Sick of Recliners?

[simongr]

I am sensing an undercurrent of hostility here. I have sat in J exit rows and have only used to make my life mroe comfortable and not to assert my superiority. That is done as I push past the hoipolloi to make sure I board first...

 

[SeaWolf]

I think the hostility is probably because this problem can cut both ways. Especially in economy.

Nobody likes having their knees crushed or their dinner pushed into their laps by the person in front suddenly reclining. Also, in economy it eats into what little leg room you have and makes getting in and out of your seat that much harder.

On the other hand, most people want to be able to recline at will and not have to worry about the person behind them then kicking their seat the whole flight because they've no room to move.

 

[JohnK]

I think the J, or even F, analogy is totally irrelevant in this thread. There is a big difference between 31" pitch and 60" pitch. Try watching the little screen with the seat reclined 4 inches.

I hardly recline, only do if I am forced by the person in front, because it is an uncomfortable position for my lower back and I certainly never recline when in an exit row. It is also my right to have the air vent pointing at you, it is my right to grab the seat in front to get up because it is reclined, it is my right to release personal air throughout the flight, it is my right to eat garlic throughout the flight, it is also my right not to shower and wear the same clothes for 3 days and make sure I sit next to you. I think you get the general idea of what rights I have.

Common sense and decency go a long way and this also extends to reclining. The extra 4 inches makes squat difference to the person reclining but it certainly makes a huge difference to the person behind. I hate recliners and wish they would stop travelling. Better still these new seats that Cathay have installed sound like the way to go as it will protect my space....

 

[acampbel]

Breaking off from the very amusing vitriol for a minute .... did anyone else notice the context-sensitive advertising at the bottom of the thread?

One of the links is to a company that sells .... wait for it ..... recliner chairs !!!

Fine. Well it made me laugh.

 

[serfty]

Ads?

Don't even get them when reading the Age On-Line ....

 

[acampbel]

.

Well then look what you're missing out on ...... New Qantas Economy Seats

 

[bambbbam2]

That is done as I push past the hoipolloi to make sure I board first...

I can't help but think of the great scene in Seinfeld when George is at a kids birthday party. The fire alarm goes off and he litterally pushes little kids and an old lady out of the way to get to the exit

 

[vt01]

I was going to thank a recliner the other day.
I was watching a movie in Y on the SYD-SIN flight when the guy in front reclined. No problem, didn't hit my knees and the screen was now closer to my face. In fact it was close enough that I could remove my glasses! And when I did, the pressure of the earphones on my ears over the arm of my glasses was removed. It felt a lot better.. And, no need for me to recline my seat as I would have to put my glasses back on...

 

[serfty]

vt01, a big YMMV on that one.

 

[clifford]

I don't think it was , Mr Clifford. You are quite happy to reduce the already limited space of the person behind you for no reason except that it is "legally permitted". You are like the complete toss-pots at the football who have a front-row seat but insist upon standing up just when a goal/try is about to be scored - thus insuring everyone else has to do the same.
Actually a far better solution would be if people like you didn't fly at all.
Cheers,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,
I assume from the above, that you would never recline, in case it might cause some discomfort to the person behind, no matter how long the flight might be. Very commendable.

If you don't want people to recline at all, however, you should lobby the airlines to remove the recline function from seats (a la Ryanair). Until then, I expect that PAX (including me) will continue to avail themselves of the small creature comforts that still exist in economy class.

Having said that, I don't recline as a rule on shorter flights of say 2 hours or less (unless some insensitive person in front reclines). I don't think that really I am the total ******* that you are trying to portray, but if you keep pressing the point so be it. I just hope I never have to sit near you.



[Edited by NM to remove profanity filter avoidance - keep it family-friendly please]

 

[acampbel]

.... I assume from the above, that you would never recline, in case it might cause some discomfort to the person behind, no matter how long the flight might be. Very commendable...

I do sometimes recline ..... IF the cabin lights are dimmed on an overnight flight AND I actually want to sleep. Otherwise no.

If you don't want people to recline at all, however, you should lobby the airlines to remove the recline function from seats (a la Ryanair). Until then, I expect that PAX (including me) will continue to avail themselves of the small creature comforts that still exist in economy class.

I don't believe Ryanair do any long-haul flights so the recline function is hardly necessary.

Having said that, I don't recline as a rule on shorter flights of say 2 hours or less (unless some insensitive person in front reclines). I don't think that really I am the total ******* that you are trying to portray, but if you keep pressing the point so be it. I just hope I never have to sit near you.

