Do you have the right to recline your plane seat?

[zoebartlett]

I've never been comfortable when people recline their seats. I think it's polite to let the person know you're going to do it or even ask if he minds it.

 

[jstarfireb]

I think anyone in a seat that reclines has the right to recline it, and I agree with Kama_s on everything. Reclining your seat really doesn't cut into the legroom that much, first of all. The top part of the seat goes back, but the area where the person behind you has their knees doesn't change much. I've been on lots of flights where the person in front of me reclined, and it doesn't bother me one bit. And I'm pretty tall at 5'8". And second, the problem is with the small amount of space available on an airplane, not with the people using a service that they paid for and you can use as well (unless you get stuck in a non-reclining seat).

I can't sleep without reclining, and I take a lot of red-eye flights across the country or flights after a 24-hour shift (being in a long-distance relationship does that to you). I recline my seat all the way, which isn't that much anyway, given how limited the reclining actually is, and specifically avoid the seats that don't recline (the ones in front of the exit rows and the last rows in the plane) so I can get some sleep. It would be different if I could sleep vertically, but I even have a hard time sleeping with how little the seats recline. I would be highly offended if someone asked me to put my seat back up, because it's important to me to get some sleep when I fly, particularly on a red-eye flight or after a night shift. I do try to avoid making changes when the drinks and snacks are going around, so I don't splash someone's drink all over them, but it's hard to know if the person behind you has a beverage or not.

On a related note, I think it's criminal that airlines don't clearly mark and discount the seats that don't recline, so you can see them while you're picking your seats and either avoid them or seek out a lower price if you don't care about reclining. Anyone who pays for the same ticket should get the same amenities. A seat that doesn't recline should be less expensive than one that does, just like coach is less expensive than first or business class.

And for the people who would obnoxiously push against a seat that's reclined, that makes you far more rude than the person in front of you. The reclining person's "rudeness" (I use quotes because I still don't think it's rude at all) is unintentional and yours is purposeful.

 

[Autumnovember]

Yep, I recline. I've flown a lot over the years and whenever someone in front of me reclines, I never think "how rude!"

I don't ask the person behind me if it is ok to recline either. I don't think I have to. I paid for my seat, I'll use the function of the recliner.

I would hate to have to sit through an entire flight in what feels like a 90 degree position.

I've never had anyone complain to me about it. If they did, I'd probably suggest they recline theirs back too. If it's still an issue, move your seat. If you're really tall....get a seat in the emergency exit row. In my mind, it's really cut and dry.

 

[bee*]

What??? Are you guys being real?? I PAID for my seat - my ENTIRE seat and ALL of it's functionalities. I get it is hard for taller folks - my husband is 6'5 and he has a difficult time fitting in his seat. Only then is a polite conversation warranted. What is up with people being jerks to the person reclining their seat???

Only exception: during meal/snack time. All seats should be back in upright and ensure the person behind has finished eating/drinking before you recline it again.

I agree totally. During meal times or if I see that the person behind me has a drink, then I wouldn't put my seat back but at other times I will, especially when I fly from the US to Ireland overnight. I can't believe that people are that rude to someone who reclines their seat. If they've paid for their seat, they're entitled to recline it.

 

[Selkie]

Yes, I absolutely have the right to recline it, but I also feel I have the responsibility to look back, see if it's going to inconvenience a tall person or someone with a baby in their lap, and to not JAM it into someone's kneecaps. Then I gradually ease the seat back to a point that's comfortable, but not so far that I'm reclining prone in some stranger's lap.

I also only fly JetBlue if at all possible, because I love the amount of leg room they provide.

 

[KaeKae]

Lately, I fly just once a year, from LA to NY and back again. We've mostly taken the redeye out, and since it's over night, then, yes, I definitely do think we have the right to recline our seats. The way back, we usally take a later flight, too, and I will recline, but not all the way, unless I notice my neighbor to the back is also reclined.

