Aeroplane seat etiquette

Instant-recliners are a menace. As are armrest-hoggers.Or headrest leaners (those who are standing up talking to their mate in the seat behind you, and therefore think it's fine to plant their arms( on the back of your seat.

Worst of all, IMO, are parents whom allow their 'darling' children to a) kick the back of your seat near-ceaselessly and/or b) run amok on the plane and/or c) scream and shout. All without any parental intervention

Oh yes, i'm looking forward to the 11-hour charter flight i've got coming up next week 

JamesOK:

I've just come back from two weeks away and would like to share something with you.  Was on the plane on the way home, and about 15 minutes after takeoff, the woman in front fully reclined her seat to within inches of my face.

Now, I can see this being reasonable at some point in to the flight, if she wanted to sleep for example, but she was just watching a film.  What are peoples thoughts on aeroplane seat etiquette?  I personally wouldnt recline my seat fully until a point at which I wanted to snooze (or at least when I thought the person behind me would also want to do so).  

First day back in work today.  Basically I am doing anything so as not to tackle my hundreds of emails...

This is one of the things I hate about flying, I'm 6ft 2" so not that tall but always get stuck behind the 5ft 5" girl who needs to put her seat back for the whole flight. I then make it my entertainment for the flight to "accidentally" shake the seat every 2 - 3 minutes with my knees.

Exactly what I do, kick the seat, rock it, push it etc until they turn around, then you tell them that it is too cramped for you, and you have to do it!

They soon move it forward.

If parents let their kids kick the seat from behind I am in, then I turn around and tell them straight up to get their child to stop it.

Be blatant, and they stop.

Why should we put up with it, be proactive, as they least expect it, and as we are brittish and well mannered, we change our ways for others.

Unless your in America, then it never works lol

heystak:

JamesOK:

I've just come back from two weeks away and would like to share something with you.  Was on the plane on the way home, and about 15 minutes after takeoff, the woman in front fully reclined her seat to within inches of my face.

Now, I can see this being reasonable at some point in to the flight, if she wanted to sleep for example, but she was just watching a film.  What are peoples thoughts on aeroplane seat etiquette?  I personally wouldnt recline my seat fully until a point at which I wanted to snooze (or at least when I thought the person behind me would also want to do so).  

First day back in work today.  Basically I am doing anything so as not to tackle my hundreds of emails...

A modern dilemma but if you want more space you will have to upgrade to business class - you pays your money....

This was in Virgin Premium Econ.  Wouldve been worse in economy.

potboyslim:

Exactly what I do, kick the seat, rock it,
push it etc until they turn around, then you tell them that it is too
cramped for you, and you have to do it!

 

Be blatant, and they stop.

Why
should we put up with it, be proactive, as they least expect it, and as
we are brittish and well mannered, we change our ways for others.

Unless your in America, then it never works lol

Oh, I comment, believe me
My most successful tactic with a child causing havoc was to bend down and whisper menacingly that i'd kill it if it continued. It ran quickly back to its Mum and left me alone for the rest of the flight. Harsh, but effective....

I remember flying overseas to an awards dinner with clients.  We won, it was quite a celebration.  Ended up with 2 hours sleep and the worse champagne hangover flying back on the 8am flight.  Felt rough as, but tried to retain my "client-face".  I decided sleep was the way forward, so reclined immediately (normally I'm very considerate, but this time my liver, brain and stomach came first).  The guy behind had an issue.  But did he politely say "excuse me, do you mind reducing the recline"?

No, he decided the best "first point of call" would be to loudly exclaim a word beginning with "c" and punch my headrest as hard as he could 4-5 times.

Incredible.  I'm far from a violent man, but he was exceptionally lucky I was sitting next to a client!

Clare Newsome:

potboyslim:

Exactly what I do, kick the seat, rock it, push it etc until they turn around, then you tell them that it is too cramped for you, and you have to do it!

 

Be blatant, and they stop.

Why should we put up with it, be proactive, as they least expect it, and as we are brittish and well mannered, we change our ways for others.

Unless your in America, then it never works lol

 

Oh, I comment, believe me My most successful tactic with a child causing havoc was to bend down and whisper menacingly that i'd kill it if it continued. It ran quickly back to its Mum and left me alone for the rest of the flight. Harsh, but effective....

Well, I never....

Go and stand in the corner with your hands on your head, Ms Newsome

turn left when getting on the plane, they have better seat at the front end

I tried that, but the pilot insisted he needed to sit there...

Big Aura:

I tried that, but the pilot insisted he needed to sit there...

Big Aura:

I remember flying overseas to an awards dinner with clients.  We won, it was quite a celebration.  Ended up with 2 hours sleep and the worse champagne hangover flying back on the 8am flight.  Felt rough as, but tried to retain my "client-face".  I decided sleep was the way forward, so reclined immediately (normally I'm very considerate, but this time my liver, brain and stomach came first).  The guy behind had an issue.  But did he politely say "excuse me, do you mind reducing the recline"?

No, he decided the best "first point of call" would be to loudly exclaim a word beginning with "c" and punch my headrest as hard as he could 4-5 times.

Incredible.  I'm far from a violent man, but he was exceptionally lucky I was sitting next to a client!

Politeness has it's place, but so do outbusts of explosive aggression!  

Clare Newsome:

Worst of all, IMO, are parents whom allow their 'darling' children to a) kick the back of your seat near-ceaselessly and/or b) run amok on the plane and/or c) scream and shout. All without any parental intervention

My sister is on a round the world trip at the moment.  She encountered the "child problem" on one particular flight.  She was feeling rough anyway.  The cabin crew took pity on her and bumped her up a cabin!  Just goes to show what can happen when you complain politely...

Clare Newsome:

Worst of all, IMO, are parents whom allow their 'darling' children to a) kick the back of your seat near-ceaselessly and/or b) run amok on the plane and/or c) scream and shout. All without any parental intervention.

Bad parenting I'm afraid.

Whenever we have been on a long flight my children were made to sit properly and behave. If they needed to stretch their legs one of us would take them for a walk.

Expanding the questioning

- what about the overhead lockers. I hate to get to my seat and find that an "early boarder" has already annexed my locker for their third piece of carry on?

- and non-allocated seating airlines - should one queue to board the plane, or as soon as they call your boarding class, just casually walk to the front of the queue (especially given most of those people in a boarding class below you are often blocking the entrance way in any event)?

Personally, I've gotten to the point where I just don't care anymore and it is survival of the fittest.