Airline passengers should ask before they recline, Delta CEO says after seat-punching video

[dalton99a]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/airline-passengers-should-ask-they-recline-delta-ceo-says-after-n1137351

Airline passengers should ask before they recline, Delta CEO says after seat-punching video
The Delta chief's comments come after a viral video of an American Airlines passenger repeatedly punching the seat of a woman in front of him after she reclined.
Feb. 15, 2020, 10:12 AM CST
By Phil McCausland

The CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, weighed in Friday on the debate sparked by a viral video of a passenger on another airline repeatedly punching the seat of a woman in front of him after she reclined it.

Bastian said passengers "have the right to recline," but that they should ask the person behind them before they do so, particularly if the passenger behind them is tall.

"I think the proper thing to do is, if you're going to recline into somebody, that you ask if it's OK first and then you do it," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" after being asked about reclining etiquette.

Bastian's comments come after an American Airlines passenger took a video of a man punching the back of her seat when she decided to to recline. The footage went viral and sparked debate over whether to recline your seat in the tight quarters of economy class.

The passenger, Wendi Williams, posted her video on Twitter, which showed the man behind her on a flight from New Orleans to Charlotte, North Carolina, repeatedly punching her seat after she decided to lean it back.

[spooky3]

1. I agree one should ask, but aren't the real problems the

Tight space, the lack of competition in the airline industry, and the unwillingness of many leisure travelers to pay extra for more space?

In this case, my guess would be that Mr. Air Rage could have afforded a seat with more space but didn’t want to pay for it.

[frazzled]

14. A business class ticket costs 4x coach, on average

So why would you assume this man could afford that? Most people can’t.*

Both people were at fault here, the recliner and the pounder. I have felt like pounding myself before. I had brought some paperwork onto a flight several years ago, and the person in front reclined as far as their seat could go. It resulted not only in the tray table practically coming uncomfortably close to my person but also in totally blocking my overhead light, making it impossible to work. And I’m a small person. It was the worst flight I can recall.

It may depend on the airline. I recently flew in coach on Southwest to Southern California, and I don’t know if the seats reclined at all. Or if the did, it was small enough not to notice. 4 1/2 hours and I wasn’t uncomfortable and could use my tray table to write.

* On edit, I might note that many people are traveling as families, so if a couple is traveling with two children, the cost of first-class or business tickets for four is prohibitive for all but the quite wealthy.

[spooky3]

16. Because of his assholey behavior. Business class tickets

Are expensive, but in my experience nowhere close to 4x economy, on domestic flights. And, for some flights you can get “economy plus” tickets for a price in between.

Very few leisure travelers are compelled (eg by family illness, funeral attendance, etc) to fly. They almost always could reallocate their budgets if necessary. People with very constrained budgets can take a bus or stay home. If having more space is such a huge problem as it was for this guy, he should cut back on other luxuries and spring for more space rather than act like a 4 year old.

Just as a reminder—I also noted the lack of competition in the airline industry, which enables airlines to squish people in and make larger profits.

[frazzled]

19. Noblesse oblige, much?

Assholes exist in every economic class. And not everyone in coach is a leisure traveler. Some are people going to attend a sick relative, some are students on their way back to school, some are flying on their own nickel to a much- needed job interview or academic conference. Most of these people haven’t the budget to “reallocate.”

People don’t control the crappy airlines. They can only do their best to try to get where they’re going as best they can. Some people hog the little space available, others go berserk from the discomfort and behave badly. That’s life. Looking down on people who can only afford coach tickets is, well, very illiberal.

[spooky3]

21. Oh, please. Stop putting words in my post just to create

A straw person to fight with.

[True Blue American]

2. Leaning back

In such a tiny, restricted area is not very courteous.

[Demovictory9]

5. I hate recliners

[nilram]

6. Still, the guy could have used an adult response

like, oh, words. “This makes me very uncomfortable, can you move forward?”

