>

Stating this like 20 times makes it less of an unpopular opinion...
I really hate that we keep having this argument, because it’s the fault of the airlines. They’re probably getting one extra row of seats in the plane by shrinking the pitch so much. Fahkers. >

We have ourselves to blame, ultimately. Airlines know from their own massive amounts of research, that as much as we’ll all complain, the lowest price is what matters most to the majority of their customers. >

This is why premium economy exists now. The price can range from reasonable to crazy but it's worth it for flights longer than 5 hours. >

Some airlines are adding indeed additional sections with larger seating in-between Economy-Business .. From what I see pricing range is someplace between 200-400 per ticket more. 
I'm actually flying KLM Premium Comfort+ because the friggin Dreamliners are so horrendously small. In those planes they have totally ruined the window seats because they are way to close to the fuselage. >

Ime experience its usually at least double of what economy is. >

Paris-NY lowest fare economy = 630.- and Premium Comfort 1084.-
Looks like we are roughly both right 400.- more and almost double the price :)
The flight I had booked was 1000.- in economy and 1400.- in Comfort+ but wasn't lowest fares on economy seating >

We can all argue over this until the end of time. But at the end of the day I think airlines have removed so much space from passengers that the entire process is just unreasonable.
I am average in height and a runner so probably below average in width. And I barely fit in a seat. >

I'm 5' 7" and feel crammed on a flight lol I couldn't imagine how miserable it is for someone tall >

I’m 6’5”. If someone puts the seat back, it physically locks me in and I’ll have to bother you to get up if I have to get up. >

Terrifying to imagine this happening during some sort of emergency situation... >

That’s why they ask you to put your seat and tray table up! There’s a whole weird Al song about it. >

And if someone is using it? >

It's so funny to me to watch reddit's mental gymnastics required to flip between "no one owes you anything" and "If you recline your seat on an airplane, your a piece of shit and owe it to the other people to not do that". >

So true. You're 100% in the right to call the police and have your nieces and nephews put into care rather than watch them for a couple hours when your sibling has an emergency, but recline the seat on a plane and you're literally the devil. >

Ah I see you frequent r/amitheasshole as well. >

You shouldn’t be mad at someone for reclining their seat.
You should be infuriated that airlines produce uncomfortable planes so they can fit more people; all at the expense of everyone’s comfort, and at exploitative financial costs to you. >

You shouldn't be mad at airlines either. They are just trying to help people get around. You should be mad at the people who don't own airline. They're the ones making it so that the airlines have less competition. >

Also, the chairs only "recline" like half an inch. I can't even tell when the ppl in front of me recline. >

I was going say, I can't even tell the difference if my own chair is "reclined." it's peanuts. >

I think it is pretzels now 😉 >

My only issue with the recline is that you make it harder for me to work on my laptop during flights.
Especially if you go back and forth, it’s really infuriating but not like I ever spoke up about it until now~ >

I had my laptop open and it was positioned with the screen leaned open touching the seat in front of me. They leaned back and my laptop screen area got like wedged in cause the screen was under a plastic part of the seat my tray comes down from. I was afraid it was going to break but thankfully I managed to wiggle it out real quick. >

Yes, this has almost happened to me with a larger gentleman reclining.
I'm happy we both came out unscathed\~ >

It’s cool just don’t move it during drink service >

Airplane seats recline about two inches, Reddit acts like there's suddenly a person lying in your lap looking up at you. >

Enough to invade personal space and knock your drink over . >

Is this a US issue predominantly? Flying in Europe it just doesn't seem to be a problem. Everyone on the plane all reclines their seats, we all still have the same amount of space. And we're comfortably reclined. Win win! >

I also thought this. I’m from Australia and mostly fly towards Asia and Europe. Most airlines nowadays make it so that you lose minimal space when the person in front of you reclines. Which is why I don’t have a problem if someone reclines. I never really lose much space, can still use the tray table etc. >

I’ve noticed recently that on some planes if you “recline”, your seat doesn’t go back into the person behind you’s space, but your seat moves forward into your own leg room. Which makes perfect sense to be honest, if you want the recline, you should be the one who sacrifices some space, not the person behind you who has no say. >

