….but I’m completely OK with it if you do! Of course, the driver behind this post is the recent news about the United Airlines flight diverting when a couple of jack wagon passengers managed to get themselves into an altercation by refusing to work together.
You won’t find me ordering a knee defender anytime soon. Here’s the deal, it’s your seat, so if you want to recline, be my guest. You’ll have no complaints from me unless you break my laptop. It’s possible for all of us to be comfortable, OK…semi-comfortable, even in coach.
If you must recline, simply do so responsibly. It’s always nice to turn around and say “hey, I’m gonna push my seat back a bit,” but certainly not necessary. When it’s time to recline, just e-a-s-e (don’t slam)  the seat back. That gives you your modicum of comfort, and it gives the fellow traveler behind you a bit of time to adjust things if they need to move something to accommodate your recline. I travel with an 11.1″ MacBook Air, and even that is not completely safe in coach. Just give me a second or three to move it out of your way if I need to. That’s all I ask! đŸ™‚
And if you leave your seat, why not return it to its upright position while you are away? It’s not our fault these rows are so close together, but it’s the world we fly in together. Returning your seat upright gives the passenger behind you a break, and likely makes it easier for the folks behind you to get in/out of their seats in case they need to stand up and stretch their legs too. Working together, we can make coach survivable without knee defenders or fights. This concludes today’s public service announcement.
-MJ, August 26, 2014
[…] that. ) I know the accountants have the upper hand at airlines nowadays, but seriously, there are enough seats on the airplanes […]
I’m pretty sure you aren’t a tall person posting this. My husband a 6’6 is quite uncomfortable when flying and we’ve only ever done it in coach. His company will pay for econ+ for him due to special request because it’s obvious he’s tall. For now, we put the kids next to him so he can adjust as necessary and they are petite. So… I don’t blame the guy for using knee defenders. I want to buy some.
I know airlines such as Qantas will request that all seat back are up for meal services and it is actually enforced. I find this works well!
And a reasonable take it is, John.
When airlines jam more people into smaller space problems with human interaction are inevitable. As you state MJ, a little common courtesy goes along way to easing but not eliminating these conflicts. Part of the problem is that passengers are under the illusion that when the seat in front is in its full upright position all of the area behind that seat is their space. Wrong. The ability to recline the seat in effect bestows an easement in favor of the passenger in front to the space that the seat potentially can recline into. Sort of like a homeowner who… Read more »
Perfect example of lack of common oourtesy:
I had a premium KL Premium pax travelling with his KL Premium child seated separately. I was unable to seat them together. I paged another DL Premium pax to inquire if he would exchange so her parent could be next to her father and he said an emphatic NO. I was astounded !I gave an explanation to the little girl but her sad face, it disappointed me in business travelers. THAT is disappoints me the most~
FYI, common courtesy is NOT so ‘common’ anymore. People expect things. Unless it is regards to money then the roles are reversed ..
You got that right.