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“I Wasn’t Talking To You”: Entitled Passenger Demands Reclining Seat, Gets Owned By The Copilot
Air travel is exhausting as is, but uncomfortable seats make it even worse. Especially when you’re on a long flight. Recently, Thrillist surveyed its readers, and 78% said the seat on their last flight was uncomfortable. People pointed out how seats lack padding, how narrow the seats are, and how there’s not enough legroom.
The protagonist of this story ran into this last issue as well. The passenger in front of him rudely insisted on reclining, but the author was unwilling to stand down. The passenger caused such a scene that even the copilot had to chime in. And his solution really put the entitled passenger in place.
RELATED:
Long flights are unbelievably tiresome if you can’t recline
Image credits: DC_Studio (Not the actual photo)
However, this passenger went about asking for a reclining seat the rude way and got what he deserved
Image credits: thichas (Not the actual photo)
Image credits: earthshaker495
Unfortunately, airlines rarely accommodate tall people on planes
Being tall can be exhausting sometimes, and not just because people keep asking you whether you’re good at basketball and saying “What’s the weather up there?” Traveling by plane, bus, or even car can prove challenging to people over six feet tall. Remember when Shaq did that commercial for Buick and people didn’t believe he could actually fit in there?
Lack of legroom is actually a pretty serious problem for tall people. Not everyone who is tall is Shaq with virtually unlimited financial resources. Economy air travel is uncomfortable for people of regular height, so tall people have it even more difficult.
What’s worse, plane legroom has actually shrunk since the golden age of air travel. The Telegraph writes how, back in those days, seat pitches for long-haul flights used to be from 31 to 34 inches. Nowadays, the maximum is only 32, with Southwest offering the highest 33 inches. Seat width has also shrunk. Whereas 40 years ago, it was 19-20 inches, today, airlines opt for 16-20-inch-wide seats.
Southwest offers a free extra seat for passengers who are too wide to fit into one seat. Surely, all people deserve to travel comfortably and without financial penalty, no matter their body size. So, this begs the question: why aren’t there any accommodations for tall folks?
Image credits: Fahroni (Not the actual photo)
Here are some tips to make air travel a little more bearable for tall people
There are some things tall passengers can do to avoid their legs going numb in a tiny seat pitch. Flying expert for Icelandair Amie Sparrow told Newsweek that it’s important to plan ahead. When you book the flight, check the seat measurements and discuss seating options with the airline. She says that the comfort of the passenger is their responsibility too, so the passenger should make sure they get the right seat for them.
Usually, the best seats for tall people are at the exit row (aside from business class). As most airlines hold on to them as long as they can, the best chance to get them is as you check in (online or at the gate). A third option is to wait after boarding is over: perhaps a passenger didn’t make it to the flight and their seat happens to be at the exit row.
If you’re unable to score a seat with more legroom, Afar has a trick. Ask the flight attendant for a large bottle of water, fill it halfway, wrap it into an airline blanket, and put it against the small of your back. They say it provides lumbar support and might be a lifesaver during long flights.
Image credits: ashishk75 (Not the actual photo)
Airplane passengers should adhere to some basic etiquette rules
In a recent interview for Bored Panda, etiquette expert Myka Meier offered some airplane etiquette guidelines that make the trip more pleasant for all passengers.
Respecting the personal space of others is one of the most important things on board a flight. Be mindful of not going into your neighbor’s space, from a foot to a hair over the seat. Keep your arms and legs within your seat area as much as possible.
If you recline your seat, do so gently and check that the person behind you is not in the middle of eating or using their tray table.
Keeping noise down is key, as any time there is a communal or shared space, it’s important not to force others to listen to your music/movie/game, etc. Use headphones for electronic devices, and try to keep conversations and other noises to a reasonable and respectful volume.
Use the overhead bins considerately, and don’t take up too much space so there is room for others.
Be mindful of bathroom breaks, especially if you’re in the aisle or middle seat.
Image credits: delightfully_chaotic_me (Not the actual photo)
The author provided more context in the comments
People had all kinds of reactions: some applauded the copilot’s sassiness, and others thought the passenger had a right to recline his seat
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What do you think ?
LaserBrain 4 months ago
That was handled well! Still, if I pay for an airline seat, I expect to be able to recline it. Yes, slowly, in consideration for the person behind.
Curbz81 4 months ago
Same here. My back starts to burn and cramp if I don't recline it a bit.