A couple years ago, we had a long trip back. Weather, then mechanical issues delayed our flight, so it was really late. About halfway through the flight, a fight nearly broke out a few rows behind us. Apparently, a passenger had reclined his seat and the man behind him asked him not to. Well, I didn't hear the beginning of the scene, but by the time I did, it was yelling and name calling, with the reclined man stating: "That's why the seat goes back, so I can sleep!" Fortunately, the flight attendant was able to diffuse the situation, but it must not have been easy. When we landed, we were instructed to stay in our seats. Two police officers came on board and escorted the yeller off the plane. My daughter, who had slept through the whole thing was really confused, but I was glad we weren't closer to those passengers.

So, even on an overnight flight, reclining your seat isn't a given.

 

[wildcat03]

I recline for some portion of the flight maybe 50% of the time I fly, usually triggered by the person in front of me reclining. I'm short - 5'0" so my legs are never cramped etc. I do sort of consider it my privilege to recline if I so choose. It's not MY fault that the person behind me is 6'0" (and I didn't see them jumping up to help when I was struggling to get my carry-on into the overhead compartment).

 

[swingirl]

Why would the airlines make seats to recline if you aren't supposed to recline them? Saying it's not polite is like saying it's not polite to wake up your neighbor to go to the bathroom. Or not order a drink because you and the flight attendant have to reach over the person. Or not accept food because the person next to you is not eating. These are all things that are offered by the airlines as part of the service. I am sorry for the tall or fat people who do not fit comfortably in their space but that is between them and the airlines. I am very sympathetic for tall people, not so much for fat people.

I find airline seats very uncomfortable in the upright position. They force your body to sit hunched because they are curved forward.

 

[VRBeauty]

Do I have the right? Yes.

Am I going to do it? For short flights (less than 2 hours) almost never. It does cramp the person behind me, just as the person who reclined in front of me cramps my space, and I rarely sleep on short flights anyway. If the person in front of me decides to recline his or her seat I generally just put up with it unless it's really bothering me - in which case I have on occasion spoken up. longer flights it's a different story. Many people try to get a bits of sleep, and more people have their seats reclined so it really doesn't impact anybody.

I'll agree that it's the airlines' fault for giving us so little room in the first place, but that doesn't mean I have to take my frustration out on the person in front of or behind me.

 

[MissStepcut]

Packie, i have to ask, how often do you fly? If the person infront of you reclines, then you recline your seat. Simple as that. And you can still get in and out of your seat. You're squished, not stuck.

Really, though, it sounds like people are being inconvenienced by the lack of space. The anger is being displaced to the person reclining their seat when really this is an issue that should be taken up with the big guys running these tightly packed aircrafts.

I disagree. This doesn't change where my thigh bone reaches to. I will still be as crushed as if I hadn't reclined.

If you read my previous post, you will see that I mentioned that my husband has the same issue and initiates a polite conversation requesting the person in front of him to reduce the recline angle so they can both reach a happy middle ground. But that space is not your right, and if you have an issue with that you have to take it up with the airline and not the person sitting in front of you.

The person in front of you could have had the guy in front of him recline. And with you forcing him not to recline his seat, he will definitely be stuck between a rock and a hard place. And he probably paid the same you did - so what gives?

I did read it, and I the couple of times I've tried it, I've been told something along the lines of the arguments presented in this thread. Or that they'll put it back up when the food comes. One time someone was kind enough to pull back long enough for me to uncross my legs, since their abrupt reclining motion lead to me being completely trapped due to the position of my legs when they did it. I am guessing people don't feel very sympathetic since for a man who is 6'5" his discomfort is immediately obvious, even though I have more leg than my 6'6" ex or my 6'4" stepdad.

As for the airlines, they have to actually be profitable before I can blame them for much.

