Let’s Settle The Debate: Is It Ever Acceptable To Recline Your Seat When Flying in Economy?

Let’s settle the debate once and for all… The question that seems to divide passengers so dramatically and has even been known to lead to physical violence… is it ever acceptable to recline your seat when flying in Economy?

This is a debate that occurs time and time again, and it’s garnered renewed attention on Facebook after someone posted on the self-proclaimed ‘Dull Men’s Centre.’

Flying high above Greenland on a long-haul Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Las Vegas, the man questioned the etiquette of reclining your seat and what the general consensus on this topic is.

During this ten-hour flight, the man decided to keep his seat bolt upright because he said he feels “it’s rude to the person behind and takes some of their limited space.”

While the man found a few people who agreed with his point of view, the general consensus was, indeed, that if the recline function is there, then it’s fair game to use, especially on a long-haul flight.

Glenn Stanish succinctly summed up his point of view on the matter, saying, “The seat reclines for a reason. If you want to recline…RECLINE!” While Brooke Smith, a flight attendant for 25 years, added: “It’s meant to recline, that’s the whole point, so recline it. You can also recline yours. Everyone can.”

As a serving flight attendant, I agree with both Glenn and Brooke on this issue. Flying in Economy, especially on a long-haul flight, is uncomfortable enough as it is, and there is absolutely no need to make the experience even more unpleasant for yourself out of a false sense of being polite.

Airlines have installed reclinable seats just so that passengers can have a tiny bit of comfort. Believe me when I say this: if airlines thought they could save some money by removing the recline function without infuriating customers, then they would!

Sure, if you are perfectly comfortable sitting upright, then go ahead and stay upright, but if you end up getting mad with another passenger because they are using a function they have paid to use, then that it your problem and not theirs.

If you want to be mad with anyone, then either be mad at the airline for making airplane cabins so cramped or even be mad with yourself for choosing a seat that could be impeded by a reclined seat in front.

There are, however, some good etiquette tips that can avoid a potential showdown with the person sitting behind you who objects to the seat being reclined:

Meal Services

Most flight attendants will request that seats be upright during the meal service – this can be challenging if you want to sleep straight after takeoff, but it’s definitely something to be mindful of.

Ease into it

In my experience, passengers are far more likely to get upset about a reclined seat if it’s thrown into the fully reclined position within seconds of takeoff.

Take your time, recline it a little way to start, and go gently as you do it. As the flight progresses, bring it to the fully reclined position as everyone is settled in.

This will also prevent any accidents, like laptops getting damaged or drinks being spilled.

Be wary of asking permission

You might be tempted to ask permission to recline from the person sitting behind you, but what do you do if they object? Then you’re stuck sitting upright the entire flight, or you just have to ignore their objections and do what you were going to do in the first place.

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So, here are the key takeaways to settle this debate:

• It’s acceptable to recline your seat – that’s why the function exists
• You don’t need to ask permission, but you should be aware of the person sitting behind you
• It’s good manners to return your seat to the upright position for meal services, and on some airlines, flight attendants will specifically instruct you to do this.