New group of folks who should be shot: Folks on planes who recline seats

[LynneSin]

Seriously, airplane seating for us in the cheapseats is getting smaller and smaller. And nothing pisses me off more than when the idiot in front of me decides to recline their seat back. Well that seat ends up in my personal space and at 5'10" I surely don't have alot of personal space I'm willing to give up.

You want to know how much of a bitch I can be on an airplane. On the first leg home from Austin, I made it a point to put my knee in a position that the person in front of me couldn't recline her seat even though she kept trying. Honey, get the hint - the person in back of you doesn't want to be made even more clausterphobic. She was able to get it partially back and believe me, everytime I moved around I made it a point for that idiot bimbo in front of me to be aware that it was my space she was crowding by pushing back at her seat with my knee. About 15 minutes later she tried to push it back again (to no avail - my knee was not moving) and then finally she sat it upright when she must have realized that it would be more comfortable to keep the seat upright than to have the hellishly bumpy ride I was creating for her. Ironically I looked around and no one else had their seat in an incline because maybe we all know how crowded it is in the first place!

If anyone works in airline design - do me a favor and just eliminate the seat recline in the economy seats. We're already packed in like sardines - don't make it worse for us by allowing folks to cramp up others with the damn seat recline.

[StopTheMorans]

1. *reclines in seat* ahhhhhhhhhhhh, that's better

[fleabert]

2. a peaceful suggestion, from someone who needs to recline for back issues..

lean your seat back too. if everyone does, everyone has the same amount of room.

:-)

[radwriter0555]

3. Ah, those simple solutions...

yes, and bulkhead seating is awesome for tall people as well.

[LiberallyInclined]

13. not always...

i've been in bulkhead seating where i had no place for my size 17 feet...at least when there's a seat in front of me, my feet can go under.
If the poster has a problem with people reclining, they should get to the airport early, and request exit-row seating- the seats in front of that row don't recline.

but, as a tall person with back problems- I'm DEFINITELY going to recline my seat, no matter what.

[Left Is Write]

23. I love the bulkhead row also, and I'm not tall.

I do try not to recline my seat (I don't have any physical issues making it necessary).

[LynneSin]

5. Unless someone leans around and tells me they need to recline...

...for medical purposes then sure, otherwise NO!!

Seriously. We're all suffering here

[fleabert]

18. :-) Thanks!

I show up way early for my SW flights so I can get bulkhead, then I can straighten my kness (they are bad) and I can recline if my back starts cramping. I rarely pre-board, unless there are a ton of kids loading in, I need at least an aisle seat if I don't want my knees to explode into flames. Flying is a bitch, esp. if it's a flight longer than three hours.

[mcscajun]

24. I'm 6' 1" -- reclining my seat isn't going to get me any more leg room

And when the person in front of me reclines their seat, my knees are already jammed into the seat pocket. After the person in front reclines, I can no longer move my legs freely.

[fleabert]

31. I suggest bulkhead or exit row...I have to recline at least halfway or

my lower back totally cramps up. I feel for you, I am only 5'8" and I feel cramped. My grandfather is 6'8", he is miserable no matter where he sits. If you were behind me and asked me not to recline nicely, I would try to make it w/out leaning back, but we might have to do some musical chairs to both be comfortable. :-) I try to be nice about it.

[mcscajun]

32. Oh I love the bulkhead or emergency exit row...when I can get it.

Competition is fierce! :)

[warrens]

38. I think the issue is the people who do it just because they CAN

If someone has to, I have no problem. But people who sit down and automatically push their seat back are being rude. The reclining feature is meant for sleeping, and that should be reserved for late night, when people trying to sleep are in the majority.

[Lerkfish]

4. try being 6'4, 300 lbs.

unless you fly first class, there is no way to get comfortable. I'm eating my knees and having to hold my elbows in onto my stomach to keep from crowding the other people.

very uncomfortable.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. I am with you on this one. You can't even move your legs

when the person reclines the seat. The only thing that could possibly be worse is when a person cuts a horrible sour fart or two right around you.

[flamingyouth]

7. Two words: Exit row

Life is much happier there.

[LynneSin]

8. Also the very front of the economy section

but the seats weren't available.

[GOPisEvil]

10. ...unless there's an emergency...

:7

[flamingyouth]

16. Yeah, then that kind of sucks

I'm good in a crisis, however. :D

[WoodrowFan]

9. this is why

this is why I splurged on First Class seats on my coast to coast flight this week. I can take cattle class for a short flight, but not on a 8 hour one!


