Tall Guy Doesn’t Fit In Plane Seat Comfortably, Drama Ensues After Woman Tries To Recline Her Seat
Interview With Author
Something about traveling with a group of others in tight quarters brings out some of the worst features in people. Buses, subway cars, and airplanes can all be brutal battlegrounds as people try to protect their tiny pieces of personal space. It makes sense—you don’t want to spend your entire trip being uncomfortable. Similarly, you don’t want to travel in style at everyone else’s expense.
Redditor u/pooopies1 went viral after sharing a slightly ‘controversial’ story about a recent flight he had. The tall man wrote about how the passenger sitting in front of him got mad because he wouldn’t let her recline. Scroll down for the full story and to see how the internet reacted to the tale.
We got in touch with redditor u/pooopies1 to hear more about the situation, reclining etiquette while on flights, and how to be a great passenger. Read on for Bored Panda’s full interview with the author.
When it comes to airplane travel etiquette, there isn’t always an easy answer
Image credits: wirestock (not the actual photo)
A guy shared how he forbade a fellow passenger from reclining her seat in front of him and asked the internet for a verdict
Image source: pooopies1
Image credits: DC_Studio (not the actual photo)
Not everyone understands how difficult it is for taller passengers to move on the plane
Image credits: halabala (not the actual photo)
The redditor told Bored Panda that he feels bad for any adult flying in economy. The lady who got mad at him “was likely looking for a precious few cm of space to just marginally increase her comfort level, and was swiftly disappointed by my knees in her back. Any person would understandably feel frustrated by this.”
What’s more, the OP pointed out that you can never know if someone might have positioning or mobility issues, so they might be very uncomfortable sitting in an upright position. However, taller folks have it tough, too.
“To be honest, I feel that many people closer to average or below average height do not understand that sometimes tall people literally cannot move and cannot simply bend our legs into place to make them comfortable. A 4-hour plane flight in economy is an especially difficult time to try to understand people different than you, and I have no doubt that this played a role here.”
Redditor u/pooopies1 said that even a little bit of compassion for your fellow passengers goes a long way. “This is usually why this issue does not occur. You just find a way to accommodate if someone really wants to recline their seat: one person moves, people adjust their carry-ons,” they told Bored Panda.
“I have trouble relating to people who simply feel entitled to recline their seat: I almost never do unless it’s a very long flight, because I do not want to interfere with the person behind me or affect their use of the tray table and so on. But also, this may be because I see the ‘tray table up, seat upright’ position as default and indicative of whether or not you fit the seat. All you can do at the end of the day is try your best to make yourself comfortable and help others to do the same.”
The man’s story started a fierce discussion online
Image credits: Image-Source (not the actual photo)
The author of the story told Bored Panda that he was very surprised by just how “polarized and emotionally charged” the comments about his post were. “People really seem to care about this issue. A common argument for users calling me an AH was that I am affecting a basic function of the other passenger’s seat that she is entitled to and paid to use (the ability to recline), so I do not fit in the seat, and therefore need to pay for a bigger one. On the other hand, those claiming I’m NTA usually assumed that reclining your seat is a privilege and not a right, and that the space ultimately belongs to the person occupying the space behind,” they explained the different attitudes that most people had.
“What I found interesting was that, often, neither side was ever accompanied by any reasoning—people would just insist, for example, that the ability to recline was paid for as part of the ticket. Obviously, we tend to never think that we’re the AH. But my personal view is that I am comfortable sitting upright in economy for 4 hours and she is not, so if she wants additional comfort measures she can pay for them and sit somewhere else. I do not think it is my job to guess ahead of time whether someone is comfortable doing this and spend more money on the basis of that guess,” the OP explained his stance and reasoning.
“The seats are designed to recline pretty far back, but this can render the tray table, for instance, completely unusable, which I also pay for, so it’s difficult to see that she simply has an entitlement to recline her seat as much as she wants just because the seat has that feature. However, I recognize that this is a complicated issue, and this is reflected in the comments.”
In the OP’s opinion, the topic was so controversial because a reclining seat is dual-purpose for two different passengers. And so, people are “bound to make different assumptions” about who’s entitled to the space. “The back of an airline seat is this way: its positioning can affect both the person sitting in it and the person behind. People feel the same about other shared objects like armrests, HOV lanes, and so on.”
The story really did divide the internet in two. While many people thought that he did nothing wrong by calling out the woman for trying to recline her plane seat, others thought that reclining was “a basic right.” However, in the end, the vast majority thought that redditor u/pooopies1 wasn’t in the wrong.
Personally, yours truly thinks it isn’t right to recline your seat on any budget flight. The quarters are tight enough as they are, even if you aren’t as tall as a pro basketball player. Everyone’s already crammed shoulder-to-shoulder like sardines in a tin (actually, they might even have it better), so anyone who starts claiming more space is bound to cause friction. And that’s the last thing you want on any flight.
Politeness and communication are good first steps to solving issues
Image credits: mstandret (not the actual photo)
Or, to put it in slightly more philosophical terms, the happiness you get from reclining your seat most likely won’t outweigh the trouble you’ll cause your neighbors on the plane. If you feel that you absolutely must recline, do ask the person behind you if they mind before you start encroaching on their territory. There’s nothing better than clear communication and a dash of politeness to help avoid mid-air drama.
Aside from some good old communication, some other potential solutions include spending more money to get a better seat, with more room. Bigger people need more room, so it makes sense to splurge a bit if you want to travel in comfort. However, if money’s tight or if you feel that you’d rather be a tad uncomfortable for a few hours, it’s also a valid choice. So long as you’re not overextending yourself into other people’s spaces, there’s no real issue.
Another solution would be for airlines to stop putting profit above their customers’ comfort. Packing fewer seats on the plane would ensure that everyone’s enjoying themselves far more during the flight.
However, there are two main problems with this. First of all, making changes like this would be expensive and would eat into these companies’ profits, meaning they’d just raise the cost of each ticket. The second issue is that with fewer people fitting on each flight, you’d need more planes and more fuel just to match current travel rates. And that ain’t good for the environment.
