Denied seat recline on long haul

[11sjw]

A woman in front of me reclined once Syd-Bris. I suddenly developed a fascination with 'stress-testing' the tray. Must have banged it shut 20-30 times in the space of 4 mins.
she "are you ok?"
me "yes I'm fine"
...and I continued on.

IMO it says plenty about you.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Yes, don't sit in front

 

[amaroo]

A woman in front of me reclined once Syd-Bris. I suddenly developed a fascination with 'stress-testing' the tray. Must have banged it shut 20-30 times in the space of 4 mins.
she "are you ok?"
me "yes I'm fine"
...and I continued on.

What would you do on a long haul flight?

Some people make whY worst than it needs to be!

 

[medhead]

But why should the person in front spend an uncomfortable 14+ hours in the upright position just so the person behind (ie you) gets more legroom?

Sitting upright is actually rather comfortable. I had the problem on the A380 that my 79D seat seemed to keep reclining on me during the night. It was damn annoying.

dfcatch and serfty pretty much nailed it between them.

All pax have the right to recline if the facility is there. For anyone to say they do not is ludicrous. If you were not 'allowed' to recline the facility would be removed (or a specific direction given not to use it, as with takeoff/landing).

I'll reiterate my opinion that allowed/not allowed has nothing to do with this, in fact it is a pretty weak argument. The key question is about mutual consideration and arrangement. Sure the seat can recline and it can be used, but a question like this should ideally be settled by mutual agreement by either verbal or non verbal means. The passenger in front might decide that they can handle only using half a recline and that also benefits the person behind - allows them to accept the situation. What is the key issue is achieving the (cringe worthy) win-win. What is technically possible has very little to do with that. The view that the seat reclines so I'm therefore entitled is equally part of the problem, not the solution.

do I need to say this is my opinion?

Preparing themselves for when they fall asleep reading and hoping to lean back into a comfortable position.

Well recline when you're ready to fall to sleep. Don't be an inconsiderate [sod]. simple really consideration for those also trapped in the tin can.

 

[medhead]

No offence.........[deleted the negative bit]

Fair enough, that's your opinion. Personally I try to take a considerate approach to others on the plane. Sure some take advantage at times, Sure it inconveniences me at times. But I also have the knowledge that karma will get them eventually. I have also had the situation where a person who grabbed my seat a few times to get up stopped doing so mid-flight, maybe coincidental but they did stop grabbing my seat after they watched me twice get up carefully without bumping the seat in front. (a kind of slow and difficult feat for me as I do have some mobility issues).

I was happy and they were probably also happy that I didn't recline. Call it cobblers but it works for me and it makes me feel fine that I'm generally considerate of others*, even if they are complete sods.



* I do make an exception for seat grabbers by taking my weight off the seat back and pushing in the recline button when they return to sit down. Very effective since as I don't recline they have quite a fall without the expected support. They mostly don't grab my seat again and learn to use their muscles. Oh and no I didn't do this to the person in my example above.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas clearly markets seat recline on their website as a feature. here is the quote for international:

Our adjustable headrest and seat recline are sure to keep you comfortable for the duration of your journey.

Any person buying a ticket is to expect to be able to recline and that the person in front will recline.

For domestic the wording is the similar:

You’ll find space and comfort with the added comfort of an adjustable headrest and a soft recline to help you rest.

Even Qantas thinks seat recline is important for domestic travel.

This is part of the product. If you don't like that, don't complain. Try an alternative!

 

[docjames]

Am I imagining a handle at the back of the seat?

In J sure. But I assumed in the context you were talking Y.

I've never seen a handle.


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[Mal Ware]

So, again, reclining impinges on no rights.

Yeah it does....

Given I'm generally in the 'don't recline' camp

So you just feel like arguing?

you've managed to tempt me to slam my seatback into your knees

LOL - Bring it on.

Tall is a relative thing and at 198cm I've probably got most of the Board covered but I make no apology for reclining on long haul.

So you have no problem with someone dropping their seat to full recline on you on long or short haul?

I can't complain about other people reclining, as I do it myself

Okay....but

However, the tall and rather hefty Samoan man sitting behind me decided it was perfectly OK to slouch down in his seat, stretch his legs right out and push his feet ALL the way under my seat and not only rest them against the metal bar, but actually protrude past it.

Yes, mate, I know you're tall but I don't give a rat's - I paid for this seat (and a flexi fare at that) - and this is MY foot space!!!!!

So it is okay for you to impede into his space when you recline because YOU paid for YOUR ticket, but because he stretches out and his feet get into YOUR footspace it is not allowed? LOL Double standards much?

A woman in front of me reclined once Syd-Bris. I suddenly developed a fascination with 'stress-testing' the tray. Must have banged it shut 20-30 times in the space of 4 mins.
she "are you ok?"
me "yes I'm fine"
...and I continued on.

Hahaha good move.:!: Mind you, I would only do that if I had politely asked them to move forward and they refused.

Even if they move forward to half recline I will compromise, but if my knees are getting crushed, then its game on.
Tray table tests.
Book shuffling
Going to the toilet every 30 minutes putting full weight on the back of the seat in front with a sudden jolt
Knees on the back
Coughing loudly into them
Window taps
What ever annoys the **** out of them I will do, until they move that seat forward, then i will be as quiet as a mouse. :mrgreen:

IMO it says plenty about you.