 

[LJL]

I think I've maybe reclined my seat twice - and I have probably taken 40 round trips in my life. The times I reclined were on 8 hour (ish) flights to and from Portugal. Everyone reclined because of the length of the flight. However, I would probably never recline otherwise, even if the person in front of me does. Im fairly small (or so it seems compared to all the other ppl I see flying), 5'3 so my legs aren't dying, I dont get up to go to the bathroom, or have any of these other problems. I'm afraid that I AM that person who says "how rude!" when the person in front of me reclines.... woops! I try not to inconvenience others if I can help it.

Now I think there are worse things to experience on a flight than a seat recliner (thats not a big deal in the grand scheme)-the screaming toddler whose parents dont care.... the person whose girth has extended UNDER the arm rest and into my seat.... or the person that raises the armrest that you put down so their belly can breach the gap between the seats.

 

[natascha]

I mean this as an honest question to the people who are against reclining. How often, how long are the flights and during what circumstances are they made?

I consider myself to be very respectful, always raise my chair at mealtimes, look back and carefully recline the chair, etc. If you keep to that I have absolutely no problem with people reclining their chair.

If I am taking the first flight out and then the last flight back in or like last time ending up spending 35 hours on flights and airports I am definitively reclining my chair. As someone said before me, those seats are curved so you end up sitting hunched up. That gives me a major neck-ache so I end up popping pills so I won't get a migraine. I honestly don't understand why I should not be able to recline my chair (except for mealtimes and takeoff).

 

[Laila619]

Just because you *can* do something doesn't mean you should.

I don't recline. And I appreciate it when others don't. However, if someone does do it, it's not the end of the world or anything.

 

[Imdanny]

100%. They tell you when to put your seat in the upright position for safety's sake. Otherwise, your seat only reclines as far as they designed it to do and you have the right to recline it if you want.

 

[monarch64]

I recline for some portion of the flight maybe 50% of the time I fly, usually triggered by the person in front of me reclining. I'm short - 5'0" so my legs are never cramped etc. I do sort of consider it my privilege to recline if I so choose. It's not MY fault that the person behind me is 6'0" (and I didn't see them jumping up to help when I was struggling to get my carry-on into the overhead compartment).

Hee hee, you can recline all you want, and believe me I won't help you try to get your carry-on into the overhead compartment. I'm a tall, and since 14 years old I've been asked by every short Tom, Dick, and Harry to reach things for them. I can't go into a grocery store or a Target without being pestered. I've just started telling people no, that there are employees who work there who are paid to do that sort of thing. Apparently because I'm tall, people look at me as a useful tool for their benefit, whether it inconveniences me or not. So, no, I don't rush to help shorties get their bags up into the overhead bins.

I'm 5'10" and honestly I've never had too much of an issue with someone reclining their seat. They only recline a few inches, and I sit up straight (better for my back and I've never been a slumper--I am proud of my excellent posture), so my knees aren't that close to the seats in front of me anyway. I can see how someone taller than me, or who doesn't have their butt all the way back in the seat might have a problem.

Also, I choose exit row seating not only because of the additional leg room, but because I don't trust any other people on the plane (most of whom are distracted or sleeping) to know what the hell they're doing.

 

[ame]

I get it is hard for taller folks - my husband is 6'5 and he has a difficult time fitting in his seat.

DH is 6'4" and far from a tiny man, so I do my best for bulkhead and emergency for his comfort. But if someone's going to lay his head back in my husbands crotch, that's beyond my threshold for tolerance.

If you recline your seat into my space, you better expect me to be INSANELY obnoxious to you the entire duration of your reclining time. I will make your rest absolute HELL assuming you can get any. Ill pull on your seat by leaning on my tray table will all 200 of my pounds, Ill kick my knees into it and need to reach down often to pick things up from my bag making my face be RIGHT in yours where you can smell my death breath. Ill have my music so loud teh whole plane can hear it even with headphones on. And when I vomit, which I tend to do on all of my flights despite all attempts not to, I won't be as sorry if a little hits you.