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Guess Undheit 4 months ago
I'm not tall, but two things I have experienced a LOT are males who spread their legs into the next seat, and who spread their elbows past the arm rest. I stomped on a foot once and a chump got pi$$y. I told the FA "My foot was in front of me", which it was, meaning his foot was waaaaay beyond the bounds of his seat. She told *him* to keep his feet in front of him.
Kris Wu Yifan 4 months ago
Males love to think the whole world exists to serve them so airplanes are a special type of hell dealing with them. They cannot accept that other people are entitled to their own space, it's just "BUT I'M 6'7!!!!" (in reality 5'10)
Load More Replies...
John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 4 months ago
My seat can recline so I will recline. Why do we tolerate the b******t of airlines making the seats ever more cramped?
Solandri 4 months ago
Sounded like the guy could recline his seat; he just couldn't recline it all the way. The seats are cramped because given a choice between smaller seats or paying a little extra, most passengers consistently pick the smaller seats. That's the long term consequences of always trying to find the cheapest ticket. The airlines are just giving us what most of us are picking. If you go to sites like seat guru, you can see which airlines have (slightly) bigger seats. And you can restrict yourself to flying with them. But be prepared to be paying more that the lowest fare most of the time.
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ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago
Typically it’s the purser/lead FA who makes this call. The cabin crew, not the pilots. Ad nauseam: I fly roughly 10K per month on the same r/t route & almost always the same seat or row. If there’s an empty seat up front (very rare) the FA will always leave it empty unless they need to separate pax. The few times I’ve seen it happen it’s always the person on the receiving end of the conflict, not the b****y person making demands. I once chatted with a guy brought up and he told me how an obese fella in the middle seat was throwing a tantrum about leg room & being physically retrained by dimensions of his seat. He was demanding a better seat. Instead, the FAs brought the guy from the window who was having to deal with big guy’s fit up to first. Being rude, demanding or childish on a flight will never get you anywhere.
Grape Walls of Ire 4 months ago
6'7" here. This is one of my worst nightmares. It's happened to me, too. I pay extra for more leg room whenever possible to avoid these a******s. Like Ivona.
Broadredpanda 4 months ago
Although the man wanting to recline was being mean by pushing, he has EVERY RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECLINE!!! He paid for that seat for a reason. 16 hours on the plane and he can't recline? B******t!! The tall man has problems all the time, but doesn't get or pay for (or maybe it's free) a suitable seat like an aisle seat or a seat with extra legroom. He travels a lot and I guarantee he's not poor. He behaved wrongly, (the recliner man) but he should get what he paid for!!!!!
FluffyDreg 4 months ago
And if there was space there wouldnt have been a problem. The problem was that he wanted more space than wsx physically availible.
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Jiminy Cricket 4 months ago (edited)
Actually - the guy has a right to recline his seat. If you don’t fit in YOUR space you should be addressing that rather than inhibiting someone else, just like if you were overweight or too wise - buy two seats or pay for business. Why should the person in front of you not be able to use their seat properly because you are too big? Now, that does not excuse the guy being a jerk - totally different issue…
Page intentially left blank 4 months ago
Color me skeptical, but I but I think there's either some missing extenuating info here, or this is a fabricated story. There is absolutely no way that a copilot would bother to remove himself from the cockpit just to deal with a rude passenger. The flight crew would have had the authority to offer the upgrade.
April Dancer 4 months ago
'Be mindful of bathroom breaks, especially if you’re in the aisle or middle seat'. What? You mean like only go to the toilet, if you need to go to the toilet? I thought that's what we were doing. Or should we avoid drinking anything in the hope that we won't inconvenience anyone by actually needing to visit the bathroom?
Zena 4 months ago
OK, it wasn't like OP was refusing to allow the rude guy to recline his seat; there was literally nowhere for it to recline; it's not like OP could detach his legs and toss them in the overhead. The co-pilot made an excellent call, because this way both passengers were made more comfortable: OP got a seat with more legroom to accommodate his height, and the rude guy got to recline his seat (which is what he was demanding). Also, at what point did OP state that he had chosen to not purchase a bulkhead or emergency row seat? Perhaps none were available. It's often a huge cost increase to jump to business class, and OP clearly was willing to put up with being jammed into an economy seat. He has no control over whether someone has purchased the seat in front of him and insists on reclining. And as was pointed out, rude guy could have understood the situation and asked to switch seats; he clearly was open to switching seats.
