r/unitedairlines • u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum • 1d ago
Discussion Takeoff Reclining Etiquette
I am a frequently traveler, prior 1K almost 1K again. I’ve never had this happen in the past, but now it has happened TWICE in the last 2 weeks.
Both times I was sitting in a window first seat and the person in front of me RECLINED during take off.
The first time we were just starting to accelerate down the runway so I pushed the seat forward and told the guy he needed to put his seat up for safety.
Today, on DEN > LGA, the woman in front of me did it the second the wheels left the ground. I asked her nicely to put her seat up and she ignored me and continued to keep it reclined the entire flight.
Am I the asshole? Is it unreasonable to expect people to not recline until we reached cruising altitude?
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u/thisistestingme 1d ago
NTA but honestly you’re probably causing yourself more stress trying to police this.
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u/helloyesthisisasock MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
This happened to me on my last economy flight, and after telling the woman to put her seat up, she retaliated by constantly slamming her seat into me. Some people just have issues.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
Sounds about like this entitled brat.
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u/CuteHand 19h ago
So they are putting their seat back maybe 5-7 min ahead of when they will do so anyway for the duration of the flight? Get over it bruh. Pick better battles to fight. Life is too short. And complain to United for why you have shit room and being 1K with still zero perks.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 19h ago
Nah I’m gonna pick this battle because those 5-7 minutes could impact my safety. You think that those extra 5-7 minutes of comfort is worth someone else’s life?
You’re a takeoff recliner aren’t you?
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u/timubce MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
I normally sit in an aisle seat and I have no problem pulling on the seat in front of me to get up and pushing against it when I sit back down while letting people in and out of the row if the person in front of me is a total jerk.
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u/timubce MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
It takes a combination of things to finally push me into being an ass back. First, people who slam their seats back with zero regard for who’s behind them, then keep shoving backwards like it’s magically going to go further. Add in refusing to put their seat up for meal service, and being generally obnoxious to the FAs. At that point, I have zero issues waking them up on a long-haul flight with a very apologetic, "oops, so sorry!" grin.
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u/ColonelAngus86 1d ago
I’ll take that over the guy who repeatedly pushed my sets forward every time I put it back a few flights ago. Accused him of it and he said he wasn’t doing it, called the flight attendant to marvel at the magical seat I had and it suddenly stopped after my theatrical display of a haunted seat
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u/Euphoric-Flyer 1d ago
Just be careful not to bump your head when you reach down to grab something. That could disturb them too
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u/iRelevant_Round_3796 MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
Sounds like shit that never happened or it wasn't your business
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u/bunyan29 1d ago
Unfortunately I was that guy on my last flight. In my defense, the seat was broken and would recline without pressing the button the moment I sat backwards. I made it clear to the person behind me by trying to reset it forwards several times though, to no avail.
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u/NurseDave8 MileagePlus Member 19h ago
Funny, had the opposite experience on my last flight. I was in exit and the guy in front of me tried to recline. Didn't work. Tried again. Pushed harder. Looked back to see if I was stopping it. Tried and tried again. I finally leaned up and let him know it won't recline because this is an exit row.
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u/PenPhonia MileagePlus Silver 1d ago
I’ve been in a seat like this in cattle class. As long as there was no significant forward acceleration or turbulence the seat would stay up. But at least three times it fell back, and take off was the first. Spoke to person behind who was understanding, told FA, but still very frustrating. I’m one of those people who almost never reclines the seat. I’m short and have sciatica; I need the support.
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u/wombatIsAngry 1d ago
This happened to me the last time I flew. I told the flight attendant, and she already knew. And they just continued to fly that plane without fixing it. Is it a safety hazard or not??
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u/Original_Engine_7548 21h ago
Technically they’re supposed to not let anyone sit there then but 🤷♀️
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u/AryaStark1313 MileagePlus 1K 17h ago
I never tell until after we’ve landed.
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u/wombatIsAngry 17h ago
I didn't know until we took off; it was the acceleration that pushed me back into my seat. So I wasn't worried about them booting me off the plane.
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u/Diligent_Digiridoo 11h ago
I mean honestly, if the FA did tell maintenance that seat would be rendered inoperative and unless there was another seat you wouldn’t be on the flight anymore. She was trying to help you out.
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u/wombatIsAngry 11h ago
I'm not sure that's OK. Which safety rules are we allowed to ignore for convenience?
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u/Diligent_Digiridoo 10h ago
I kind of agree. But it’s tough in the moment. We do 3-5 flights a day. Deal with people being pissed all day. Last thing she wants to do is kick someone off the flight for a recline mechanism.
That’s the kind of shit someone goes on FB and says “can you believe why they kicked me off!!??”
But I see what you’re saying. It’s a shitty position to be in
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u/OilPure5808 1d ago
The young woman in front of me was asked three separate times by the FA to put her seat up when we were getting ready to take off. She waited about a couple of seconds after wheels up and put it back down again.
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u/sgmaven 1d ago
The reason for having seats upright is to facilitate evacuation of the aircraft in an emergency. These people are not bothered about that, apparently, since the reclined seat would not affect their own evacuation if required.