You're a real peach to travel with.

UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE. I have been nicknamed Spewy by 4 of my last significant others, and not one knew in advance about that name. My family calls me that now too. I barf with alarming frequency, especially on a plane.

But I am also "all business" when travelling. I don't like flying, because I don't like being trapped in the air in a tube full of other people Im already generally annoyed by, I am already claustrophobic enough on dry land and I am a nervous stomach on a flight as it is. So when my space that is already limited is seriously encroached on by some selfish jackass, that makes me a raging a-hole back. If they lean it back a TINY amount, fine, but if it's seriously in my space and I cannot move...that's when I start getting clausterphobic. More than I already am. I cannot control the barfing. That's usually seriously like it happens without warning. Most times I do get a little weird feeling and I know it, but boy have I been surprised by the projection a few times.

I generally am not obnoxious at all on a flight, until like I said, someone leans all the way back and can rest their head on my chest.

The reclining person's "rudeness" (I use quotes because I still don't think it's rude at all) is unintentional and yours is purposeful.

I very much disagree. They are oblivious. It's less about intention. They think they're so much more important than any other paying customer and that their comfort is of the utmost attention.

 

[sillyberry]

I don't recline. I'm short, and even so I hate having people recline on me so I don't do it to other people unless it is designated sleeping hours when I think reclining is appropriate. I've long been indoctrinated by Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post who thinks reclining is absolutely unacceptable (again, except for overnight flights). He actually created a card expressing what he thinks of the situations (no, I have not actually printed this out and used it!):

 

[sparklyheart]

I want to know what airlines you guys are flying on. I've never had a seat that reclines so much that it gets in my way.. And I've never seen them get in other people's way.. I always look behind me before I recline to make sure I'm not hitting anything but I think it's just courteous to let the person behind me know the seat it going to move..

Y'all must fly on roomier airlines than me!!!

 

[Fly Girl]

I try not to recline on short flights. I don't like having someone reclining in front of me, and so I presume others feel the same. I have found that if you put a small pillow behind your lower back, it helps a lot to prevent back ache after the flight.

DH is tall and all legs. He travels enough that most of the time he is able to get bulkhead or exit row seating, or the new economy class. Most exit row seats don't recline at all, so you get used to sitting upright. But in regular seating, the person in front of him simply cannot recline, because his knees are right up against the seat in front. Generally, he leans forward and politely explains this to the person in front, and most people are polite and do not recline. I do remember one person who insisted on reclining, so he ended up calling the stewardess who found the would-be recliner a different seat. That is really the only solution, because it is impossible to suck it up and shorten your thighbones.

 

[Guilty Pleasure]

I want to know what airlines you guys are flying on. I've never had a seat that reclines so much that it gets in my way.. And I've never seen them get in other people's way.. I always look behind me before I recline to make sure I'm not hitting anything but I think it's just courteous to let the person behind me know the seat it going to move..

Y'all must fly on roomier airlines than me!!!

ditto! I must know the name of this airline that provides seats to economy passengers that recline more than three inches and can actually lay into the lap behind. yes, that is me rolling my eyes because I do not believe that the reclining person's head could possibly be in the back person's crotch.

I have flown eight times in 2011, and each flight was a minimum of 7 hours. I do not always recline, but I will if I feel the need. I try to recline slowly so as to give the person warning, but that is not always possible if the thing is spring loaded.

 

[TravelingGal]

I don't know about rights, but I do what I think is polite.

On short flights of 2 hours or less, I never recline. Actually, I normally don't recline for anything under 3.5 hours (my usual connection from LAX to O'Hare.

On longer flights, I will never recline during a meal (so that means an International flight). On these long flights, I also do not recline for the first couple of hours before the meal comes.