OP doing his absolute worst in here, lmao >

He’s right lol. Is this even unpopular? It’s just true haha >

Bunch of babies in this thread lol. I’m 6’4” and when somebody reclines in front of me, you know what I do? Rage internally and push that emotion deep down inside with the only noticeable reaction being a low grumble. Like a man. >

Same. I hate it when people recline and roll my eyes and feel bitchy until I forget all about it. Ultimately I do not hold these things against people and understand the reasons people recline. I just secretly hate it and then go about my day! >

It's not leaning back, it's the rudeness of suddenly without warning dropping back. I've had my laptop jammed up and my fingers pinched because of that. I always look back and lean slowly so the person behind me can react. Some courtesy please! >

Whenever I recline my seat on a plane I like to imagine I'm sitting in front of a Redditor and they're furious. It's helps me sleep during the flight. >

I agree 100%. People are so dramatic about it too, it goes back like a single inch it’s barely anything lol. I notice almost no difference when the person in front of me does it and I’m 6’2”. I usually forget they’ve done it after like 5 minutes. If you want more leg room, pay for it >

I’m about the same height and fly A LOT (74 flights last year).  I have no issue with anyone leaning back, it’s why the feature exists. What I do have issue with is people leaning back like they’re trying to set a world record for how quickly they can go from upright to reclined. Seriously, press the button and lean back slow to give me a chance to adjust and we’re cool. >

I’m like 6 foot 3 and I have no issue with people leaning back, it’s like an inch less space, and I Lena back too so it’s all good >

You don't have enough room so you make sure the unlucky bastard behind you has even less. Great. So much for The Golden Rule. >

For the Americans here 184cm is a little over 6 foot >

For God's sake, check to make sure there isn't a laptop open on the seat chair behind you before you lean back. >

I think it used to be okay like on older planes back in the early 90s - but I’ve changed my mind, the airlines have taken away so many inches from each row. It’s not okay anymore and it’s the airlines fault. >

I don't even know why this is a talking point, let alone an unpopular opinion. I'm 182, not the tallest but I have bad knees which makes economy a bitch. I fly economy as little as possible but when I do I just accept that the ticket comes with the option to recline a seat. Pay your money, make your choice. Why are people upset with other people utilising their option which is their right? I've never heard of anyone really complain of a recline, per se, from where I'm from. Economy in general, for sure. Fuck economy. But isolating the person in front that has no influence on airline policy? Individualism at its finest and feels like a USA problem. Angry, angry people. >

The only time I'd say reclining is an asshole move is during meal time. Otherwise, you're spot on. >

Tyvm, I missed that one. Absolutely >

I'm entirely ok with this. What I'm not ok with is kids rocking back and forth. It happened one flight and I told the fucker to knock it off. >

This must be a new generation thing. I have been flying for 35 years, never has there been an issue with passengers reclining their seat. They are designed for that purpose. It's 100% a reddit thing. Maybe with people new to flying and just surprised how little room there is. >

Maybe because the seats are much smaller so flying is literal hell . >

All well and good until the person behind you is trying to use their tray table. Or can't move their seat back because the guy behind them is super tall. Or their seat doesn't move back.
We'd all be a lot less claustrophobic if nobody moved their seat back >

You can use your tray table if your seat is back??? Where tf are y’all flying where your recline goes all the way back like a car seat ?? Plane seats go at most 15 degrees backwards. I fly very often and putting your seat back is 100% normal and the proper response to someone putting their seat back is for you to as well. That’s why seats at the back of the flight against the wall are cheaper. They get a bum deal. 
I’m sorry but if you find sitting up completely straight is comfortable on a flight you’re a psycho, especially when that flight time becomes 10+ hours which I have to do 4+ times a year. >

Oh screw those people then.
If you can use the tray table while the seat is fully reclined, why have I seen flight attendants ask people to move their seats forward during meals? There are plenty of stories of people having objects broken/being injured because someone decided they had the right to recline the seat back no matter what.
If it's so little space, why do it when you know someone's being screwed over?
ETA: I don't find it perfectly comfortable, I'm just not in the business of making other people more miserable if I can help it >

