Woman Thinks She’s Right To Complain About Plane Passenger, Gets Dragged Instead

Traveling by plane can be equal parts exciting and exhausting. If you’re en route to the destination you’ve been dreaming about for the past 6 months, you might be thrilled to board. But feeling cramped in a tiny plane seat for 12 hours can leave you cranky, dehydrated and jetlagged for days to come.

To make everyone’s journey more pleasant, it’s best to follow proper airplane etiquette. The only problem is, people can’t seem to agree on what exactly that means. One woman recently posted a TikTok calling out the passenger in front of her for reclining his seat, but the internet quickly came to his defense. Below, you’ll find all of the details, as well as some of the comments viewers left.

Passengers don’t always agree on what is appropriate plane etiquette

Woman thinks she’s right to complain about plane passenger during flight, facing unexpected consequences inside airplane cabin.

Image credits: Kenny Eliason (not the actual photo)

This woman called out the person in front of her for reclining his seat during a flight

Passenger reclining seat on a plane during flight, highlighting an inconsiderate behavior complaint about seating space.

Image source: @knkenney

Alt text: Woman complains about plane passenger stretching legs in middle row, causing argument and getting dragged instead

You can see the full video here

@knkenney Honestly, stuck in the middle row then this rude person decided his 17fr long legs needed more room so he could stretch out and sleep. Cheers pal! I did ask him to put it up and he started a little argument. #aeroplaneetiquette#aeroplane#holiday#rudepeople#rudeness#fyp#rage♬ original sound – Challengers Movie

Most travelers agree that there’s nothing wrong with reclining your seat during a long-haul flight

Woman thinks she's right to complain about plane passenger seated on airplane with blurred passengers ahead.

Image credits: Kelli McClintock (not the actual photo)

There are strict rules when it comes to how to behave at the airport. You must be respectful of the security protocols, keep your carry-on luggage with you at all times and arrive at your gate early enough to board without delaying your flight. Once passengers are on the plane, however, it often feels like they’ve entered the Wild West.

Some people begin watching films and TV shows without earbuds, and others start removing their shoes and socks as soon as they find their seat. Passengers might throw a fit about not having the window seat they wanted, and others might whip out potent tuna fish sandwiches.

And, of course, some travelers will recline their seats as soon as the plane is in the air. Clearly, the internet is divided on whether or not this is appropriate. So let’s see what the experts have to say. Etiquette expert Jo Hayes told Travel + Leisure that it’s perfectly fine to utilize this feature. After all, “The aircraft wouldn’t have the option to recline if it wasn’t acceptable.”

But Lisa Mirza Grotts, author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette, notes that “deciding when to recline your seat on a plane involves self-awareness, social awareness, and situational awareness.” For example, you probably don’t want to lean back during mealtimes, as it might lead to the lunch of the person behind you ending up on their lap.

Despite the fact that many people view reclining their seat as an in-flight right, some are still offended by the passenger in front of them encroaching into their space. In fact, some situations even escalate to the point of arguments or physical fights breaking out during a flight.

So to keep things civil while flying, Jordan Waller at The Points Guy recommends keeping your seat up during certain situations. Along with meal times, Waller notes that it’s best not to recline if the person behind you is working on a laptop or if the flight is only 3 hours or less. He also recommends waiting to recline until “lights out” time on long-haul flights.

But it’s still wise to be considerate of those around you

Passenger stretching legs in airplane seat with Delta safety card visible, illustrating plane passenger complaint scenario.

Image credits: satellite779 (not the actual photo)

And if you really want to be considerate, you can always give the person behind you a heads up before reclining your seat. There is a risk, however, that they will protest. So proceed with caution.

Now, if you happen to be the person who becomes instantly infuriated when a passenger in front of you decides to recline their seat, you’re not alone. In fact, a survey from YouGov found that 26% of Americans find reclining seats on a plane to be unacceptable. However, that doesn’t mean that erupting into an argument or physical altercation is appropriate either.

If you really want to make sure that your flight experience isn’t ruined by the passenger in front of you, there’s always an option to pay extra for a bulkhead seat. These are the seats directly behind the wall that separates one cabin from another, meaning that there won’t be any passengers seated directly in front of them.

These seats provide travelers with extra legroom, easier aisle access and often, they’re the closest seats to the lavatories. However, there are some cons of having a bulkhead seat. 

Passengers in these seats don’t have access to under-seat storage, seatback tray tables or seatback entertainment systems. It can also be annoying to sit in a busy area where passengers are constantly coming and going from the bathroom.

There’s no perfect plane seat. So when traveling, it’s usually best to focus on the positives and try to get to your destination without any drama. We would love to hear your thoughts on this video in the comments below, pandas. Then, you can find another Bored Panda article featuring plane seat drama right here!   

Many readers gave the woman a reality check, noting that the seats recline for a reason

Alt text: Woman complains about plane passenger reclining seat on a long flight, sparking debate in online comments.

Comment from a woman complaining about reclining her plane seat during a long flight, sparking disagreement from other passengers.

Comment from woman thinking she's right to complain about plane passenger reclining seat during flight.

Alt text: Online comment showing a person’s opinion about a plane passenger complaint with 120 likes on a social platform.

Comment on social media post questioning payment for business class, related to woman complaining about plane passenger incident.

Comment on social media post saying for a long haul flight it is not rude, discussing plane passenger behavior and complaints.

Comment on plane passenger complaint about seat rules, questioning new policies and who has the right to complain.

Comment on a plane passenger complaint, discussing a woman thinking she's right but facing backlash online.

Comment from flight attendant Asia O’Brien explaining seat reclining etiquette on planes during non-meal times, addressing passenger complaints.

Social media comment defending plane passenger’s right to recline seat without asking permission or complaints.

Comment about reclining seat on a long flight, highlighting plane passenger complaint and reaction debate.

Comment on a plane passenger complaint, expressing opinion about reclining during a long flight amid passenger discussion.

Alt text: Social media comment about a woman complaining about a plane passenger trying to get comfortable on a long flight

Comment on plane passenger reclining during flight, highlighting disagreement in a social media discussion.

Comment from woman on plane passenger dispute, stating she always reclines her seat regardless of others’ opinions.

Alt text: Woman sharing opinion on plane passenger seating, sparking debate about passenger complaints and recline etiquette.

Comment discussing passengers trying to get comfortable on a plane and criticizing airlines for poor conditions.

Comment about reclining and legroom on planes, discussing passenger comfort and ticket pricing for 2025 flights.

Comment on social media about a woman complaining about a plane passenger reclining during a long haul flight.

Comment from cabin crew disagreeing with passenger reclining seat on a plane, sparking debate among travelers.

Social media comment defending reclining on a plane, sparking debate about plane passenger complaints and etiquette.

Comment from woman defending seat reclining on plane, explaining comfort over legroom during long flights.

Commenter responding to a woman complaining about a plane passenger, discussing flying etiquette and seating preferences.

Social media comment questioning reclining etiquette on a plane, discussing passenger complaints and seating conflicts.

However, a small minority agreed with the woman’s complaint

Comment about woman thinking she's right to complain about plane passenger reclining seat during flight, sparking debate.

Comment from woman complaining about plane passenger reclining seat, expressing frustration over lack of consideration for others.

Commenter complains about plane passenger reclining, expressing frustration over limited space on flights.

Alt text: Woman complains about plane passenger, sparking debate over reclining etiquette in airplane seating.

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