EVERYBODY should recline their seats on an airplane, amirite?

Realistically, no one should be angry at each other over this. Ideally, we should all be collectively angry at airlines for shoeboxing us in and forcing us to have to deal with it when it's not necessary at all.

by More_Isopod 1 week ago

At least we're not flying 727s and MD80s anymore where all you hear in the tail row the entire flight is BWAAAAAAAA from the engines.

by Available_Okra 1 week ago

cries in B717

by Specific-Anxiety9531 1 week ago

cries in embraer

by Aiyana77 1 week ago

i had a choice. back of the plane, next to a window in an unreclining position next to the toilets or take the next flight in 4 hours. i should have chose the latter option. last row is scary. not only are you stuck in there next to a window but the person in front of you has their seat reclined. then the food gets to you last. you're the last to leave the plane. forced to sit there while everyone is getting off. truly claustrophobic. never again.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yea I dont fly a lot but I usually book the last row and I often get a spare seat next to me. Also they've always reclined (different planes I guess)

by Special-Success-7576 1 week ago

Same as the people in front of exit rows

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This. Im not mad if you recline, but do you have to wait until they give out the food to go from no recline to full recline in 0.3 seconds?

by EmbarrassedIsopod831 1 week ago

Came here to say this. It's the customers preferences that shape the market and the airline companies. The airlines are all shoeboxing us - this simply means customers in general prefer cheaper flights to spacier seats.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Or just that people can't afford the upcharge

by wilhelmine82 1 week ago

Well it is necessary unless you want prices to go up

by pouroskurtis 1 week ago

I'm over 6ft tall. someone wanting to recline shouldn't mean my flight literally becomes an exercise in physical torture and pain. you book a flight, knowing the airline/space is small. you recline is an active choice you make that very well could be causing someone pain. if you want my opinion on should the airlines be more regulated and some min threshold for legroom be established. sure. but... if you choose to lean your seat back. you're not getting any rest or comfort. you're getting a knee in the small of your back that moves every few minutes.

by Known-Future 1 week ago

I'm 6'2", and a pretty large guy. Around 270 lbs. Maybe I have a particularly high tolerance for discomfort, but I've never been in a position on planes where I physically hurt. Granted, I have arthritis of the spine, the remnants of a few knee injuries, and some pretty nasty neck pain. It may be I just expect to hurt more frequently. However, I find any major discomfort from passengers reclining into my space is far outweighed by simply walking up and down the cabin on particularly long flights (3 hours+) I've flown everything from cheapo cattlepen airliners like Allegiant and Frontier, all the way up to the legacy carriers like Delta and American.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's more leg length than anything. My boyfriend isn't much taller than you, but his legs are just ridiculously long. I purchased him an extra tall office chair for Christmas and it still doesn't fit quite right for truly ergonomic sitting. I'm the opposite however. I got myself an extra small and my feet still dangle! So I just let him take my space

by Away-Masterpiece7911 1 week ago

I'm 5'7", and I always at least get Economy + for the extra room. After 20 years in the Army, countless FTXs, and 4 deployments, I'm pretty sure that someone's knee in my back will feel like a gentle massage, lol.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I don't care if you are going to recline your seat. But please just do it when you're first allowed to. Or if you are going to do it at a random time, please do it very slowly and carefully. Same thing for unreclining your seat. If you randomly slam your seat back and forth full force, aggressively 2 minutes after drinks are served. You're a certified asshole.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Also, you have to watch out for 'ploppers'. Those folks come back from the bathroom and just dive bomb their ass into the seat and shake your whole world. Have had ginger ale launched across all three people in my row due to an aggressive plopp.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Or the people behind you the put all of their body weight pulling themselves up by using the back of your seat.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've had a lady do this one to me multiple times on the same flight, grabbing my hair every single time. ugh

by Fit-Clue3702 1 week ago

Same and I was trying to sleep because it was a red eye with a layover… I ended up being awake for 37 hours straight and was not happy ha ha.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Had this happen a few months ago when I had my iPad in the seat back location. Sent the device flying. Was not cool. Love calling them ‘ploppers'.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

ploppers aka people with 0 strength lmao. that's messed up? bet they didn't even turn around or check on yall covered in spilt ginger ale

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Went about their flight blissfully unaware of the three people hating them for four more hours.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

my goodness I swear people act like they're in daycare when they fly. I would have been tempted to dump a drink accidentally on their head haha

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The only time I've ever had an FA say anything about reclining was during meal service on a long haul. They did make an announcement to not recline during meal service and I saw them asking people to sit up.