Any more, I don’t recline because the limited amount of distance that’s allowed doesn’t make any difference in the comfort of today’s airplane seats.

[pnwmom]

59. We don't know that he didn't request it nicely first. n/t

[delisen]

76. It is the airline at fault-not the passenger using seat as designed

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. Airlines should increase the space or lock the seats.

Should passengers ask before opening a window?

[SWBTATTReg]

7. You make a good point. The airlines, in their push for more and more profits, have squeezed...

passengers to the point that they are facing discomfort, tiny assed seats, no foot room, and a craft crammed full of passengers, sometimes way too many. I remember when I had to fly extensively for my job (training, teaching, etc.), and usually by the time I got to the airport, all that were left were redeye flights, which was fine w/ me. Back then, I usually would have the choice of the entire back of the craft to put down 3 seats in a row, and sleep until I get to my destination. Other passengers would do the same up front w/ their seats. Wasn't crammed in, etc. Those days are long gone, I suspect.

[stopdiggin]

15. on an airplane?

Ain't ridin' with you, dude! -- --

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. I got my rights to fresh air! ...

Saw a documentary on the venerable DC-3 (C-47 in WWII, I think). A pilot was bringing one in to land on an island, turned to the camera guy and said, "Here's something you won't see the jet jockeys do", then slid the side window open and leaned over to look down at the air strip.

Passengers don't have the option to ask to open the windows on a modern airliner because it's a dumb idea. With the way people are jammed into the things, it's almost as dumb to have seats that could recline, if not for the knees of the passenger behind.

[Pachamama]

27. +10000

Completely agree...

[Mariana]

75. Really, this is on the airlines.

If the airline provides seats that recline, it's unreasonable to insist that passengers shouldn't recline them.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. I'll bet that they really want to punch Ed

[delisen]

8. No one should have to ask permission.

[stopdiggin]

11. yeah. courtesy, who needs that sh**?

but .. the airlines .. If you don't want passengers to recline .. don't provide that function.

(the woman was a bit of an entitled ass .. the man an emotional infant. neither one of them qualify as someone I want to spend time with.)

[Skittles]

51. yup

it ASTOUNDS me how often just a little courtesy would resolve so many "conflicts".

[Skittles]

49. LOL

it's just plain common (!!!) courtesy

or at least: it should be

[delisen]

81. Not an issue of curtesy. Issue of right to use what one purchased

Giving notice is polite. Asking permission to use what one has paid for is not required.
The CEO is wrong if he is being accurately quoted.

The problem is sufficient room for passengers and excess profit-seeking.

[Skittles]

87. I would ALWAYS check

but then, that's why incidents like this do not happen with me

[pnwest]

9. So many things wrong with that situation.

First and foremost, the guy is a violent, aggressive motherfucker that needs therapy and medication.

Second, if the seat reclines, then she’s allowed to recline. And kudos to her for goddamn STAYING reclined once the punching started! (I hate people who recline, so I choose not to myself, but I do not deny that the person in front of me is allowed to. I hate ‘em for it, but I don’t punch the back of their seat, or even ask them not to.)

Third, the entire situation is the airline’s fault for cramming the rows together and creating nearly intolerable conditions, AND, for placating the guy instead of ordering him to stop or face consequences. There should have been police waiting for him upon deplaning.

[NutmegYankee]

12. Ive been afflicted with physical pain from someone reclining.

It drives the tray right into my stomach. Other times the seat has pressed into my knees in a painful manner. People seem to ignore that situation.

[Joinfortmill]

25. Respectfully

That is a complaint for the airlines.

[NutmegYankee]

33. So you're telling me you wouldn't react to pain like a sentient being?

You'd be as emotional as Spock and discuss the situation with the airline at a later time?

[pnwmom]

69. Yes -- it is a reason I think ALL airlines should fix all seats in the upright position. n/t

[musette_sf]

70. Same here

Eating is uncomfortable. Working is uncomfortable. And for all those who say "well, just recline your seat and then you're even", I can't eat a meal or work on my laptop when I'm reclined.