The longer the flight, the more freedom you have to recline your seat
Image credits: DC_Studio (not the actual photo)
According to ‘The Points Guy,’ who conducted an informal survey about seat reclining etiquette on Facebook, there’s no real consensus on whether it’s right or wrong. However, it feels like reclining is far more acceptable the longer a flight is. On the flip side, just because you can recline doesn’t always mean that you should.
It’s important to be aware of your fellow passengers and their needs, not just your own. Try to put yourself in their shoes before you start spreading as far and wide as you can in your aisle.
Don’t forget that they’re people, too. Though your paths might diverge later, at least for now, you’re all heading toward the same destination. And it’s never a bad idea to spread a bit of kindness.
Some internet users were fully in support of the tall traveler
Others, however, thought that his stance on reclining was controversial. Here’s what they said
I guess the lesson here is that the only people who get to 'economize' are people who fit into increasingly smaller physical parameters. Tall? Fat? Muscular? Have certain disabilites? Some folks (including the airlines) believe that you should 'pay for the privilige' of not fitting into the allotted space. Better watch out, though -- when we don't stand up for the rights and dignity of our fellow passengers -- we greenlight ourselves to be squeezed out next. If they don't get you on seat size, it could become things like having to pay extra for window or aisle, for not showing up at least 2 hours early, being allowed to use the washroom, being allowed to bring your own electronics on board.... Really, the sky's the limit! (Pun intended).
I only recline if the person behind me has done so as well, and/or if I have checked or asked if doing so is possible. There is a difference between taking up a little space and ramming it into the bones of the person behind you.
I feel like asking first is just common courtesy. You're encroaching into someone else's space, and they might have something on their tray table.
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Airlines are the true AHs here. Some exec sits at their desk and says " How do we increase our revenues? First we reduce the number of flights. Then we can add 12 more seats in economy." Now we're all crammed together like sardines. You're forced to pay extra if you now need a seat with more legroom. And, God forbid, if you're handicapped or weigh more than 250 lbs. Then, everyone wonders why there are arguments, fights, and generally disagreeable, entitled people on planes. Our personal space has been invaded, and nerves are frazzled. I've flown on 10 hour flights and not reclined my seat. It's hard, and I'm only 5'2". It got to be so uncomfortable for my partner who was big, he decided to book us 1st class tickets. Horribly expensive. But we were lucky we only flew once a year. The answer would be to boycott for change. But we can't. Most need to fly for business or pleasure.
I'm not usually one to defend the execs, but this really isn't their fault. No matter what economic system you're operating under, if you increase the space between seats, you fit fewer seats on the airplane, and so the cost of running it is shared between fewer people. Most people don't want to pay 20% more for their tickets in return for a few more inches of legroom.
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Big red flag: I'm tall too & I would NEVER get on an airplane without asking if there were exit row seats available. I'd forget my luggage before I forgot that. Otherwise, people have the right to recline, & all tall people can do is suffer & sometimes say, "Sorry, I'm not doing it on purpose but there's literally nowhere else I can put my knees."
I would say ESH not so much for the situation but for the attitudes. The person in front should be able to recline their seat, but the person in back can't help being tall. Yes, he could have tried to get a seat with more leg room (and he is causing inconvenience for people by not checking) but that doesn't mean that it's always available or that he can afford to pay the extra. So I feel like they are just both stuck in a cruddy situation caused by airlines trying to get the biggest bang for their buck by squeezing people into small, and increasingly expensive spaces. He was a jerk for being judgy about people wanting to be able to lean back (not everyone is able to comfortably sit upright for hours at a time, and he doesn't get to expect it of people who also paid for their seats) and she is a jerk for acting like he's a terrible person for having long legs, especially since there wasn't much he could do about it at that point anyway.
I'm 5'2". The seats are barely big enought for me. I'm not overweight. I won't recline my seat on a regular flight but you better believe I will on those monster 14 hour flights to and from Australia. Pretty much everyone does. I say, shame on the airlines for uncomfortable seating.
I think reclining seats on airplanes is just a breadcrumb. A way to give you some tiny essence of control so you agree to all the other BS. Your seat can only "recline" 2". That is absolutely ridiculous to believe you're getting anything other than a "so there" moment of satisfaction. The airlines have us over a barrel, so this is their way of giving us a bit of that back so we can "I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECLINE MY SEAT, EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY DOESNT DO ANYTHING MUCH!"
NAH except for the airline (airlines in general are AH). It's insensitive of the woman to try and force her seat back, even if it's physically impossible for OP. OP is insensitive for saying people shouldn't recline at all. It's unreasonable to say he should pay more for a seat with more leg room. Being tall is not his fault. That he can't fit in the space is the airline's fault.
I am the same height. I think that being this height we should be sold adequate legroom seats without being charged extra. In this situation bring tall is a disability and us tall people should be given the common courtesies that are usually given to people outside the normal range of size. It's not like we over ate to become tall!
There are so many advantages to being tall. Suck it up for once.
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To me, your area is from your seat to the back of the others. It's your airspace to put laptops or food or whatever. Reclining a bit is ok if the person behind you is not using that space. But fully reclining 3 inches away from someone's face like in the comments, unacceptable. I would have sneezed. But this guy is tall he can't help it. You can help not reclining.
It's not physically possible to recline "a full 3 inches." The seats only recline a tiny bit. I honestly don't even know how airline personnel can tell your seat is reclined when you go to land. I look around and I'm like- how can they tell? The seat goes back only a tiny bit.
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My issue with reclining seats is I can't use my tray, which is part of the ticket price as well, not to hold my laptop or food or drink. How is them being able to recline more important than me being able to use my tray? There should be no reclining in economy period imo.
That's the real issue. Everyone's talking about using the features they paid for. The airlines are essentially "double booking" that space for every single seat because they know people will complain but can't do anything and will blame the other person instead. It really is on the airlines
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NTA. The seats "recline" about 1.5 inches. It's not enough to improve your comfort, and just enough that you annoy the person behind you. I never recline my seat because I have consideration for others.
