In Reply to: In-flight ettiquette...? posted by Nikkiknack on Wednesday, 25. April 2007 at 21:29 Bali Time:
I have no problem with anyone who wants to recline their seat in front of me, as has been suggested it is your right.
I however find it rude if people recline as soon as the seatbelt sign has gone off and then have to be reminded to put their seat forward for the meal.
I fly quite regularly between Perth and Sydney with work and on one trip I had a man in front recline his seat straight away, without warning and very fast. I was reading my book at the time and it nearly broke my thumb as the back of the seat hit my book at the top and bent my thumb right back.
As if this was not bad enough he refused to raise his seat when the meal came around, despite the hostess asking him the first time. She had to insist a second time before he raised it muttering obscenities as he did.
As soon as the hostess took my tray after the meal he threw his seat back that hard it nearly bounced off my chest.
Now I am not a violent person but this was too much for me and I rabbit punched the back of his seat and told him if he wanted to act like that I'd gladly talk about it after we landed. He muttered something I couldn't hear but needless to say he spoilt my entire flight. I was seething!
Personally I will not recline my seat unless there is no-one behind me, or they already have theirs back. It is just my personal choice. As previously stated, I don't have a problem with people doing it in front of me so long as it is not during the meal service and they do it SLOWLY so I can get my hands out of the way if I am reading.