Depending upon the airline, it sometimes doesn't matter if I've paid for an extra legroom seat. And depending upon the aircraft, it sometimes doesn't even matter if I've paid for first class. I was in first class on a ratty old 737 a few weeks ago, and the recline of the pax in front of me made it difficult to work, almost impossible to eat, and near impossible to easily get up out of the seat. The guy slammed his seat into max recline as soon as we hit cruising altitude and bashed me in the head, since I was leaning down to get something out of my bag. When the window seat pax wanted to use the lavatory, I tried to get the recliner's attention to ask him to move his seat up just a bit, and he steadfastly ignored me. So in squeezing out, and trying (out of my deeply imbedded instinctual courtesy) to not grab the top of the recliner's seat, I lost my balance and hit the floor hard. Two weeks later, my bruised tailbone still hurts, and I've had to buy donut seat cushions for work and home for my recovery. (Now shopping for a travel donut seat, since I'm a frequent flyer and I will not be healed by my next flight.)

The 737s that have been reconfigured into sardine packaging, and used for longer-haul flights than originally intended for that model, are the worst offenders. I don't love the 757 either, but you do get just a bit more room when you're fully reclined into. Most Airbus models also seem to be better in this regard.

[gristy]

79. Your experience is unfamiar to me

How does the tray move when the passenger in front of you reclines the seat? The tray is locked to the seat ahead below its hinge and so doesn't move in response to reclining.

[NutmegYankee]

80. Not all aircraft seats use that design.

Some are just built into the back of the seat in front and move with the seat.

[jberryhill]

82. I have never seen anything like that

Tray tables are not connected to the seat back. They have supports that connect to the sides of the frame of the seat, which does not move when the seat is reclined.

I’ve been on hundreds of flights for many years, on domestic and foreign carriers, and have never seen anything like that.

[NutmegYankee]

93. That is just bizarre.

It’s far more likely you just never noticed because it isn’t an issue unless you are obese. That and it’s probably an obsolete design since the type described with arms built to the legs is way more common.

[pnwmom]

94. If you've been on hundreds of flights maybe you haven't been looking too hard.

The first link I Googled showed one connected to the seat back.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/why-tray-tables-must-go-up-takeoff-landing


And here's one you can see built right into the seat back.

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/female-open-airplane-tray-table-on-seat-back-and-prepare-for-lunch-gm1023524792-274704640

[HAB911]

10. If the seat reclines

then it is meant to recline. I have never asked and would not in the future. However, I have made myself a promise to never fly again so prolly is moot.

[stopdiggin]

13. a slightly different situation on a longer flight

when the majority of people are sacking out. this was an 80 minute hop. either passenger could have made some concessions.

[nilram]

17. It's about the corporations

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Silver1]

20. Exactly.

[2naSalit]

99. +1

[TeamPooka]

18. Notice that the CEO doesn't say what to do if someone says no

They want their planes to be the Lord of the flies

[Joinfortmill]

22. Respectfully, no

Airline seats recline. Everyone knows it. Thousands of airline seats are re lined by people daily. What shouldn't happen is your seat being punched after you recline it. Or the airlines can make seats that don't recline.

[LastDemocratInSC]

23. My height is 6 feet 7 inches.

When the person in front of me puts the seat back my legs get locked in place. I can move them a bit from side to side but that's it. After a hour or so the cramping begins.

I have never complained to the passenger in front because he/she is given the option of putting the seat into the reclining position. And, that person has no idea how tall I am. And, that person has no obligation to do anything even if he/she has a sense that I may not be comfortable.

I have never put a seat in the reclining position because I have spent many hours in pain, literally, and I will not inflict that on another person.

All seats should be locked until the seat pitch is changed to allow comfort for all.

I do request the exit row when making a reservation and frequently get it. But I dread the flights where I have not been assigned to the exit row.