It makes it more comfortable to use the tray, reclining the seat does not make the tray unusable. Trust me, I flew 3 days ago. This comment section feels like it’s filled with people who only fly 2-3 hours at most. Once you go intercontinental flights, 8-13 hours, reclining the seat is essential to falling asleep. If you keep your seat up straight for the entire flight, sleep is almost impossible. Thank God KLM added those head seats. 
You can keep your seat up straight to be “respectful” to the people behind you, but no one cares. You are going to make them feel uncomfortable for 3 seconds before they realize that their situation has changed by 0.0001%. You are purposefully handicapping yourself by not reclining your seat on a flight. >

Sleep is impossible anyway >

Yeah, no shit. And it's also ok and legitimate to complain about someone slamming their airplane seat into your knees. >

That's exactly what the button is for. I can't believe people gatekeep a built-in function. If you don't like someone in front of you leaning back, then you lean back as well, problem solved. >

The seats are designed to lean back.  It's normal. >

I personally don’t have a problem if people do that in front of me, especially on long haul flights. It doesn’t make me feel claustrophobic or anything and to me the seats were given that functionality so I’ve always thought in theory it’s designed to not make the person behind you uncomfortable if you do recline your seat.
Then again, I’m a 5foot 7 dude so the experience might be different if I was tall and someone did that in front of me. I do still feel bad for doing that so I don’t most of the time but on long haul flights of 8+ hours I sometimes can’t help it. >

My husband is over 2 meters tall. The person in front of him is usually unable to recline their seat. 
Always works out though. He has never been on a fully booked long distance flight, and for short flights, most people don't recline their seats anyway. >

Nah it goes against flying etiquette and is an ahole move >

???? Hahaha what? No way does it go against etiquette. This post is the first I’m even seeing anyone being upset by such a thing. I can’t even image getting mad at someone for using a feature of the seat. >

I am putting my seat back the instant we are airborne and leaving it that way till the flight attendant tells me to put it up at the end of the flight. >

I just can't get comfortable or have any chance of a nap without reclining. The default position is so upright my jaw keeps falling open and my head falls forward. I feel bad for the tall people, I really do. But on a 3+ hour flight, I'm reclining. My head and neck comfort is just as valid as knee comfort. The airlines are the real villains here. >

This is a thing people complain about? Jesus. >

It’s not even possible half the time, the last flight I took the guy in front of me wouldn’t have been able to lean his seat back because my knees were pressed against the back of his seat >

At least wait until you've been in the sky for a little bit and everyone's settled in. >

Everybody mad at the guy in front of them not the airline that put the seats too close together. >

How is this an unpopular opinion? >

So you would solve your claustrophobia by passing it on to someone else, brilliant. >

I mean, I don't like that this is the world we live in, but I'd wager that 80% of people would transfer their discomfort to someone else if they had that option.
OP is just more honest than most about that. And OP is apparently unafraid of social pushback, which I guess would stop some people from doing this. >

The idea that ppl get pissed off at the person reclining in front of them really exposes how easily triggered people get in todays society. A reclined seat in front of you impacts your space so minimally I really see no issue here. >

Maybe because when you're on a plane you're often over tired, have dealt with security theatre, are crammed into an already small space, possibly dealing with phobias/overtired children/other stressers and some idiot decides to take some of what little space you've got.
What I don't get is the whole "It's only a little bit" arguments. If it's only a little bit, there's no need to do it. >

My back cramps up sitting up that straight. Planes suck. >

Yeah it’s dumb, we’re all crammed into that space do what you need to be comfortable within the space allocated to you.
Keep your socks on, avoid kicking my seat, keep your hair on your side of the chair and not covering the screen and I’m chilled >

“Keep your socks on, avoid kicking me seat, keep your hair on your side of the chair…” right, so we need to adjust to your needs and you can’t just demand how the rest of the flight goes? 
Maybe I like to lounge with my stanky feet right under your seat and then unwrap a tuna melt right behind you… am I not allowed to be comfortable on the flight? Or is it just people who conform to your reality? >

If you sat next to me on a plane and did any of these things I'd throw up in your lap >