I have a back condition that causes pain if I sit too upright. I can either recline, or get up every hour to stretch. Either is annoying someone 🤷♂️
Load More Replies... Last time I flew I asked the person in front of me if they could recline only partially so I could still use the screen on the seat-back. That was okay.
Yes, but that's assuming that you're speaking to someone that is reasonable, and that is normally not the case
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My wife is tall, I have aspergers/autism and like the extra space as I don't like feeling crammed in. We often make sure to book specific seats in advance. But I still feel as if no one should have to do this. We are crammed into spaces like sardines for hours and hours at a time, which can be uncomfortable no matter your height/weight, just so that the airlines can sell more tickets for more money, then force those who need extra space etc, to pay even more for the privilege of specific seat, for something they often can't help (height and disability) its honestly awful.
I'm honestly not the biggest fan of the idea of someone reclining their seat cause I like space and absolutely hate things in my face but idk how much they go back so I can't be too strong on this opinion
I pay extra for the exit row seats for the leg room. I'm not going to make myself extra uncomfortable, risk possible bruising or injury, or screw up my back to save $50. I only have one body for this lifetime. I'm going to take care of it. Not worth the fight. My body is of unusual size; part of my life's challenge is to manage that. Saving a few bucks on principle because things "should" be different is just pointless and ridiculous. One of these times, Mr. Tall is going to get his hip or knee injured being crammed in like that when $50 could have spared him. People really need to think in the long-term.
I travel a lot, have my whole life. Indeed airlines are the real AHs. That being said, most people who recline do so in very inconsiderate ways--like the stories above where someone caused physical harm to someone or damage to their property. Traveling has become such a nuisance unless you can afford to fly privately because of how cost-cutting and inefficient, increasingly invasive airport procedures have pitted passengers against each other.
NTA What happened to common courtesy and politeness, why is it a problem to consult with the person behind you before you adjust your seat?why does the seat need to be lowered all the way, I would think that even if the person behind were short having the person in front lower their seat all the way back would be severely encroaching on the other person's seat. Too many people in this day don't consider anyone but themselves - if you bought the only seat on the plane, go for it but I be otherwise have consideration for 4 directions from your seat, you all paid the plane fare.
Reclining is a right. Your seat does it. This made up nonsense of not doing it is someone's personal values. That said, there's nothing wrong with being a decent person either. As I'm just because you have the right doesn't mean you need to exercise it. I have a c**p back. I'm also over 6'. So I always get an aisle seat, and I always recline. How far depends on whether someone is behind me. If there is a person, I go back just enough to relieve the pressure of the upright seat. On a side note, your hair is NOT to go over the back of the seat. That is not your space.
So, if people of a large size have to buy an extra seat so as not to encroach upon people they are sitting next to, people with long legs should do the same, but for more leg room. It's the exact same concept, just direction of encroachment is different. Regardless of how a person of size came to be, the fact is they cannot slice off pieces of their body to better accommodate people, so they have an extra seat, which is actually forced upon them if they are a certain weight. So should people with very long femurs, just, for leg space.
and the laptop users, as often the reclining causes their screen to have to be partially closed
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I agree that the airlines are the problem here but equally if you think that overweight people need to buy an extra seat, then the same surely applies to tall people. Anyone outside the parameters of what that seat is comfortable for should be given the option when purchasing their seat. If we are that strict with our cabin bags, why isn’t the same applied to people?
I think we should all just start paying for extra seats now. The spaces are becoming smaller and smaller. It's obvious no one can fit in 1. So we should all just have to pay for 2. S/ How can we make these airlines provide reasonable seating? I admit I'm part of the problem bc now I will only fly premium economy. My last economy flight was a nightmare. I'm 5'6" and my knees were touching the seat in front of me. Without slouching. So the airline won and now I pay and arm and a leg to sit in what used to be a normal sized space and get a hot towel.
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I simply cannot sit in the unnatural position afforded by an upright airline seat for any length of time and we are not meant to! That position is a safety measure in case of turbulence or emergency. This is why the seats recline in the 1st place. I believe that we are responsible for insuring our own space and that it is wrong to expect others, strangers, to carry our burden with zero warning, zero choice Many large flyers buy business class or an extra seat why would this man think others owe him because of his size? How would he like it if he was seated next to a large flyer that was invading his already limited space? I don't see any difference, and I'm betting his seat was reclined. Ultimately I blame the airlines for not having a solution, a standard policy in place for this scenario in advance as well as for flying us with less space than we would transport an animal in, but that does not take away from our personal responsibility for ourselves and to others.
Before you recline you should ask beforehand, someone may have their laptop out or the table out. If you get the green light, go ahead and recline, if they don't let you, why should you inconvenience others in order for you to be comfortable? If you have a mediacal issue and have to recline, explain that to the person behind you, or get a crew member if said person doesn't want to compromise. If you don't have a medical issue and just seek comfort, suck it up. Other people also deserve to be somewhat comfortable
Boohoo my seat is too upright. How dare the person behind me have legs?
I have to say this.... I am 7'4 and my aunt it a Large lady at 6'0 and is about 250 pounds diabetic, I go with her to mine and her Dr appointments, we take UBER, we always ask for a LARGE car, they always send a Prius..... More then once have I had to pull my knees to my chest and go, cause they never believed someone would be 7'4 or over 6'0, sometimes only my aunt would get to go home and I would wait till my bro got home ( app at 6, was over at like 9 am, bro would go to work at 7 am got home 11am...)
Listen, high beams on a car are a feature. You have a right to use them all the time because tou paid for them. AND if you drive around blinding other vehicles all the time YTA. She paid for (and received) transport from point A to point B - much like paying fare for bus that has no available seats and requires some passengers to stand. Features are there for use when it's APPROPRIATE. If you CAN use the recline feature, great for you. If you can't, too bad. Such is life.
