The ongoing debate about reclining during a flight 

Blame the airlines for trying to cram more seats onto aircraft. It's just another example of corporate greed and similar to the shrinkflation that is becoming all too common.

It is not about reclining, it is about how close the airplanes' makers put the seats.

The absolute childish and bratty entitlement of those anti-recliners! If you're going to angrily blame anyone or anything, blame the airline companies themselves that are not only making flying more and more miserable every year, but also cramming more seats onto planes! Which not only exacerbates this problem, but one can even argue this is a blatant airline safety violation and fire hazard. And also, you know this country has absolutely lost its marbles when it needs a "National Etiquette Expert" to comment on this issue.

I never recline!! I've got more respect for others!

Of course you can recline. That’s what you PAID for

the seats wouldn't recline if they didn't want you to recline. deal with it.

The worst is when you’re tall someone reclines

I don’t like it when others recline on me so I never recline

If they took 2 rows out they could space out the seats better. Loosing 2 rows is at most 12 seats. Just increase the ticket price by 12/250... It's not that big of a deal. They keep trying to cater to the people who want the cheapest price possible. Ill pay a little extra for the convenience. There must be other folks who would pay a bit more. Assuming a ticket is roughly $200 then 250 seats means it would cost around an extra $10 per seat.

If I want to recline, I ask the person behind me if they’re okay with me reclining back. If they say yes, I do it slowly, make sure I’m not reclining back to the point where they are uncomfortable. If they say no, then I won’t recline. The few times I’ve been on a plane, I asked fellow passengers that were seated behind me, majority didn’t mind, and even said that they appreciated the fact that I asked them. Even the one person that told me no, was thankful that I at least asked. In the end, it’s a matter of courtesy and communication.

I always keep the tray unlocked so that I am not bothered on my flight…

I'm 6'4 and have long legs. My knees hit the back of the seat as it is. The person in front of me really couldn't recline if they wanted to

Is the recline debate only in the USA? Never heard any issues here in Europe

All blame is for the greedy airlines who think America is skinny .. They must forget that our nation is ranked #1 in obesity…. To all airlines watching do your customers and countrymen a favor and make that leg room at least 38 feet long …

I'm a pretty big guy, I've only been on six flights and have never been able to afford anything but economy but on my last flight I had someone (attempt to) recline their seat and since my knees were shoved against the stowed tray table their seat just went *clunk* I felt real bad for the dude but there was no way for him to recline with the non-existent space between those seats. I'm just glad he didn't complain about it.

Like anyone them have flown coach in decades 😂

Size of the seat is a another topic, but as a passenger, all you have to do is ask the person behind you if its okay to recline. It's either yes, no, or a little. It's just consideration.

I don’t recline because I think about the needs of others. Same reason why I don’t talk on the phone at the gym.

Seats are meant to be reclined. Just put it up for taxi, landing, take off, and meal time. If you don't like a seat to be reclined, get a bulkhead seat or first class.

The airlines make tons of money. Give ever one freakin 3/4 more inches airlines. I personalky wouldnt recline out of curtesy just cause you have the right to do something doesnt make it polite. I have the right not hold open the door for you and slam it in you face , its still rude. It is more uncomfortable to not have enough leg room then to the comfort you get out of 5% incline.

I love how everyone blames "corporate greed" but will pay the cheapest fare they can find. Regulations are what needs to change, to increase the minimum space requirements. Airlines are a business, and if a business find people willing to pay cheap, then that's what they'll get. There's multiple airlines and most have more than one seating option.

If everyone reclines then it’s not an issue?

I agree with a lot of the comments here. Trying to keep customers mad at each other, instead of focusing on the real problem which is the US airlines ordering planes with cramped economy seats.

This is why I wanted to go ether in business or first class because of more room and no worry about someone reclining while I use my laptop

Why not just ask the person behind?😊

Sam is right, the airlines are to blame. You are given a seat that reclines, so it is your right to recline it. But, in most cases, decency should rule the decision. There is no way the person behind you can do anything other than sit back in their seat if the seat in front of them is reclined. No airline is going to change unless forced to by the FAA.

The real debate should be how planes jam so many freaking seats on a plane when a lot of time it’s not even a full flight. This of course pays for the plane and crew, employees etc., but the people at the top of the food chain are making billions. Business is business…sure. But it’s just crazy to me the level in which companies go to maximize profit. Same could be said for those neighborhoods where you can barely walk between the houses cuz of how much you squeeze them together.

If its more than 8 hours, I'm getting a first class ticket. I'm tired of people coughing/sneezing on me, chairs reclining, waking me up to pee a million times, etc.

