<p>My husband had a miserable situation the other day. Not with a recliner, but he was sitting next to a guy in the center seat, who must have been over seven feet tall, and HUGE. He said the guy was totally spilling over into his seat, and even had his knee into his space. He said he put newspapers and magazines between them to prevent that, and told the giant why he was putting them there. Luckily the person in front of the giant didn’t recline, because that would have been impossible. This was in coach, not economy plus, nor an exit row. He said that it was eye opening to experience that, because he’s usually in first class, or at least an exit row. It didn’t help that he was exhausted.</p>
<p>Another full flight, another, “You’re first on the upgrade list, but there are no seats available.” Airlines have to be making money.</p>
<p>Global Entry does include TSA Precheck (on domestic flights only, and only on selected airlines). But it doesn’t work the other way - getting TSA Precheck doesn’t get you Global Entry. </p>
Yes, personal travel on steerage class, personal budget. Employer always books int’l bz class. JFK terminal 7 gets big thumbs down-- where are all the electrical outlets???</p>
<p>On a recent flight, my daughter had to complete something for her boss–guy in front of her had reclined. She politely asked if he would mind sitting up for 5 minutes so she could use her laptop. She said the guy looked a little grumpy and before he could respond, his wife said “of course” and reached over to put the seat up. D kept her part of the bargain–spent a few minutes working and then told him he could recline again. I think a little politeness/civility goes a long way.</p>
<p>^^ re politeness and civility: before we even taxied prior to a 14-hour flight, the passengers behind my wife and me TOLD us not to recline because they found it uncomfortable. They were nasty when I explained that I’d try to be mindful of meal times and otherwise cooperative, but that my back would probably spasm if I sat bolt upright for 14 hours. They were such jerks that I reclined except at meal times. If looks could kill, I’d have been carried off the plane in a body bag. Fwiw, the FA agreed that they had made an unreasonable request in a rude manner. </p>
<p>IxnayB–Those folks were definitely obnoxious. I don’t get being mean and nasty. If reclining bothers you that much, pay a few bucks extra for first class/business class–whatever gets you more room.</p>
<p>@Bromfield2, they were large people. I had a moment when I thought that perhaps they couldn’t afford an upgrade or, like for us, there were no seats available up front. </p>
<p>Slightly OT, but funny story about a flight on that trip. Our youngest was taking her first really long flight. On the way over, we flew business with lie-flat beds (my wife travelled a lot at time, and had miles to burn). On the way back, we were unable to get an upgrade, so we walked on the plane, headed to coach and arrived at our seats, and my lovely young daughter said: “what?! No beds?!”</p>
<p>As already posted, I am in the anti-recline camp and was fortunate to have recently travelled 7 segments, all flights 4 hours and under and admittedly in daylight hours when no-one in front of me reclined…it is possible and can be done Also did one international flight last year when the fight attendants made an announcement asking all passengers to put their seat back up when meals were served; that was much appreciated.</p>
<p>There’s a story going around LA that a famous producer and his family boarded a commercial flight, and as they settled down in first class, the young daughter said, “daddy, there are other people on this plane!” </p>
<p>Well, my 14 hr flight in steerage class to asia turned out to be 15 hours. </p>
<p>When I boarded, I was presented w a scylla & charybdis seating choice. My assigned seat was aisle w empty adjacent middle seat, but it was in front of a row of men that smelled like they hadn’t bathed in a month. Plane wasn’t full, so FA offered to move me elsewhere to a middle seat. </p>
<p>Which would u have chosen: middle seat ironmaiden for 15 hrs, or aisle seat in olfactory hell for 15 hrs?</p>
<p>I would have preferred to put a scarf over my face and sat at an aisle seat. If you live in Asia, I am surprise you don’t have few masks in reserve.</p>
<p>My DH has the unpleasant job of telling one of his contractors, who happens to be from the far east, that his hygiene (or lack thereof) is causing a problem in the office for the coworkers. Apologies, but what is this about? Why do some not understand routine bathing habits?</p>
<p>I haven’t been traveling as much in the last year, so I don’t have premier status any more. Taking D2 to London next week. I paid extra 125 each for premium plus at an exit row. I also picked a row where the seats in front of us have limited recline. I am a small person, so if I just bring some good food and wine, maybe I won’t notice the difference. Not.</p>
<p>I chose the stink. After about a half hr onboard, i think the stench singed off all the smell receptors in my nose. It helped that I managed to sleep 9 out of the 15 hrs, w my seat reclined.</p>
<p>I’ve told this story before but it bears repeating. Once, when the kids were little we were on an early flight to the west. DS#2 was about 4 and when he sat in the seat his legs stuck straight out and his feet just reached the back of the seat in front of him. He was a bit squirmy as the plane was about to take off, and his feet touched the chair in front of him a few times. The guy in front of him angrily reeled around and snarled something like “will you make him stop kicking my chair???” I apologized profusely, explained the situation and said I was doing my best, we’d get him settled in and that he was probably a little fussy because he’d been up since 4 am. The man snapped back “well so have I!!”. At that point I quipped, well, he’s only four years old. Whats your excuse?" He shut up at that point and everyone around giggled.</p>
<p>I love this thread and all of the stories! We flew coast to coast this weekend couldn’t get an aisle seat. My poor, tall husband with his long legs was pretty crammed in. He brought some work with him and about 1/2 way thru dropped some of it on the floor. In trying to retrieve it, he bumped the seat in front of him and the woman suddenly jumped up, turned around and gave him a death stare and then proceded to make loud comments about the man who woke her up by bumping her seat. He apologized but she continued throughout the flight to make loud comments about that man who ran into her seat as hard as he could. I was sitting there the whole time, and while he did bump her seat, it was just that once and not all that hard. At one point I heard her (everyone heard her as she was REALLY loud) talking about how they were going to visit her daughter who had moved to Calif., but that she knew the daughter wouldn’t stay there because “California just don’t got a good education system” and her daughter had made a “really (expletive) move.” My husband elbowed me because he could tell I was about to make a comment about the quality of whatever education system had bred her. </p>
Also did one international flight last year when the fight attendants made an announcement asking all passengers to put their seat back up when meals were served; that was much appreciated.</p>