ESH... People need to stop treating flying as if it's a basic right. It isn't. I'm a tall guy with longer than average legs myself. When I fly, I will try to shell out the extra money to at least go to economy comfort, because regular is simply painful. However, the times I did end up in regular economy, I either sucked it up, or tried to come to an understanding with the other passenger, but always with respect and without demanding anything. You both paid, you both want to be comfortable, you both want the same privilege. Try to work to a solution together in a normal way. People are way too entitled nowadays, over things that are a privilege, not a right.
If the airlines could reconfigure a couple rows just for tall people, with just another inch or two w/o extra charge. Maybe in your log-in profile have your height recorded, copy of drivers license, or something to prevent liars, then these seats can only be assigned to tall people.
So let me tell you a story. Im 6 foot 1. When I buy plane tickets, I pick the seats, I choose the ones with the leg room. And that's not often an option. Sometimes the plane may not have them or it's gone. So I make due. I was also on a 4 hour international flight. My sister and my dad were with me. The people in front reclined, with my dad being bent into an uncomfortable position with his bad knees. My sister put up with it but she asked if the person in front of my dad could put her seat back. She refused and was a bit of a jerk about it. The person in front of me? She tried. And I did jam my knees into the back and held it for over 3 hours, not moving. She claimed she had no room in front of her. I explained my height. She didn't believe me till we landed, I stood up and I towered over her by nearly an entire foot. She tried apologizing to me and actually looked scared. I told her point blank that I wanted her equally short friend to apologize to my equally tall father.
So no. I don't feel bad. Not then, not now. Not one time. They had room, we didn't. They paid for a seat, so did we. The world is getting smaller, more crowded, it isn't built for people like my father and I, yet we are somehow expected to adapt and accept. I pay for those seats IF they are AVAILABLE. Not always the case! I don't encroach on your space, I try to keep to myself. So do the same for me. Especially do the same if you see someone tall and twice your age who is struggling during a long flight! My dad is too passive to start a confrontation, I do not have that issue.
Load More Replies... Only reason I think the woman is the AH is that she could've asked. Everyone on the flight in economy class should know ahead of time that it's economy, and common courtesy means doing your best not to step into other people's space. She should've asked politely if it was okay to recline, then when he inevitably said no because he's already taking up more space than he has, she should've just dealt with it (it's a short f*ckin' flight, bro, stick it out) or if she was really in pain or something she could've asked the stewards if there was any place she could've possibly moved. Yes, the aircraft designers also suck (why would you even give people the option to recline when you know there's no room for it??), but this woman was definitely in the wrong. Just because you're tired and sore doesn't mean you have to be a b*tch about it to people you don't know; vent about it later if you must, but the guy behind you is exactly as, if not more, inconvenienced as you are.
I have arthritis and it hurts a lot to sit bolt upright. But I would never be rude or unkind to someone else for body size preventing my seat reclining. I carry a scarf to fold behind me in case I can't recline my seat a bit. And I don't think it's selfish when a person needs to recline some. But these matters can be tolerated and or resolved kindly.
Why are people acting like it's the guy's fault for the airlines packing people in as tight as possible!? Back in the day yeah you could recline your seat and everyone could be comfortable but now that's not the case. NTA. the airlines are and the people who feel initiated to be more comfortable than everyone else
When airplane seats were spaced much further apart reclining a seat was not a problem. Now they have added so many seats to economy class (and made them much narrower as well) the reclining function should be eliminated. If you're even able to recline the seat your head is in someone's lap.
One one hand, people should be able to recline, but airlines cram the seats so close together that it isn't reasonably possible to do so. Imho, the people who believe reclining is their right should be the ones paying for extra space, given that reclining literally takes space away from the person behind you.
I'm too stupid to figure out how to recline. I'm the ideal "sit in front of you" person.
Some time ago the aircraft I was supposed to fly had a malfunction and they pulled out an older aircraft out of storage. It still had individual screens for every seat, so it was maybe a 2007 or 2008 aircraft. The seats used to be not only wider and longer, but also thicker, with more padding for comfort. The funny thing is that people were on average about an inch or 2.5 cm shorter 20 years ago and way slimmer as well. Today flying intercontinental is an abomination.
Both are wrong - he knows he needs extra space but chose not to pay for it (given it was a short flight, I can understand why). Other passenger is wrong because, seriously, who need to recline for a short flight? I qualify 4 hours as short because I'm from Australia and anything under 10 hours is not much for us.
This is definitely the fault of the airlines. Those are the greedy money grubbing arsewholes. Instead of cramming a extra rows to squeeze in more passengers, they need to TAKE OUT A FEW ROWS so travelers paying ridiculous prices for air fare can be somewhat comfortable. Don’t blame your fellow travelers… blame the airlines.
As a large man you need to realize you are encroaching on people's space regardless. I always opt for emergency exit row.
I am 6'1 and in smaller airlines I also barely fit in economy class. I remember being so squeezed all around. I am a little overweight but not too fat or anything. My legs are short too. It's already a privilege to be able to take the plane, I get it, but it's annoying how airlines are so money hungry that they make both the plane small and the seats so close to each other.
I'm small, 5'2 and 140lbs, so I always fit on planes well enough, though it's tight enough I frequently wonder how even an average sized guy manages. I never recline my seat without checking behind me, and if the person is larger, has a lap child, or has things on the tray table, I don't do it. I was taught that as basic plane etiquette as a kid in the 90s when we flew frequently. I was taught to consider others when making choices that impact them, as opposed to thinking first of what I'm "entitled" to, such as the right to recline. The concept that your "rights" are more important than how exercising them impacts others is a pretty problematic theme in Western culture, particularly American.
I blame this on the airlines, those seats are packed way too tight for any human being half the time, of any shape. Stop trying to cram as many people into your planes as possible and give a little bit of room back!
What happened to consideration of others around you. The entitlement of some in the comments are shocking." I paid for my seat so I have the right to recline and to hell with whomever is behind me". Damn did we fall far down the pit in our society. Anyone can recline but consider how far back and what inconvenience the other person will experience. Otherwise if your hair covers my TV screen, I will be pulling them regularly. You decline on to my lap, I will be " accidentally" needing to drink a lot of water during the trip. Dude you also paid for your seat, you did not request the length of your legs at birth, so NTA. Wish I had your Long legs....