Haha I bet, I naturally wouldn’t do any of it. 
I’m just trying to point out that just because you are most comfortable in some way, doesn’t mean everyone is and it shouldn’t be your standards that sets the level of comfortability for the entire plane. Or the person behind you anyways 😅 >

You're right, other people shouldn't be expected to have the same comfort standards as you. I feel like the tiny comforts don't have much payoff and often make other people annoyed 99% of the time >

Got off a flight the other day where my knees were touching the seat in front of me, and despite the fact that there was 0 room for the seat in front of me to move back the person in front of me repeatedly slammed their seat into my knees without realizing it has 0 way to recline.
I agree on the fuck commercial airlines part, but I don’t think it’s reasonable to lean your seat back because of just how bad it can make things for people who are already squeezed just by design of the plane. >

Sucks but reclining is still okay in this situation, you should buy premium economy or business if it bothers you >

Not everybody can afford business class. I avoid flying whenever possible for that exact reason but nothin I can do when I’m visiting family across the country. >

How about the person in front has some fucking decency to tell the person in back with a tray full of shit they are coming back. >

As an adult, I know that the chair in front of me can recline and if I have anything more than a foot tall on the tray, it’s going to get knocked off. I simply use my brain and not have anything that large on the tray. It’s simply a matter of self-preservation. I’m honestly not sure why it’s everyone else’s responsibility to look out for me and I shouldn’t rely on other people to look out for me unless I like to be consistently disappointed. >

You have just been served a drink and your ipad is propped up on the tray like 90% of the rest of the flight.  As an adult in any other situation I could have my ass beat for dropping a drink on someone. In a plane just like the internet those rules seem to get suspended. 
​
Mike Tyson once said, "Social media made y'all way to [sic] comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it." >

The other person didn’t spill a drink on my though, they simply reclined, which is what the seat is designed to do and I will assume they will do, as someone who has basic common sense. So I will hold my drink or make room so it doesn’t spill on me. 
That’s basically the same thing as standing in front of a door in the restroom. know the door is going to open. The person on the other side cant see me on the other side of the door and doors are meant to be opened. If they open the door and it hits me, that doesn’t justify me beating his ass. That’s insane. Don’t stand in front of a door and expect it to not open. It’s going to open. >

It isn’t remotely similar because you are using the table as it was intended. >

The consequences of flaw in the table are mine to pay, so as a rational being, I want to make sure to avoid it. I cannot predict, with 100% certainty, that the person in he seat in front of me will warn me, but I can control how I adapt to the fact that the chair will recline without notice. >

Complain about the shoeless wonder, kids playing tablets on full volume (they were nice at least), or the 18-year-old sitting next to me that seemed to be trying to conquer her fear of talking to strangers by asking me non-stop questions…. not me, the guy who tried to escape by closing his eyes and reclining an inch. >

As a 194cm guy, I aight leaning back for two reasons
1. It’s my legs that are the long part
2. I’m at a significantly higher chance of interacting with someone if I do on top of the skyrocketing chance of being choked out by cheese wire from behind me >

It really bothers me when somebody just spur of the moment reclines with no warning because it moves the tray. I’ve had things spilled, I’ve been hit on the head. It’s annoying. >

I once had the person in front of me insistent on leaning back. My knees touch the back of seats with the airline standard of leg room at 31inches (78cm), without a leaned back seat. This person also decided to nonverbally express their discomfort by assertively pushing backwards. 
In circumstances where there is clearly a giant human behind you, it is not completely OK and legitimate. >

why do I need to sacrifice my comfort for yours?
there are plenty of situations where tall people are better off and I don’t ask for special treatment because I’m short >

As a 6ft6 person. It's not discomfort, it's actually pain. 
Your seat causes me pain. The seat digs into my knees at half or less recline (you can't actually get fully reclined) and my knees have to suppt your weight on them. 
In return for this pain, you get two inches of recline. Not really a fair trade. >

if one does this in front of me my knees will be crushed, I think this is ok as long as it doesn’t inconvenience the person behind you >

u/azido11 The thing is it’s less about you being able to lean back but more about how it affects the person behind you. 
You just said you are 184cm tall and feel claustrophobic. What happens when person in front of you leans back, how trapped you would be, how your legs and knees would feel. 
Many commented how they don’t get bothered by people leaning mostly because they are not tall as you. >

