Angry pax declines to Raise Reclined Seat During Service...

[banana boy]

This is why inflight entertainment systems have touch screens and games. It's your right to recline and it's my right to continually hammer on the screen, you'll also find I have a very weak bladder and need to grasp and violently shake your seat to get up from my seat again and again and again - it's my right.

 

[lydea]

To wrap up this experience: I received a prompt, polite and apologetic email from CX Customer Relations, addressing my complaint and questions. The writer states "passengers are allowed to recline their seats throughout the flight, except during take-off, landing, MEAL SERVICE and turbulence." It's true my first request to go upright was during drinks service, but the second time, when I didn't address him directly but asked CS to act, they were serving meals.

IMO, it would be reasonable to uphold and announce this rule, and act on it in consideration of majority comfort - the greater good principle.

I guess my tap on the shoulder request in this case could be called effective, because the offender did eventually raise his seat, both times. But the aggressive tirade really disturbed me.

FYI: "our cabin crew are trained to intervene as it is their duty to ensure that passengers feel comfortable during their journey" and will re-seat uncomfortable (complaining) pax, but this flight was fully booked. She lists the sanctions that can be imposed on unacceptable behaviour (undefined): verbal warning; inform the captain; issue a written letter; prosecution according to HK law. It seems that uncooperative behaviour and angry snarling at another are not unacceptable, meal service or not. The email noted that a report of this incident was submitted, but not by whom.

AFF advice: a) retaliate from behind the seat, and b) know there are coughholes in the universe to upset reasonable folk. Hey ho.

 

[RooFlyer]

We'll done on your conduct during the whole experience and well done CX for a considered response. The outcome vindicates my contention above that an airline can and should give more than a 'template response'.

 

[FL360]

if they "order" passengers to do this and that (via the PA system), it could hurt someone's perceived images of air travel ….. "no class"

passengers are supposed to be civilised and accustomed to these unspoken and common rules...

a note regarding to Y recline, I have found that the refurbed QF A330-300 is the worst, they can recline so much and it will make taking a meal impossible...

the least recline is AirAsia X A330... surprising makes everybody quite happy.

it would be reasonable to uphold and announce this rule,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's true my first request to go upright was during drinks service, but the second time, when I didn't address him directly but asked CS to act, they were serving meals.

This was my concern, and perhaps set the scene for an uncopoerative passenger in front of you. I know it would antagonise me.

That being said, absolutely zero excuse for any sort of physical or verbal tirade. The crew should have acted on this.

 

[lacuska1]

This is why inflight entertainment systems have touch screens and games. It's your right to recline and it's my right to continually hammer on the screen, you'll also find I have a very weak bladder and need to grasp and violently shake your seat to get up from my seat again and again and again - it's my right.

hope you will get a jerk just yourself behind you and make your flight miserable as you do to other's!

 

[AULT]

When flying to/from Europe to Australia we like to sleep on one of the legs (in the time zone of destination). Ideally we could recline our seat immediately after seat belt sign goes off, and sleep until the seat belt sign goes on before landing. This is OK when the seat behind is empty, but when occupied we respect their right to have a meal with our seat backs upright (meaning we lose hours of sleep time). What makes this situation worse is that the airlines wait an hour or more after takeoff before serving a meal, then take another hour or more to collect the trays. Then they wake everyone up for breakfast 2 hours before landing, even if it is 4am at destination. Seat backs should be upright for meals (announced and enforced) where the seat behind is occupied, but the airlines need to get this concluded as quickly as possible, as soon after take off as possible and as late as possible before landing.

 

[lacuska1]

had similar experience on Cathay a few years ago-so asked the flight attendant to ask the chinese woman front of us to do the right thing!--but than well after meal service I put my seat back the guy behind me complained that he cannot stretch his legs--not flying economy any longer thanks for that!

 

[agentgerko]

hope you will get a jerk just yourself behind you and make your flight miserable as you do to other's!

