Comment by kimixa

I’m a shade under 2m tall.

If I put my knees together and sit up straight (back hard against my seat), my knees are hard against the seat in front. They can’t recline. It doesn’t even hurt, the seat just won’t move. Last flight someone turned around and complained then complained to the stewardess. I’m not sticking my legs into my neighbours space, am the time I extended into the aisle I fell asleep and got knee capped by a trolley.

‘Where would you like me to put my legs?’

I’m writing this from a plane seat, having paid for extra room and having been bumped by the airline. That’s nz$1000 gone and 17 hours of misery.

Qatar. Never again.

Aside: I also don’t recline without any empty seat or sleeping person behind.

I'm also over 6' and I don't understand the problem? The seats only recline a few degrees, it's not like they're laying on my lap! Even fully reclined there's plenty of space in front of my face, and leg room is barely impacted at all. (Like probably an inch max?)

Granted, I've only flown American and Delta, maybe other airlines are worse in this respect?

good news: that seat design is available and some airlines use it.

> You are welcome to avail of it yourself.

Ah, the exact opposite of the "pay it forward" principle...

> Flights from sfo to Frankfurt bolt upright sound unpleasant

Medium haul flights sound like a dream to us slumming down the bottom of the planet.

At least we have Elon giving us decent wifi now. Doha > Auckland at the moment.

> Flights from sfo to Frankfurt bolt upright sound unpleasant

Same flight with someone's seat resting on your knees is downright painful.

> when my wife was pregnant

Imagine if she was a bit taller and someone reclined the seat all the way over her.

> The recline button is there for your use

You're right, like any shared resource, "space" is there for you to use. It doesn't mean you have to use it, you could try to be aware of your surroundings and assess whether your small comfort should come at the cost of someone else's extreme discomfort. And if you use the button others are also free, and probably correct, to call you a dick. Like a guy who empties the bowl of complimentary candy someone offers to all customers.

You shouldn't need physical blocks or laws to define your own common sense and decency.

It's the 21st century. Blowhards of the world united with the miracle of technology are moaning at any attempt of common sense regulation. This will become culture wars material right away.

Night or day is a vague concept on an 11 hour flight

I think the secret of Ryanair is that their goal is actually to make their turnarounds as fast and efficient as possible, not explicitly to make money by adding a fee for every little aspect of the service.

If anything can possibly slow down flight boarding, disembarking or cleanup, they'll first try to remove it completely, and only if people object too much will they reluctantly offer it with a fee.

Pocket on the seat back -> most people don't use on short flights -> get rid of them.

Luggage -> most people need this, but not everyone -> charge a fee.

Reclining seat -> most people don't use on short flights -> get rid of them.

They do sell drinks and duty free; that's an interesting one. I guess once the flight is airborne, the flight attendants aren't really doing anything else (from management's perspective) so they might as well sell stuff. Plus the trolley blocking the aisle stops passengers from moving around, which they probably see as a big advantage.

I think this even applies to the ridiculous penalty fees they charge for e.g. trying to check in at the airport rather than doing it beforehand on the app. It feels like they're just trying to rip you off, but I suspect they see it more as a "nudge" to make people check in online, because that streamlines their airport process.

I got a little bit less annoyed by them when I realised this. Sure, it's still uncomfortable and sometimes infuriating, but it's all with the aim of an efficient and reliable service, and they're way better than average at that.

"Your neighbor is trying to recline, outbid them to stop them..."

Shhh. BMW might hear.

Ryanair doesn't have reclining seats at all.

You are describing exactly that phenomenon. Of course it's your "right" to do that technically, but is it a nuisance to others? Yes.

Just like smoking next to others (when allowed), or reclining your seat 100% in economy. Technically it's your right to just that.

Yup, it's their right, as it's their right to crank their seat back. Both are available, and expected. I see some take issue with people doing them at all, but I don't really mind much. Might be related to being 180cm or so - about 5"11, when most complaining seem to be larger.

My issue on my original post isn't really them moving the seat, but the lack of notice. It would have taken barely a second to lean over the seat and let me know. But I suspect they didn't even think about how that might affect anyone else.

It would be kinda crazy if someone didn't say they wanted to get out to the aisle and just started trying to climb over you with no warning.

And yet it still gets to participate and answer the question in the worst way.