[pnwmom]

26. I agree. The seats are too close together for anyone to recline. I am under 6 feet

but I have managed to get a DVT blood clot from a plane flight. It's a real risk and caused by lack of circulation.

[Igel]

32. When it looks like it would inconvenience somebody,

I ask.

Instead of insisting that every right I have must be enjoyed (by me) to the exclusion of any right by anybody else, because me.

Otherwise it's like saying that since offensive language can be screamed at the top of my lungs on a city block, it's completely courteous--nobody how racist, misogynistic, and hate-filled.

All rights have limits and require a society in which to negotiate conflicts in expressing and using rights. Insisting that my rights are more important than other's is basically saying mine Trump everybody else's and makes me somebody I don't want to be around or to be.

[pnwmom]

24. Nope. Now that they've given so little clearance between seats, they should make them non-reclinable

It's hard to get out of a seat if the person in front of you has reclined his seat into the area above your legs. And then that person complains online if someone grabs their headrest trying to get out.

[Igel]

34. And if it's a long flight and they all want to sleep,

or the seat's empty, we must respect that.

The problem is social capital and cohesion, not whether something is possible and therefore always ok or inconveniences some sometimes and therefore must be prohibited.

It's the basis of "we, the people"--having an actual people and not just bunch of residents.

[LakeArenal]

28. It's a recliner.

I paid my price. They advertise reclining seats. Screw asking to recline.
Maybe the guy could politely ask not to recline but tough if you don’t want to.
He paid the same as she in theory.

Airliner make more room. Fewer over-reacting wads.

[pnwmom]

47. That's why they should fix all the seats into an upright position. Now that they're squeezed

into so few inches, it's the only fair thing to do.

[LakeArenal]

48. Fair is taking out seats and making room for all people.

[coti]

50. Well, obviously ticket prices would go up then, and as long as everyone's fine with that. nt

[LakeArenal]

54. Prices go up because they can raise them

The surcharges and cost increases are still in effect from when oil prices rose. They are much lower now.

[rufus dog]

30. UMMM FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE CEO

You want capitalism but then demand Socialism. FUCK YOU!!

And how the fuck does anyone defend this straight out fucking bullshit?

They sell seats that recline, but then don't want to take ownership of the situation when they tighten spaces between seats and then someone uses an option they provide.

I find it straight out shocking that anyone suggests a person should not use an option provided and that it is that persons fault and not the fucking asshole banging on the seat or the airline who crammed seats together.

[coti]

38. You realize we're talking about seats reclining, right?

You seriously saved up your UMMM FUCK YOU FUCKING BLAH BLAH BLAH for seats reclining?

[rufus dog]

43. Is that fucking offensive?

FFS. An asshole CEO who can actually do something about seat space absolves himself of the problem. Then a whole bunch at people jump on and blame the person who uses an option.

Option one. Upgrade or shut the fuck up

Option two. Be upset at the airlines for packing people in

Option three. Shut the fuck up.

[coti]

46. No, it's fucking depressing as hell.

Not just the passive-aggressive, immature, overdramatic behavior from both the parties in this situation but also the ridiculously overblown reaction from apparently millions of observers, many of whom are able to somehow find a side to take in this inanity and argue it passionately. People are engaging in genuine, spittle-flying conflict over a headrest moving back a few inches.

The whole thing is completely ridiculous and, rest assured, THIS is why we're never going to get a handle on the REAL issues that threaten the existence of our species and so many others. We have no sense of perspective and can't control ourselves worth a damn. We are so easily moved and manipulated by the least consequential circumstances. And we project and transfer our frustrations away from that which truly DOES matter.

It's quite fitting that this was one of the biggest news stories yesterday, on the 30th anniversary of the Pale Blue Dot photo. I wonder whose side Carl Sagan would have taken with regard to this pettiest of petty issues? My god, we humans are so much smaller than even that photo showed us. Just tiny.

Yes, it's incredibly disheartening.

