this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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I was on a international flight recently that spanned about 11 hours in the day and the person in front kept putting thier chair back.

Now I know people want to relax but i'm using the screen in the chair and i'm hoping the inflight meal will at least be passable enough to digest.

So on a long haul flight that happens in the day would you put your chair back?

Would you keep trying to put it back every hour (i havent moved chairs). even though you have been asked not to?

  • now by the cabin crew btw
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[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (2 children)

During cabin service which usually is the beginning and end of the flight, I’ll have it up. But it’s reclined while I’m watching the screen or sleeping. Person behind me can adjust, much like I adjust.

It’s a part of the plane. We all know the seat pitch is tight. We all know that the recline feature is there. If it bothers you, book the emergency row, fly first class, or don’t fly.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

The way I look at it, it's a shared resource. You are just as "entitled" to the space as the person behind you.

If I need the space, I will try and use it. But, I will move back slowly, and stop if I meet any resistance. There is nothing worse than having someone slam their seat back into your laptop (or worse, onto your knees....)

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 hour ago

That’s a fair approach, and I was recently on a plane with someone who was all legs and over 6’ (Denmark, wow) and I would have negotiated the situation in that case - but I’d argue they should get priority on the bulkheads or emergency row with nobody in front.

[–] unmagical@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

If it bothers you [pay about five times as much].

That's a very grounded and reasonable take.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

In this particular case I did pay extra for a decent seat (work paid i added some extra)

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 10 points 4 hours ago

Flights are for sleeping, friend. I personally don't see any benefit from reclining my seat so I don't, but you should understand: reclined IS the default.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 3 points 3 hours ago

I don't. I just feel bad for the person behind me :(

[–] paper_moon@lemmy.world 20 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

PSA for anyone using a laptop during flights, the tray tables do not change angle or height when the person in front of you puts their seat all the way back. I almost had someone break my laptop screen a few years ago because the top of my screen got caught under the exposed edges where my tray table would fold up into, as the seat back came angling down towards my tray table. I was quick enough to be able to pull my laptop towards me and remove the screen before the full force was applied to the screen housing.

[–] emmanuel_car@k.fe.derate.me 2 points 2 hours ago

Yep same thing happened to me. I don’t know how I managed the quick reflexes after 17hrs London to Perth, but I guess not wanting my laptop to break trumps jet lag.

[–] dkppunk@piefed.social 9 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I put the seat back every single time I am on a flight. I have back issues and I get back pain if I sit upright like that for too long. If the flight attendants are asking to not put a seat back because the person behind me, then I’m going to ask for a new seat because sitting upright for 11 hours is absolute agony.

Sorry to the tall folks and whatnot, but I’m not flying somewhere just to be stuck in bed for 2 days unable to move because of back pain.

[–] emmanuel_car@k.fe.derate.me 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I’m a tall person and, when I can’t get extra leg room, I don’t have an issue with the person in front of me reclining their seat. I do the same if the flight is longer than maybe 2 or 3 hours for the same reason, it’s more comfortable and I can stretch my body in different ways so I’m actually able to walk off the plane.

[–] dkppunk@piefed.social 1 points 1 hour ago

Yeah, I mean I do feel kind of bad because I’ve flown long enough to see how much smaller the space has gotten. But physical pain overrides any guilt I feel and I will recline the seat.

[–] ragingHungryPanda@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com 19 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

most chairs allow the tray to be upright while the seat is reclined. if the seat wasn't meant to be reclined, it wouldn't be able to be reclined. demanding that someone else not perform an action that is permitted to them because you feel that is it is more convenient to you is...well... I'll let you figure that one out

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

its really uncomftable fro 11 hours if they do that

[–] JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 hours ago

Put your seat back, you'll get more room.

🤷 I've been on longer flights many times and never had an issue with it.

but we do live in a capitalist society, so perhaps you could pay them to not make use of their own chairs. Yes, I am drinking and am bring a smart ass.

