Economy passenger shames seatmate for reclining on 50 min flight. But people are quick to call her out: ‘If it reclines, I will recline’
Seats on planes are getting smaller by the year.
As previously noted by The Mary Sue, flyers have lost between 2 and 5 inches of legroom since the 1980s, depending on the plane and its configuration. Not only that, but the seats themselves have gotten substantially narrower.
Things are so tight on planes these days that some passengers and pilots question whether modern seating arrangements are even safe.
Despite the fact that seats have gotten smaller and been moved closer together, one aspect of airline seating has remained largely consistent: the ability to recline.
In most major American airlines, if you want to recline, you can press a button and push your seatback backwards. But even though you can do this, should you? And if so, when? That’s a debate the internet is currently having after a video on the topic went viral.
Is This Person A Jerk For Reclining Their Seat?
In a video with over 207,000 views, TikTokers Cat and Matan (@catandmatan) show themselves sitting on an airplane. The legroom is tight, and one of them is attempting to read a book while writing on their iPad.
“Unpopular opinion/ travel hot take, you should NOT be allowed to recline your seat in economy especially for a 50min flight,” the TikTokers write in the video’s overlay text. “It barely makes a difference for the person reclining but gives the other person no space.”
These TikTokers aren’t the first to weigh in on this debate. For years, many have complained about how someone reclining their seat reduces legroom and increases general discomfort.
“I think it depends on the chair type. But I definitely struggle to fit my knees in some economy seats if the person in front of me reclines fully,” reads one Reddit comment.
“My husband is 6’9 and his knees touch the seat in front in both economy and [Comfort Plus] and there’s no way we can afford [First Class]. We try for exit rows when they’re available but don’t always get that lucky,” adds another Reddit commenter. “He’s very non-confrontational and typically tries to deal with it but if the person in front keeps ramming their seat back trying to make it go back but it’s actually crunching his knee caps, he’ll say something. We once had someone literally body slamming their seat trying to make it recline before finally having to say something.”
A Fierce Debate Breaks Out
While Reddit may have been more sympathetic to the people having their space encroached upon by a reclining seat, users in the comments section of the pair’s TikTok were insistent that they should be allowed to recline to their heart’s content.
“If I pay for my ticket and my seat I am reclining the seat. That is a feature for a reason,” declared a user.
“Oh 1 hr is a long time if you have low back pain and that little incline makes a world of difference,” said a second.
“My seat is reclinable, so I’m going to recline it,” stated a third. “I will not do it while meals are being served, but I will do it. You can recline it yourself, don’t recline it, or buy a business class ticket.”
Still, some agreed with the anti-reclining sentiment.
“No one needs to recline their seat. it shouldn’t even be an option on a plane,” wrote a commenter.
“The second the person in front of me reclines their seat I tell them to put it back up. You‘re not alone on this plane. Have some consideration for the people around you,” detailed a further TikToker.
What’s The Plane Etiquette Here?
This is a topic that has been discussed ad nauseam by travelers. So, what’s the etiquette regarding seat recliningon a plane?
The short answer is “no one knows.” Writing for Outside magazine, author Jen Murphy notes that the real cause of the issue is shrinking space in Economy. Still, she says that context matters when determining whether reclining is appropriate.
For example, she says that red-eye flights and long-haul flights with time for sleeping are appropriate times to recline. That said, one should only do so gently and with care for their surroundings. Finally, one should be willing to comply if someone asks them not to recline. For those who really can’t stand being reclined on, Murphy suggests booking a bulkhead seat to guarantee space, as these seats have no seats in front of them.
Writing for One Mile At A Time, author Ben Schlappig echoes many of Murphy’s points. However, he stresses that, at the end of the day, reclining is a passenger’s right. Schlappig also notes the growing trend of non-reclining seats, which airlines are introducing to resolve space disputes.
So, if you’re going to recline on a plane, the internet says you should just be considerate about it. Alternatively, you can buy a seat with extra legroom—if you can afford the high prices.
@catandmatan About to start a debate #petpeeve #economyclass #unpopularopinion #hottake #thailandtiktok ♬ original sound – SPAM LIKE = BLOCK
The Mary Sue reached out to Cat and Matan via Instagram direct message and TikTok comment.
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