[Arazi]

77. +1 million

[jberryhill]

88. I am nominating you for a Nobel Prize.

[GemDigger]

31. If I have a window seat I let the person in front of me know they can recline.

I am short so I have plenty of leg room and I rarely use the tray.

[Phentex]

65. This is what I do but...

I like that the tray is closer to me when they recline.

[Mister Ed]

35. I have never resented the passenger in front of me for reclining.

The idea that they ought not use their seat as designed has never occurred to me.

[phylny]

53. I thought I was the only one. If the seat in front of me reclines, I assume someone will

recline it. If I have a problem, it's MY problem.

[ooky]

36. If a seat is made to recline then you have paid for that space.

The person behind you can recline their seat too. There is no excuse for that kind of rude, aggressive behavior.

That said, as someone who logged hundreds of thousands of flier miles during my career I have witnessed this ugly scene much too often, and the only way it is ever going to be stopped is for the seats not to recline. It's a common sense solution to a common problem.

[Codeine]

40. The person behind her couldn't recline.

He had the seat that butts up to the wall, so he lost his space entirely.

[ooky]

42. Oh, did not catch that.

The only solution to having the very back seat is for the airline to disclose it to passengers as such and sell it as a discounted seat. Unfortunately the airlines never take this responsibility, which is typical bad airline behavior.

It doesn't excuse the behavior, and it doesn't mean the person in front didn't pay for that space. It is unfortunate for the poor person who gets stuck in that seat. But once you fly enough you learn to avoid those seats. Doesn't help inexperienced flyers though.

[pnwmom]

73. Another solution would be to give the back row in each section more legroom than other rows,

but I doubt that that will happen.

In the meantime, with a full plane no one should be reclining.

[ooky]

78. True.

Personally, I rarely used my recliner anyway because it doesn't add much if anything to my comfort, and certainly would not use it if someone asked me not to. It does make a big difference to the person sitting behind the recliner though.

Virtually all flights are packed these days. The core of the problem as I see it is airline insensitivity. They could fix this by taking out the reclining function and letting everyone have the same amount of space, but it seems they would rather keep a seating arrangement that they know causes problems for people and then blame it on their customers. I guess the airlines are too cheap to remove the reclining mechanisms.

[pnwmom]

58. The person at the back of the section or plane CANNOT recline.

So the person in front of that person shouldn't recline.

ETC.


I was in the back row on a cross country flight. I couldn't recline but the person in front of me did -- and under those cramped conditions I ended up with a DVT blood clot and several days in the hospital.

[ooky]

72. Did not realize it was the back seat

in my first post. Another poster then informed me of that and I responded above.

[jberryhill]

83. What about the person in front of the person in front of the back?

If the person in front of the back seat shouldn’t recline, then what about the person in front of THAT person?

[pnwmom]

84. That's what I'm saying. No one should be reclining because the seats are too close now.

Though another way to fix the problem would be to give extra leg room to all the people sitting in rows where they can't recline.

[jberryhill]

86. They already do that.

They are called “exit rows”.

For a few dollars more, you can reserve one. Unless you are simply buying the cheapest ticket through a consolidator.

But, as noted elsewhere in the thread, on many flights - and practically all American aircraft - the recline is now produced by the bottom of the seat moving forward while the back tilts, which provides more knee room for the person behind the reclining person.

Also, if you don’t max out on carryons, then there is enough space to straighten your legs under the seat in the first place. Even if you have an under seat carryon, after takeoff you can move it to directly in front of your seat in order to get your feet under the seat in front of you. I’m six feet tall and don’t have an issue with it.

There’s no excuse for punching other people, regardless of whether a seat is interposed between them and your fist. None.

[pnwmom]

90. No, they don't. The rows at the very back of every section are NOT exit rows and they don't recline.

I had to sit in the back row of a plane once and it didn't cost any less than the other seats. I walked off that long flight with a DVT.

If you look at the video of the man, you can see his seat is up against a wall and not reclinable.