Now, on an international 14 hour flight to Australia, everyone reclines, and no one seems to have an issue with it. It's assumed you will sleep, so people seem to understand. I also look behind me and try to make eye contact to let the person know I am going to recline. No one likes a surprise recliner...they can have drinks on their tray table, etc.

On a longer domestic flight, same applies as an intl flight if it's a red eye. If it's a long day time flight, I look at the person behind me to see if they are reclining. If they are, fair game. If they are not and they look tall, I can usually deal with not reclining.

The only time it bothers me if someone reclines on me is during a meal. Then I'll lean in and ask them to sit straight. I've never had anyone not apologize and get their chair back up.

I find Americans seem to want to recline more than my limited experience flying in Europe/Australia.

 

[April20]

Of course you have the right to recline your seat. It's built with that function and is meant to be used. (unless you are in front of an exit row, then it is disabled, therefore i avoid these rows) Sure, i have had people recline back into me, but so what? You're on a plane, not a luxury liner, deal with it.

I find those that make life HELL for someone who reclines their seat COMPLETELY out of line. COMPLETELY. I also think those that act this way perhaps don't fly as much as others.

I flew 182 times last year. Before i quit my job at the end of March this year, i flew 54 times. I am rarely phased by ANYTHING on a plane. Recline into me, take my arm rest, talk to me and never shut up, fall asleep so i can't get out, whatever. Doesn't phase me. I'll just get a cocktail and carry on. The flight will be over soon enough and i will never see you again. No reason to be a jerk and start a war.

I also use seatguru.com when i take extended flights. It analyzes every single seat and tells you the ins and outs. You look your airline and plane up and voila! I love that site. A guy sitting next to me on a plane told me about it. While we were reclined in our seats.

 

[Autumnovember]

I get it is hard for taller folks - my husband is 6'5 and he has a difficult time fitting in his seat.

DH is 6'4" and far from a tiny man, so I do my best for bulkhead and emergency for his comfort. But if someone's going to lay his head back in my husbands crotch, that's beyond my threshold for tolerance.

If you recline your seat into my space, you better expect me to be INSANELY obnoxious to you the entire duration of your reclining time. I will make your rest absolute HELL assuming you can get any. Ill pull on your seat by leaning on my tray table will all 200 of my pounds, Ill kick my knees into it and need to reach down often to pick things up from my bag making my face be RIGHT in yours where you can smell my death breath. Ill have my music so loud teh whole plane can hear it even with headphones on. And when I vomit, which I tend to do on all of my flights despite all attempts not to, I won't be as sorry if a little hits you.

You're a real peach to travel with.

UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE. I have been nicknamed Spewy by 4 of my last significant others, and not one knew in advance about that name. My family calls me that now too. I barf with alarming frequency, especially on a plane.

But I am also "all business" when travelling. I don't like flying, because I don't like being trapped in the air in a tube full of other people Im already generally annoyed by, I am already claustrophobic enough on dry land and I am a nervous stomach on a flight as it is. So when my space that is already limited is seriously encroached on by some selfish jackass, that makes me a raging a-hole back. If they lean it back a TINY amount, fine, but if it's seriously in my space and I cannot move...that's when I start getting clausterphobic. More than I already am. I cannot control the barfing. That's usually seriously like it happens without warning. Most times I do get a little weird feeling and I know it, but boy have I been surprised by the projection a few times.

I generally am not obnoxious at all on a flight, until like I said, someone leans all the way back and can rest their head on my chest.

The reclining person's "rudeness" (I use quotes because I still don't think it's rude at all) is unintentional and yours is purposeful.

I very much disagree. They are oblivious. It's less about intention. They think they're so much more important than any other paying customer and that their comfort is of the utmost attention.

Wowwwww. I definitely don't think I'm better than anyone else because I recline my chair. Maybe the person who thinks I shouldnt recline because they're somehow better than any other paying customer and that their comfort is of the utmost attention is oblivious and rude.