by lindflossie 1 week ago

And I've seen so many people not listen. Wrist is they put it up cause they are told to. You get your food and the minute they walk away Bam. People suck.

by Dear-Childhood 1 week ago

I'm a flight attendant. You can just ask us for it.

by Such_Independent_497 1 week ago

I've done quite a few 36 hour flights and reclining is an absolute necessity. But it's pretty obvious when you should and shouldn't do it. They dim the lights to try help you sleep, and then raise them for meals and more awake time. People are normally pretty good for reclining at the right times.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

"I just got off a flight where the fully grown woman behind me started smashing the back of my seat with her fist when I reclined." I hope you reported her to the flight attendants.

by Mshanahan 1 week ago

Psychotic behavior but that quote is hilarious

by Marisol51 1 week ago

My dad is 6'4" and doesn't like confrontation with strangers. We took a trip to Mexico a few years ago, and the guy in the seat in front of him tried to recline his seat during boarding, but my dad's knees were already up against the back of his seat while in the upright position. The guy got mad at my dad for keeping him from reclining, and my dad's like, "But I didn't even do anything???" Then the flight attendant swapped my dad with a passenger in the exit row. Not becoming of the other guy's attitude, but because the passenger in the exit row was a tiny Indian lady who was barely 5' tall and didn't really speak English. She also made the other guy put his seat back up, as you're not allowed to recline until after takeoff. (For anybody who doesn't already know, passengers in the exit row need to be strong, able bodied people who are able to effectively communicate with the crew in the event of an emergency, as they will be expected to help evacuate the plane should the need arise. If a person who books the exit row is not able to fulfill that roll - either because of a disability, small stature, language barrier, or other reason - they'll be swapped with someone who can.)

by sage28 1 week ago

That's hilarious. If I had a nickel for every weak mofo who sat in an exit row....If you can pay, you sit there.

by bogangenevieve 1 week ago

This also happened to my wife on a transatlantic flight. FAs didn't care. Gotta love ITA Airways, they also had us in an Alitalia branded plane 3 years after the airline went under. Woman doing the smashing also had her seat reclined. Also, per the Planet Money on this, the FAs aren't allowed to do much because the "reclining space" is an issue the Airlines don't want to be involved in.

by lindflossie 1 week ago

It takes awhile to change everything over after being bought out. There's only so many places that can change the interior and paint the outside and even then it takes multiple days.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

How do you recline your seat, if you're in the back row?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Step 1 involves bringing a reciprocating saw on the plane

by Sauer 1 week ago

I believe that's step 2. Step 1 is getting it past TSA

by Commercial-Barber849 1 week ago

If you're on a Boeing just recline and the panel will break away for you

by Anonymous 1 week ago

And you better not be mean to it, cause it will be mean back!!

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Usually they already are as extended as they can get. Folding them more under the seat would involve me having to break something to get them to fit.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Because I have size 15 shoes tbh. They barely fit under there. It's something you wouldn't get unless you experience it

by BillTraditional 1 week ago

This is what short people don't seem to understand

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The issue is when people have longer legs and their knees are basically right up against the back of your chair and you suddenly lurch backwards crushing them. The knees being forced backwards, means tall people with longer legs have to sit with their hips right back in their chair basially leaning forwards which really hurts the back. Being able to recline their chair doesn't help one bit as leaning back presses your kness forwards into space that isn't there.

by zblick 1 week ago

Yeah, I don't really notice when people do it either l. The seats move only a few inches anyways

by Wiegandoral 1 week ago

I've had a couple spine surgeries w/implants. Those couple inches make a huge difference!

by Same_Suggestion 1 week ago

Enjoy them. If you weren't supposed to they would disable the recliners. You paid for a reclining chair

by Wiegandoral 1 week ago

Because my knees are occupying that space, and me reclining doesn't solve that problem

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'm 6 foot with long legs and my knees touch the seat in front of me without it being reclined. Airplanes are already so uncomfortable I don't blame the person in front of me for trying to get more comfortable

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I sometimes do blame the person but I've had someone persistently jam their seat when they tried to recline into my knees. There was even less space than usually on that plane and there was literally no way for me to move to adjust.

by vergieraynor 1 week ago

I wish you'd been sat next to me rather than my brother because that's a genius idea, especially because I have horribly deformed feet and having to look at them is a fairly severe punishment!

