Article: What's Your Seat Recline Strategy?

[JohnK]

Yes, but you don’t need to buy business to avoid the recline issue… you can buy extra legroom seats.

Extra legroom does not really negate the person in front reclining. The cost that I've seen is around $100 each for extra legroom which is a considerable amount on the return for 3 people and travelling with an 8 year old cannot be exit row.

Not all a350s comes with pre-reclined seats. It’s up to the airline to choose the type of seats it installs. Thai’s a350 seat for example didn’t have any noticeable difference from a standard economy seat on Qantas.

Have you seen Thai airfares outside of their gimmicky buy 1 get 1 free sales ex-MEL which are not that easy or feasible with 3 of us travelling?

Plus no lounge and standard luggage and again does not really handle the situation where person in front reclines.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Extra legroom does not really negate the person in front reclining. The cost that I've seen is around $100 each for extra legroom which is a considerable amount on the return for 3 people and travelling with an 8 year old cannot be exit row.


Have you seen Thai airfares outside of their gimmicky buy 1 get 1 free sales ex-MEL which are not that easy or feasible with 3 of us travelling?

Plus no lounge and standard luggage and again does not really handle the situation where person in front reclines.

The bulkhead eliminates the issue as no one can recline into you!

 

[Peso]

My strategy is I make full use of my seat's features. If there is a recline function, I can and will use it fully once midair, aside from a) FA ordering me to put it upright; or b) during mealtimes as a courtesy to the passenger behind.

If the passenger behind me has a problem with me reclining outside of the two situations (which almost never happens), I can tell them to refer to FA, and I'd comply with their call.

 

[Forg]

Me too, if I ever go anywhere without any laws about shooting people I’ll be blasting away murdering as many as I can!!

[China I suspect? Or does that maybe cost a few bucks on entry?]

 

[AustSerbKor]

Being larger, sadly my recline decisions are not always my own. I usually fly scum economy class and while this is okay with many airlines, Qatar's A350s are so narrow, that sitting down was enough to recline my seat, alright placing the recline button inside the armrest is a factor.

I am of the view that if my reclining after a meal takes too much of your space, this is the airlines fault for providing too little seat pitch. Obviously if you reclining takes too much of my space, I don't get upset with you, I get angry with the airline. I've heard the argument less seat pitch reduces airfares but let's face it we pay what we have to pay. I also work for a US company with an all economy policy so I wouldn't mind them being charged more for adequate space.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Being larger, sadly my recline decisions are not always my own. I usually fly scum economy class and while this is okay with many airlines, Qatar's A350s are so narrow, that sitting down was enough to recline my seat, alright placing the recline button inside the armrest is a factor.

I am of the view that if my reclining after a meal takes too much of your space, this is the airlines fault for providing too little seat pitch. Obviously if you reclining takes too much of my space, I don't get upset with you, I get angry with the airline. I've heard the argument less seat pitch reduces airfares but let's face it we pay what we have to pay. I also work for a US company with an all economy policy so I wouldn't mind them being charged more for adequate space.

Unfortunately American Airlines tried this, and it was a failure

AA removed one row in 10, giving an extra 3 inches of legroom to every seat on their long haul aircraft… it was called ‘More Room Throughout Coach’ (so 34 inches as standard rather than 31 on all other carriers).

The fare was 10% more. As an example if Qantas, Singapore or Cathay were to implement this you’d pay $2000 return to Europe rather than $1850.

But it wasn’t successful, so they reconfigured their fleet to remove it.

So you’re right… people won’t pay $50 more for all that extra legroom all the way to Europe, but they will complain in someone reclines

 

[AustSerbKor]

Unfortunately American Airlines tried this, and it was a failure

AA removed one row in 10, giving an extra 3 inches of legroom to every seat on their long haul aircraft… it was called ‘More Room Throughout Coach’ (so 34 inches as standard rather than 31 on all other carriers).

The fare was 10% more. As an example if Qantas, Singapore or Cathay were to implement this you’d pay $2000 return to Europe rather than $1850.

But it wasn’t successful, so they reconfigured their fleet to remove it.

So you’re right… people won’t pay $50 more for all that extra legroom all the way to Europe, but they will complain in someone reclines

I know everyone tells me to book bulkhead but I like an 18" wide seat and bulkhead seats are narrower due to having the tray table in the armrest. It would be great if all airlines decided that humans deserve 1/10 of the space dogs require (e.g. dogs need at least 10 cm space in each direction). I know we can get up but between increased turbulence and more crowded flights you really can't get up too often.

 

[SOPOOR]

I must be the anomoly, never had a problem and even thought about it.....
Its the passengers right to recline the seat. It just makes a very cramped seat a little.bit more cramped. Part of the package

As long as they dont go up and down , repetiviely.

I kind of expect the person to recline as well. Also if i recline the space is kind of the same.

The only problem.i had was recently, maybe 7 year old kid in front stick his feet through the gap repeatedly eithee while sleeping or trying to sleep. I kept poking it back until mum realised this and , made sure the kid changed angle

 

[thrillho]

If you don't want people reclining into your space, pay for an exit row, or business class. Reclining is part of the economy package, which we all pay for.

I'll be respectful about it, but am fully within my rights to recline.

 

[Seat0B]

Slightly off thread, but same issue on a 2 hr coach trip (1 hr, then 15 min leg stretch, then another hour) starting at 11:15 am between Furano and New Chitose Airport the other day. This pair were known to each other, but the guy in front still slammed his seat into his mate (think it was unintentional). The recliner responded by suggesting that his mate should change seats as they each had a spare beside them (they were both at the window). The mate said he wanted to look out the window. The recliner said bad luck, I’m staying as I am, move or don’t your choice. His mate moved to the aisle.

 

[Flyinfish]

Extra legroom does not really negate the person in front reclining.

In my experience passengers in the exit rows are MORE likely to recline, as they feel that as they have paid extra they should be able to stretch out and be as comfortable as possible.

 

[JohnK]

@Seat0B that photo of the recline on the bus has thrown me right off long haul bus travel.

I was going to do the 15 hours or so on the bus Pattaya - Chiang Mai for something different as it'll be much cheaper than taxi to BKK or DMK then flight to Chiang Mai but there's no way I'm spending 1 hour behind a serial recliner let alone 15 hours unless I can get the bulkhead but that's not guaranteed and not worth the risk.

 

[Forg]

@Seat0B that photo of the recline on the bus has thrown me right off long haul bus travel.

I was going to do the 15 hours or so on the bus Pattaya - Chiang Mai for something different as it'll be much cheaper than taxi to BKK or DMK then flight to Chiang Mai but there's no way I'm spending 1 hour behind a serial recliner let alone 15 hours unless I can get the bulkhead but that's not guaranteed and not worth the risk.

I think you need info about how the buses are set up.
Some have a pitch almost like 80’s J seating, others are like the above.
I’ve never had any sort of interest in finding out why the differences though …