 

[Autumnovember]

If you recline your seat into my space, you better expect me to be INSANELY obnoxious to you the entire duration of your reclining time. I will make your rest absolute HELL assuming you can get any. Ill pull on your seat by leaning on my tray table will all 200 of my pounds, Ill kick my knees into it and need to reach down often to pick things up from my bag making my face be RIGHT in yours where you can smell my death breath. Ill have my music so loud teh whole plane can hear it even with headphones on. And when I vomit, which I tend to do on all of my flights despite all attempts not to, I won't be as sorry if a little hits you.

My husband has been stuck in his seat on an 8 hour flight before because the douchebag in front of him popped a xanax and passed out reclined, That sticks 3-5 other people who are beside and behind you in their seats til YOU are damn good and ready to sit back up. They either need to take the reclining option away, or only allow it to go back like a degree so that it doesn't interfere with anyone behind the person. I need to be able to use my table and move.

Woah who knew reclining in a seat would make some people this pissed off. That's scary. I thought people get more pissed off about the real things in life that matter, you know like the economic crisis? I feel like I'm back on my pediatrics rotation....

 

[kenny]

. . . So when my space that is already limited is seriously encroached on by some selfish jackass, that makes me a raging a-hole back. If they lean it back a TINY amount, fine, but if it's seriously in my space and I cannot move...that's when I start getting clausterphobic. More than I already am. I cannot control the barfing. That's usually seriously like it happens without warning. Most times I do get a little weird feeling and I know it, but boy have I been surprised by the projection a few times.

ame, seats don't go far enough back to touch your chest or your husbands crotch.
That is exaggerating.
Based on all your conditions and problems that you have shared with us I recommend you never fly, or fly first class where your conditions and problems will be less aggravated by society just using what they are entitled to use because of the seat design, not to mention they paid for it.

If you actually did what you said you'd do to a reclining passenger you are risking arrest when the plane lands.
Such an overreaction is way beyond anti-social, and today they just do not put up with adults having temper tantrums on flights.

I would argue that the space we rent with our tickets includes not only the seat we sit on, but also those few inches that our seats recline.
It's fair because it applies to not only the person in front of you, but also to YOU.
When someone reclines in front of you, just recline your seat and you will regain all that space that you apparently feel was stolen from you by a "selfish jackass".
They get to recline, and you get to recline. It's a wash. No problem.

We are not flying alone - unless you are Donald Trump or Obama.
We have to share and cooperate to get along in today's horribly cramped jets.

 

[jstarfireb]

The reclining person's "rudeness" (I use quotes because I still don't think it's rude at all) is unintentional and yours is purposeful.

I very much disagree. They are oblivious. It's less about intention. They think they're so much more important than any other paying customer and that their comfort is of the utmost attention.

Wowwwww. I definitely don't think I'm better than anyone else because I recline my chair. Maybe the person who thinks I shouldnt recline because they're somehow better than any other paying customer and that their comfort is of the utmost attention is oblivious and rude.

My reaction exactly, AN. Thanks for the support. Reclining my seat doesn't mean I think I'm better than any other passenger. I don't know how many people recline their seats on a typical flight, but I would venture to say that it's the norm rather than the exception. We could easily turn that around and say those who react poorly to people reclining in front of them are the ones who think they're better than everyone else.

Also, big ditto to sparklyheart: "I want to know what airlines you guys are flying on. I've never had a seat that reclines so much that it gets in my way.. And I've never seen them get in other people's way.." - I was trying to say the same thing earlier in a more long-winded way. It's never, EVER been an issue on the many flights I've been on.

 

[iheartscience]

. . . So when my space that is already limited is seriously encroached on by some selfish jackass, that makes me a raging a-hole back. If they lean it back a TINY amount, fine, but if it's seriously in my space and I cannot move...that's when I start getting clausterphobic. More than I already am. I cannot control the barfing. That's usually seriously like it happens without warning. Most times I do get a little weird feeling and I know it, but boy have I been surprised by the projection a few times.

ame, seats don't go far enough back to touch your chest or your husbands crotch.
That is exaggerating.
Based on all your conditions and problems that you have shared with us I recommend you never fly, or fly first class where your conditions and problems will be less aggravated by society just using what they are entitled to use because of the seat design, not to mention they paid for it.