Never flown 1st class before.

[LynneSin]

12. I had First Class when I flew from Costa Rica to Colorado

It was nice!

I also had business class. Air Tran allows you to upgrade to business class for like $25 on the day of travel (if the seats are still available). When Ramsey & I went to Boston we upgraded each way!

[sui generis]

11. good thing that wasn't me you were behind

I HATE non-reclining seats period. I think I'm on a general airline hate list, because I get them at least once a month. If someone "made" my seat non-reclining I'd lock their ass in the bathroom and weld it shut - give 'em all the room they need.

I'm 6'1" - it doesn't bother me when the seat in front of me reclines. I usually stretch my feet out under the seat in front of me so my knees aren't in the way anyway.

MY PET PEEVE: Idiots who bring the maximum allowable baggage on board who aren't physically fit enough to get the damn thing into the overhead, or back out again. Check the fucking luggage! People from Dallas are the absolute worst pigs - you can even tell most of the time if you've encountered a Texan on just about any flight by looking at their ass, their bible, and their shoulda-been-checked bags.

Oh and the hair that could survive atmospheric re-entry.

[LynneSin]

14. Amen on the Luggage thing

I watched this lady take 10 minutes trying to force her luggage into an overhead compartment when clearly it was too large for it to fit. Held up passingers getting on the plane because of her stupidity.

I try to check as much luggage as possible because I don't want to deal with it going through security. I only had much luggage lost once in the 20 years I've been flying on planes and that was almost understandable due to a massive storm that tied up the east coast and caused delays in flights. I actually was bumped off of a flight because of others who lost their flight due to severe weather. My luggage showed up a day later.

[Itchinjim]

15. You know what I hate?

The person behind you who grabs the back of your seat to stand up. One time on an 8 hour flight from the UK I had an apparent incontinent old man grab my seat back and pull himself up every half hour to use the bathroom. I'd just get settled and this guy would jerk back my seat. It was worse than turbulence. By the end of the flight I was ready to punch the old bastard.

[Bouncy Ball]

17. When I had longer hair, someone did that to me, too

but ended up grabbing and pulling my HAIR each time he got up.

BASTARD!

[Itchinjim]

20. Ok, that would be worse.

Lucky for me I'm bald.

[KitchenWitch]

19. I have EXTREMELY long legs (40" inseam)

and one time this guy in his early 20s *threw* himself in the seat in front of mine, my knees got bashed in, and *he* had an issue because I had the audacity to confront him.

[LynneSin]

21. Seriously - and these airline companies wonder why there is "Air Rage"

We're packed in as cube rats with minimal spaces. I could feel the anger burning up in me cramped in that tiny space (and I had a window seat - long ago I use to love window seats but for now on I'm going for aisle seats).

Why can't we learn transporter technology like they had in Star Trek!

[KitchenWitch]

22. No kidding

and then later in this flight, the fucktard did recline the seat, I asked him politely to put his seat back up or switch with me. He wasn't going to switch or put the seat back up until my husband (who is built like a linebacker) asked him politely to please un-recline his seat.

Why is it when a woman asks, a man thinks they can ignore it, but if a man asks, its a-ok, no problemo? GRRR

[mcscajun]

27. "Why can't we learn transporter technology like they had in Star Trek!" ?

Indeed, on my last two trans-atlantic flights, that thought occurred more than once.

And I still love the window seats, and not for the view, although that's good sometimes. It's 'cause I use that extra bit of space the window/curve provides for my shoulder, so I don't 'infringe' on the person next to me so much.

I try to be considerate about how much space I take up in those cramped quarters, and it always irks me when others are oblivious to that notion.

[Scout1071]

25. Seriously....to be brutally honest, we need bigger seats. Period.

We are bigger as a population than we were 20-30 yrs ago when they were built. I don't know how taller people do it. I'm a petite woman, 5'4" on a proud day, and I'm even cramped. Of course, that's partially due to the fact that the largest person on the flight inevitably ends up next to me.

I see that stretched to the max Oklahoma Sooner sweatshirt with matching mullet coming down the aisle and there is no doubt where they will end up....next to me. Count on it. Only occassionally replaced by the single mother with a baby and a toddler. Good times.

Bottom line - we need more room! That's why I prefer Midwest Airlines. Those planes rock. Whole plane is business class. Complimentary wine and champagne and warm fresh chocolate chip cookies. Usually only $25 more than one of the big airlines. I won't go to NY, Boston, DC or LA on any other airline.

