Reclining [Moving to an empty seat with another behind to do so]

[naggi]

Following something I heard on the radio this morning I thought I’d bring up a topic for discussion.


You board your QF 737, you’re allocated 5A and by the time the doors are closed 5A, 5C, 6A & 6C are occupied.

Is it acceptable for the passenger in 5C to move into 5B so that he can recline into the empty 6B behind rather than stay in his allocated seat and recline into another passenger?

I think most of us here would assume that 5B & 6B have been blocked as shadows and would not dare to encroach on the shadow.

But is the situation any more acceptable further down the plane where shadows are unlikely and the seating situation may be more “random”?

Discuss

 

[opusman]

Re: Reclining

Reclining threads never end well

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Reclining

Reclining threads never end well

Agree, so here goes

I'm not a recliner on flights, with rare exceptions of sometimes when there is nobody in the seat behind me. If I was especially zonked and there was a vacant middle seat (5B) I would have no hesitation in moving into it, assuming 5A hadn't spread stuff onto it (which I would respect - I do it myself).

And no, I wouldn't assume that 5B was a 'shadow'. If QF want to formalize the arrangement, then fine - they could put some sign or marker on the physical seat 'do not occupy'.

 

[boylero]

Re: Reclining

I'd be reclined to think the same as you RF

 

[serfty]

Re: Reclining

Reclining threads never end well

Not in that circumstance - the 'shared' B/E space would normally be laterally inviolate.

I have moved across a seat when in a block vacant except for myself to enable me to recline as described.

 

[mannej]

Re: Reclining

This isn't relevant to the QF Frequent Flyer Program though?

Replace QF with any other airline and you have the same topic.

And FWIW, a little bit of consideration is nice when stuck in a pressurised tube that far in the air, so moving would probably be best.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Reclining

Nothing worse than pax reclining into my WP1 shadow.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Reclining

If you move into the middle seat that means you still have a shadow but the person next to you no longer has a shadow.

At least you are being considerate though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Reclining

Following something I heard on the radio this morning I thought I’d bring up a topic for discussion.


You board your QF 737, you’re allocated 5A and by the time the doors are closed 5A, 5C, 6A & 6C are occupied.

Is it acceptable for the passenger in 5C to move into 5B so that he can recline into the empty 6B behind rather than stay in his allocated seat and recline into another passenger?

I think most of us here would assume that 5B & 6B have been blocked as shadows and would not dare to encroach on the shadow.

But is the situation any more acceptable further down the plane where shadows are unlikely and the seating situation may be more “random”?

Discuss

not acceptable to move. You are inconveniencing the person in 5A.

Safe to assume if the pax in 6C requires legroom they can angle their legs into the spare middle seat, and if they require more 'face space' they can also recline their seat.

 

[legroom]

Re: Reclining

If you move into the middle seat that means you still have a shadow but the person next to you no longer has a shadow.

At least you are being considerate though.

5A's inconvenience (loss of shadow) is less than 6C's (loss of legroom).

If you have to recline, it's the lesser of the two evils IMO.

It's an imperfect (Y) world.

 

[Moody]

Following something I heard on the radio this morning I thought I’d bring up a topic for discussion.


You board your QF 737, you’re allocated 5A and by the time the doors are closed 5A, 5C, 6A & 6C are occupied.

Is it acceptable for the passenger in 5C to move into 5B so that he can recline into the empty 6B behind rather than stay in his allocated seat and recline into another passenger?

I think most of us here would assume that 5B & 6B have been blocked as shadows and would not dare to encroach on the shadow.

But is the situation any more acceptable further down the plane where shadows are unlikely and the seating situation may be more “random”?

Discuss

Tricky. They are being more considerate to 6C but less considerate to 5A (and arguably 6A as well). My approach in their shoes would be .....

1. Tell 5A that you need some sleep and don't want to recline into 6C, so you intend to move to 5B. Are they bothered?
2. If they are unimpressed I would sweeten the deal by offering them 5C so they at least don't need to climb over you to get out.
3. If it is obvious you are making an enemy then let 6C know (if they haven't twigged already) that you intend to recline and they may want to move to 6B.

But as a rule it is best to stay in your own seat unless there is universal acquiesence for you to move.

 

[RooFlyer]

Tricky. They are being more considerate to 6C but less considerate to 5A (and arguably 6A as well). My approach in their shoes would be .....

1. Tell 5A that you need some sleep and don't want to recline into 6C, so you intend to move to 5B. Are they bothered?
2. If they are unimpressed I would sweeten the deal by offering them 5C so they at least don't need to climb over you to get out.
3. If it is obvious you are making an enemy then let 6C know (if they haven't twigged already) that you intend to recline and they may want to move to 6B.

But as a rule it is best to stay in your own seat unless there is universal acquiesence for you to move.

Would you seriously start a conversation with several people over 2 rows just to shift across one seat?

What happens if 6C says that they do mind you moving into 5B, as they intended to move into 6B a bit later so they could recline?

What happens if 5A says 'Yes I do mind, I intend to sit there and recline as soon as I finish this drink.'

 

[SeatBackForward]

The seats are designed to recline.

Unless you're being a complete prat about it eg, reclining during the meal service, or being dangerous eg, reclining during takeoff and landing, whats the big deal with people reclining? Its not like they force they seat back beyond its intended angle. And I don't have the expectation to get work done if I'm flying in Y, so the person in front wont inhibit that either.

That said, for short hauls I don't recline at all, even if I fall asleep.

 

[NM]

My experience is not on a 737 (which would be a short-haul flight). It is with a 747, where I had a block of 3 seats to myself (HJK) and chose to use the J seat so I did not recline into the passengers in H and K seated in the row behind me during the long overnight flight. I was assigned the H seat. Not sure what I would have done if K seat was assigned to someone else.

 

[legroom]

.... The seats are designed to recline....

I might have read this somewhere else on AFF

 

[BadgerBoi]

the moment that he looks as though he's even thinking about moving to the empty seat, my belongings will be all over it. That way we both get to enjoy the extra room provided by courtesy of the empty seat between us.

 

[turnip666]

the moment that he looks as though he's even thinking about moving to the empty seat, my belongings will be all over it. That way we both get to enjoy the extra room provided by courtesy of the empty seat between us.

+1 The middle seat is a shared bonus.

 

[serfty]

+1 The middle seat is a shared bonus.

Unless it's a designated comfort seat ...

 

[JohnK]

The seats are designed to recline.

Of course seats are designed to recline.

What I dont understand is how 3-4 inch recline is the difference between relaxing or not relaxing or the difference between sleeping and not sleeping. Perhaps someone can explain it to me at BNE drinks tonight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of course seats are designed to recline.

What I dont understand is how 3-4 inch recline is the difference between relaxing or not relaxing or the difference between sleeping and not sleeping. Perhaps someone can explain it to me at BNE drinks tonight.

maybe not for you, but for most people, reclining is more comfortable. a major study found it is more beneficial for the back to be reclined (less pressure on discs) rather than at a 90 degree angle for office workers. This is contrary to the current advice handed out by health and safety in Australia. BBC News - Sitting straight 'bad for backs'