María Hermida 4 months ago
I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Yes, OP was willing to put up with being jammed into a tiny seat. But I get the impression he was expecting the whole world to accept being uncomfortable, too. Do you really believe a passenger will not "insist on reclining" during a 16+ hour flight? Rude guy could and should have asked politely instead of behaving like an a*****e, but... why should he "understand the situation"? He paid full price for his ticket, so he should have the "comforts" as the rest of the passengers. And everybody knows there are few comforts in Economy class. OP's situation must be solved between himself and the airline. I know it's not OP's fault, but it's not the other passenger's fault either. (And I bet you anything, if one of them hadn't behaved like an a*****e the airline would have done nothing).
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Pandaodboredem22 4 months ago
I love how people always say blame the airlines. Sure they could make more leg room. Then be able to fit less passengers, have to charge more, and the same people would be screaming that air travel is too expensive.
FluffyDreg 4 months ago
Theyve already been charging more and shrinking the space. I'd be happy if they went a few steos backwards
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Steven Maduro 4 months ago
Story as old as the hills keeps turning up, but with different plots and same punchline!🤣
Brenda White 4 months ago
I want to share that now a lot of airlines give you a heads up that you can "bid" on an upgrade to business class. I was flying Aer lingus and I tried bidding the minimum but I didn't win. I think because they do this now, freebie upgrades are going to be far and few.
Caroline Nagel 4 months ago
The same happened to me and my dad flying from Europe to the United States. A middleaged couple sat in row in front of us. The first thing they did as soon as we were allowed to unfasten seatbelts they reclined their chairs. I'm short so it didn't bother me too much, but my dad was 1m85 (a little over six ft) and had Rheumatoid Arthritis. The man, who was sitting in front of my dad, was getting agitated about feeling my dad's knees in the back of his chair. My dad kept being his stoic self and explained to the man he had nowhere to go with his legs. So the guy angrily said that in that case we should have asked for a seat in the front row next to the emergency exit. When my dad explained he had a disability and wouldn't be allowed to sit there the guy mockingly refused to believe him. Until my dad took his state issued disability plaquard he always brought with him on vacation out of his bag. We didn't hear a word from the couple for the next 6 hours. The chairs stayed upright.
Caroline Nagel 4 months ago
If you recline your chair in an airplane you more or less force all the people behind you to do the same in order for them to be comfortable too.
Load More Replies... Amelia Jade 4 months ago
I was once flying from the east coast back to Las Vegas and had a terrible, pounding headache. It was to the point of making me sick. I reclined my seat and the guy behind me violently started shaking my seat. I was like wth?! I turned around and he angrily told me I couldn't recline because he had no leg room. He could have flippin asked nicely. For a split second I considered ignoring him, but I felt so sick and didn't want to deal with his tantrum, and had no energy for conflict. So, I put my seat back upright, but I was fuming and angry the entire time. Like, I'm sorry you have no leg room but it isn't all about you.
LaserBrain 4 months ago
That must have been frustrating. Unfortunately, the person sitting behind can easily make the person in front miserable.
Load More Replies... Sandra Morison 4 months ago
People ARE GETTING TALLER. Seats need to be comfortable on long flights . My 2 sons are 6ft 6very difficult to sit in economy
Alexandra 4 months ago
My take on this is that if the person in front would have handled it in a more civilised manner, such as showing empathy first and then indicating a willingness to find a solution that works for both of them, he had a good chance of being upgraded. The point is, the seats are a given and the length of the legs are a given; you can't change that. So, find a solution that benefits both or inconveniences both as little as possible, but don't act as if the world owes you anything. The upgrade was right for that reason alone.
gambolloch 4 months ago
I'm 6'4 and I let other folks recline. It's not like It's not like there are that many times in my life where I experience comfortable seating and adequate leg room. I'm used to it. Planes are mostly fine, buses (city and long-haul) are the worst.
Leenahray 4 months ago
They should've offered someone sitting in business class to begin with, it shouldn't have taken that long for a resolution. Both passengers had a valid complaint. I fly pretty much yearly on planes and always had anxiety with putting my seat back. My last trip I had walked so much more than expected and had an economy seat the next day, sitting up in those seats hurt so bad I could cry, it was the first time I reclined more than half way. I prob would have lost my cool if I couldn't recline in the slightest.
roddy 4 months ago
There's no guarantee you can recline your seat. We once found our seats were at the back of the plane in front of a wall too close to recline. Then the woman in front of me immediately reclined to sleep for the entire flight so I could not use a tray and had her seat in my face. The flight attendant basically said I was out of luck, nothing they could do.
