Should You Recline Your Seat On An Airplane?

You’re either a recliner or you’re not. There appears to be no middle seat here. Credit. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Feb.15, 2020 Put away the blue and black dress — or was it white and gold? And leave behind Yanny or Laurel, Here’s the latest debate to grip the internet: Should you recline in your airplane seat? It all started after a woman posted a video on Twitter of her in a reclined airplane seat.

A man seated behind her rhythmically pushes the back of her seat at least a dozen times, the 45-second clip shows. The video shows the man’s tray table was down, with his phone resting on it. “He was angry that I reclined my seat and punched it about 9 times — HARD, at which point I began videoing him, and he resigned to this behavior,” the woman, Wendi Williams, wrote on Twitter,

Ms. Williams said the pushing continued throughout the roughly 80-minute American Airlines flight from New Orleans to Charlotte, N.C., on Jan.31. The man in the video has not been publicly identified. She said a flight attendant scolded her, told her to delete the video and gave her a passenger disturbance notice.

He was basically given permission to continue, and there was nothing I could do about it,” Ms.
Williams said on Friday.
In a statement, American Airlines said it was “aware of a customer dispute” that happened on the flight.

We encourage our customers to be respectful of each other,” said Ross Feinstein, an airline spokesman.

Republic Airways, which operated the flight, said it was also looking into what happened. In one of her tweets, Ms. Williams wrote that she was upset with a flight attendant who, she said, reprimanded her and offered the man behind her a complimentary cocktail.

Ms. Williams said on Friday that she did not intend to set off a furious debate with her video.

My issue is more, I got assaulted on a plane and the person behind me got rewarded with a free drink,” she said.
Online, reactions to the video were divided: You’re either a recliner or you’re not.
But proper airplane etiquette is more complicated than that, Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst, said.

Seat reclining follows an unwritten rule: You don’t do it unless you really need to. “Airplane etiquette is you only recline when necessary, and if you must recline, just put the seat back a little bit to get the comfort you need without encroaching too much on the person behind you,” he said.

Is reclining on an airplane rude?

It is an active struggle to live in harmony on an airplane. It’s amazing that more conflict doesn’t ensue when you smash a dozen to a couple hundred people into a confined space with conflicting cultural norms, minimal elbow room and limited bathroom availability.

One of the touchiest subjects in all of air travel is the seat recline.

To some, leaning your seat back on a flight is a no-brainer.
Why wouldn’t you take that precious spare space for relief? For others, the sight of the seat in front barreling toward them is a living nightmare.
Not only would they never recline — they think the practice is rude.

Chaos can erupt when opinions clash over the recline feature. Most recently, a passenger on a flight from New Orleans to Charlotte repeatedly punched and nudged the seat of a woman in front of him after she reclined. Another passenger filmed the incident.

@BravoAndy Here’s a great jackhole! He was angry that I reclined my seat and punched it about 9 times – HARD, at which point I began videoing him, and he resigned to this behavior. The other jackhole is the @AmericanAir flight attendant who reprimanded me and offered him rum! pic.twitter.com/dHeUysrKTu — wendi (@steelersfanOG) February 9, 2020 In 2014, a United Airlines flight was rerouted when two passengers got into an altercation over seat reclining and the use of the Knee Defender, a device that prevents the person in front of you from reclining.

A week later, a Frenchman had a recline-related meltdown on a flight from Paris to Miami, causing yet another reroute. And because good things come in threes, a third incident went down just days after that, when a woman on a Delta flight had her head bonked by a seat reclining in front of her.

Screaming ensued, and the plane was rerouted. Do these travelers have a case? When, if ever, is it okay to hit that recline button on a flight? Here are some considerations. New airplane seat designs appear in the industry every year, but they rarely take flight. (Video: The Washington Post) Recline: When you’re sitting in front of a child Children and babies on flights get a bad reputation for being rambunctious, but at least they’re small.

Relative to their body size, the airplane seat they get is a lot bigger than yours. Reclining into a child’s territory does put you at risk of getting your seat back trampled by a pair of baby Crocs, but that’s a risk you might be willing to take. Don’t recline: When the person behind you is tall Take a peek at the person sitting behind you.

Are they clocking in under 6 feet? You’re good to recline.

But if you look back and the passenger appears to be a starting center for the New York Knicks, take your finger off of that recline button.
Airlines these days offer economy passengers roughly 31 to 38 inches of legroom (or “seat pitch”) on long-haul flights.

Think of the perils of being in coach when you’re 6-2 with legs some 40 inches long. I’m 6’6″. Anyone who thinks it’s cool to recline his seat can choke on a bag of pretzels. — Zach Fowle (@ZachFowle) July 8, 2019 Recline: When you’re on a long-haul Planes aren’t designed to be the most comfortable places to rest but, rather, to get you from Point A to Point B.

What is the best position on a plane?

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money, Getting the perfect seat on an airplane can be the difference between a great flight and a miserable one, especially in coach.

