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An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

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Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#5
For anyone who dislikes recliners - in what manner does it inconvenience you? For me, it's not useful space that is taken up, except perhaps transiently as I squeeze past my neighbours to get to the aisle. My knees are below the point that reclines. Are laptops the problem?

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#6
I'm happy to not recline my seat when I'm sitting in steerage, unless the human sitting in front of me reclines.

So it's not about making a deal with whomever sits before you; instead, it's about making a deal with everybody in your column and lower row number, at least up to an exit row. All it takes is one recliner to ruin it for everybody.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#7
post #5

For anyone who dislikes recliners - in what manner does it inconvenience you? For me, it's not useful space that is taken up, except perhaps transiently as I squeeze past my neighbours to get to the aisle. My knees are below the point that reclines. Are laptops the problem?

Agreed. Except for the VERY long-legged, a reclined seat-back in front doesn't remove leg space. It pivots at/above knee level and simply pivots marginally closer to me. I have never had a reclined seat obstruct my view of the entertainment screen or make me tray unusable.

On the other side, I don't recline the seat to create more space for myself. I recline it to alleviate discomfort from the absurdly upright default seat position.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#8
post #5

For anyone who dislikes recliners - in what manner does it inconvenience you? For me, it's not useful space that is taken up, except perhaps transiently as I squeeze past my neighbours to get to the aisle. My knees are below the point that reclines. Are laptops the problem?

Anything on the tray table is the problem. Reclining reduces my use of my tray table. It also reduces the area I have to read my book, I can't hold it as far from my face as I like.

But IMO it should be enough that it intrudes into my space, which is already at an extreme premium. It doesn't have to be useful space, I'm already cramped and you're making my space smaller. Please don't.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#9
post #5

For anyone who dislikes recliners - in what manner does it inconvenience you? For me, it's not useful space that is taken up, except perhaps transiently as I squeeze past my neighbours to get to the aisle. My knees are below the point that reclines. Are laptops the problem?

Personally I just like the extra space. I think it's really for everyones convenience not to recline before most of the people are sleeping in the plane. What if some one has to get out of the window seat? What if food is served? What if person wants to use laptop or read? Reclined seats are always on the way.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#10
post #5

For anyone who dislikes recliners - in what manner does it inconvenience you? For me, it's not useful space that is taken up, except perhaps transiently as I squeeze past my neighbours to get to the aisle. My knees are below the point that reclines. Are laptops the problem?

I have had people recline right onto my knees then continue pushing back when the seat stops moving. Some planes are much worse than others wrt knee space though. I am also a few inches over six foot.

Reclined seats can also make laptop use difficult and some people don't check what is going on behind them before blasting their seat backwards which can be disastrous if you have a drink on your tray at that moment.

I love to recline my seat and stretch out a little but I rarely do so since it is so annoying to the next person. The only time I recline is on long-haul flights when the lights are out and I can see that the person behind me is clearly sleeping. Even in this situation, I recline just enough to give myself some lower-back relief.

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