by Worldly-Method 1 week ago

The seats 'were' designed to recline, when there was a lot more legroom for the passenger behind you. Unfortunately the recline functionality remains while the airlines have cramped all the seats together. As someone with long legs and tall, its horrible now, even before the person in front has reclined. I'm not going to punch someone's seat but at the same time, knowing how horrible it is for me, I wouldn't recline knowing I could make someone elses flight far more uncomfortable than it already is.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Reclining takes more space, budget airlines are using more seats that don't recline

by Anonymous 1 week ago

6'3" guy here. Leaning back does not give my legs any less room. It is just as uncomfortable either way.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Im 6'3 and too fat and ALWAYS miserable on planes and I still dont get mad at people for reclining because Im not an idiot.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah homeboy saying he's average size when that's like a high school freshman size 🤣 6'2 220lb. I too accept my fate, but I still can't get over someone 165lbs being like "seems like plenty of room to me🤷‍♂️" 🤣

by Mindless_Tax 1 week ago

The space has decreased, that's why it's been more recent.

by Swaniawskimanle 1 week ago

Yeah it sucks. I just don't fly anymore cuz I can't afford the cost of extra legroom, get too anxious being stuffed in a tiny space with gross strangers, and get super annoyed when people recline their seats cuz I already don't have any legroom and people are selfish about using that feature. I refuse to recline myself cuz I know how much it sucks.

by Schimmelemery 1 week ago

It is better on your back. Speak for yourself. I have back problems, and reclining hurts unless the angle and support are just right.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think airlines should be required to build planes so that when somebody reclines, you still have space in front of you. Reclining sucks straight up. The fact that we're even in this situation is the fault of the airline industry.

by lindsay26 1 week ago

I've been on planes where if you recline your seat, the base also moves forward. So the recliner is the one that loses leg room. That's how they should all be.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Seats don't recline on Ryanair and many other low-cost carriers, and to be honest it's a blessing.

by Abby70 1 week ago

Is this an unpopular opinion? If the seats are able to be reclined then you have every right to dos so lol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Sounds like bad airline retrofitting... Like they designed the trays to have enough room with the person in front reclining... Until they decided to squeeze more rows in, but cheaped out and didn't replace the tray mechanisms... so now the trays are no longer properly positioned to be usable.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yes, that's exactly the problem.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I mean, it's also not true about the back, and speaking as someone with 2 buldged disks, this is a hell no.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

What airline are you flying that this is an issue? I have zero issues with my tray table when the person in front of me reclines on a delta flight

by Anonymous 1 week ago

What about overnight flights? At some point, everyone reclines their seat to sleep

by Bubbly_Act 1 week ago

Overnight is fine. Still irritating for people who want to eat or do something, but at least it makes sense at night. The problem is that there's no way to enforce reclining for overnight only.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

100% !!!!!!

by ProtectionHefty 1 week ago

Yes you can do you even fly?

by ovamarquardt 1 week ago

Tough titty. I recline.

by ericawiegand 1 week ago

Airlines should quash this whole issue by designing seats that are stuck in one stationary position. Maybe like a half recline.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Won't someone think of the quarterly profits! /s

by Anonymous 1 week ago

They should in theory, allow for enough space for people to recline without intruding on the people behind them. I mean, the movie theatre seats recline, and there's still room behind and in front for people to walk by. There's gotta be a better way.

by Outrageous_Heart_860 1 week ago

Everyone should recline, except the people in the very last row who can't recline because there's a wall there so they will just have to sit there unable to move whilst someone else's headrest is stuck up their nose the whole flight. Everyone should recline, so if someone in a window seat needs the toilet they'll just have to soil their pants and sit in their own waste because getting out to the aisle is near impossible when every seat on your row and every seat on the row ahead is reclined, preventing any standing from occurring. Everyone should recline, so nobody can adjust their airvent, utilize their seat light, utilize their tray table, access their personal item, have a good view of the tv screen, or stand up to stretch their legs. So long as airline manufacturers treat the cabin like a sardine can, if you so desperately need to lay in someone's lap, you should either buy a first class ticket, buy two seats and lounge across them, or just accept that other people will dislike you for making their flight objectively even worse.

by Cute_Wrongdoer 1 week ago

I'm 6'4" and it's uncomfortable for me to sit in an aeroplane seat at the best of times, but when someone's reclined their seat, it's downright painful.

by Iyundt 1 week ago

Ive never delt with that on delta, tray table is unaffected

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I have never found that to be the case. They legitimately don't recline enough to affect anything, including visibility of the screen on the back of the chair in planes equipped with them.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This depends on your airline and design of your seat. I have been in some where I was unable to have anything in or above my lap when the one in front was reclined. Had I known, I would have upgraded or flown another airline.