Dave 4 months ago
Yes, but she shouldn't recline because you can't. So, the person in front of her can't because she can't, etc., etc. I was asked not to recline on a long flight by the short person behind me (I'm short, too). I suggested they get the person in front on me not to recline and I'd do it. Shut them up.
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Barbara Williams 4 months ago
OP is an AH for not booking a seat he could fit in. A 16 hour flight, without being able to recline, would tick me off too. I would have requested flight attendant to upgrade OP though.
Solandri 4 months ago
Not enough info. Maybe he was an AH and didn't want to pay for more legroom. Maybe he did try but they were already sold out. Maybe he was flying on standby (sometimes happens when you buy a ticket using miles) so just got whatever seat was available. No way to know if it was his fault or not.
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T'Mar of Vulcan 4 months ago
I've been on a ten-hour flight and didn't recline my seat. Honestly, what's with people? "I have to be comfortable!" So do the other people. Shut up.
Remi (He/Him) 4 months ago
It's actually a bit more comfortable if everyone reclines a bit versus sitting full up. On some long flights I've been on the staff has encouraged people to lean back and take a nap
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Scott Rackley 4 months ago
What I can't believe is the copilot actually came back into the cabin and dude remained on the plane. You ask for a pilot and it's not going to go well for you.
Marciano Ragaza 4 months ago
This sounds very similar to the arrogant woman who didn’t want to be seated beside a lady of color. The flight attendant offered in similar fashion the BC seat to the lady of color.
Kangaroo Cafe in Hanoi 4 months ago
I saw this story told almost exactly the same way but the person complaining was doing so about the colour of the other passenger. It was a good story both times if true on either occasion.
Someone Important 4 months ago
Seats are made to recline, of you don't want someone reclining, reserve a bulkhead seat or shut up. You didn't pay for the seat in front of you, better yet, stay home and spare everyone your attitude.
Jardim 4 months ago
Its the tall person’s problem. He’s physical condition interfering with someone else’s comfort. So he gets rewarded. If it was an obese person that was interfering with someone’s else’s seating, they would have shamed that person m, not reward it. Tall guy was too cheap to pay for the upgrade seat with more leg room or business class, instead people have to be inconvenienced by him. Now, imagine if it was a plus size person. People would sure be demonizing that person.
Pheline 4 months ago
Check the prices. It isn't a problem with being “cheap” when Business or First is shockingly expensive.
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LadyHermit 4 months ago
Reading about such experiences makes me realise I'll prolly never board a plane in my life. As a tall person myself I hardly ever travel anymore by public transport, I just keep my travels confined to the distances I'm confortable driving to.
Don 4 months ago
It's high time Bored Panda change their current mission which is "spreading good news and highlighting top artists from around the world." As most of the content is increasingly becoming sad and depressing. Down voting this content as it's another of the many negative content on Bored Panda, which is far from what their mission states.
Kathy Kennedy 4 months ago
I agree with V, if he would have been gentlemanly about it he probably would have been the one in the changed seat. Instead act like an entitled tantrum throwing douche, get treated like an entitled tantrum throwing douche
Costa 4 months ago
I am 6'2" and used to fly a LOT. I went through a terrible phase of having the person in front of me recline the first second they could. When seeing them full height it was almost without fail somebody at least 6" shorter than me who could've managed with a lot less legroom than I needed.
Dave 4 months ago
So, you're 6" taller than I, so I don't get to recline? If I was Danny Devito I'm reclining.
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similarly 4 months ago
I can blame the guy behind me for being tall, or he can blame me for wanting to recline my seat, but ultimately: shouldn't we all blame the airlines who stuff WAY too many seats into economy class? I mean, couldn't ... SHOULDN'T they be content to cut a row or two and give everybody just a bit more room? The problem isn't tall people, nor people who want to recline. I think our ire is better focused more precisely.
Natalia 4 months ago
While I agree with you, it's a waste of time getting angry at the airlines, they're not going to give passengers any more room no matter how angry people get
Load More Replies... Ivona 4 months ago
Tall people like OP should always get bulkhead seats, emergency row seats or business class seats. In Economy, space is narrow. Everyone has the tight to recline their seat, and nobody has the right to obstruct another passenger's reclining.
Grape Walls of Ire 4 months ago
I'm 6'7", and I get extra leg room whenever I can, but it's not always possible. When I have no choice but to sit in economy, the person in front of me does not have the right to violate the laws of physics or cause me physical harm. Please think before you post next time.