[LynneSin]

28. I always get the talker next to me

Wants to chit-chat about my life. When I'm cooped up in a tiny space the last thing I want to do is tell a total stranger my life story. The guy sitting next to me from Austin-Dallas annoyed the hell out of me and kept trying to talk to me after I had put my headphones on.

[Scout1071]

29. I've had to combat this many times myself.

Sometimes I meet interesting people, but by and large, I really don't want to hear their stories or tell them mine. I usually make it clear that I'm not interested by reading or sleeping.

I once flew from Hong Kong to Chicago after a night of partying and no sleep. I was so tired and got to the airport late. I lost my 'economy plus' status by checking in late and had to sit in economy. Those 6" make all the difference in the world on a flight like that! I was in an aisle seat and the guy next to me asked me to swap with him in the middle seat. I felt bad for the guy cause he was tall, but he had to be out of his ever-lovin' mind if he thought I was going to willingly sit in the middle seat for 19 hours. He spent much of the time stretched out in the exit row on the floor.

Worst part about the flight was that I was directly across the aisle from the galley. Those freakin' flight attendants did nothing but slam doors and gossip the whole flight. At one point, I reached across the aisle, ripped the curtain open and politely reminded them that they weren't behind a closed door - just a curtain - and people like myself were trying to sleep. Furthermore, if they couldn't keep it down, I would insist they find me a new seat. Next thing I know, they are waking me up to inform me that they had one available seat in the very last row in the middle of 6-8 seats with 3 Chinese people completely passed out in them!

By the time i got home from that trip I was done. I slept for almost an entire day. Only waking long enough to satisfy the 3 wk long craving for mexican food that i'd been having!

[tsakshaug]

26. long legs

my legs are jammed up against the seat infront of me to start, the person is unable to recline, not much I can do about it. I have gotten some dirty looks, but I just ignore them.

I too hate the tons of carry-ons people bring. I want to use the overhead above my seat- many times I have gotten there and it is full, with no one in my row or the rows around. they need to enforce the carry on limits

[davsand]

30. I agree, LynneSin!

I absolutely HATE that. I am seriously claustrophobic and it makes me nuts. I may have the solution for it, however...

When we flew home from Las Vegas it was a red eye (duh!) and the people in front of me were reclined as soon as we got in the air. I have discovered that I am a much happier camper if I take Valium to fly, and that flight was no exception. What I hadn't counted on was the wine I'd had with dinner that night...

Kevsand tells me that when that Valium hit, I was out cold and I was snoring like some kind of an air raid siren. When I woke up we were landing. I noticed that the seats in front of me were upright and empty and commented that it was nice to have some room.

Kevsand looks at me and says they ASKED to be moved because of your snoring. :boring:

I'm not saying it is pretty, but it does seem to work...



Laura

[huskerlaw]

33. Ok, picture this...

Flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco...what is that? 4 hours? This girl sitting in front of me (14-ish, going on 2) decides not only to recline the seat, but then proceeds to curl up in the thing and toss and turn for the ENTIRE flight. Actually, she only tossed and turned for part of it. The rest of the time she was rhythmically rocking forward and back so that the seat did an immitation of a child's bouncy seat. Every time she moved, the seat whacked my knee, foot, leg...whatever was in the way.

I glared, I pushed back, I loudly commented about getting hit by the seat, heck, I even "accidentally" kicked the seat more than a few times. Did she get the hint? Oh heck no. GRRR!

[gollygee]

34. I don't understand why airplane seats are capable of reclining so far

why not make it so they can't recline enough to make the person in the seat behind uncomfortable? There is such a lapse of logic in how the seats are made it's ridiculous. If the seats were simply made to recline less, it would solve that problem.

[Technowitch]

35. It's because once upon a time, seats were spaced much further apart

Take a look at the floor of any plane and you'll see that the seats are mounted on little rails. This enables a given airline to install or remove seats as desired.

Over the years and in an effort to boost profits, they've jammed more and more seats in, gradually reducing leg-room to the point where embolisms are increasingly likely.

[gollygee]

36. Can't they rig the seats so they don't recline so much?

or would that take too much time?

[Technowitch]

37. Not time, but money

Someone would have design a thingy to keep the already built seats from reclining so far.

That device would have to be tested for safety and whatnot.

Someone would have to be paid to install and maintain the non-recliner doodad.

And a great many someone elses would end up having to explain to irate passengers why they can't lean back into other passengers' laps anymore.

[DS1]

39. Maybe if you didn't insist on wearing your Bunny suit everywhere you

wouldn't have this problem :D