I don't think the man should have been punching the seat, but I think the woman should have un-reclined when she realized she was crowding him.

[oregonjen]

37. Why is the onus all on the woman who reclined?

The immature ass that punched her seat for two hours ought to face harassment charges. She should have asked, to be polite, but having to endure that sort of bullying is simply inexcusable.

[cwydro]

45. The guy was a total dick.

No way in hell he’d have done that to a man.

Chickenshit.

[spooky3]

64. +1 I was just thinking today, after shopping,

how tired and angry I am getting of the clerk's barely looking up as she or he is ringing up my purchases, and then hearing the clerk brightly greeting the man behind me with "hello, sir!" I've put up with this all my life, as have most women.

[pnwmom]

61. He couldn't recline because his seat was against the back. n/t

[oregonjen]

66. Are you condoning his bullying?

[pnwmom]

67. No. But I also don't condone her insisting on reclining into the area

above his legs, when she knew he couldn't recline as well.

[jberryhill]

85. On most planes these days

The “recline” is something of an illusion anyway. On American aircraft upgrades within the last couple of years, the back of the seat does not move back much at all. The bottom of the seat moves forward, actually reducing the knee area of the person doing the reclining. The seat back tilts slightly as that happens, but it actually provides more knee room for the person BEHIND the one reclining.

[pnwmom]

91. I haven't seen evidence that's true for "most" planes, but I only know about my personal experience.

[coti]

39. This is the second-stupidest "news" story I've heard in the past year, next to

the cop whose Starbucks cup may or may not have had "pig" written on it.

Who. Gives. A. Shit.

[ibegurpard]

41. The problem is seats are crammed closer together

If airlines are going to do that they need to remove the seats' ability to recline. Don't blame passengers for using equipment as intended

[Buckeyeblue]

44. I fly a few times a month for work

I never recline...but I also don't sleep. And it doesn't bother me if the seat in front of me declines. The seat doesn't really move that much. This seems to be much ado about nothing.

[ManiacJoe]

52. This would not be a problem if the airlines

went back to the seat space of the 1970s.

[irisblue]

55. The Punching Guy would never have done that to another man.

But he felt it was okay to do that to a woman. 🤔

[spooky3]

62. I agree. And a (non-crazy, non-drunk) woman would not do it to a man, nor would the

flight attendants have offered a woman who punched another passenger's seat a drink.

[Ms. Toad]

56. Nope.

I intentionally purchase a seat that reclines, because I know I cannot tolerate the un-reclined seat angle beyond take-off (so delays on the tarmack are torture).

Anyone who knows they cannot tolerate the seat recline that I intentionally purchased should similarly pick a seat that suits their needs - e.g. the exit row seat, the first seat behind the bulkhead.

I can't not recline - so what am I supposed to do if they say no, tell them tough noogies?

Airlines should build planes that have sufficient room so that neither person who needs to recline and the person (in the current configuration) cannot afford to lose the space.

[Ron Green]

57. Bottom Line: We're All Flying Too Much

and ought to try to design our lives so that we cut most of it out.

[catsudon]

60. nope

i will not ask for permission,

if they want to do that might as well move to recline button to the back so they can push it for you after saying yes.

[NYC Liberal]

63. Not happening with me. If my seat reclines, I paid for that and I'll do so.

[pnwmom]

68. The person sitting behind you paid for adequate space, too, which you would be

depriving him of -- especially if he couldn't recline, as that man couldn't.

People in the last rows of sections pay as much money for their seats as everyone else, even though they can't recline.

[Skittles]

89. the absolute arrogance of some people just astounds me

UGH

[Mariana]

98. "The person sitting behind you paid for adequate space..."

The person behind paid the airline for adequate space, therefore it's up to the airline to provide it. It is not the responsibility of any of the other passengers.