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Suzie 4 months ago
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I dearly wish the seats didn't recline at all. It wasn't an issue until the airlines made the seats so cramped but now that they are, I wish they didn't recline.
Jen Grenier 4 months ago
Totally agree!! If the seats didn’t recline at all, then we wouldn’t continue to have this same issue. They allow us to recline the seats but then we catch hell if we do, even on a freaking 16 hour flight!! The airlines need to take a position so that passengers don’t end up having to face this same battle constantly!!
Load More Replies... Anony Mouse 4 months ago
As airline seats recline maybe two inches at most, this is a fake/fantasy post.
PanteraSilva 4 months ago
I don't understand why people demand to be able to recline the seat when it can mess up the food tray of the person behind them, and if there is a laptop up it can be broken. Especially on a long flight, yes, seats can recline, but must we do it? The other person also has a right to some personal space
Alana Hughes 4 months ago
If I'm on an 17hr flight, you can be sure as s**t at some point I'm going to recline my chair! Yes the person behind has a right to personal space the same as I have the right to recline my chair to get some personal space!
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Jenny Begnell 4 months ago
I don't mind people reclining a bit but I think putting seats back as far as they can go during the day time should not be allowed. I'm amazed that this is not listed as the number one hate in flying.
Upstaged75 4 months ago
To the people saying the jerk has the right to recline his seat - is the tall guy supposed to take his legs off? He can't help how tall he is!
María Hermida 4 months ago
It's nobody else's problem. He should take that into account when booking a flight, like obese passengers who are obliged to pay for two seats to have the space they need. It's not his fault, but it's not other people's fault either. Who should your problems affect me?
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Patricia Smith 4 months ago
Maybe if he had said, "Sure! I f you take my legs up there to sit with you!" Naw. Some people are just mean.
Beth Wheeler 4 months ago
He gave the victim the upgrade and the perp got what he wanted, he was finally able to recline his seat. Gotta love that copilot!!!
LaserBrain 4 months ago
That was handled well! Still, if I pay for an airline seat, I expect to be able to recline it. Yes, slowly, in consideration for the person behind.
Curbz81 4 months ago
Same here. My back starts to burn and cramp if I don't recline it a bit.
Load More Replies... Guess Undheit 4 months ago
I'm not tall, but two things I have experienced a LOT are males who spread their legs into the next seat, and who spread their elbows past the arm rest. I stomped on a foot once and a chump got pi$$y. I told the FA "My foot was in front of me", which it was, meaning his foot was waaaaay beyond the bounds of his seat. She told *him* to keep his feet in front of him.
Kris Wu Yifan 4 months ago
Males love to think the whole world exists to serve them so airplanes are a special type of hell dealing with them. They cannot accept that other people are entitled to their own space, it's just "BUT I'M 6'7!!!!" (in reality 5'10)
Load More Replies... John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 4 months ago
My seat can recline so I will recline. Why do we tolerate the b******t of airlines making the seats ever more cramped?
Solandri 4 months ago
Sounded like the guy could recline his seat; he just couldn't recline it all the way. The seats are cramped because given a choice between smaller seats or paying a little extra, most passengers consistently pick the smaller seats. That's the long term consequences of always trying to find the cheapest ticket. The airlines are just giving us what most of us are picking. If you go to sites like seat guru, you can see which airlines have (slightly) bigger seats. And you can restrict yourself to flying with them. But be prepared to be paying more that the lowest fare most of the time.
Load More Replies... ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago
Typically it’s the purser/lead FA who makes this call. The cabin crew, not the pilots. Ad nauseam: I fly roughly 10K per month on the same r/t route & almost always the same seat or row. If there’s an empty seat up front (very rare) the FA will always leave it empty unless they need to separate pax. The few times I’ve seen it happen it’s always the person on the receiving end of the conflict, not the b****y person making demands. I once chatted with a guy brought up and he told me how an obese fella in the middle seat was throwing a tantrum about leg room & being physically retrained by dimensions of his seat. He was demanding a better seat. Instead, the FAs brought the guy from the window who was having to deal with big guy’s fit up to first. Being rude, demanding or childish on a flight will never get you anywhere.
Grape Walls of Ire 4 months ago
6'7" here. This is one of my worst nightmares. It's happened to me, too. I pay extra for more leg room whenever possible to avoid these a******s. Like Ivona.