Wow - seriously - this is even being debated. So ridiculous. If you pay for a reclining seat and you are in cruising altitude - you have every right to recline. Person behind you can pi** off. they have the option to recline their seat as well. Get over it. If person then starts pushing or kicking my seat - there is going to be some words and a problem!!!!

Simple. If there is a button to recline I will recline.

You've got to be kidding. Recline.

My solution is to fly less. If I have the time to drive to my destination I will, unless it’s across an ocean. I used to love flying but both the airlines and the traveling public among other factors have together made it such a problem that it’s just better to drive to your destination unless you have no other choice. And even then when I have to fly, I just pay the extra money for First Class.

This is why I pay for 1st Class or Comfort Plus Class. The added cost is value added everytime, especially on a long haul flight.

I hate it. As if there is enough space no recline but since it reclines they technically can

cmon, if we paid for the seats which can be reclined... I would make them reclined for most of my flight.

Had this happen on a transatlantic flight for me. I was reclined 8/10 hours of the flight and the guy behind me said to me as we were deplaning, "I gotta say, it was very inconsiderate of you to recline your seat for the entire flight." Told him that's what it was designed to do and save up for first class next time.

I don’t mind if your recline just ask first otherwise I’m gonna spill my drink. And maybe on you too. Maybe only recline straight after the seat belt turns off then we won’t spill drinks. And people arguing about oh maybe you should be careful with your drink how are we supposed to guess when you’re going to recline

"we try to make something normal into a controversy" - there, fixes it for you

New jets are coming out now without reclining seats. That will end this problem once and for all.

The news is literally trying to make this seem like it’s an etiquette thing when really, it’s the airlines making the seats way too close to each other. If you have a seat, that’s a lot to recline that seat should be allowed to recline, but if you’re 7 foot tall, you also shouldn’t be crammed between two seats so tightly. Airlines have to do better not people have to get better etiquette this entire article is insane

That woman @1:00 is such a hypocrite. She keeps trying to recline, she got the flight attendant involved to "tell" on her even, all because reclining would make her more comfortable, but she has the nerve to tell the other woman "if you want to be comfy, get first class. If SHE wants to be comfy, SHE should get first class. Until then, respect the other woman's space. Such entitlement and hypocrisy.

People who can afford business class for every flight they can take are laughing

Of course you can recline. They were made to do so. People need to plan better if they don’t like it

Exactly why i always choose first class row #1 !! and no I will not recline.! Unfair to the person behind ! There used to be a product called Knee defender that was sold but if you got caught using,, BUSTED!

Why don't they reserve a row for people who like to recline and put them all together and leave the people who like to stay upright the whole fight in the other row?

Reclining is fine. I just make sure I don't do it suddenly.

Honestly if i buy an airline ticket then you best bet im gonna recline my seat the whole flight….

People on either end that want to make someone else's flight a nightmare should be barred from flying at all. Where in this debate I take serious offense and have no leeway is people who recline before take-off and/or refuse to put their seat upright for landing. Flight attendants shouldn't have to check/correct this childish behavior. If you can't understand and follow this simple instruction from those in charge, you're not mature or literate enough to be flying on a plane without a parent or guardian accompanying you.

You get what you pay for. Simple. During meals no recline, after meals get comfortable.

I recline because the person behind me can also recline if they want to gain that space back.

its not about reclining its more how airlines are trying to cram more seats into the aircraft report that

Always the airlines fault, they jam the maximum number of seats inside the plane like herding sheep.. there are trains out there where the seat reclines different within its frame, as to not disturb the people behind them.. i dont understand why airlines cant do this.. or why the FAA can’t make these things a rule.. people pay a lot of money to fly, and they should be able to enjoy every bit of an airline feature that they can.. complimentary water and peanuts arent enough.

Again, GMA afraid to talk about their corporate overlords. It's not about politeness, it's about greed.

Doesn’t matter for George lol

I’ve NEVER considered NOT reclining. When the people in front of me recline it’s fine. It’s a non issue. Who expects people to not recline?

Some seats are so tight that it promotes blood clots when crammed into a static position for hours. The medical community should step in and say it's dangerous.

All those GMA anchors fly business or first class.

I paid for the seat. so deal with it. If you don't like it then not my business. same as if you coughing or sneezing, me not like it but that is your business, not mine...

Ofcourse u can recline. It’s your right.

Move the fucking seat

Airlines should just make the seats unable to recline when it’s tight spacing; only first and business class can recline appropriately.

Believe it or not. 20 plus years of flying. I only reclined the seat 2 times. I don’t believe in doing it.

FLYING BECOMING A TOTAL JOKE NOW DIFFERENT 40 YRS AGO NO CLASS RUDE PEOPLE CUSTOMER SERVICE A JOKE

I mean tbh if that seat is far back as it will go that is not even intrusive.