Yeah is says don't recline on them.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yeah is says don't recline on them.

No, it says "I think the whole plane is mine and I paid for economy but want all the space a business class seat provides but don't feel the need to pay the premium for whatever reason. And I'll make your flight miserable to get the space I (for some reason) feel entitled to."

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Keep posting there could be a pYschology thesis coming out of this one !!

 

[dfcatch]

Mal Ware - answer me one simple question.....

What right do you have to demand the person in front not recline their seat?

(I'm not talking about your desires or preferences, I'm asking about what right do you have).

Look at it another way - recliner wants to recline (outside of meal times), you don't want them to - FA adjudicates - wanna predict the outcome??


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[Must...Fly!]

Not sure if I've made my position clear yet. I'm 6'5". Yes I get annoyed if people recline. Yes I get even more annoyed if they are short. Yes when I can't get an exit row and notice it's full of people that are 5 foot nothing I get annoyed. Yes I get very annoyed when I get reclined in to on a day flight, especially a short one.

But I cannot ask someone to raise their seat for my comfort. They have their own comfort to worry about especially on a long haul or night flight. If I wanted space I could buy PE, J or F. I can't afford it but that is my problem, not theirs.

I am always cautious about reclining because I know how inconvenient it is when someone reclines on me.

 

[medhead]

Even Qantas thinks seat recline is important for domestic travel.

As already mentioned, only important for getting them money i.e. marketing, as you have highlighted. That doesn't not mean they want someone to recline. Anyway, off you go with your what's technically possible argument, ignore the point that life is not all about one person. Wise words I got from an ex-rugby league player -
"Life is not all about stuff you".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As already mentioned, only important for getting them money i.e. marketing, as you have highlighted. That doesn't not mean they want someone to recline. Anyway, off you go with your what's technically possible argument, ignore the point that life is not all about one person. Wise words I got from an ex-rugby league player -
"Life is not all about stuff you".

my point is quite different! qantas advertises it as part of the product. a passenger buys that product knowing it reclines! it's not like the passenger gets on and discovers recline for the first time. you buy something knowing what it does!! and what it can do to you. you choose it!

qantas advertises seat recline even for domestic flights. so anyone looking will know they have the potential to be reclined on. of they don't like that they can choose another product more suitable.

 

[JohnK]

Well recline when you're ready to fall to sleep. Don't be an inconsiderate [sod]. simple really consideration for those also trapped in the tin can.

You are expecting way too much.

 

[dajop]

no - but pax could demand change. Several US airlines have introduced a significant amount of extra leg room seats (UA's E+, Delta Comfort etc etc). If people are willing to pay an extra $19 to sydney for an E+ seat then the gripe is with the airline for not offering that service, not with the recliner IMO.

If you do the math, I think to give 34" pitch instead of 31" you remove a row, and then can offer the extra pitch on 10 rows. So remove one row you need to be able to surcharge 1/10th of the average Y fare (minus marginal catering and fuel costs) to recoup that. So SYD-MEL say, $20. Australia-London it would be over $100. Wonder if people would be willing to pay $100 for the privilege?

 

[JohnK]

In J sure. But I assumed in the context you were talking Y.

I've never seen a handle.

I was referring to economy. Hmmm. Am I confusing it with bus seats?

 

[Archphoto]

So what is the etiquette if you are beat, planning on skipping the meal and just want to go to sleep? Ie, you are fully reclined come meal time, aren't eating. Should you be expected to wake up, put your seat forward?

Personally, that's not me. I take my meals. But if someone was in front of me and asleep as meal time, I don't think I'd expect them to wake up just for me.

Others thoughts on this one?

I've actually seen FAs wake the person to ask them to sit up for meal service on several flights. Were they happy - hard to tell, but at least the person eating dinner was able to do so without wearing their meal or the glass (cup!) of red they requested.

 

[Mal Ware]

No, it says "I think the whole plane is mine and I paid for economy but want all the space a business class seat provides but don't feel the need to pay the premium for whatever reason. And I'll make your flight miserable to get the space I (for some reason) feel entitled to."

Not sure if I've made my position clear yet. I'm 6'5". Yes I get annoyed if people recline. Yes I get even more annoyed if they are short. Yes when I can't get an exit row and notice it's full of people that are 5 foot nothing I get annoyed. Yes I get very annoyed when I get reclined in to on a day flight, especially a short one.

You don't know whether your coming or going. On one hand you are trying to have a crack at me for my stance on people who recline, then in the next breath you are saying you don't like it yourself.

Mal Ware - answer me one simple question.....

What right do you have to demand the person in front not recline their seat?

(I'm not talking about your desires or preferences, I'm asking about what right do you have).

Look at it another way - recliner wants to recline (outside of meal times), you don't want them to - FA adjudicates - wanna predict the outcome??

Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

Where did I say I "demand" they recline their seat? Don't try and make out your words are mine....

I said I will politely ask them to move it forward, if they choose not to, it is at their own peril.

I also never mentioned anything about a FA adjudicating that is something you have added, so no I don't want to predict outcomes of your little scenario......your telling the story there not me.

 

[JohnK]

I've actually seen FAs wake the person to ask them to sit up for meal service on several flights.

And I have also had FAs refuse to wake the person in front. So at the end of the day I was not able to put the tray table down during meal service.