A cabin crew member shared her thoughts on whether or not people should be allowed to recline their seats on flights – and people are very much divided on the issue
The age-old debate on the etiquette of reclining seats in planes has finally been addressed by a cabin crew member – although not all passengers agree.
In the world of flying, there are two camps – those who hit the recline button on their plane seat and those who fume silently when the person in front does. Travelling economy class on long-haul flights is hardly a luxury experience, leading many to tilt back their seats in the quest for additional comfort during a snooze.
Naturally, this leads to frustration for the passengers behind them, particularly if, mid-recline, they’re trying to enjoy their in-flight meal. But who is in the right?
To put an end to the widespread wrangling, TikTok user Hannah, who has over eight years’ experience as a cabin crew member, weighed in on the matter.
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As a cabin crew member, she has had to “split up grown adults” who were arguing about whether or not they can recline their seats on multiple occasions. “For some reason, I don’t know why, this is such an issue on flights,” she added in the recent video.
She sides with the pro-recliners. When passengers ask her to intervene against those using the recline feature, she tells them: “If the seat function has a seat recline, they are allowed to recline it.”
The flight attendant agrees it is considered polite to keep seats upright during meal service, allowing passengers to use their tray tables to eat. In such instances, it is deemed acceptable to ask someone not to recline.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘do you mind asking that person to put their seat up while we eat’, that’s just polite. But at any other time in the flight, that’s not the meal service, recline away,” she noted, adding: “I think it’s really unfair, and really unnecessary to ask someone not to recline their seat for a 14 hour flight. Even a seven hour flight, if that seat reclines, you can recline it.”
Commenters were sharply divided on the matter, with some firmly opposed to the flight attendant’s stance. One wrote: “The problem is the plane design! Created to cram as many people in for profit now over passenger comfort. Reclining on some planes now, means you can’t see you screen properly and/or legs crushed!”
Another agreed, stating: “Some seat reclines are ridiculous though. Way too far back in your face.”
But many wholeheartedly agreed that passengers have the right to recline. One person wrote: “Totally agree. I HOPE the person ahead puts it forward for [meal service] but even if they don’t, thats their choice and tough luck for me I guess. I’d pay more to sit at the front if it really bothered me.”
Another supporter chimed in, saying: “Absolutely agree. during the meal service no, any other time yes.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.