Is this the new norm? [Qantaslink Cabin crew won't ask passengers not to recline during meal service]

[Seat0B]

Thoughtless reclining does my head in. Sure on an overnight or long international flight, or maybe even flying from SYD-PER. But on a regional flight, presumably on a Dash-8 (which I have done way way too often), there is pretty much no need for anyone to fully recline.

This is a situation where I do admit to sometimes pulling out a few pass-ag moves. Eg, pushing repeatedly (as if I were a toddler) on the seat in front. Slamming/ aggressively pushing my seat tray in and out a few times in short succession. Needing to get up and leave my seat frequently, requiring me to haul on the seat in front to get up, and maybe bump into the person in my access space. No I know it does not fix the problem, but it does at least apportion some of the pain to the person causing the problem.

 

[justinbrett]

But on a regional flight, presumably on a Dash-8 (which I have done way way too often), there is pretty much no need for anyone to fully recline.

I'm not trying to be funny, but do they actually recline? I've got hundreds of hours as a pax in Dash 8s, I can't ever remember reclining, nor anyone else around me.

Did I just never think to try?

 

[Seat0B]

I'm not trying to be funny, but do they actually recline? I've got hundreds of hours as a pax in Dash 8s, I can't ever remember reclining, nor anyone else around me.

Did I just never think to try?

Hmm I think you are right about Dash-8, certainly the ones they use on CBR-SYD. It's been a while since I did this - to quote @Quickstatus in the "falling asleep on your neigbour" thread, "Next time don;t fly Y" . I can recall some God awful flights from BNE -ROK (I used to do contract work at Stanwell Power) that I thought were on a Dash-8 where people were definitely reclining, whatever the aircraft was. So maybe I have mixed up the aircraft type. My reaction is the same though, whatever the aircraft on a short regional flight....

 

[Forg]

With IFE the problem is solved by reclining your own seat.

No it absolutely is not. Even if you weren’t uncomfortable with your chin jammed into your chest, the IFE screen doesn’t tilt out far enough and you can’t get enough of a perpendicular viewing angle to see the LCD screen.

This lie is often perpetuated by Recliners to try & justify their Reclining Behaviour!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I checked the schedule Perth to Karratha and they’re all A320s, 737s or F100s. No dash-8s, at least in the next week.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Oh. Poochie

No, it wasn't me.
And I didn't see it personally, but read about it, I can't remember where now.
But it defo does happen.

 

[JohnK]

It won't make any difference. The recline of your own seat will increase the space to your own tray table but the position of your tray table is constant irrespective of what the person in front does.

So I should recline during meal service because the selfish person in front has reclined?

For international services love travelling with family as daughter is in middle seat and we can use her tray table.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So I should recline during meal service because the selfish person in front has reclined?

For international services love travelling with family as daughter is in middle seat and we can use her tray table.

No. You reclining won’t make a difference, because the seat in front reclines over your tray table.

The tray table itself doesn’t move. It’s in the same position whether the person is in front or reclined.

 

[Seat0B]

I checked the schedule Perth to Karratha and they’re all A320s, 737s or F100s. No dash-8s, at least in the next week.

Sorry for the Dash-8 red herring. That is all on me. The OP did not specify the aircraft type- I just leapt to my own (incorrect) conclusion/recollections.

 

[ausfox]

That,s a big call seat OB. Admitting you made a mistake. Very unusual On a forum.

 

[randompunter]

Haha don't think Dash 8s have reclining seats? Although some have window shades and some don't..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

In NZ, disobeying crew instructions can see you being taken away.
Happened to an older lady, saw it on the news.
The (Air)NZd flight WLG - AKL was delayed about 45 mins, as the NZ police escorted the lady and another person off the plane.
Its hard to say what would have happened, if the FA had approached the pax in the front, would that person have argued with the FA, or would he have put his seat back forward.

 

[JohnK]

No. You reclining won’t make a difference, because the seat in front reclines over your tray table.

The tray table itself doesn’t move. It’s in the same position whether the person is in front or reclined.

Dash 8's? Yes I do realise that tray table does not move but my point is if seat in front reclines then I have no room to use tray table.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dash 8's? Yes I do realise that tray table does not move but my point is if seat in front reclines then I have no room to use tray table.

All aircraft. Agree when the seat in front is reclined it is difficult to eat a meal but shouldn't be a problem for a snack.

 

[JohnK]

All aircraft. Agree when the seat in front is reclined it is difficult to eat a meal but shouldn't be a problem for a snack.

Much better if seats didn’t recline but then some here would call for my head for daring to consider such drastic measures.

But seriously why would anyone recline on such a short hop? I remember many years ago on a short hop, could have been golden triangle, the couple in front reclined in unison as soon as seat belt sign went off. Seriously? Serial recliners. Looked like they did this often without any regard for anyone around them. Is my knee really pushing into your seat that hard? Did I just use your headrest to get up and then get back down again. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience but I will be as considerate as you next time I need to get up.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Much better if seats didn’t recline but then some here would call for my head for daring to consider such drastic measures.

But seriously why would anyone recline on such a short hop? I remember many years ago on a short hop, could have been golden triangle, the couple in front reclined in unison as soon as seat belt sign went off. Seriously? Serial recliners. Looked like they did this often without any regard for anyone around them. Is my knee really pushing into your seat that hard? Did I just use your headrest to get up and then get back down again. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience but I will be as considerate as you next time I need to get up.

Well… on a flight earlier this year I was in the ‘B’ seat for a hop SYD-MEL. A and C were two big sticky blokes, broad shouldered. The only way I could comfortably sit in my seat was to recline, giving me a big a shoulder room.

Otherwise, my back! The slight recline eases the pressure and the soreness.

 

[JohnK]

Otherwise, my back! The slight recline eases the pressure and the soreness.

Me and you are different. I blame my curved spine but I cannot lay back in seat in recline. I have to be either upright or leaning forward. I used to love bulkhead seats when we travelled with little one as a baby but now I'm too big for bulkhead anyway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Me and you are different. I blame my curved spine but I cannot lay back in seat in recline. I have to be either upright or leaning forward. I used to love bulkhead seats when we travelled with little one as a baby but now I'm too big for bulkhead anyway.

I’m sure most people are like me… we don’t recline to purposely make life unpleasant for the person behind us! Sometimes it can’t be helped… like sitting between two big people… or it’s genuinely needed for comfort.

I’m 6’3, I don’t like being reclined onto, but it happens. Nothing I can do about it, and I don’t think the person in front is being rude or bad mannered. They’re just making use of whatever they can to be more comfortable.

Agree seat backs should be up for meals, otherwise it’s almost impossible to eat!

 

[jpp42]

What I wanna know is when AU airlines are going to fit those blissful fixed seats you see in pictures of airlines overseas?!

Do you mean the "shell" type that recline within the seat without affecting the shell and thus the passenger behind? Cathay Pacific has these and I found them quite uncomfortable - no lower back support when reclined.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you mean the "shell" type that recline within the seat without affecting the shell and thus the passenger behind? Cathay Pacific has these and I found them quite uncomfortable - no lower back support when reclined.

There’s also standard eco seats, no shell. They just have no recline function! (they come slightly ‘pre-reclined’, but not by much!)