I'm only about 5 feet tall. Even I am often cramped in economy. If I want to recline, and I generally only want to recline a couple of inches, I turn and ask the person behind me.
Sorry, but I'm disabled with chronic pain. I need to be able to recline frequently and repeatedly to change my position or my muscles will cramp. Especially if it's a long flight. You might have been discommoding a disabled person because you wrongly think you fit in a standard economy seat. I get that your height isn't your fault, but neither is my disability. And the seat I paid for reclines.
You can stretch your legs out under the Seat in front of you, that's what I do and I'm above average in height, just not that tall. Except during takeoff and landing or meal service, my seat will be reclined and I have no issue with the people in from doing it. But during meals, they are putting their seat up or I will push it to an upright position.
The true AHs in this are the airline industry who have consistently over time reduced the amount of space in seating so they can squeeze more seats into the planes, thus increasing their profits! Albeit passengers have developed into entitled narcissistic asshats and have abandoned all sense of acceptable behavior. It's a 4 hour flight and the person behind you is already cramped, so sit up and get over yourself b***h! Trying to body shame someone over his height is the epitome of ignorance 🙃.
YTA. If you have long legs, pay extra. This is coming from a tall guy.
Wow, so I have to pay more for my genetics? That sounds, interesting?
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Yes the jerk. Reclining is allowed or the function wouldn't exist. Everyone can recline and its better for your backs yo mix up the way you sit .. especially long haul. Always speak to the person behind you tho to be polite.
They recline as an upsale feature. "Fly our airline! We have reclining seats!" Just because you can does not mean you should. I "can" go run out in the middle of the road. Doesn't mean I should
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He should have paid for more leg room. He's not thinking about the comfort of others around him or his own physical safety, in the event of an emergency.
The person ramming their seat back is not thinking about anyone else's comfort either
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Just because one can do something, it doesn't mean that they should. So just because the airplane seats can recline, it doesn't mean it's the best thing to do most of the time. If the seat behind is empty, or if someone asked the person behind them, then fine, all good. Otherwise, it just interferes with whoever is behind's space, and many people are annoyed but don't speak up. So all the people saying YTA because reclining is a feature of the seat, NO. Just because it's not illegal to annoy someone, it doesn't make it okay either. In addition, just because someone was born tall, it doesn't mean they were also born with more money to pay for bigger seats, or with more time to choose them. Never assume things about the other person, you don't know what they're struggling with. PS: Been in dozens of flights, never reclined my seat, not even once.
I just don't understand all the yta comments. Yes the seats are made to reply and yes it is a basic right to do so since you paid for said seat. However, these sort of people need to step into reality and stop being so entitled. If I'm traveling and this is the situation I find myself and then guess what? I'm not going to recline my feet all the way back or at all. Why? Because I have basic human decency and compassion. Short of cutting his legs off there's nothing else that could have been done and the fact that this woman automatically went on the defense and started name calling makes me want to punch her in the throat.
Airlines must stop seats from reclining, not all travellers are midgets !
https://www.thinkstune.com/2023/05/10-benefits-of-physical-Activity-and-Sports--what-are-the-benefits-of-physical-activity-and-sports-.html
I am desperately trying to understand how that story about your ex's height has anything to do with the rest of what you said
Load More Replies... I guess the lesson here is that the only people who get to 'economize' are people who fit into increasingly smaller physical parameters. Tall? Fat? Muscular? Have certain disabilites? Some folks (including the airlines) believe that you should 'pay for the privilige' of not fitting into the allotted space. Better watch out, though -- when we don't stand up for the rights and dignity of our fellow passengers -- we greenlight ourselves to be squeezed out next. If they don't get you on seat size, it could become things like having to pay extra for window or aisle, for not showing up at least 2 hours early, being allowed to use the washroom, being allowed to bring your own electronics on board.... Really, the sky's the limit! (Pun intended).
I only recline if the person behind me has done so as well, and/or if I have checked or asked if doing so is possible. There is a difference between taking up a little space and ramming it into the bones of the person behind you.
I feel like asking first is just common courtesy. You're encroaching into someone else's space, and they might have something on their tray table.
Load More Replies... Airlines are the true AHs here. Some exec sits at their desk and says " How do we increase our revenues? First we reduce the number of flights. Then we can add 12 more seats in economy." Now we're all crammed together like sardines. You're forced to pay extra if you now need a seat with more legroom. And, God forbid, if you're handicapped or weigh more than 250 lbs. Then, everyone wonders why there are arguments, fights, and generally disagreeable, entitled people on planes. Our personal space has been invaded, and nerves are frazzled. I've flown on 10 hour flights and not reclined my seat. It's hard, and I'm only 5'2". It got to be so uncomfortable for my partner who was big, he decided to book us 1st class tickets. Horribly expensive. But we were lucky we only flew once a year. The answer would be to boycott for change. But we can't. Most need to fly for business or pleasure.
I'm not usually one to defend the execs, but this really isn't their fault. No matter what economic system you're operating under, if you increase the space between seats, you fit fewer seats on the airplane, and so the cost of running it is shared between fewer people. Most people don't want to pay 20% more for their tickets in return for a few more inches of legroom.
Load More Replies... Big red flag: I'm tall too & I would NEVER get on an airplane without asking if there were exit row seats available. I'd forget my luggage before I forgot that. Otherwise, people have the right to recline, & all tall people can do is suffer & sometimes say, "Sorry, I'm not doing it on purpose but there's literally nowhere else I can put my knees."
I would say ESH not so much for the situation but for the attitudes. The person in front should be able to recline their seat, but the person in back can't help being tall. Yes, he could have tried to get a seat with more leg room (and he is causing inconvenience for people by not checking) but that doesn't mean that it's always available or that he can afford to pay the extra. So I feel like they are just both stuck in a cruddy situation caused by airlines trying to get the biggest bang for their buck by squeezing people into small, and increasingly expensive spaces. He was a jerk for being judgy about people wanting to be able to lean back (not everyone is able to comfortably sit upright for hours at a time, and he doesn't get to expect it of people who also paid for their seats) and she is a jerk for acting like he's a terrible person for having long legs, especially since there wasn't much he could do about it at that point anyway.