1000% agree. I paid for the damn seat with a recline feature ima use the damn recline feature. Also I’ve never been inconvenienced by the person in front of me reclining. It’s such a small amount i can still eat my food/use my laptop and whatever. Now if someone had really long legs and asked me politely to bump my seat up i probably would but that would be purely out of kindness not out of a sense of duty or responsibility to keep my seat straight up lol >

If you don’t want me to lean my seat back, then charter your own fucking plane, I say… >

Go ahead and try to recline. My knees don't compress. >

It’s perfectly legitimate for me to bounce my knees up and down for the whole flight. Oh, is the back of your seat directly above my knees? Bummer. Enjoy your principled stance. 👍 >

Aren't you a joy to the world >

Yes. As is the person claiming it’s “legitimate” to make other people adapt to their whims. It’s kinda the point, you know, to reflect their own self-centeredness  back to them. 👍 >

It's not adapting.  It's literally a feature on the seat in front of you. >

And ripping giant farts is a feature of my body. And even though I’m allowed to do it when I want, I somehow manage to judge when it is and isn’t appropriate. Being an adult is neat, hunh? 😃👍 >

This is not an unpopular opinion. I'm 59 inches tall and believe that leaning the seat back is part of everyone's prepackaged flight experience. People with long legs could always straighten their legs under the seat and stop complaining, or if they need to keep their knees bent all the time, buy a seat with more leg room. 
Before you fly, find out what plans you will be on and how much leg room there is in each seat type. Plane type is on your booking. Bing that to find anything you want about the plane.  Are there plugs between the seats?  Is there Wifi?  
Download movies beforehand, and you will not run out of entertainment.  Bring snacks. Learn the weather of your destination and pack appropriate clothing.  Be sure to floss your teeth.  Wash your hands for 20 seconds.  Etc etc. 
Just plan ahead, and every aspect of your travel experience will be better for it >

It's all I can do to resist the utmost sarcastic response to "just plan ahead" when it comes to airlines these days... >

"These days", meaning the specific holiday melt down in US, I give you.  But I fly around 4 times a year on average, international and domestic, and aside from the recent meltdown (IN US), planning works for me every time. >

I’m 198, but I never lean back on flights, and if someone in front of me does so, I stop them with my knees when they come too close, that’s just how it is. >

I'm 195 cm and I can say that OP is being a twat. >

main character syndrome. I think most people want to recline since planes are just generally uncomfortable but it’s more about being courteous to the people around you rather than being kind of selfish about it, especially since there’s a lot of tall/big/wide/long legged people in the world. you’re telling me you’re really going to lean back your chair if there’s an elderly person behind you who’s weaker just because you paid for it? get out of here w that narcissist shit lol >


you’re telling me you’re really going to lean back your chair if there’s an elderly person behind you who’s weaker just because you paid for it?

Yes, of course. Not just because I paid for it, but because it's more comfortable for me >

Then you should listen to the 

get outta here w that narcissist shit lol >

Here’s my upvote— a flight attendant almost broke my laptop because they just plopped down in the seat I front of me and reclined a good 4-5 inches abruptly. >

What airlines have seats that reclines 4-5 inches? I’d like to book them next time I have an international flight. >

This is what i want to know. A lot of people seem like they’ve never actually flown because they’re acting as though the seat in front of them is literally in their lap. 
Please tell me any airline who’s seats recline that much. >

Malaysia airlines does. Flew them a couple weeks back and seats leaned back like ten cm >

Uhh… people are getting upset over the top of the seat moving 10cm??? I don’t even know what to say to that; that still puts the back of their seat roughly 40 cm away from the front of my face. 
I just don’t understand why I’m supposed to be upset by this. >

On what planes are you riding that you get half a meter of space in front of you?  It's maybe 35 cm from you even when sitting up >

Seat pitch varies based on the plane and the class of travel, but in economy it’s generally 74 to 81 cm.
Subtracting the reclined distance and the depth of an adult human head leaves around 40 cm give or take a couple centimeters. >