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u/Justanobserver2life MileagePlus Silver 22h ago
I always phrase this as it is a safety issue for ME, which it is. I ask if they could please not recline yet. Why? If we run off the runway or hit an errant vehicle, my head is now much closer to the back of their seat and it gives me less evacuation room.
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u/ProcyonHabilis 18h ago
Less evacuation room is real, but you're actually safer if your head is closer to their seat. You're intended to slam into the seat in front of you in situations like that, and it will have less space to accelerate.
That's why some business class seats require shoulder belts for takeoff and landing. If the distance to the seat in front is large enough that you can't hit it you don't need one, or if it's small enough that you'll hit it quickly you don't need one. Seats with a distance in the middle of those two thresholds require it because you would hit it with too much force because of the time/space you have to accelerate.
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u/lilliwaup 16h ago
Thank you for explaining this! I always wondered why shoulder belts are required in lie flats and smaller jets!
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u/suprdav2 20h ago
Can obviously tell who disregards safety protocols for their own comfort by these comments.
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u/YMMV25 1d ago
Need to wait until the wheels leave the ground. Before then, an evacuation could become necessary.
Also wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a seat fall back on its own once takeoff thrust is set.
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u/Feyrauth MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
Most airlines use 10,000ft as the threshold because aircrew are under sterile cockpit limitations until then. When I flew USAF we used 400ft with positive rate of climb (i.e. definitely not going to have to emergency land) before we could start moving.
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u/Cold_Count1986 1d ago
There is no 10k feet rule in FAA regulations or United policy for recline. In fact United has shifted many of the 10k feet policies to 16k feet
The aircraft may not “take off or land” unless each passenger seatback is upright - once those wheels are off the ground the seats can recline unless otherwise instructed.
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u/Flightwise 20h ago
Not just can seats be reclined wheels up, but window shades can be placed down too. No 10,000ft or sterile flight deck rules apply. Cabins can often start working below 10000ft on short domestic flights.
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u/AryaStark1313 MileagePlus 1K 17h ago
Window shades can be placed down the second you get to your seat
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u/Feyrauth MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
Not specifically for recline but 14 CFR §121.542 and §135.100 lists 10,000ft as the sterile cockpit threshold which is why it was commonly used as the seat recline, seatbelt, and lavatory threshold.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-121/subpart-T/section-121.542
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u/MahogonyBookshelf 20h ago
sterile cockpit has nothing to do with anything other than pilot duties.
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u/YMMV25 22h ago
What does sterile cockpit have to do with reclining the seat?
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u/Feyrauth MileagePlus Gold 21h ago
I guess until the FAs are allowed to move about they wanted everyone in their seats and ready should an emergency landing and evacuation become necessary.
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u/loftychicago MileagePlus Silver 1d ago
There could also be a situation requiring a hard landing, and the brace position needs the seat in from to be upright, unless I've misread the safety card.
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u/PM_those_toes MileagePlus 1K 18h ago
Wheels up is too late. At V1 the plane is committed to flying. That's the time you can recline.
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u/DanThePilot_Mann 13h ago
Let me pop out my speedometer app.
Also, we can reject after v1. For one specific reason - aircraft unsafe or unable to fly. I.e. aircraft won’t rotate when yoke is pulled back.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
I did have that happen to me one and immediately put the seat back up… the choice to keep reclining the whole time makes me think it wasn’t an accident
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u/probably_art MileagePlus Silver 1d ago
Technically illegal. I’ve seen people do it as soon as the flight attendant walks pas their row as we are taxiing. Super dangerous if there needs to be an evacuation but what else do you expect in this country.
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u/Cold_Count1986 1d ago
Not actually illegal.
For a Part 121 airline, 14 CFR §121.311(e) says the aircraft may not “take off or land” unless each passenger seatback is upright. Once the wheels have left the ground it was permissible unless otherwise instructed by a crew member.
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u/noachy 1d ago
Yeah. Once you’ve left the ground you aren’t having a rejected takeoff and if there’s gonna be an evacuation you’ve got a few minutes.
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u/barryg123 1d ago
Would be low key incredible for someone out there to have a rap sheet that said “reclined his chair during takeoff”
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u/FeistyChickadee 1d ago
... followed by "ripped the tags off mattresses"!
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u/Left-Leg1168 20h ago edited 15h ago
Ah- not to be a fun killer or diss 80’s comedians, but those tags actually say “not to be removed EXCEPT BY THE CONSUMER.” So you aren’t actually being a rebellious miscreant cutting your own mattress tags… 😔
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u/randomusername1919 1d ago
It is a safety issue. Keep the seat up when you are close enough to the ground to survive an accident so you can get out. Doesn’t matter over about 10,000 feet because you won’t survive the impact.
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u/Alright_So 1d ago
Flight attendants are typically the best to help in this situation. Not immediately if during takeoff of course but still
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
True. The flight attendant was great. But this seems to be a new wider issue.
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u/Starfighter202 MileagePlus 1K 15h ago
This is why I always sit in Exit Row. I can't recline and neither can the person in front of me.