I'm 5'2". The seats are barely big enought for me. I'm not overweight. I won't recline my seat on a regular flight but you better believe I will on those monster 14 hour flights to and from Australia. Pretty much everyone does. I say, shame on the airlines for uncomfortable seating.
I think reclining seats on airplanes is just a breadcrumb. A way to give you some tiny essence of control so you agree to all the other BS. Your seat can only "recline" 2". That is absolutely ridiculous to believe you're getting anything other than a "so there" moment of satisfaction. The airlines have us over a barrel, so this is their way of giving us a bit of that back so we can "I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECLINE MY SEAT, EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY DOESNT DO ANYTHING MUCH!"
NAH except for the airline (airlines in general are AH). It's insensitive of the woman to try and force her seat back, even if it's physically impossible for OP. OP is insensitive for saying people shouldn't recline at all. It's unreasonable to say he should pay more for a seat with more leg room. Being tall is not his fault. That he can't fit in the space is the airline's fault.
I am the same height. I think that being this height we should be sold adequate legroom seats without being charged extra. In this situation bring tall is a disability and us tall people should be given the common courtesies that are usually given to people outside the normal range of size. It's not like we over ate to become tall!
There are so many advantages to being tall. Suck it up for once.
Load More Replies... To me, your area is from your seat to the back of the others. It's your airspace to put laptops or food or whatever. Reclining a bit is ok if the person behind you is not using that space. But fully reclining 3 inches away from someone's face like in the comments, unacceptable. I would have sneezed. But this guy is tall he can't help it. You can help not reclining.
It's not physically possible to recline "a full 3 inches." The seats only recline a tiny bit. I honestly don't even know how airline personnel can tell your seat is reclined when you go to land. I look around and I'm like- how can they tell? The seat goes back only a tiny bit.
Load More Replies... My issue with reclining seats is I can't use my tray, which is part of the ticket price as well, not to hold my laptop or food or drink. How is them being able to recline more important than me being able to use my tray? There should be no reclining in economy period imo.
That's the real issue. Everyone's talking about using the features they paid for. The airlines are essentially "double booking" that space for every single seat because they know people will complain but can't do anything and will blame the other person instead. It really is on the airlines
Load More Replies... NTA. The seats "recline" about 1.5 inches. It's not enough to improve your comfort, and just enough that you annoy the person behind you. I never recline my seat because I have consideration for others.
I have a back condition that causes pain if I sit too upright. I can either recline, or get up every hour to stretch. Either is annoying someone 🤷♂️
Load More Replies... Last time I flew I asked the person in front of me if they could recline only partially so I could still use the screen on the seat-back. That was okay.
Yes, but that's assuming that you're speaking to someone that is reasonable, and that is normally not the case
Load More Replies... My wife is tall, I have aspergers/autism and like the extra space as I don't like feeling crammed in. We often make sure to book specific seats in advance. But I still feel as if no one should have to do this. We are crammed into spaces like sardines for hours and hours at a time, which can be uncomfortable no matter your height/weight, just so that the airlines can sell more tickets for more money, then force those who need extra space etc, to pay even more for the privilege of specific seat, for something they often can't help (height and disability) its honestly awful.
I'm honestly not the biggest fan of the idea of someone reclining their seat cause I like space and absolutely hate things in my face but idk how much they go back so I can't be too strong on this opinion
I pay extra for the exit row seats for the leg room. I'm not going to make myself extra uncomfortable, risk possible bruising or injury, or screw up my back to save $50. I only have one body for this lifetime. I'm going to take care of it. Not worth the fight. My body is of unusual size; part of my life's challenge is to manage that. Saving a few bucks on principle because things "should" be different is just pointless and ridiculous. One of these times, Mr. Tall is going to get his hip or knee injured being crammed in like that when $50 could have spared him. People really need to think in the long-term.
I travel a lot, have my whole life. Indeed airlines are the real AHs. That being said, most people who recline do so in very inconsiderate ways--like the stories above where someone caused physical harm to someone or damage to their property. Traveling has become such a nuisance unless you can afford to fly privately because of how cost-cutting and inefficient, increasingly invasive airport procedures have pitted passengers against each other.
NTA What happened to common courtesy and politeness, why is it a problem to consult with the person behind you before you adjust your seat?why does the seat need to be lowered all the way, I would think that even if the person behind were short having the person in front lower their seat all the way back would be severely encroaching on the other person's seat. Too many people in this day don't consider anyone but themselves - if you bought the only seat on the plane, go for it but I be otherwise have consideration for 4 directions from your seat, you all paid the plane fare.
Reclining is a right. Your seat does it. This made up nonsense of not doing it is someone's personal values. That said, there's nothing wrong with being a decent person either. As I'm just because you have the right doesn't mean you need to exercise it. I have a c**p back. I'm also over 6'. So I always get an aisle seat, and I always recline. How far depends on whether someone is behind me. If there is a person, I go back just enough to relieve the pressure of the upright seat. On a side note, your hair is NOT to go over the back of the seat. That is not your space.
So, if people of a large size have to buy an extra seat so as not to encroach upon people they are sitting next to, people with long legs should do the same, but for more leg room. It's the exact same concept, just direction of encroachment is different. Regardless of how a person of size came to be, the fact is they cannot slice off pieces of their body to better accommodate people, so they have an extra seat, which is actually forced upon them if they are a certain weight. So should people with very long femurs, just, for leg space.
and the laptop users, as often the reclining causes their screen to have to be partially closed
Load More Replies... I agree that the airlines are the problem here but equally if you think that overweight people need to buy an extra seat, then the same surely applies to tall people. Anyone outside the parameters of what that seat is comfortable for should be given the option when purchasing their seat. If we are that strict with our cabin bags, why isn’t the same applied to people?