But ensuring you get one the best seats on a plane the next time you travel doesn’t have to be left to prayers and wishful thinking. With the best travel credit cards, you can earn large welcome bonuses that can get you traveling in lie-flat style. But many of us like to stretch our points (or cash) for inexpensive coach flights, and that’s where picking the best airline seat makes the biggest impact.

Learning the best seats on a plane for your travel style and priorities will help make your next flight more enjoyable. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to! Here are the top strategies for getting the best airline seat for your needs. Choosing the right seat on your flight can make all the difference when traveling. (Photo by bezikus/Shutterstock) Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.

Is it better to sit in the back of the plane or middle?

Best Seats For Scared Flyers – Choose : A seat at the back of the plane Despite the increased turbulence felt in the rear of the plane, the seats near the back are actually the safest. According to this study by Popular Mechanics, “Passengers near the tail of a plane are about 40 percent more likely to survive a crash than those in the first few rows up front.” So even though flying is still statistically the safest mode of transport, sitting in the rear of the plane increases the chance of survival in the unlikely event that the worst should happen.

Why can’t you lean your seat back during takeoff?

Published on November 26, 2016 Photo: jodi jacobson/Getty Images When flight attendants ask you to put your seat upright during take-off and landing, they aren’t simply trying to ruin your nap. They’re just making sure you comply with federal law, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set the upright seat rule for two main reasons: it makes it easier to evacuate the plane in the case of an emergency and it can help limit injuries.

It’s a frightening fact, but most airplane accidents happen upon take-off or landing.

More specifically, a Boeing study found that 58 percent of fatal accidents occur during that time.
When flight attendants make sure that seat backs are up at those times, it means that in the unlikely event that a plane does crash on landing, you won’t have to maneuver over a tilted chair on the way to the emergency exit.

No one wants to slow down an evacuation to navigate around a reclined seat during or after a plane crash. Similarly, ensuring that seats are upright during take-off and landing also cuts the chances that your face will slam into the seat back in front of you during a bumpy landing.

It’s not just a consideration for the person behind you, either.
If your seat is reclined, you’re also at a greater risk of head injury, because your head would have further to travel before impact, generating more force, and risking a graver injury.
Additionally, if members of the flight crew realize that a crash is imminent, they would ask passengers to brace for impact, and according to Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority, speaking to The Telegraph, “Passengers can only adopt the brace position if they are sitting upright.” If you find yourself in an emergency situation on a plane, you won’t want to take the extra minute to move your seat back up—let alone your child’s—before bracing for impact.

Reclined seats simply make it far too difficult for passengers to evacuate a plane quickly and easily, which is why the FAA stepped in and turned the common sense request into law. If there’s anything you take away from this background, let it be this: when flight attendants ask you to move your seat up, smile and comply—they’re just looking out for you.

Why is economy class so uncomfortable?

Why Are Economy Class Seats So Uncomfortable? – Economy class seats are so uncomfortable because they are only slightly adjustable and very close together. The seats cannot be reclined or height adjusted, and there is no space to lie down. This means you must sit in the same position for the duration of your flight.

When you sit on a couch or other seat, you can generally recline back, put your feet up, or lie down. Being able to adjust your positioning and move around helps you stay comfortable. On an airplane in economy class, you don’t have this luxury. You are in close proximity to the person next to you, and you even have to share an armrest.

For short flights, this generally isn’t a big deal. But for long-haul flights, it can be a nuisance to deal with. Now, let’s discuss the different reasons economy class seats are uncomfortable in greater detail.

What will knock me out on a plane?

Ambien – Ambien—the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription—works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. It’ll knock you out good—maybe even too good. Some users experience retroactive amnesia, which means you could wake up mid-flight, have a full conversation with the flight attendant, and have no memory of it when morning comes, Das says.

Where is the smoothest place to sit on a plane?

FLIGHTS often offer passengers the chance to choose their seats on a plane prior to flying. While each plane has a different set up, the most popular area of seating is usually across the board. A flight attendant has recently revealed the best place to sit on a plane to receive the best service.

Where is the best place to sit on a plane? – Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you.

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More info Flight passengers can often re-book their seats on a plane ride for a small fee if they wish to have allocated seating.

Each traveller may have a preference on whereabouts they like to be seated whether that be near the toilets, a window seat or in the aisle. A flight attendant has recently revealed the best place to sit on a plane to receive the best service. With the UK on lockdown and travelling not advised, many summer holidays have been cancelled.

This is in an attempt to stop the coronavirus spreading.
However when Brits are allowed to travel again, what plane seat should they book? While first class offers some of the best perks, economy travellers can also expect some special treatment dependent on their seating choice.

One flight attendant has revealed that back seat passengers are likely to receive the best in-flight treatment – purely due to their location on the aircraft.

READ MORE: Flights: Best plane seat revealed and why passengers desire it It has been revealed that back seat passengers are likely to receive the best flight treatment (Image: Getty) Annie Kingson who has four years of flight attendant experience has given her insider knowledge on where to sit on a plane if travellers wish to receive great service.