by Critical-Buddy 1 week ago

Well i mean there are airlines like spirit, where most people fly once and learn their lesson that it's worth paying a bit more. I have never run into what you're describing but im not saying it's not true in some cases. But it's clear that there are a lot of people just frothing at the mouth at the chance to be outraged by someone reclining their seat a negligible amount. I would definitely say that in most commercial airliners, what you are describing is not the case.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

While I do expect that on Delta, I also had a United flight that way. To be fair, I have also flown United without experiencing this, so clearly it is only some of their planes.

by Critical-Buddy 1 week ago

I've never experienced the tray being useless.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's rude to recline? Hmm oh well

by Ezekielconnelly 1 week ago

The only thing that gets to be annoying is if you are using the screen on the chair in front of you and they keep moving their chair. Or if you are trying to do something with the tray out and they're moving the chair a bunch. But really it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things

by Anonymous 1 week ago

For once, truly unpopular opinion. Kudos.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Thats to be expected because those people are assholes who desperately want to convince themselves and everyone else that they aren't. Unfortunately you are correct in that there are so many selfish assholes this became a popular opinion.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It absolutely is awful if you need to use the bathroom. You're practically sitting on people laps

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Reclining doesn't magically give you more legroom though

by New_Range_3599 1 week ago

As someone with long legs, I agree with you. The recliner is yours to use. Also, we should not be getting mad at the people in front of us who want to recline. We should be getting mad at the AIRLINES who keep stealing our space a centimeter at a time.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

My knees literally occupy the space that the seat in front reclines in to. So no, this doesn't work for tall people.

by Financial-Success163 1 week ago

Anyone who thinks they shouldnt recline their seats have clearly never been on a plane ride longer than an hour. Everytime ive been on a plane, almost all seats are reclined. Although there are times where you shouldnt be reclining, overall you are perfectly fine to recline. If the person behind you has an issue, asshole needs to remember he aint a main character.

by Individual-Area-9686 1 week ago

I am 6' 4". On a standard economy flight, my knees are not just touching, but pushed slightly into the seat in front of me. If the person in front of me reclines, it does not go well.

by mariannehermann 1 week ago

The second I can after take-off I recline. Rather annoy the person behind me as soon as possible to get it over with lol, and it probably reminds them they can recline as well.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Not if they are in the last row

by Stephen28 1 week ago

For me it's not annoying that people recline, but they should, as a courtesy, ask if it's ok or at least signal that they're going to. I've had a few situations with food, drinks or electronics on the tray that has been pretty bad because someone is just suddenly reclining.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I always expect that the person in front of me will recline. And you bet your ass that I'm doing the same. I had a hellsih flight to London in a seat at the very back against the wall. No recline for 16 hours. Lame.

by Maximum_Shake_1382 1 week ago

Damn, I've been back row a few times and had like a foot of room to recline before hitting the wall

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Obviously. and you don't need to ask permission. you paid for the f****** seat just like the rest of us.

by skilesjackson 1 week ago

You should recline yourself right out the emergency exit while we're in the air.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I don't have much context on the whole situation but aside from your opinion what you did on that last flight was kind of rude

by Western-Journalist 1 week ago

"What I did"? I reclined my seat, after her meal was finished and taken away. Yes.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

There's a huge disparity in commercial airplane seat quality across airlines internationally. Ex. Spirit Air, don't recline. Emirates, recline all you want.

by Ok-Independent 1 week ago

My unpopular opinion: I love Frontier Airlines because their seats can't recline at all.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think asking if it's ok, or giving the person behind you a warning is the best way to go about it. I'm 6ft7 and when I fly I have to put my legs into weird positions,etc and so if the person in front of me doesn't ask, they end up just smashing into my knees or my face if I'm leaning forward to fit better.

by rosenbaumlucile 1 week ago

Here's the thing. I'm 6'5 like 230lbs and you can do whatever you want to with your seat. You paid to be on the plane and get to use the functions of the seat you paid for even if it inconveniences me because my comfort isn't your responsibility.

by katherynfeest 1 week ago

Am I the only one that feels like the seat feels the same reclined or not? Like, it doesn't recline enough to make a difference for me

by Anonymous 1 week ago

On the flip-side, if you decline meal service then recline your seat I will personally strangle you with your umbilical cord. No bitch I don't care if you're tired I'm stuck on the same ten hour flight you are and I want to eat my food.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