I think we should all just start paying for extra seats now. The spaces are becoming smaller and smaller. It's obvious no one can fit in 1. So we should all just have to pay for 2. S/ How can we make these airlines provide reasonable seating? I admit I'm part of the problem bc now I will only fly premium economy. My last economy flight was a nightmare. I'm 5'6" and my knees were touching the seat in front of me. Without slouching. So the airline won and now I pay and arm and a leg to sit in what used to be a normal sized space and get a hot towel.
Load More Replies... I simply cannot sit in the unnatural position afforded by an upright airline seat for any length of time and we are not meant to! That position is a safety measure in case of turbulence or emergency. This is why the seats recline in the 1st place. I believe that we are responsible for insuring our own space and that it is wrong to expect others, strangers, to carry our burden with zero warning, zero choice Many large flyers buy business class or an extra seat why would this man think others owe him because of his size? How would he like it if he was seated next to a large flyer that was invading his already limited space? I don't see any difference, and I'm betting his seat was reclined. Ultimately I blame the airlines for not having a solution, a standard policy in place for this scenario in advance as well as for flying us with less space than we would transport an animal in, but that does not take away from our personal responsibility for ourselves and to others.
Before you recline you should ask beforehand, someone may have their laptop out or the table out. If you get the green light, go ahead and recline, if they don't let you, why should you inconvenience others in order for you to be comfortable? If you have a mediacal issue and have to recline, explain that to the person behind you, or get a crew member if said person doesn't want to compromise. If you don't have a medical issue and just seek comfort, suck it up. Other people also deserve to be somewhat comfortable
Boohoo my seat is too upright. How dare the person behind me have legs?
I have to say this.... I am 7'4 and my aunt it a Large lady at 6'0 and is about 250 pounds diabetic, I go with her to mine and her Dr appointments, we take UBER, we always ask for a LARGE car, they always send a Prius..... More then once have I had to pull my knees to my chest and go, cause they never believed someone would be 7'4 or over 6'0, sometimes only my aunt would get to go home and I would wait till my bro got home ( app at 6, was over at like 9 am, bro would go to work at 7 am got home 11am...)
Listen, high beams on a car are a feature. You have a right to use them all the time because tou paid for them. AND if you drive around blinding other vehicles all the time YTA. She paid for (and received) transport from point A to point B - much like paying fare for bus that has no available seats and requires some passengers to stand. Features are there for use when it's APPROPRIATE. If you CAN use the recline feature, great for you. If you can't, too bad. Such is life.
ESH... People need to stop treating flying as if it's a basic right. It isn't. I'm a tall guy with longer than average legs myself. When I fly, I will try to shell out the extra money to at least go to economy comfort, because regular is simply painful. However, the times I did end up in regular economy, I either sucked it up, or tried to come to an understanding with the other passenger, but always with respect and without demanding anything. You both paid, you both want to be comfortable, you both want the same privilege. Try to work to a solution together in a normal way. People are way too entitled nowadays, over things that are a privilege, not a right.
If the airlines could reconfigure a couple rows just for tall people, with just another inch or two w/o extra charge. Maybe in your log-in profile have your height recorded, copy of drivers license, or something to prevent liars, then these seats can only be assigned to tall people.
So let me tell you a story. Im 6 foot 1. When I buy plane tickets, I pick the seats, I choose the ones with the leg room. And that's not often an option. Sometimes the plane may not have them or it's gone. So I make due. I was also on a 4 hour international flight. My sister and my dad were with me. The people in front reclined, with my dad being bent into an uncomfortable position with his bad knees. My sister put up with it but she asked if the person in front of my dad could put her seat back. She refused and was a bit of a jerk about it. The person in front of me? She tried. And I did jam my knees into the back and held it for over 3 hours, not moving. She claimed she had no room in front of her. I explained my height. She didn't believe me till we landed, I stood up and I towered over her by nearly an entire foot. She tried apologizing to me and actually looked scared. I told her point blank that I wanted her equally short friend to apologize to my equally tall father.
So no. I don't feel bad. Not then, not now. Not one time. They had room, we didn't. They paid for a seat, so did we. The world is getting smaller, more crowded, it isn't built for people like my father and I, yet we are somehow expected to adapt and accept. I pay for those seats IF they are AVAILABLE. Not always the case! I don't encroach on your space, I try to keep to myself. So do the same for me. Especially do the same if you see someone tall and twice your age who is struggling during a long flight! My dad is too passive to start a confrontation, I do not have that issue.
Load More Replies... Only reason I think the woman is the AH is that she could've asked. Everyone on the flight in economy class should know ahead of time that it's economy, and common courtesy means doing your best not to step into other people's space. She should've asked politely if it was okay to recline, then when he inevitably said no because he's already taking up more space than he has, she should've just dealt with it (it's a short f*ckin' flight, bro, stick it out) or if she was really in pain or something she could've asked the stewards if there was any place she could've possibly moved. Yes, the aircraft designers also suck (why would you even give people the option to recline when you know there's no room for it??), but this woman was definitely in the wrong. Just because you're tired and sore doesn't mean you have to be a b*tch about it to people you don't know; vent about it later if you must, but the guy behind you is exactly as, if not more, inconvenienced as you are.
I have arthritis and it hurts a lot to sit bolt upright. But I would never be rude or unkind to someone else for body size preventing my seat reclining. I carry a scarf to fold behind me in case I can't recline my seat a bit. And I don't think it's selfish when a person needs to recline some. But these matters can be tolerated and or resolved kindly.
Why are people acting like it's the guy's fault for the airlines packing people in as tight as possible!? Back in the day yeah you could recline your seat and everyone could be comfortable but now that's not the case. NTA. the airlines are and the people who feel initiated to be more comfortable than everyone else
When airplane seats were spaced much further apart reclining a seat was not a problem. Now they have added so many seats to economy class (and made them much narrower as well) the reclining function should be eliminated. If you're even able to recline the seat your head is in someone's lap.