If you actually did what you said you'd do to a reclining passenger you are risking arrest when the plane lands.
Such an overreaction is way beyond anti-social, and today they just do not put up with adults having temper tantrums on flights.

I would argue that the space we rent with our tickets includes not only the seat we sit on, but also those few inches that our seats recline.
It's fair because it applies to not only the person in front of you, but also to YOU.
When someone reclines in front of you, just recline your seat and you will regain all that space that you apparently feel was stolen from you by a "selfish jackass".
They get to recline, and you get to recline. It's a wash. No problem.

We are not flying alone - unless you are Donald Trump or Obama.
We have to share and cooperate to get along in today's horribly cramped jets.

Ditto every word!

 

[Cehrabehra]

I don't fly more than some, but I DO fly more than most, especially on 10+ hour flights (about 6 per year) and reclining your seat during a long flight isn't just a right, it's a must. You need to give your body some stretching room and everyone should recline their chairs so that everyone still has the same amount of space. Other than meal times. Every flight I've been on (various airlines) request you put your seat up for meals.

I find it hard to fathom that anyone (let alone 17%!) think it's not okay. I'm not a small person, and there have been many times I've silently cursed the person in front of me for inconveniencing me, but that's my problem, not theirs.

ETA:
Compassionately - Ame, I'm sorry that you have such a tough time with flying...
but
Bluntly - Ame, it really is your issue and you should really consider not subjecting people to it. I hope what you say is merely thoughts and not actions. It's unfortunate that you have such a tough time with it, but the rest of us deal with *inconvenience* not irrational loathing. Please consider a train or car or boat or being one of those people who stays home and seeks some professional hope for both your rage and your claustrophobia. I know this may come off to you as a-hole and harsh, but I think to the rest of the world would see this as reasonable and logical. Please take that into consideration.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I don't know about rights, but I do what I think is polite.

On short flights of 2 hours or less, I never recline. Actually, I normally don't recline for anything under 3.5 hours (my usual connection from LAX to O'Hare.

On longer flights, I will never recline during a meal (so that means an International flight). On these long flights, I also do not recline for the first couple of hours before the meal comes.

Now, on an international 14 hour flight to Australia, everyone reclines, and no one seems to have an issue with it. It's assumed you will sleep, so people seem to understand. I also look behind me and try to make eye contact to let the person know I am going to recline. No one likes a surprise recliner...they can have drinks on their tray table, etc.

On a longer domestic flight, same applies as an intl flight if it's a red eye. If it's a long day time flight, I look at the person behind me to see if they are reclining. If they are, fair game. If they are not and they look tall, I can usually deal with not reclining.

The only time it bothers me if someone reclines on me is during a meal. Then I'll lean in and ask them to sit straight. I've never had anyone not apologize and get their chair back up.

I find Americans seem to want to recline more than my limited experience flying in Europe/Australia.

This is pretty much how I do things... I may not be quite as considerate as you are, but I'm close

 

[Mayk]

I fly a lot and I only drop my seat back a small amount about 20% just to give the straight upright position a little relief, unless I get upgraded to first I am 5'11" and it's terrible to be on a long flight with a seat in your lap. I had a large man in front of me who pushed the limits of the seat and he had his seat ALL the way back the whole time even when we were told to raise the seats. I think some travelers are just extremely inconsiderate. I'm on a plane nearly every week so I've seen it all. I do wish people would warn you or move back slowly it would be nice.

My other pet peeve is people with large bags smacking people on the way down the isle. They almost never stop to say anything. They will clip almost every person on the isle!