The very back seats don't recline, so I disagree. No one should recline so that people don't needlessly suffer. Unless the back row is empty.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's not just about the volume in front of your seat back, it's about the tray table attached to the other guy's seat.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'm 6'7 and people like you make me want to not fly in planes

by Kuvalisdeven 1 week ago

If OP were over 5'10" they would understand how stupid this notion is that it 'equals out if everyone reclines'. Furthermore, sitting up relatively straight is better for your back than slouching.

by Skilesarianna 1 week ago

I hate the location of the reclining button on the flights I've been on. Either I can't find it at all, or I can't not press it because the button is on my thigh. Either way it is horrible positioning.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

That is so juvenile on her part. The seat reclines, therefore, I am allowed to recline.

by Initial-Zucchini-333 1 week ago

Anybody try the age old: Turn around and politely ask the person behind you if they mind?

by Abbie08 1 week ago

Nah a lot of people have bad backs and need an upright angle. But I think a better solution would be to go back to the spacing of seats from images of 1970s planes. Four feet of leg room in front of you. Huge aisles. Lounges with comfy chairs spaced apart. No cramped legs or having to hold your arms forward so you don't bump the big guy next to you.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Fine and fair, but if you can't recline because I'm asleep on the tray because that's how I stay comfortable on the long flights, now who's the asshole, me or you?

by Such-Proposal-724 1 week ago

Reclining my seat makes my back hurt no

by Low-Debt 1 week ago

The seat belongs to whoever purchased it. Period.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If seats are allowed to recline, then they should do so in a way that doesn't not infringe on the person behind you. If the airline can't design seats this way, maybe get rid of the recline altogether.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Whether I recline my seat or not, it doesn't affect how much space my knees have or how much they are getting crushed by the person in front of me reclining.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If I pay for the seat then I should be able to use all of it's features. Just as the person in front of me should. It is that simple.

by johnskaitlyn 1 week ago

So refreshing to actually see controversial opinions again. As a tall person, i wholeheartedly disagree. My knees can't recline back and they are alread smashing against the front seat. I always have to spread my legs, sit sideways or put my knees up. Trust me, it's not only for my comfort, it's also for you and the people next to me

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've ridden alot of long haul bus rides. Etiquette seems to be that during hours when people would normally be asleep most recline, while during daylight hours basically everyone sits up-right. I think this is about the best you can do.

by Unable_Physics 1 week ago

RIP the last row who can't recline

by No_Link_5756 1 week ago

I was in the last row in a larger Delta flight. My back to the loo. Six hour flight. We could not put down our tray tables due to lack of pitch and people reclining. We had to hold our drinks close to our chests as if we were concealing playing cards.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'm 6'6" and there is physically no room for my legs if the person in front of me reclines their seat. If they move their seat back and smash my kneecaps, we're going to tangle.

by leilalueilwitz 1 week ago

As long as the airline put the seats close enough together that my knees are touching your seat back, no one should be able to recline.

by TransitionFun5295 1 week ago

Well, did you LOOK before you started moving your seat into her? You were probably causing her bodily harm and she was freaking out.

by norma36 1 week ago

Airplane seats only recline like two inches anyway, it doesn't even make a difference

by OkRaise 1 week ago

Wait people complain that others...use the features of the seat that they're provided?

by Little-Ad-6475 1 week ago

Yup, prioritizing your comfort to the detriment of others is basically a dictionary example of selfishness. Yet say that and all the selfish assholes who don't want to admit they are selfish assholes come out of the woodwork to argue how they aren't actually selfish. That being said, I definitely place more of the blame with the companies trying to maximize profits by shoving people into seats like sardines. Could take out 1-2 rows in a plane and space the seats out accordingly and suddenly it isn't an issue for almost everyone. And if they aren't willing to do that why would they make the seats able to recline far enough back that the tray becomes useless? So dumb.

by Unfair_Bet 1 week ago

I'm 6-6. Somebody leaned their seat back forcefully on a flight last year and the pain was so intense I involuntarily yelped. I think they straightened the seat. I might have had to straighten them out otherwise.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Except for those stupid planes designed by idiots where the seat reclines below knee hight, so anyone who's not lucky enough to be short gets their knees smashed.

by Impressive_Snow_5408 1 week ago

All airlines are bastards. I don't understand why they even have the recline function if you aren't "supposed to use it."

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Agreed. I just paid an insane amount for a flight and I'm not allowed to use my seat as intended? This should be a popular opinion.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Team recline here as well. My back gets so stiff sitting up. But making it optional is a problem. The seats should def on have the one setting

by Budget_Ad2195 1 week ago