Rich people problems..... 🖕

I just fly private to avoid this

The seats are made to recline, period.

Let's not get into this, because airlines do many things that make no logical sense. For example, cellphone airplane mode.

There's no debate. Everybody paid their ticket and if you are not allowed to reclined then the seat will be fixed

Just don’t recline during meal service

Why blame the customer who pays for the seat, it's the airline fault. Stop hating customers hate the airlines.

I can but don't recline. That bit of space makes no difference to my comfort. And if the person ahead of me reclines, I live with it unfortunately. There's so little room to begin with these days, I think courtesy should prevail.

If you are that adamant about someone reclining into you. Get a seat with no row immediately in front of you, or pay that extra money for a first/business class seat.

I think you have to be courteous.

Planes are getting bigger and seats are getting smaller

The chairs are made to recline the 2 inches, USE IT!

The folks that complain because the person in front of them reclined simply need to do the same and regain the lost couple of inches. On a long transatlantic flight after meal service is concluded people should relax and even take a nap if they can.

I’m reclining. If you’re someone that doesn’t like it, recline your own, take it up with the airlines or upgrade your own seat. Taking out any frustrations on the person in front of you is just absurd and unreasonable.

There’s no controversy, we’ve reclined for ages. Millions of people have flown with little to no problem, until now. This is a generational thing.

If it can recline.... im reclining. Dont care... unless the person wants to give some $$$ cash back 😆

I chose to buy a ticket with an airline that seats get to recline.

If you’re short why do you need to?

I would only be annoyed if the person reclines their seat during meal time.

If it reclines, im reclining, deal with it

I have no problem with reclining or someone in front of me reclining. My only problem is the courtesy of pulling your seat back up during mealtime. My problem is the people who stick their feet near my armrest 🤮

Oh yea right like Michael, Gio and especially Sam who travels frequently to Miami (his second home) ever fly other than First or maybe Business. Lol

Blame the airlines is right. They have their customers by the short hairs and they take full, greedy, advantage of that. If they're wondering why passengers get angy maybe they should consider how they treat tnem. But blame the people who recline too. Honestly! This video says they have the "right" ro recline. Is that a law? I don't think so. It's downright rude and downright selfish. When we are forced to fly long distances we intentionally choose flights that include a change so that we can get off, unfold our bodies, stretch, and get something decent to eat. 28 inch pitch with reclining seats? Unbelievable! That would be Frontier and Spirit. The major carriers? 30 inches if you're lucky. Jet Blue gives you 32 inches. It's ridiculous. I'm all for profit but not with ludicrously inflated prices and big time misery. If you've got some time, take the train. Even Amtrak beats the hell out of any airline.

If I was in economy, and Michael Strahan was sitting behind me (unlikely, but work with me here), there are two things that I will not do: - shout "how 'bout them Cowboys" - recline my seat without politely asking

Unpopular opinion: I would prefer to recline my seat AND have the person in front of me recline. As the seat-back angles back, the bottom of the seat scoots forward. I would rather have more room for my knees than my face.

If the person in front of you reclined then you recline...you do not lose space...also, I have a bad lower back and need to be in different positions for comfort...so I recline some and sit up straight some. If you " make my life miserable" I will report you....and if that does not work, Bye Felicia!

I like Japan Airlines premium economy. The seats go forward and the shell is fixed so when you recline you don't go back into somebody. You just push yourself closer to the seat in front of you. So it's your fault if you don't like how tight it is haha

There really is an expert for everything in the USA 😂 .. now see a "National Etiquette Expert"😢😂

If u noticed, this is a Gen-Z issue.

If you have back problems, you can't sit straight up for any length of time.

I can’t believe this is a problem. It’s not. Reclining is and has always been apart of flying. What’s different now are all the low lifes who are getting on budget planes for the first time and can’t leave their low life attitudes at home. I can’t believe how soft and easily triggered this next generation is. Absolutely pathetic.

GMA is REALLY getting their money's worth out of that airplane seat set!

you can't recline your seat during takeoff and landing and during set meal times unless you have no one behind you

If there is an option to recline, every passenger has the right to recline, otherwise there would be no point to having a recline button. If the person in front of you reclines, you can also just recline your seat. At best, maybe warn the person behind you before you recline so if they have a laptop or food on the tray table it doesn’t get damaged or spill on them. On a long flight on a crammed plane, the recline can make a huge difference. It is an included part of the seat that each passenger paid for, so why should they suffer and not use it? I don’t see why this is even a debate.

This is what there doing at every turn making life impossible and have us fight each other when it's there fault

As a wise man once said: " if there is a button to recline, than you shall recline"