and the long wait times at airports, it's a huge pain in the neck.

[MamaB]

I have 2 grandchildren who are in their 20’s. They have flown cross country since they were infants. My daughter made sure to pack toys, etc for them and they were well behaved. She said she did not understand parents who expected theirs to behave without anything. When they were in elementary school, they flew from Seattle to HSV by themselves. When I would get them, the airline people always said they were the best kids flying they had ever been around. Now, the little ones are flying but from here to Seattle. Kids can behave if their parents teach them that.

[USNBandit]

I’d rather sit next to a screaming kid than some fat guy that needs two seats.

[Haiku Guy]

Even the most basic tasks of getting along with other people are becoming beyond the abilities of an every larger portion of the population.

[lacrew]

I’m not particularly tall, but I spend the flight with my knees pressed up against the seat in front of me (and I do actually seek out the bulkhead seats).

I really don’t know why the seats are still made to recline - there is no practical way to do it with somebody in the seat behind you.

[manc]

I remember when flying over the Atlantic was calm, fun and very enjoyable.

Today you get on a flight you’re packed in like sardines, treated like dirt off the homosexual guy or the stewardess .
Pay a fortune.
Maybe lose cases, and arrive or take off late.
Then have to put up with a handful on the plane with obnoxious can’t stay off the phone, all about me me me travelers.

[WayneS]

Right.

And I’m sure a flight attendant will wake you up when you get to your destination.

[WayneS]

...or in between two fat guys who EACH need two seats.

[Patriotic1]

I agree. I travel for work a lot and sit up in economy plus on United. Reclining doesn’t add any comfort anyway. Many posters here seem to think it’s ok if the person in front o you reclines as long as you can recline too. Doesn’t really work that way with a laptop.

[taxcontrol]

Sense common sense is not so common any more, perhaps there can be an “standard” that when there is less than X inches between the back of one seat and the front of another, the seat will not be allowed to recline, and the airline must disclose this either at ticket purchase or at the time of the assignment of the seat.

Manage customer expectations and all.