Broadredpanda 4 months ago
Although the man wanting to recline was being mean by pushing, he has EVERY RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECLINE!!! He paid for that seat for a reason. 16 hours on the plane and he can't recline? B******t!! The tall man has problems all the time, but doesn't get or pay for (or maybe it's free) a suitable seat like an aisle seat or a seat with extra legroom. He travels a lot and I guarantee he's not poor. He behaved wrongly, (the recliner man) but he should get what he paid for!!!!!
FluffyDreg 4 months ago
And if there was space there wouldnt have been a problem. The problem was that he wanted more space than wsx physically availible.
Load More Replies... Jiminy Cricket 4 months ago (edited)
Actually - the guy has a right to recline his seat. If you don’t fit in YOUR space you should be addressing that rather than inhibiting someone else, just like if you were overweight or too wise - buy two seats or pay for business. Why should the person in front of you not be able to use their seat properly because you are too big? Now, that does not excuse the guy being a jerk - totally different issue…
Page intentially left blank 4 months ago
Color me skeptical, but I but I think there's either some missing extenuating info here, or this is a fabricated story. There is absolutely no way that a copilot would bother to remove himself from the cockpit just to deal with a rude passenger. The flight crew would have had the authority to offer the upgrade.
April Dancer 4 months ago
'Be mindful of bathroom breaks, especially if you’re in the aisle or middle seat'. What? You mean like only go to the toilet, if you need to go to the toilet? I thought that's what we were doing. Or should we avoid drinking anything in the hope that we won't inconvenience anyone by actually needing to visit the bathroom?
Zena 4 months ago
OK, it wasn't like OP was refusing to allow the rude guy to recline his seat; there was literally nowhere for it to recline; it's not like OP could detach his legs and toss them in the overhead. The co-pilot made an excellent call, because this way both passengers were made more comfortable: OP got a seat with more legroom to accommodate his height, and the rude guy got to recline his seat (which is what he was demanding). Also, at what point did OP state that he had chosen to not purchase a bulkhead or emergency row seat? Perhaps none were available. It's often a huge cost increase to jump to business class, and OP clearly was willing to put up with being jammed into an economy seat. He has no control over whether someone has purchased the seat in front of him and insists on reclining. And as was pointed out, rude guy could have understood the situation and asked to switch seats; he clearly was open to switching seats.
María Hermida 4 months ago
I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Yes, OP was willing to put up with being jammed into a tiny seat. But I get the impression he was expecting the whole world to accept being uncomfortable, too. Do you really believe a passenger will not "insist on reclining" during a 16+ hour flight? Rude guy could and should have asked politely instead of behaving like an a*****e, but... why should he "understand the situation"? He paid full price for his ticket, so he should have the "comforts" as the rest of the passengers. And everybody knows there are few comforts in Economy class. OP's situation must be solved between himself and the airline. I know it's not OP's fault, but it's not the other passenger's fault either. (And I bet you anything, if one of them hadn't behaved like an a*****e the airline would have done nothing).
Load More Replies... Pandaodboredem22 4 months ago
I love how people always say blame the airlines. Sure they could make more leg room. Then be able to fit less passengers, have to charge more, and the same people would be screaming that air travel is too expensive.
FluffyDreg 4 months ago
Theyve already been charging more and shrinking the space. I'd be happy if they went a few steos backwards
Load More Replies... Steven Maduro 4 months ago
Story as old as the hills keeps turning up, but with different plots and same punchline!🤣
Brenda White 4 months ago
I want to share that now a lot of airlines give you a heads up that you can "bid" on an upgrade to business class. I was flying Aer lingus and I tried bidding the minimum but I didn't win. I think because they do this now, freebie upgrades are going to be far and few.
Caroline Nagel 4 months ago
The same happened to me and my dad flying from Europe to the United States. A middleaged couple sat in row in front of us. The first thing they did as soon as we were allowed to unfasten seatbelts they reclined their chairs. I'm short so it didn't bother me too much, but my dad was 1m85 (a little over six ft) and had Rheumatoid Arthritis. The man, who was sitting in front of my dad, was getting agitated about feeling my dad's knees in the back of his chair. My dad kept being his stoic self and explained to the man he had nowhere to go with his legs. So the guy angrily said that in that case we should have asked for a seat in the front row next to the emergency exit. When my dad explained he had a disability and wouldn't be allowed to sit there the guy mockingly refused to believe him. Until my dad took his state issued disability plaquard he always brought with him on vacation out of his bag. We didn't hear a word from the couple for the next 6 hours. The chairs stayed upright.