While a lot of passengers tend to choose their seats towards the front of the aircraft so they can disembark first, and also have a better chance of receiving their preferred meal option, Annie explains that sitting at the back is the best. Writing for Oyster she said: “The reason is simple: We like to avoid responding to call bells from the front of the plane because answering one potentially flouting whatever item the passenger has requested to everyone else along the way.” She explains that this can cause issues because planes often don’t carry enough extra supplies including alcohol, pillows, and earplugs.

DON’T MISS: Flight secrets: Secret codewords cabin crew use on board an airplane Cabin crew secrets: Flight attendants admit embarrassing issue ‘all crew suffer from’ Hotel secrets: Always look out for this when booking hotels or run big risk reveals expert Short haul flights often cause problems for flight attendants when fliers request extra items as they don’t usually have the time to deviate from the on-flight service schedule.

Why is it cheaper to sit at the back of the plane?

Last to Get Served Meals – Flight attendants tend to serve meals from the front of the plane back. This means that if you are sitting in the back, your food will be colder than the people sitting in front of you and that you will potentially have less options. As you will see, this limitation doesn’t really matter.

Do you feel more turbulence at the back of a plane?

Because the center of lift and gravity on a plane usually isn’t at the midpoint of the plane in terms of length, the front of the plane suffers less turbulence than the rear.

Do planes need to be balanced out?

Most aircraft do not have a large enough MTOW to carry a 100% full cabin of passengers, all their luggage, a fully loaded cargo hold and full tanks of fuel; therefore, a balance is required.

Why do you have to put your phone on airplane mode?

FCC regulations ban the use of cell phones on planes in order to ‘ protect against radio interference to cell phone networks on the ground.’ Meaning at 40,000 feet in the air, active cell phones would be picking up service from multiple cell towers on the ground.

Why do I have to put my seat up when landing?

Why do we have to put our seat backs up for landing and takeoff, especially when it’s less than an inch? – Pgardzina, Montana The FAA requires that seat backs be upright for take off and landing to provide as much room as possible for the people behind you to get to the aisle in the event of an emergency evacuation. This requirement has been in place for decades. Why is the second meal served so close to the end of long-haul flights over eight hours? The cabin crew is often running to collect trays before landing. They have plenty of time for meal service, yet this seems to happen on every carrier. – SA, U.S. The meal service is determined by the in-flight department. I suspect it is timed to provide the most passengers with a meal. More people are awake near the end of the trip. John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.

Why do seats have to be upright on take off Reddit?

How do I lean my seat back on a plane?

No, it’s not the recline button. – Updated on September 23, 2022 Ever wish you could just press a button and your airplane seat would become instantly less confining? Well, you can. Kind of. As a traveler, there’s a lot we don’t know about airplanes: why the windows are round, why the lights dim during landing and takeoff, and how do those tiny tires on the landing gear not pop when they hit the runway? And, while we’ve explained all those quirks before, there’s one little aspect of an airplane seat, we’ve yet to reveal: the secret button that will turn your aisle seat into a spacious oasis.

Ok, not exactly an oasis, but it will give you a little more room to breathe.
Where is this magical button, you ask? On the underside of the outermost armrest of the aisle seat (sorry, window seat-lovers, but you do get to rest your head against the window).
To find it, slide your hand under the armrest, close to the hinge and feel for the button.

Press it and you are now free to move that armrest up so it’s flush with the back of your seat, giving you the freedom you deserve. A simple move with a big reward: no more armrest digging into your side and a little swing room for your legs. It’s also a helpful trick to use at the end of your flight when you need more space to stand up and grab your luggage from the overhead bin.

Instead of doing that awkward, half-backbend lean to grab your bag from above you, while also trying to avoid touching your neighbor, just put up the armrest and easily get out of your seat. But, that’s not all this button was intended for. While it does provide some much-needed relief from the constricting boundaries of an airplane seat, its sole function isn’t to give you more room.

It’s actually a safety measure to allow a quick and easy escape should you need to make an emergency exit from the plane. So, on your next trip, make the move and choose the aisle seat. Go ahead and push that tiny button. Your sides will thank you, and you’ll probably blow the mind of your fellow passengers.

Does the back row of an airplane recline?

Towards The Back of The Plane – Seats towards the back of the plane tend to experience more turbulence than those towards the front. Those who experience motion sickness should avoid seats in the back at all costs. Additionally, those seated in the back are the last passengers to get off the plane.

That means seats in the back are problematic if you need to catch a tight connecting flight. Seats in the back are also more likely to be close to bathrooms. Lines can get long near the lavatories and other passengers may congregate. You may also be subject to foul odors. Food and beverage carts are also near the back, which may congest things even further.

Seats in the back get worse the further back you get. The last row does not recline, so you will be forced to sit upright for the entire flight. Seats in the last row are also closest to the lavatories. Those Who May Like Seats in The Back of The Plane: There are not many advantages to sitting in the back of the plane.

How do you push the seat back on a plane?

Generally there will be a round button on the side of hand rest. Press it and simultaneously lean back on the seat till you get to a seat position of your desire. If this doesn’t work, then best bet is to ask the Flight Crew of the flight, they will definitely help you out.