I think this is the biggest example of "just because you can doesn't mean you should." If anyone leaves their chair back too far on me I will politely ask them to raise it up please, if they don't then I accidentally hit it with my knees about every 10 seconds. >

Why do you expect others to sacrifice their comfort for yours? Especially strangers. I would never! That’s so entitled and rude to ask of someone. Those seats in the upright position are absolute torture on my neck. It’s like it’s being pushed in a forward position and really fucks it up. >

You absolutely know people are talking about the ones that laid the seat back as far as it will go, but by your own token why do you expect others to sacrifice their comfort so you can lean back, see how that works >

Except you do have a choice, sitting up is absolutely an acceptable position and one you do when take off an land. So you have choice. When you lean back into me? You are taking away my choice. The argument “if you want more leg room pay for it” is more focused on you as you fee the default position of sitting up is not good enough. The person in back is fine with the default position, it’s the position being forced on them they have a problem with. >


I happy to be able to lean back even just a little bit on these God awful commercial airplanes.

But these "god awful" commercial airplanes are so tightly designed that my knees dig into the back of the seat in front of me on most of the flights I've been on, even when they're not reclined. Luckily, most of the people I've sat behind have never even tried to do so, but I think the solution is just to politely ask the person behind you first instead of doing it out of some misplaced sense of entitlement. When did being considerate become so damn hard?
I'm 6'2", have very long legs, cannot afford first class, and only fly when I'm forced to. Please don't punish me any more for circumstances beyond my control. >

Fiy, you don’t need “first class” for legroom. There are economy seats designed for extra legroom. >

I've never been able to get them. Every time I've selected seats on a flight, they always get shuffled around before I actually board, against my will. What's even the point? >

Fair enough >

And I have every right to play knee drums with your chair >

No you don't >

“I paid for the seat” >

Exactly. Your seat. Not mine! >

Exactly, so get your seat out of my leg room :) >

It's not your leg room. It's space for my seat to recline into. >

Yeah your seat is on my fucking knees. I’m gonna shake and bounce and make it as uncomfortable for you as it is for me >

Yes. Reclining your seat when someone is behind you makes you an asshole >

I reserve the right to comment that my knees have zero room if the person in the front leans back, and I will continue complaining until they stop it. >

But I won’t. On most aircraft I’ve flown on in recent years, the recline feature also pushes the seat bottom forward, so it’s really a recline-in-place. >

I'm tall. Flying coach is miserable. Everyone wants to lean their seat back, because it's uncomfortable as fuck to sit straight up and down for hours. So, I fly business class or better. Give me the leg room, and complimentary champagne. >

I hope the person infront of you always reclines.
Person reclining in-front of me means my knees are crushed.  I’m 6’5, you recline in front of me and I’ll give one polite request to sit up before I go full toddler and jam my knees deep into the center of the seat until it pops forward.  The plastic cores in those seats are quite flexible, and I have great leverage.  Had numerous times where we were both fucking miserable for 2 hours of flight.  Them squirming to get comfy always makes my misery worth it. >

MF’s over 6 feet need to go in the damn cargo lmao >

First class is expensive, and exit row seats aren’t always available, especially when booking last minute business flights.  I fly a LOT for work >

As someone with arthritis and scoliosis that little bit of recline helps wonders on a long flight. "Well it pinches my legs" Oh, okay. I guess your pain is more important than my pain? >

Exactly!! I'm so confused how people are acting like their comfort is more important than others (which is ironically their same argument). The seat reclines. If the seat wasn't supposed to recline there wouldn't be a damn button for it. I've been flying all of my life and have never had a seat recline more than an inch. I'm genuinely confused how people are acting like it's a full on recliner chair or something. My husband is 6'2" and he's never complained about the centimeters the seat in front of him reclines. I'm honestly baffled by some of these responses! >

So by this logic why is the person in front of you believe their comfort is more important than mine ? >

Not unpopular.   I'm putting my seat back.  It's not my problem if you don't want to put yours back, too.  The only reason it's forward is because they make you do it for T/O & Landing. >

And I will bump into your seat as much as possible. >

Don't put your drink on your tray. >

Well then it is your own fault if my knees hit the back of your chair. Simple as that. >