I don't believe I accused you of being a total *******. Using status and other scams to reserve an exit row seat and then reclining at your pleasure (as inferred by your original post) is not indicative of being a total *******. There's another word for it ....

I just hope I never have to sit near you.

Why, pray tell?


Cheers,

Andrew

.
[Edited by NM to remove profanity filter avoidance - keep it family-friendly please]

[Edited by Andrew to remove the offending string used by Clifford, quoted by me, and missed by NM]

 

[NYCguy]

Using status and other scams to reserve an exit row seat and then reclining at your pleasure (as inferred by your original post) is not indicative of being a total ******. There's another word for it ....

... And the word is?

Anyhoo, I'm just glad I don't fly in whY, because it sounds like it's a hornets' nest.

 

[acampbel]

... And the word is?

Anyhoo, I'm just glad I don't fly in whY, because it sounds like it's a hornets' nest.

Actually it's more like a sardine can, so issues of etiquette and personal space are an order of magnitude more sensitive than in Justlookatme class.

I don't pretend to have any solutions, BTW, just an opinion like everybody else.


Cheers,

Andrew

.

 

[Reggie]

It is also my right to have the air vent pointing at you, it is my right to grab the seat in front to get up because it is reclined, it is my right to release personal air throughout the flight, it is my right to eat garlic throughout the flight, it is also my right not to shower and wear the same clothes for 3 days and make sure I sit next to you.

Now I am sure we have flown together.

 

[Reggie]

Reclining, now when will that next chestnuts of lack off upgrades and why AA FF is better than QFF.:shock:

Oh thats right they are on the new post list right now.

 

[Keith009]

... Justlookatme class.

 

[simongr]

Actually it's more like a sardine can, so issues of etiquette and personal space are an order of magnitude more sensitive than in Justlookatme class.

.

Umm - why is business/first referred to as "justlookat" - I actually prefer for more privacy - that is not to say I am some superstar that is hidng from adoring fans - I just dont want people milling around me all the time. I travel in J for comfort rather than to show off.

Also - why is choosing an exit row seat due to your status a scam? It is a benefit offered by the airlines. Would you refer to WP getting noise cancelling headphones when in whY a scam?

 

[NYCguy]

an order of magnitude more sensitive than in Justlookatme class.

Jealous much??

I choose which row I sit in according to where the LEAST number of people will be able to either look at me, or walk by my seat in the way to the lav.

You can enjoy the egalitarian delights of economy, recliners and all. Just keep your Bolshie ideals on the other side of the bulkhead!

 

[acampbel]

Umm - why is business/first referred to as "justlookat" - I actually prefer for more privacy - that is not to say I am some superstar that is hidng from adoring fans - I just dont want people milling around me all the time. I travel in J for comfort rather than to show off.

Sorry - I was just following the pattern of referring to economy as "whY", which to me sounds like a put down to the people that either choose or have the class chosen for them.

What would you rather call it - Jollygoodshow ... Justperfic' ... moJo ... ???

Also - why is choosing an exit row seat due to your status a scam? It is a benefit offered by the airlines. Would you refer to WP getting noise cancelling headphones when in whY a scam?

Once upon a time the airlines used to reserve exit rows for people who needed them. You know - cripples and basketball players, etc. Now it's just a perk for the privileged.

I remember a trip from SYD to LHR where I had a cast on my leg and instructions from the doc to keep it elevated. I stupidly thought that this might secure me an exit row, but alas no - far more important people than me had reserved those. I was forced to spend 90% of the trip in the jump seats at the back so that I could rest my leg on the raft bulge in the door. Fortunately the FA's decided not to move me on when they saw why I was doing it.

And finally on to your point about the headphones. I don't think it is a scam for Qantas to provide these free of charge in First or Business, but I do think it is just another insult to economy passengers when they publicly bestow this perk upon selected fellow travelers. The one time I had one of the "personal greetings" (FIIK why ... I was just a Silver), I actually felt embarrassed by the experience. But I suppose you rise above all that eventually ....


Cheers,

Andrew

.

 

[NM]

I remember a trip from SYD to LHR where I had a cast on my leg and instructions from the doc to keep it elevated. I stupidly thought that this might secure me an exit row, but alas no - far more important people than me had reserved those.

I believe there are rules defined by the airline regulatory bodies that require the airline ensure anyone seated in a exit row is physically capable of performing the duties that may be required in the event of an emergency. And I very much doubt someone with a cast on a leg would meet the requirements for such seating allocation.

Now the rules may be different for an aircraft such as a 747 where there is generally a crew member seated at each exit door, but that is certainly the case for aircraft such as 737 where the exit row does not have cabin crew seated nearby.