[pnwmom]

100. That's why the airline should either increase everyone's legroom or disable the reclining function.

[skypilot]

71. Like everyone else....

...I have noticed the ever shrinking leg room on planes over the years. I am average height, about 5' 7". When I see how little space there is between me and the seat in front of me I completely rule out reclining my seat into the person behind me. The fact that it is an option on planes as they are built today is just one of the many things in this big, stupid world that makes no fucking sense at all. I fly about once a year, so I just brace myself for all the nonsense. And so much of it is nonsense.

[Vivienne235729]

74. How about Airlines need to increase the pitch befrean rows so that passengers are not on top

Of each other.

[YOHABLO]

92. I'm a really nice person, and chances are I will say it's fine to recline, even if it bothers me.

I'm just average height and not that long on the leg room. Granted the flight in discussion was from New Orleans to Charlotte. So a couple hours in the cabin at most. I could understand if it were say from LA to NYC, but such a short flight to inconvenience someone who has way too long legs, plus they have their tray down? Let's face it, nobody is all that comfortable on the plane these days, with the exception of the 1st class passengers, where, by the way, the airlines are making all the money for that one flight. I flew from Atlanta to San Diego with a three year old boy sitting in the seat behind me. I was literally kicked from the back for about the entire flight. I never said a word, and hardly did his mother. She did say "stop that" a couple times, only to deaf ears. So what can you do? I guess just be civil. No one is to blame really, except the greedy airlines that want to dangerously cram us together like a can of sardines.

[delisen]

95. This Delta CEO: 13.2 million dollars in 2017 salary package

[StTimofEdenRoc]

96. When you choose the last row seat you should know it does not recline.

I usually fly on Alaska Airlines, they offer seats with more legroom mid-cabin for about $40 extra.

[Quixote1818]

97. Here is a direct link to the video

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1227709791172206593&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2020%2F02%2Fairplane-recline-poll-viral-video

[Quixote1818]

101. I haven't ever seen it where the table gets pushed back??? They are not designed that way

And the seats only go back like two inches at the top and like a half inch at the base of the seat. Unless you are 6 foot 3 or above it should not be an issue for the person in back of the person reclining.

[jberryhill]

104. Correct

And on most American aircraft, the bottom of the seat actually slides forward during recline for the specific purpose of not moving the seat back rearward to accommodate a recline.

There is no excuse for physically violent behavior.

[herding cats]

102. This is all so foolish.

Our world is literally being destroyed around us and this is a real thing to some people?

Learn some basic manners and societal skills and let this ignorance go. This is a perfect example of how rude and privileged many in our society have become. It's a lesson in why we can't focus on true things which matter (basic human rights, climate change, etc.) because a couple of petty, self-centered a-holes want to be more comfortable on a flight they paid for, and feel that makes them special. Neither party is special here. Both parties here are jerks in their own right.

Two jerks collided on a plane and exactly why is everyone so entranced with their petty fight?

Can we just focus on real issues that matter, please? I don't give a damn about how we cram ourselves into planes to fly for prices similar to (raw dollars) what my grandparents paid back in an antiquarian era when things were more comfortable. Those days are gone. Flights are now cheap and unpleasant, but they get us there.

Also, a personal peeve, wear what you want on your flight... just don't take your shoes off. That's just nasty. Again, basic manners and societal skills.

[Sapient Donkey]

103. Seems like the polite thing to do, but it would be even better if they gave us a little more room

Remove a few rows of seats. If needed raise the ticket prices by $10 so all your execs can still get the fat multi-million dollar bonus every year

[jberryhill]

105. Can't do that when people pick the lowest price on Kayak, Priceline etc.

Most airlines provide a range of seat choice prices in various increments if you book through their sites.

If you pick the cheapest tickets at online consolidators then you get middle seats, last rows, and no choice.

Several airlines price differentiate on the small differences in seat preferences that way. But if your sole criterion is price, you get what you get. And people pick the lowest price over all else - even if it is ten bucks.

[Sapient Donkey]

106. Is that how it works?

Whenever I fly I rarely am the one booking my flights.