Auto-recliners
My recent return journey to the Seychelles was a four leg affair (London – Doha – Mahe and back again), and each time I had the misfortune to sit behind the type of airline passenger I most despise: the auto-recliner.
Seat selfishness
We’ve all come across these people. They’re the ones that put their seat back as far as possible as soon as they can, irrespective of whether they’re trying to sleep, meals are being served or the seatbelt sign is on. They do it because they can. And, from my point of view, because they’re selfish wankers.
Fighting the auto-recliners
By the fourth leg, I was sick of this, so I did something that might not get a universal seal of approval. As soon as the woman in front of me boarded, she went to put her seat back. I saw this coming, and rammed my knees upwards into the space that was about to be restricted as hard as I possibly could.
I didn’t ram them into her seat, but I moved them into a position where she’d certainly feel them in her back if she reclined. I just so happened to move them there as she was reclining, so it may have felt like a rather vigorous shunt in the back.
Hard knee tactics
Strangely enough, she didn’t like this very much and put her seat back where it was. When the seatbelt sign was turned off, she tried it again, and I stuck to the same tactics. She turned round and grumbled at me in French, and I made apologetic noises about having long legs and not being able to do anything about it.
She asked to move seats, and was then out of my space for the rest of the journey. It felt BRILLIANT.
Out of order?
I’m sure half of the people reading this will think I was out of order and the other half will think I was well within my rights. Well screw the first half of you – you’re the people I don’t want sitting in front of me.
Etiquette minefield
The reclining seat is something of an etiquette minefield. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s an unnecessary one. This is one thing I do like about Ryanair (and there aren’t many) – their seats don’t recline at all, so the selfish can’t ruin the experience of the considerate.
Reclining chain reaction
I can just about accept that it’s OK to recline seats during a night flight when everyone’s sleeping, but at other times there’s simply no need. Reclining your seat just sets off a chain reaction of annoyed fellow passengers, and make barely any difference to your comfort.
Cathay Pacific solution
There is a solution to the reclining seat etiquette problem of course – and hats off to Cathay Pacific for finding it. On Cathay Pacific flights, the seats are designed differently. When a passenger wishes to recline, his or her seat slides down and forwards. If they want to sit at a reclined angle, they are thus reducing their own leg room rather than that of the person behind them. It’s such a brilliant, simple innovation, and one that I hope other airlines will copy. Until then, my knees are staying hard, in position and ready for war.
What do you think are the rules of seat reclining on planes? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Tags: airline, Cathay Pacific, reclining seat, Ryanair
You’re absolutely right. A curse on the auto-recliners & all their kind!
There is absolutely no need to recline unless the lights are off & only if everyone else is too. I’m pretty short – 5’3 – and loathe it when some jerk slams their seat into my knees without asking – so God knows what it’s like if you’re taller.
I usually shriek with faux-pain if someone does it really aggressively, thereby causing a stewardess to appear and admonish the AR & hopefully get them to, y’know, maybe ASK before doing it next time…
Speaking as one who’s been showered with coffee owing to the actions of such a twerp, I’m with you all the way!
Answer: Either non-reclining seats, or seats arranged longitudinally, military transport style.
(Mind you, it wasn’t all bad: a sympathetic flight attendant helped me to clean up, and found me a seat in business class)
My legs aren’t actually that long – I’m 5’11 but weirdly out of proportion with a really long back and the legs of a midget. I can’t imagine how bad it must be for the genuinely tall and properly proportioned.
I also think that if someone is going to recline into me, then I have a right to aggressively tap the touch-screen and maul their headrest every time I stand up.
I’ve used the knee technique to great effect for years. Also, while I all but never recline myself – being, you know, considerate and that – on the rare occasions I do, I ask the person behind if they mind first. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else do that, ever.
I do EXACTLY this, darling. It really is the only way. These people need to be shot…er… I mean STOPPED. x FF
Amen, brother!
While I always recline a little bit as it’s more comfortable, the only reason to ever do it fully is to sleep. Sitting in a reclined seat isn’t even comfortable, so you’re right in that people do it only because they can.
I’ve seen some plastic blocks that actually stop seats from reclining much at all, might be worth investigating!
I have done this before at 6’2 I have precious little space as it is! Its a winning technique and I’m a pretty big guy so I haven’t yet had any arguments. Touch screens in seat backs are also handy – agree with getting up and using the touch screens too!
If all else fails I’ve found the use of my hand luggage (always a backpack or shoulder bag) and a swift turn to knock the passenger over at the end of the flight quite satisfying.
I don’t think you’ll find too many people who’ll disagree with you on this issue. I can’t get in and out to use the bathroom or just walk around a bit when the idiot in front of me has the seat fully reclined. I have no problems with telling them (waking them up if I have to) that they have to move the seat so I can get out.
A problem on a recent flight from Beijing is one woman sat in the aisle most of the flight so her kid could stretch out over two seats. This made it very difficult for other passengers to get by, and complaints to the flight attendants did no good. I would have thought this was a safety issue, but apparently they didn’t.
Jack (Eyeflare) is right. There used to be a little plastic gadget sold in the US called the Knee-Defender.
I hate auto-recliners with a passion and I turn into a woman possessed when I’m normally so placid. Some people are so self absorbed and it drives me mad.It’s worse when cabin crew say “you’ll just have to move your seat back as well”. So not the point!!
I think Etihad and Jet also have the same facility as Cathay – as you say, you slide forward and down when you recline.
Totally with you otherwise, and glad this blog is living up to its name!!
Kind of reminds me of putting my elbows on the bar, to try to limit the number of people who will barge me out of the way.
Or is that just me?!