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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

#21

Post by UnoriginalGuy »

woliveirajr wrote: post #13

If you suffer from lumbar (or any other region) pain in your column, reclining or not is a huge difference. I never had problems about knees getting closer or not, etc., but having suffered from lumbar pain for a part of my life, I can assure you that reclining or not has a big impact. No, it doesn't mean that pain -> need to recline. Sometimes it gets better keeping it straight, sometimes you get relief when you rec…

> I never had problems about knees getting closer or not

But other people do, that's the point.

I'm only 6'1 but with long legs, if someone reclines in front they're literally on top of my knees the entire flight. When turbulence occurs they bounce up and down on my knees.

I try to book exit rows and Economy+ when budget allows, but for all other times I take painkillers and just have to let my knees get damaged by the 4' woman in front of me who's comfort is more important than my pain.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#22

Post by UnoriginalGuy »

tgb wrote: 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?

> in what manner does it inconvenience you?

The seat will literally sit on top of my knees the entire flight, full weight. It is more than an "inconvenience" it is damn painful.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#23

Post by Jach »

tutufan wrote: post #18
braymundo wrote: post #12

Flying without reclining my seat is pure torture to me. I find the default vertical position of the seats deeply uncomfortable. What if all seats had a slightly reclined angle already?

Flying in a reclined seat is pure torture to me.

Flying is pure torture to me (being tall).

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#24

Post by cbanek »

tutufan wrote: post #18
braymundo wrote: post #12

Flying without reclining my seat is pure torture to me. I find the default vertical position of the seats deeply uncomfortable. What if all seats had a slightly reclined angle already?

Flying in a reclined seat is pure torture to me.

What if we grouped the plane into two sections: those who want to recline, and those who do not?

If you're a recliner behind a recliner, happy. If you're a non-recliner behind a non-recliner, happy. Split on the exit row, or hopefully at least one row of people who don't care.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#25

Post by joncp »

Have I been on different airlines than these people who fight?

In my experience airline seat backs pivot at a point somewhere around knee height, so reclining a seat doesn't affect legroom at all. When the person in front of me reclines it tilts my laptop monitor a little but that's it.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#26

Post by ouid »

pklausler wrote: post #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.

such is the efficiency of markets.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#27

Post by electrichead »

joncp wrote: post #25

Have I been on different airlines than these people who fight? In my experience airline seat backs pivot at a point somewhere around knee height, so reclining a seat doesn't affect legroom at all. When the person in front of me reclines it tilts my laptop monitor a little but that's it.

I guess so. Every flight I've been on has made it uncomfortable for me if the person in front is reclining. The angle makes my laptop have to open less than 90 degrees (15"). The incline also has to begin below the knee (ie. at the base of your seat) because the seat is horizontal and seats are at the same level.

My knees usually touch the seat in front so I have to spread my legs awkwardly when the recline happens.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#28

Post by wmil »

tgb wrote: 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?

Can't use laptops, can't eat on the tray because there isn't enough space left, and can't watch the monitor on the back of the seat because it's facing down.

So it's pretty inconvenient.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#29

Post by sanswork »

wmil wrote: post #28
tgb wrote: 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?

Can't use laptops, can't eat on the tray because there isn't enough space left, and can't watch the monitor on the back of the seat because it's facing down. So it's pretty inconvenient.

Pro tip almost all of those screens allow you to pull the bottom out to make it flat again. I don't think I've ever been on a flight this wasn't true on actually.

Re: An investigation into the economics of airplane seat reclining

#30

Post by sanswork »

freehunter wrote: post #8
tgb wrote: 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.

The space the seat reclines into isn't your space.
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