Lean back to a point where you’re making me claustrophobic and I’m booting the back of your seat.
Make yourself comfortable without making others uncomfortable. >

But you can lean your seat back too and it evens right back out, no? >

What if I don’t want to lean it back? Some people like to sit up, why should I sacrifice my comfort because someone else leaned their chair unreasonably far back? And before you say that it’s only an inch that can depend on the airline, sometimes it’s more than that >

So you get to do what you want but nobody else does? >

They can recline their seat, I didn’t say they can’t, I said they can’t recline it to an extent that it would make the person behind them claustrophobic or uncomfortable. 
In a public setting, you don’t get to only think about yourself. Recline back an inch, sure, recline back several inches to a point I’m cramped in my seat? Enjoy my feet thumping against your back. >

It’s more comfy to lean back, so why don’t you want to do it? >

It’s more comfy for you. Not everyone is comfortable leaning back, some people prefer to sit up.
Stop expecting other people to be uncomfortable just because you want to be comfortable. Recline the acceptable amount so that you can still lean back without squashing the person behind you, or don’t recline, you don’t have a right to expect other people to be uncomfortable by being squashed or forced to lean back just because you would prefer to lean back an unfair amount. >

I’m not expecting anything and haven’t given my position on the matter.
For the record: I don’t lean back because people are babies and it makes me anxious to think I’m annoying a stranger.
The entire amount these seats recline back is an acceptable amount. It’s MAYBE a max of 3” when measured from the top of the seat.
I’m sure there are instances where people with back injuries are more comfy sitting up. But overwhelmingly, most are more comfortable leaning back. That’s why the seats recline in the first place.
I guess you just want everyone else to cater to your comfort. Buy a god damn emergency exit seat if you’re so claustrophobic. >

No, I don’t want people to cater to my comfort, I just don’t want people to expect others to sacrifice their own for them. I don’t mind if you recline, but not to a point where you are crushing me. And an emergency seat isn’t going to be possible for every person who doesn’t want to be squashed. 
Recline a reasonable amount of don’t recline, be considerate of the people around you whilst you make yourself comfortable, it’s not that hard and you can get the best outcome for everyone if you just be reasonable about it >

The max that the seats recline is a reasonable amount. Again, it’s like 3 inches at the TOP. The bottom doesn’t move. You’re not being squashed. >

I can't wait until planes don't have the recline feature at all. It's pointless and just makes for additional animosity all around.
Or rather, I bet they'll find a way to charge you for each time you recline your seat. >

I’m amazed that anyone thinks this is unpopular. Lean back your seat. All the way. That’s your right. >

It's a theoretical feature. If there was more room than a sardine can, then yeah, lean back and get comfortable. To ignore the fact that airlines pack customers into expedite profits at the expense of customer comfort is asinine. No. Unless there is no one behind you, do not lean your seat back. It's rude, thoughtless, and selfish. >

leaning back is rude because you're fucking with the person behind you giving them less space. don't do it. >

And whats stopping the person behind from leaning back? >

Because it sucks and is uncomfortable to lean my seat back and rude . >

And it’s perfectly acceptable for me to prevent the person in front of me doing so to avoid feeling claustrophobic myself. >

I dunno man I payed for it I'm gonna use it >

And I paid for my space and comfort, so I plan to achieve it. >

If you lean back we both still have the same distance between us >

I like sitting up though, I’m not changing my seat position to make up for yours. >

Well I have every right to use this built in feature of the seat I bought, and if you have any issue take it up with the airline... It's unacceptable to force other people to be unnecessarily uncomfortable and not use a feature that they are paying for and that the airline company provides just because your a 90 degree weirdo.. >

Never argued you had the right to use it lmao
“It’s unacceptable to force other people to be unnecessarily uncomfortable” kinda like having someone’s head jammed in my face coz they’re leaning back?
If you’re riding shotgun in a car does the person behind you get squashed as fuck because the car seat has a feature you can use? >

Head jammed in your face? It reclines back like a half an inch. Get over yourself. >

If its just half an inch then it's not an inconvenience to you to not have it >

Ah yes, the guy that got shitted on for his shitty opinion is back, or inspired other shitty behaviours. 
If you can and will recline your seat to the point where my legs don't fit, I can see and smell your scalp, or you restrict my movement and comfort, I assure you, you will have a terrible day. >

