He bought a seat with a punchable back, so he’s punching it.
Both of them are acting how they feel entitled to without regard for the comfort of others.
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I just made a series of long flights on smallish American Airlines planes (mostly 737-800s with recent interiors), an airline I usually try to avoid due to past bad experiences. Seat selection is nominally available for those who pay extra for Economy, but not Basic Economy. However, over half of the economy cabin is now filled with “premium” seats, which require additional payment for selection. If you purchase an Economy ticket later than a month or so before the flight, and that flight is full, there is a very good chance you won’t get a seat assigned until you get to the gate, if you get one at all.
The new AA interiors feature non-premium seats with thin backs crammed together as closely as possible. I could feel it pretty much every time the person behind me made any contact with the seat back. I’m 5’10 and weigh 180 lbs, but with long legs and arms, there is very little room to do anything if the seat in front is reclined and mine is not. Using a standard size laptop, or even eating a meal, would be pretty much impossible for me under those circumstances. The guy was obviously a jerk, but I’ve been accused of “punching” the seat in front while just trying to position my knees in a fashion that avoids leg cramps.
The real problem is American Airlines refusal to stop cramming more seats into their planes, which isn’t helped by their generally poor customer service.
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Everyone is wrong. The man is just the wrongest, for committing an assault.
I’d put the greedy bastard airlines next, then the flight attendant, then the woman.
I never recline my seat on a plane.
Unless the person in front of me does.
So, QED, I always recline my seat on a plane.
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Which would that be? I’m your height and haven’t found a one. I fly business class now or I don’t go.
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Airlines should have a few seats that exclusively accommodate taller/wider passengers , reserved especially for them (my baby brother is 6’6", and I’ve seen him suffer). If not enough “reserved” passengers fly, then whoever gets that seat should be someone who benefits from it. Pregnant, elderly, whatever.
As someone who has experienced a serious back injury (my compressed L1 vertebrae is 1/2 the length it should be), being able to recline is vital to pain management. Eliminating this option, even a couple of inches, isn’t equitable.
Dude looked like his only verifiable complaint was that he couldn’t lay his phone flat and lean over it as he watched cartoons. He can’t hold it upright (my brother agrees with this point)?
That said, I really don’t know what the FBI can do to help this woman. To borrow from Stephen King/Piper Laurie, “They’re all going to laugh at you.”
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This doesn’t follow. Are you suggesting that the woman didn’t react?
If you have a problem with other people reclining their seats, just fly Spirit where none of the seats recline. Problem solved.
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I do not wish flying Spirit on my most hated enemy.
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Luckily I can live without air travel.
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This flight wasn’t on American Airlines. It was on Republic Airlines flying under the American Eagle brand.
Especially since most airlines now offer a class of ticket that is cheap, but you have zero choice of seat. Combine that with corporate rules that require employees travelling for work to always book the cheapest seat, no matter what, and the days of seat choice are gone for many business travelers.
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Looking at some other places in the world, I think North Americans/Western Europeans have it pretty good compared to what could be…
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With some airline tickets, you can’t actually choose the seat–the airline wants to charge you more to do that. That’s been a trend I’ve noticed in the last couple of years (which may have been going on for longer). With business flights I’ve usually paid the extra money, under the likely bad assumption that I’m more likely to get on the damn plane.
Even when you can choose the seat, you don’t always get to do it. There are a ton of reasons why you might get moved onto a different plane and lose the seat that you selected. This is particularly true for connecting flights.
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Just because someone doesn’t know about a third party app does not mean “they haven’t done their research”. It’s a plane ticket FFS.
It’s been a while since I’ve flown, but even then YMMV as far as getting your requested seat-- or even being able to request a seat at all. I’m assuming no one has stopped overbooking their flights, in which case you can’t pick assigned seating (looking at you, United). How common is the surcharge to pick a seat?
TL;DR seats at the bulkhead do not recline, the airline WILL sell those seats, SOMEONE will be sitting in them.
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How about:
“They’re both assholes, because I’m sure people had disagreements before mobile devices, I’m sure that they were able to work them out without needing to involve the FBI, and I’m assuming that both of them are otherwise legally considered adults and should be responsible enough to deal with the issue face to face.”
Guy, quit it. You’re being a child. Did you not pay attention when you were booking your flight and chose your seat? I’m pretty sure more airlines readily make you aware that your seat won’t recline, in an effort to get you to spring for a more expensive seat. Oh? You couldn’t get one? THEN LIVE WITH YOUR DECISION AND HAPPILY WATCH YOUR DUMB VIDEO ON YOUR PHONE.
Lady. If it’s a problem, turn around and tell the guy to grow up and cut it out. Anecdotal evidence suggests that confrontation in public will usually get someone to back down. Failing that, tell him you’re gonna kick his shit in when you get off the plane if he doesn’t stop, because I’m sure Mr. Crybaby could be easily dispatched with a slap across the face.
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I have found when using 3rd party services like Expedia this is the case…economy seat doesn’t let you pick. Which is why I began booking with airlines directly (I think the last time I used Expedia was in 2012). I generally only fly JetBlue and American, and even the lowest cost seats allow you to choose. So agreed there are scenarios in which you may not know what your seat is…but you know full well what the bad seats are and if you are unfortunate to get stuck in one of them while it sucks…it isn’t some green light to act like this guy did.
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Then punch the seat of the person in AP/AR who says you’re forced to take the seat the airline gives you, without upgrades.
Or you act like an adult and eat the seat upgrade cost yourself.
As someone who regularly takes 13+ hour flights, I and every other passenger would like to tell you you are wrong. We all spend a significant part of the flight trying to sleep. Heck, I’d be fine letting the guy in front of me recline another 6 inches if I could do the same.
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I don’t know. I think she has a decent complaint for harassment and assault. Hopefully she’ll go for a civil penalty as well.
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What a ridiculous assertion. I challenge you to survive a 12+ hour flight in economy without reclining your seat.
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