Caroline Nagel 4 months ago
If you recline your chair in an airplane you more or less force all the people behind you to do the same in order for them to be comfortable too.
Load More Replies... Amelia Jade 4 months ago
I was once flying from the east coast back to Las Vegas and had a terrible, pounding headache. It was to the point of making me sick. I reclined my seat and the guy behind me violently started shaking my seat. I was like wth?! I turned around and he angrily told me I couldn't recline because he had no leg room. He could have flippin asked nicely. For a split second I considered ignoring him, but I felt so sick and didn't want to deal with his tantrum, and had no energy for conflict. So, I put my seat back upright, but I was fuming and angry the entire time. Like, I'm sorry you have no leg room but it isn't all about you.
LaserBrain 4 months ago
That must have been frustrating. Unfortunately, the person sitting behind can easily make the person in front miserable.
Load More Replies... Sandra Morison 4 months ago
People ARE GETTING TALLER. Seats need to be comfortable on long flights . My 2 sons are 6ft 6very difficult to sit in economy
Alexandra 4 months ago
My take on this is that if the person in front would have handled it in a more civilised manner, such as showing empathy first and then indicating a willingness to find a solution that works for both of them, he had a good chance of being upgraded. The point is, the seats are a given and the length of the legs are a given; you can't change that. So, find a solution that benefits both or inconveniences both as little as possible, but don't act as if the world owes you anything. The upgrade was right for that reason alone.
gambolloch 4 months ago
I'm 6'4 and I let other folks recline. It's not like It's not like there are that many times in my life where I experience comfortable seating and adequate leg room. I'm used to it. Planes are mostly fine, buses (city and long-haul) are the worst.
Leenahray 4 months ago
They should've offered someone sitting in business class to begin with, it shouldn't have taken that long for a resolution. Both passengers had a valid complaint. I fly pretty much yearly on planes and always had anxiety with putting my seat back. My last trip I had walked so much more than expected and had an economy seat the next day, sitting up in those seats hurt so bad I could cry, it was the first time I reclined more than half way. I prob would have lost my cool if I couldn't recline in the slightest.
roddy 4 months ago
There's no guarantee you can recline your seat. We once found our seats were at the back of the plane in front of a wall too close to recline. Then the woman in front of me immediately reclined to sleep for the entire flight so I could not use a tray and had her seat in my face. The flight attendant basically said I was out of luck, nothing they could do.
Dave 4 months ago
Yes, but she shouldn't recline because you can't. So, the person in front of her can't because she can't, etc., etc. I was asked not to recline on a long flight by the short person behind me (I'm short, too). I suggested they get the person in front on me not to recline and I'd do it. Shut them up.
Load More Replies... Barbara Williams 4 months ago
OP is an AH for not booking a seat he could fit in. A 16 hour flight, without being able to recline, would tick me off too. I would have requested flight attendant to upgrade OP though.
Solandri 4 months ago
Not enough info. Maybe he was an AH and didn't want to pay for more legroom. Maybe he did try but they were already sold out. Maybe he was flying on standby (sometimes happens when you buy a ticket using miles) so just got whatever seat was available. No way to know if it was his fault or not.
Load More Replies... T'Mar of Vulcan 4 months ago
I've been on a ten-hour flight and didn't recline my seat. Honestly, what's with people? "I have to be comfortable!" So do the other people. Shut up.
Remi (He/Him) 4 months ago
It's actually a bit more comfortable if everyone reclines a bit versus sitting full up. On some long flights I've been on the staff has encouraged people to lean back and take a nap
Load More Replies... Scott Rackley 4 months ago
What I can't believe is the copilot actually came back into the cabin and dude remained on the plane. You ask for a pilot and it's not going to go well for you.
Marciano Ragaza 4 months ago
This sounds very similar to the arrogant woman who didn’t want to be seated beside a lady of color. The flight attendant offered in similar fashion the BC seat to the lady of color.
Kangaroo Cafe in Hanoi 4 months ago
I saw this story told almost exactly the same way but the person complaining was doing so about the colour of the other passenger. It was a good story both times if true on either occasion.
Someone Important 4 months ago
Seats are made to recline, of you don't want someone reclining, reserve a bulkhead seat or shut up. You didn't pay for the seat in front of you, better yet, stay home and spare everyone your attitude.