You clearly didn't see the tongue firmly planted in the writers cheek.

 

[Antkleve]

I may have missed something so correct me if I'm wrong, but from the original post lydea stated they were on an E fare. That's premium economy on Cathay, so in my mind it depends on what class you are flying. It's no big deal if somebody reclines their seat during a meal service in premium economy.

 

[snoophound]

Totally rude and arrogant on the recliners side.
Not good etiquette at all esp at meal time ,

 

[2infinity]

You will always get ignorant, selfish, entitled @ssholes. IMO, there is only one solution to this issue of seat recline, and that is to remove it entirely, at least in the economy cabin and airlines are starting to do just this. Airlines reduce recline

Ok, granted the airlines are no doubt doing it in a push to try and squeeze another row of seats in, but I think it works out best for passengers as well. Reclining your seat a couple of centimetres, doesn't really make for any great increase in personal space, especially if the seat in front reclines.

On a bus trip a couple of years ago, the guy in front of me reclined his seat and it contacted my knees with a bit of force. Needless to say, I voiced my displeasure, hoping at least for an apology for the pain caused, but the guy didn't say a word and didn't un-recline his seat. This made my blood boil even more and made me more vocal about what he had done to the point where his wife tried to defend him, saying he was sick and blah blah blah. I shot her down pretty quickly, saying I was just seeking an apology for the pain caused. That shut her up, but still no apology out of her or him.

Decent people feel uncomfortable using it because they don't want to affect those behind them and @ssholes just don't care about anyone else. Where space is at a minimum, no matter the mode of public transport, I think it is a great idea to get rid of the recline.

 

[GlennT]

CX crew (and most other airlines) are reluctant to ask anything that may cause a confrontation. If there in no announcement at the beginning of meal service to raise seatbacks in Y it should be done if anyone complains prior to or during meal service. It then becomes an instruction from crew and subject to a range of actions against the recalcitrant passenger. Best response to a customer complaint I've seen was on QF where the FA leaned over the customer and smilingly told the passenger she needed to bring her seatback up while simultaneously pressing the release button with one hand and pulling the seatback with the other. And then thanked her for being helpful! The woman looked stunned at being outfoxed!

 

[Nexus9]

you could always use the Knee Defender on these types in the future - apply when they get up to go to the bathroom or something - that should sort out reclining altogether, not just during mealtimes

 

[BMA]

Many years ago, I was on a long haul QF flight when an elderly man objected to the man in front reclining his seat during the flight. The other passenger, as was his right, refused to upright his seat so the elderly man called the crew. They politely told him the other passenger was quite within his rights to recline his seat. Elderly passenger was incensed - he banged the seat in front, spoke loudly about his rights etc etc. Crew called again. They suggested he recline his seat too, but he refused saying it would affect the passenger behind him. He then got to his feet and refused to sit down, despite pleas from his wife sitting beside him. Crew asked him several times to sit down. He continued to bang seat in front and stood for about 45 minutes before crew came back with offer of business class seat! Not for elderly man, as as he started to gather up his belongings, but for long suffering passenger in front of him. Not another word was said!

 

[Hvr]

you could always use the Knee Defender on these types in the future - apply when they get up to go to the bathroom or something - that should sort out reclining altogether, not just during mealtimes

Strictly illegal and will rightfully see the user in trouble.

 

[Nexus9]

Strictly illegal and will rightfully see the user in trouble.

It most certainly is and they most certainly will ... if they get caught that is!?

 

[ladynextdoor]

Seat reclining during meal service should be banned, especially on day flights.

 

[beachbumed]

If you asked nicely and he gave you a mouth full... I would Just keep bumping the seat to annoy him until he complied.

 

[blaz]

There are two types of people on this planet...the ones who an only see a situation from their own perspective, and those that can empathise with another point of view. For the former, from their perspective, compromise is capitulation and thus their anger. Asking for empathy is like asking for money from a beggar.