When is it okay to recline your seat in economy?
As economy seats shrink and tempers rise, reclining even on long-haul flights is now a hot topic of debate.
To recline or not to recline, that is the question. And it is one that has set off countless debates both in the air, between friends as well as on social media. I have always abided by an unwritten rule that if you are travelling domestically and for a short duration, there is no need to recline your seat in economy. At just over an hour, a flight between Sydney and Melbourne, for example, is almost an extension of getting on the bus, and we don’t have reclining seats on buses.
Flying internationally is a different story. Long-haul travel in economy is not much fun, especially an overnight flight or the 14-hour endurance test of travelling from Sydney to LA. Everyone needs to try to get some sleep, and reclining your seat is more comfortable.
It also doesn’t help that economy seats have become more cramped over the past 25 years, with reduced space between your seat and the one in front, a measurement known as seat pitch. So if someone reclines, it has a huge impact on the person behind. Eating a meal in comfort becomes impossible and it can feel as though your entertainment screen is virtually touching your nose.
I caught an eight-hour economy flight from Sydney to Singapore for work last month that left at 10.25am and landed at 5pm. This presented me with a new conundrum when it comes to seat etiquette: what happens on day flights when there is no designated sleeping time? Is it acceptable to recline?
The issue came up because the gentleman in front hit the recline button as soon as we had taken off. Working on my laptop was difficult because I could barely extend my arms. Eating my meal was problematic; even getting up to go to the toilet was an exercise in balance and agility (disclaimer: I am 185cm tall, which does not help).
So should passengers on international day flights abstain from reclining? Or are they entitled to relax on holiday? Is it rude to ask a passenger to return their chair to the upright position? What if they react badly? Can you ask a flight attendant for help?
These were the questions that went through my mind as I sat uncomfortably stuck between my laptop and the seat back in front.
In the end, I figured it was not worth the hassle. I did the only thing I could: I reclined my seat as well. Many apologies to the passenger sitting behind me.
Do you think it is okay to recline your seat in economy?
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