Jardim 4 months ago
Its the tall person’s problem. He’s physical condition interfering with someone else’s comfort. So he gets rewarded. If it was an obese person that was interfering with someone’s else’s seating, they would have shamed that person m, not reward it. Tall guy was too cheap to pay for the upgrade seat with more leg room or business class, instead people have to be inconvenienced by him. Now, imagine if it was a plus size person. People would sure be demonizing that person.
Pheline 4 months ago
Check the prices. It isn't a problem with being “cheap” when Business or First is shockingly expensive.
Load More Replies... LadyHermit 4 months ago
Reading about such experiences makes me realise I'll prolly never board a plane in my life. As a tall person myself I hardly ever travel anymore by public transport, I just keep my travels confined to the distances I'm confortable driving to.
Don 4 months ago
It's high time Bored Panda change their current mission which is "spreading good news and highlighting top artists from around the world." As most of the content is increasingly becoming sad and depressing. Down voting this content as it's another of the many negative content on Bored Panda, which is far from what their mission states.
Kathy Kennedy 4 months ago
I agree with V, if he would have been gentlemanly about it he probably would have been the one in the changed seat. Instead act like an entitled tantrum throwing douche, get treated like an entitled tantrum throwing douche
Costa 4 months ago
I am 6'2" and used to fly a LOT. I went through a terrible phase of having the person in front of me recline the first second they could. When seeing them full height it was almost without fail somebody at least 6" shorter than me who could've managed with a lot less legroom than I needed.
Dave 4 months ago
So, you're 6" taller than I, so I don't get to recline? If I was Danny Devito I'm reclining.
Load More Replies... similarly 4 months ago
I can blame the guy behind me for being tall, or he can blame me for wanting to recline my seat, but ultimately: shouldn't we all blame the airlines who stuff WAY too many seats into economy class? I mean, couldn't ... SHOULDN'T they be content to cut a row or two and give everybody just a bit more room? The problem isn't tall people, nor people who want to recline. I think our ire is better focused more precisely.
Natalia 4 months ago
While I agree with you, it's a waste of time getting angry at the airlines, they're not going to give passengers any more room no matter how angry people get
Load More Replies... Ivona 4 months ago
Tall people like OP should always get bulkhead seats, emergency row seats or business class seats. In Economy, space is narrow. Everyone has the tight to recline their seat, and nobody has the right to obstruct another passenger's reclining.
Grape Walls of Ire 4 months ago
I'm 6'7", and I get extra leg room whenever I can, but it's not always possible. When I have no choice but to sit in economy, the person in front of me does not have the right to violate the laws of physics or cause me physical harm. Please think before you post next time.
Load More Replies... Suzie 4 months ago
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I dearly wish the seats didn't recline at all. It wasn't an issue until the airlines made the seats so cramped but now that they are, I wish they didn't recline.
Jen Grenier 4 months ago
Totally agree!! If the seats didn’t recline at all, then we wouldn’t continue to have this same issue. They allow us to recline the seats but then we catch hell if we do, even on a freaking 16 hour flight!! The airlines need to take a position so that passengers don’t end up having to face this same battle constantly!!
Load More Replies... Anony Mouse 4 months ago
As airline seats recline maybe two inches at most, this is a fake/fantasy post.
PanteraSilva 4 months ago
I don't understand why people demand to be able to recline the seat when it can mess up the food tray of the person behind them, and if there is a laptop up it can be broken. Especially on a long flight, yes, seats can recline, but must we do it? The other person also has a right to some personal space
Alana Hughes 4 months ago
If I'm on an 17hr flight, you can be sure as s**t at some point I'm going to recline my chair! Yes the person behind has a right to personal space the same as I have the right to recline my chair to get some personal space!
Load More Replies... Jenny Begnell 4 months ago
I don't mind people reclining a bit but I think putting seats back as far as they can go during the day time should not be allowed. I'm amazed that this is not listed as the number one hate in flying.
Upstaged75 4 months ago
To the people saying the jerk has the right to recline his seat - is the tall guy supposed to take his legs off? He can't help how tall he is!
María Hermida 4 months ago
It's nobody else's problem. He should take that into account when booking a flight, like obese passengers who are obliged to pay for two seats to have the space they need. It's not his fault, but it's not other people's fault either. Who should your problems affect me?
Load More Replies... Patricia Smith 4 months ago
Maybe if he had said, "Sure! I f you take my legs up there to sit with you!" Naw. Some people are just mean.
Beth Wheeler 4 months ago
He gave the victim the upgrade and the perp got what he wanted, he was finally able to recline his seat. Gotta love that copilot!!!
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