One one hand, people should be able to recline, but airlines cram the seats so close together that it isn't reasonably possible to do so. Imho, the people who believe reclining is their right should be the ones paying for extra space, given that reclining literally takes space away from the person behind you.
I'm too stupid to figure out how to recline. I'm the ideal "sit in front of you" person.
Some time ago the aircraft I was supposed to fly had a malfunction and they pulled out an older aircraft out of storage. It still had individual screens for every seat, so it was maybe a 2007 or 2008 aircraft. The seats used to be not only wider and longer, but also thicker, with more padding for comfort. The funny thing is that people were on average about an inch or 2.5 cm shorter 20 years ago and way slimmer as well. Today flying intercontinental is an abomination.
Both are wrong - he knows he needs extra space but chose not to pay for it (given it was a short flight, I can understand why). Other passenger is wrong because, seriously, who need to recline for a short flight? I qualify 4 hours as short because I'm from Australia and anything under 10 hours is not much for us.
This is definitely the fault of the airlines. Those are the greedy money grubbing arsewholes. Instead of cramming a extra rows to squeeze in more passengers, they need to TAKE OUT A FEW ROWS so travelers paying ridiculous prices for air fare can be somewhat comfortable. Don’t blame your fellow travelers… blame the airlines.
As a large man you need to realize you are encroaching on people's space regardless. I always opt for emergency exit row.
I am 6'1 and in smaller airlines I also barely fit in economy class. I remember being so squeezed all around. I am a little overweight but not too fat or anything. My legs are short too. It's already a privilege to be able to take the plane, I get it, but it's annoying how airlines are so money hungry that they make both the plane small and the seats so close to each other.
I'm small, 5'2 and 140lbs, so I always fit on planes well enough, though it's tight enough I frequently wonder how even an average sized guy manages. I never recline my seat without checking behind me, and if the person is larger, has a lap child, or has things on the tray table, I don't do it. I was taught that as basic plane etiquette as a kid in the 90s when we flew frequently. I was taught to consider others when making choices that impact them, as opposed to thinking first of what I'm "entitled" to, such as the right to recline. The concept that your "rights" are more important than how exercising them impacts others is a pretty problematic theme in Western culture, particularly American.
I blame this on the airlines, those seats are packed way too tight for any human being half the time, of any shape. Stop trying to cram as many people into your planes as possible and give a little bit of room back!
What happened to consideration of others around you. The entitlement of some in the comments are shocking." I paid for my seat so I have the right to recline and to hell with whomever is behind me". Damn did we fall far down the pit in our society. Anyone can recline but consider how far back and what inconvenience the other person will experience. Otherwise if your hair covers my TV screen, I will be pulling them regularly. You decline on to my lap, I will be " accidentally" needing to drink a lot of water during the trip. Dude you also paid for your seat, you did not request the length of your legs at birth, so NTA. Wish I had your Long legs....
I'm only about 5 feet tall. Even I am often cramped in economy. If I want to recline, and I generally only want to recline a couple of inches, I turn and ask the person behind me.
Sorry, but I'm disabled with chronic pain. I need to be able to recline frequently and repeatedly to change my position or my muscles will cramp. Especially if it's a long flight. You might have been discommoding a disabled person because you wrongly think you fit in a standard economy seat. I get that your height isn't your fault, but neither is my disability. And the seat I paid for reclines.
You can stretch your legs out under the Seat in front of you, that's what I do and I'm above average in height, just not that tall. Except during takeoff and landing or meal service, my seat will be reclined and I have no issue with the people in from doing it. But during meals, they are putting their seat up or I will push it to an upright position.
The true AHs in this are the airline industry who have consistently over time reduced the amount of space in seating so they can squeeze more seats into the planes, thus increasing their profits! Albeit passengers have developed into entitled narcissistic asshats and have abandoned all sense of acceptable behavior. It's a 4 hour flight and the person behind you is already cramped, so sit up and get over yourself b***h! Trying to body shame someone over his height is the epitome of ignorance 🙃.
YTA. If you have long legs, pay extra. This is coming from a tall guy.
Wow, so I have to pay more for my genetics? That sounds, interesting?
Load More Replies... Yes the jerk. Reclining is allowed or the function wouldn't exist. Everyone can recline and its better for your backs yo mix up the way you sit .. especially long haul. Always speak to the person behind you tho to be polite.
They recline as an upsale feature. "Fly our airline! We have reclining seats!" Just because you can does not mean you should. I "can" go run out in the middle of the road. Doesn't mean I should
Load More Replies... He should have paid for more leg room. He's not thinking about the comfort of others around him or his own physical safety, in the event of an emergency.
The person ramming their seat back is not thinking about anyone else's comfort either
Load More Replies... Just because one can do something, it doesn't mean that they should. So just because the airplane seats can recline, it doesn't mean it's the best thing to do most of the time. If the seat behind is empty, or if someone asked the person behind them, then fine, all good. Otherwise, it just interferes with whoever is behind's space, and many people are annoyed but don't speak up. So all the people saying YTA because reclining is a feature of the seat, NO. Just because it's not illegal to annoy someone, it doesn't make it okay either. In addition, just because someone was born tall, it doesn't mean they were also born with more money to pay for bigger seats, or with more time to choose them. Never assume things about the other person, you don't know what they're struggling with. PS: Been in dozens of flights, never reclined my seat, not even once.
I just don't understand all the yta comments. Yes the seats are made to reply and yes it is a basic right to do so since you paid for said seat. However, these sort of people need to step into reality and stop being so entitled. If I'm traveling and this is the situation I find myself and then guess what? I'm not going to recline my feet all the way back or at all. Why? Because I have basic human decency and compassion. Short of cutting his legs off there's nothing else that could have been done and the fact that this woman automatically went on the defense and started name calling makes me want to punch her in the throat.
Airlines must stop seats from reclining, not all travellers are midgets !
https://www.thinkstune.com/2023/05/10-benefits-of-physical-Activity-and-Sports--what-are-the-benefits-of-physical-activity-and-sports-.html
I am desperately trying to understand how that story about your ex's height has anything to do with the rest of what you said
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