[–] Bougie_Birdie@piefed.blahaj.zone 14 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

If the cabin crew tells you not to put your seat back, then don't put your seat back

You don't want to be kicked out mid-flight

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

The crew didn't ask him not to, OP asked him not to

[–] Bougie_Birdie@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I'm actually guilty of skipping to the end of the post, but it looks like maybe you didn't make it that far.

The point still stands though: if one does not want to be ejected from the plane, one ought to listen to the directions of the cabin crew.

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 3 points 2 hours ago

I assume his "now" is a typo for "not". But obviously that's just an assumption

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 3 hours ago

I don't usually, but I get the window seat to give me sometime to lie against.

The rule is that, unless you're in a first class seat that can impact the person behind you, you can recline.

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 11 points 5 hours ago (3 children)

I never put my seat back. I think they should take that feature out of airplane seats entirely.

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 8 points 4 hours ago

Agreed, each person should have their own space that no other passenger can alter. If you want to recline it should be within your own space. For example the seat butt should slide forward, or you should get an angled pillow to put behind your back. Or alternatively all seats should be reclined 100% of the time and you should get an up-slanted pillow for your back so you can sit upright.

However it's done, everyone should have the exact same amount of space that no one else can alter

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 9 points 5 hours ago

i dont mind it for night flights - the entire plane goes back so you dont notice the difference

[–] CallMeAl@piefed.zip 7 points 5 hours ago

More and more airlines actually are, especially on shorter flights. And the price still is going up!

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 9 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

If I want to recline I'm reclining. My comfort shouldn't be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in back of me.

[–] fonix232@fedia.io 5 points 4 hours ago

With the same attitude the person behind you can rightfully kick off and demand you sit back up, because why should THEIR comfort be impeded by your inconvenience of not being able to lay back?

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)
[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

No boomer just someone that's gonna use the features they paid for. If you don't like the possibility of someone reclining buy a cabin seat with better seat pitch

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Just because you were born later than the rest of them, doesn't mean you don't belong in the "I got mine, fuck everyone else" group.

[–] paper_moon@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I do wonder if they're trolling, because their attitude could apply equally to the person behind them on a flight.

"My comfort shouldn't be impeded because it might inconvenience the person in front of me."

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 6 points 4 hours ago

I have no reason to believe they aren't being honest about their selfishness.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone -1 points 2 hours ago

People will read this name and then the content of the comment and still take it seriously and that's why we as a species are doomed to fail

[–] unmagical@lemmy.ml 7 points 5 hours ago

I'm 6'4" (193cm). The seat in front of me reclining means my knees are pressed into the seat back, and that's uncomfortable for both of us. I don't want to do that to anyone else so I never put my seat back.

[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 6 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (2 children)

Nope.

We live in a society, and as far as I'm concerned, stealing the person behind you's very limited leg room is selfish.

Signed,

A tall person who WILL kick your seat when my knees are in agony.

[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 15 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

I’m 6’3” or 1.9m tall. I fly monthly for work. Putting the seat back has little effect on leg room because the pivot point is just below your knee level. It steals a bit of room going straight forward from your head/shoulders but you can reclaim this lost 2” by also reclining your seat.

If you’re kicking seats rather than reclining your own to get back to the same exact space as non-reclined just at a slightly more comfortable angle, you’re the asshole.

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Their seat back has no impact on your leg room

[–] fonix232@fedia.io 1 points 4 hours ago

Found the hobbit

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago

I've never even tried to learn how to put the seats back, because it just seems rude to me. I wouldn't want the person in front of me doing that, so I don't do it to anyone else.

[–] skankhunt42@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 hours ago

I'd probably offer to trade seats with you if the person in front of me didn't lay back. If not, I'd try to find a happy medium where I could lay back and you'd be okay. There's no way I'm sitting up the entire flight.

[–] yesman@lemmy.world -4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

There are products that attach to the seat in front of you to prevent the person from reclining.

It is ethical, noble, and honest to use this.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago