Plane seat recline debate rages on

Plane seat recline debate rages on
By admin


It seems there are two types of people in the world, or at least on an aeroplane: those who believe they have a fundamental right to recline their seat and those who cannot imagine anything worse than people who believe they have a fundamental right to recline their seat.

Recently, on United Airlines Flight 1462 from Newark to Denver, those two types clashed in spectacular fashion.

A female passenger became irate when she discovered that she couldn't put her seat back because a man sitting behind her was employing a "Knee Defender" – a device that can force a seat to remain upright.

When the argument escalated to the point where the woman threw a cup of water at the man after he refused to remove the device, the flight was diverted to Chicago, where the two passengers, both 48, were escorted off the plane.

It's a story, in a sense, about two people behaving badly. But it's also about civility, public space, and yes, modern air travel.

"Who is supposed to yield?" is a basic question in any society, said Janie Harden Fritz, a Duquesne University professor specialising in civility.

"When we live in public with others, we're going to step on each others' toes sometimes. Part of living with others is yielding sometimes, or thinking others should yield to us."

As for the plane, Fritz believes that if a person were to demonstrate model plane etiquette, the passenger in front should turn around and ask the passenger behind if he or she minds if the seat reclines.

"Most people, if you ask, will say go ahead and lean back," she said.

But what actually happens most of the time, says Pennsylvania man Steve Hansen, is that people recline their seats without asking. And for Hansen, who is 6-foot-2, it's not a situation he's happy with.

"I'm ashamed to admit it but I am thinking evil thoughts the whole time," he says. "You've made this passive-aggressive choice to violate my space."

Hansen will jam his legs into the seat in front of him "so they understand they are going into an object."

He will occasionally speak loudly about his discomfort. He believes that once upon a time, when airlines were more spacious, seat reclining may have been appropriate.

"People should understand that a reclining seat is from another era – it's like smoking on a flight," he said.

"You just don't get to do that anymore."

Hansen is not alone – three years ago, Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten created a printable card designed to be passed to a seat recliner.

"I know you meant no harm in reclining your seat," reads the card, "but doing so takes an already disagreeable situation and makes it even more stressful for others."

Hansen believes it's an issue created by the airlines and one he believes the airlines can help solve.

The pre-flight announcements should include a message instructing passengers to speak to the person sitting behind them.

"They should force the person who is actually reclining to have to confront the other person, but they don't do that at all," he said.

"There is no protocol so that of course becomes the problem."

 

 

 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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