<p>I’ve never had a problem with my table when the person in front is reclining; and certainly I’ve never had it digging into me! Maybe it’s a matter of various airlines and space between rows?</p>
<p>was on a Bolt bus ride with my s from NY to Boston for college visits this past March, (bus itself was great, wifi and outlets and comfy seats) but a woman in front of us yammered on her phone the entire trip, she was actually an “actress” interviewing for jobs, and angrily following up with her agent after each disappointment, she also had a fight with her boyfriend en route. If it wasn’t as entertaining as it was, it would have been even more annoying 
She was loud, animated and somewhat bizarre, which is why I didn’t trust that asking her to stop would have been a smart choice on my end. so we just endured. on a related note, I just returned from a flight last night seated next to the most adorable and quiet 3 month old, whose parents were just delightful in their handling her. I felt so pleased to see such terrific hands on and shared parenting from such young/new parents. very sweet actually…</p>
<p>Sorghum, is it not my problem if I punch you in the face? In what society is it acceptable to inflict pain on another person just because you’re technically allowed?</p>
<p>It could be a difference between the various airlines. We have only flown Delta in recent years, and only short domestic flights-- usually Detroit to Ft Myers but just the one time Det to SEA. I think we have flown economy comfort a few times before and I don’t remember it being noticably different, but I never remember what kind of seats we booked by the time we get to the flight, we buy our seats 6 months or more in advance. Those economy comfort seats can be very difficult to get, on the planes I have been in they are usually in pairs, with a couple 3 seat rows, mixed throughout the plane-- and there are only a handful of sets available. I wanted them for my honeymoon, which we booked at least 7 months in advance, and I don’t remember if any were available by the time we booked.</p>
<p>We used to always fly Spirit and I thankfully haven’t had a reason to in a long time. It never bothered me before but that was before I reached full height-- and I am not that tall to begin with, only 5’7, so there should be room for me in a delta seat! My aunt is 5’10 and I remember her being miserable on the Spirit flight we took together even without the person in front of her reclining, if they had I think they might have actually broken her knee caps!</p>
<p>If the - unopened - table is literally digging into your knees you are too big to fly economy.</p>
<p>Reclining a seat is pretty far from punching someone in the face.</p>
<p>Or perhaps she has really long legs like model Anna Hickman.</p>
<p>My daughter is 5 foot 9. Spirit airlines is not good for passengers of size, or height. Her knees were at an awkward angle for a cross country flight. I couldn’t open tray table completely when the person in front of me reclined his seat. </p>
<p>I will avoid that airline in the future.</p>
<p>^^^I am only 5’ 5" tall, so that probably explains why I’ve never had an issue with people in front of me reclining.</p>
<p>I haven’t had much issue with people reclining on any other airline besides Spirit. I am also 5’5" - but I tend to fly Southwest or Delta, primarily.</p>
<p>^^^Yeah, I fly Southwest or AA. I’ve never flown Spirit.</p>
<p>Those of you who’ve never had a problem with reclining seats may have just been lucky–most people don’t recline their seats all the way, except perhaps on an overnight flight.</p>
<p>But this conversation pretty much reveals what will happen if people have the “right” to use their cell phones on airplanes.</p>
<p>I had one of those exit row seats a few days ago that didn’t recline. Exhausted, but since I couldn’t recline a bit, spent the entire flight with my head bobbing, waking up, very unpleasant. Can’t sleep sitting straight up. It’s interesting to hear people on this thread thinking their right to a couple inches of space is more important than my ability to sleep. Personally, I like it when everyone is quiet and sleeps. If you’re too tall or large, and can’t bear it when someone reclines, figure out how to get an exit row or more spacious seats, or avoid certain airlines. Don’t blame the person who reclines their reclining seat, and if you can’t stand it, have the balls to ask them not to recline all the way.</p>
<p>
And if we do ask you, will you just give the same rationalization you did in the first few sentences of your post? Didn’t you just show why it’s probably useless to ask? The same thing will happen when we ask somebody to stop talking so loudly on the cell phone.</p>
<p>Until reading this thread, I honestly never knew reclining one’s seat was a big deal. While I probably do not recline mine all that often, I reserve the right to…even on a daytime flight.</p>
<p>I might ask the person behind me to check if they are a larger person that might be uncomfortable or if working on a laptop, but if the seat can recline, why not?</p>
<p>Ema, I suggest you call Delta and ask them how to get an economy comfort seat or exit row. Tell them your problem, and that it’s for your honeymoon, and they may be sympathetic. Or send me your confirmation number and names, and I’ll do it. They are really helpful on the diamond status line. Economy comfort is, I think, about 4 more inches, it does help.</p>
<p>I imagine busdriver spends a large amount of time dead heading flights. Probably more than the average passenger.</p>
<p>Hunt, if someone asked me to do something nicely, I would do it immediately. I’d probably also apologize for their discomfort and give them a free drink coupon. I’m a woman, not a dude… No offense guys, but I want people to be happy. More of a woman thing.</p>
<p>
Because it makes it pretty uncomfortable for the person behind you, especially in regular economy seats. And because I don’t like to have the seat in front of me reclined, I try not to do that to others. It’s the Golden Rule. It’s not about rights.</p>
<p>Let me just add that I’ve never asked anybody not to recline, even when I found it pretty annoying, because it is, in fact, their right to recline. I guess I might ask if I had some special reason, like an injury, or if I really couldn’t use the tray table (pretty close on some flights).</p>
<p>Are you non-recliners narrow? Not narrow-minded, I don’t mean, but comparatively narrow, physically? I have broad shoulders, and three of me couldn’t sit side by side on airline seats without twisting. Our shoulders just wouldn’t fit. One reason I recline is to stagger shoulders. This is our frame size, not overweight; we are all normal weight. </p>
<p>I’m broad-shouldered for a woman, but lots of men have wider shoulders than I do. We buy reclining seats, and then we recline the reclining seats that we bought and paid for.</p>
<p>The Golden Rule extends to never reclining one’s seat on a flight unless on an overnight flight. This is news to me. Good to know. </p>
<p>My guess is if you sat behind me on a flight you would never, ever be disturbed by my seat actions.</p>
<p>All these reasons for reclining once again reveal, I predict, what will happen if cell phones are allowed on airplanes: a certain number of people will annoyingly yak on the phones during any and all times they are permitted to do so, and they will have really good reasons why they need to do so. Sometimes, they may actually be good reasons. But the yakker will definitely think there is a good reason.</p>
<p>
The Golden Rule is pretty simple. If it annoys you for the person to fully recline his seat onto you, then you should refrain from doing that to other people. (I do think one should distinguish between reclining your seat a bit, and reclining it all the way.)</p>