What airlines do you go on where that happens? I genuinely think you need to bring a measuring tape next time someone reclines their seat because the difference is not a lot.
I know people hate others for reclining and that’s fine, I never recline for that reason but it’s a fact that the seats don’t recline that much. >

Fine but I’m not going to care if I accidentally move your seat if I’m repositioning, getting up or grabbing something. >

My father works in the airport and I have flown 200+ times. My take? You have full right to lean back. No one has the right to tell you to not do that. İf people are bothered, they should just buy the seat in front of em or stop being obese lol. 
Also, the middle seat debate. God, I lose my mind reading that stuff. >

I agree. I always recline and don't mind when others do. Granted, I am a pretty small person so I don't know how invasive reclining feels for people who are larger. >

In summary, “I’m small, and don’t know how it feels for others, even though they’ve all told me, over and over, I don’t trust them or my own limited imagination, so I’m gonna just do what I want.” >

Touché >

Lean on back. I’ll retaliate however I like. >

It’s fine to recline your chair if there is nobody behind you.  However, in my opinion, it is rude to do it if you inconvenience someone else and take away some of their space.  Being on a packed plane sucks for everyone, especially tall individuals.  But don’t be selfish and think your comfort is more important than everyone else’s. >

Just a little bit, yeah sure. Go for it. But if you lean back fully you are an AH. >

It only goes back a little bit. If it fully reclined it would be an AH move. >

ITT: People who have never flown before, and think that the seats go back like their car seats. >

My seat and I paid to recline if I want to >

I'm taller then you and you have to understand person behind you has barley and space so leaning back you'll just push yourself to their feet already pushing forward, get a first class if you want privileged >

Privileged=using what the chair you pay for features. Got it. >

Yup it’s fine. I am 6’3 and it does not bother me at all. Guess it might be more of a problem if you fly economy. >

I don't get why everyone claims their knees get smashed if the seat in front of them leans back. 
The last time I was on a plane with seats that reclined the entire seat back and not just the upper half was the 1980's. >

Because they do. If you recline my knees will get crushed. They are already touching the back of your seat.  If you have long legs your knee hieght is high too, so they are not at the base of the chair in front but in the chairs back. And no, unfortunately with the length of the limbs you can't tuck them under the chair in front without half standing to raise your bum off the seat the entire flight. 
The entire situation of being 6ft6 and flying sucks. I only fly when I absolutely have to and always buy leg room if available. Unfortunately it's not always available >

Absolutely not, I like having kneecaps. Those seats absolutely should not recline, it's incredibly cruel to those behind you. I always get put behind some guy who slams his chair into my knee and injures me and I'm so sick of it. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Try having compassion and empathy for the people behind you. >

I blame the airlines for making reclining an option in the first place but you're still an asshole if you use that feature. It's not just that you're leaning back for your own comfort, it's that you are stealing already limited space from another person and taking it for yourself. You're basically telling other people that your space and comfort is more valuable than their's and you're willing to discomfort them for your own convenience. >

Anyone who reclines their seat on an aircraft is a prick of the highest order >

If someone wants to recline their seat, they should be respectful and ask the person behind them if it’s okay. >

If you don’t want to be bothered by people putting their seat back buy a first class ticket. Otherwise get the hell over it. >

When you lean back on a plane, you're inconveniencing the person behind you. Its hard to use a laptop when the person in front is laying back >

Tell me you've never flown before without telling me you've never flown before... >

Hear me out, we lie down instead of sitting and could even enclose the thing for privacy and we'd be able to stack a whole lot more of them throughout the plane! 
They could make these beds out of very pretty and expensive wood with maybe a flower on it. >

Do it as soon as you get on to insert dominance. >

This opinion is so unpopular it was just posted yesterday!!!! >

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Have done a shit ton of flying this year and people are so dramatic. Every fucking chair reclines except the last row, use that shit if you want or don’t. I promise you no one that isn’t a weirdo thinks you’re a bad person for trying to get comfortable on a long flight. >

Many of us panic if we feel more claustrophobic than before .