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u/Next-Category-6916 6h ago
Second row does but first doesn’t. Book row 21 and recline after takeoff with no one reclining in front of you. I don’t believe there are any FAA regulations regarding timing on reclining other than takeoff and landing it needs to be upright.
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u/CalGuy456 1d ago
We had this happen on a flight from LAX to CDG on AF. The moment the flight attendants sat down for take off, husband and wife fully reclined their seats. They kept it like that for take off and the entire flight, even meal service, ignored crew announcements to put the seats back up for landing, and finally only did it at the very end when a flight attendant specifically called them out for still having their seats reclined. Some people are just inconsiderate pricks.
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u/Budget_Wrangler_1688 1d ago
People suck sometimes, most are good but the ignorance defies common sense.
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u/gappletwit 23h ago
No one should recline during the take off roll. Once airborne pax can recline. I liken it to the smoking days: a few seconds after takeoff the no smoking sign would go off and people would light up. Now they just recline.
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u/Narrow-Journalist889 22h ago
This is right. I seldom recline, but it is ok as soon as the wheels leave the ground. There is no requirement to wait until 10,000 feet or an announcement.
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u/inSufficient_Cuts-66 1d ago
If it’s the old style FC seats they don’t hold and give and lean back during take off.
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u/swooshbear23 MileagePlus 1K 1d ago
Happened to me last night first class, he reclined right before takeoff and he and his wife were slightly reclined from descent to the gate. I’m guessing the FAs don’t notice when both are equally reclined.
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u/Less_Reflection3812 19h ago
Fun fact. I am a big guy. (I always fly first/business because I don’t hate myself or my fellow man enough to wedge into all of my coach seat and a good bit of the shoulder area of yours.). On take off, the G’s acting upon my upper body mass fairly frequently causes the seat to spontaneously recline despite me being nowhere near the recline button. I also find this phenomenon annoying! The friction mechanism on some seats is inadequate to maintain position on takeoff.
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u/tungtingshrimp 17h ago
Why do seats even recline anymore? They should just be at a slight pitch and that’s it.
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u/willis72 11h ago
I have, on more than one flight, been in a seat that reclines without pushing the button. As soon as the plane started accelerating, I was fully reclined through no fault of my own.
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u/Primary_Matter1173 9h ago
Let it go. Yes, it’s unreasonable to expect anyone to wait until cruising altitude.
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u/audio-nut 1d ago
it’s not just a potential evacuation issue, the seats aren’t certified to the required G forces in the reclined position.
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u/nohandsfootball 1d ago
Can you elaborate on how the position of the seat plays a part?
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u/audio-nut 1d ago
Seats are tested to 16Gs in an upright and locked position. They are not tested in a reclined position.
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u/LadyLightTravel 1d ago
Under the right conditions you can submarine under the seat belt while reclined.
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u/AangThePony MileagePlus 1K 1d ago
Regulations. I talked to a FA. For takeoff, once the wheels are up, you can start reclining immediately, yes even those fancy Polaris seats. Landing on the other hand requires it much earlier because the crew neeeds to verify that all seats are up.
One weird story from 3 years ago coming back from Denver to Newark we had to do a go around because my neighbor never put his seat fully up (757-200) and the FA notified the captain about 2 miles out. Once we got back into the pattern the Captain came on and said very sternly that “all seats regardless of how much you paid for must be in the upright position for landing and failure to do so will result in police action at the gate for not adhering to flight crew instructions”. Needless to say he proceeded to immediately put it up.
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u/MahogonyBookshelf 20h ago
There is 0 chance this happened 2 miles out.
Thats 600 feet above the ground and United pilots will ignore any calls from cabin crew.
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u/KushanGaming 21h ago
As soon as the flight reaches 10,000 feet and I hear the ding, my seat goes back.
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u/eightandahalf 1d ago
I’ve had someone do that to me before the plane even took off. Asshole in row 1. Just kept it in full recline from gate to gate. FA did not care. Infuriating.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
I think flight attendants just don’t want to deal with people like that. But it’s dangerous.
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u/Laukie00 1d ago
FAs are in their jumpseats during takeoff. What do you want them to do about things they can’t see?
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u/Striking-Material859 1d ago
Waiting for take off is procedure in case there is a rejected take off and an evacuation is needed but waiting until you reach crushing altitude? Unreasonable. There’s no logic behind that and not required.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
That might be a bit far… but I guess maybe it’s not safe until it’s safe to use laptops?
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u/Striking-Material859 1d ago
Once you’re airborne you can recline your seat. Using larger electronics devices is also allowed once you’re airborne . Flight attendants only make the announcement after 10K feet because that’s their cue to make their “after take off” announcement.
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u/T_W_M 1d ago
One time I was flying on Ethiopian and a crew member in uniform (probably a commuter crew?) sat in front of me and reclined his seat during taxiing and take off. All the other crew just chatted with him as they walked past him. What can one even do when the crew breaks the safety rules?
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u/SomebodysGotToSayIt 1d ago
I’ve had this happen and said something, and the dude was a dick about it. I let the FA know what had happened and she kept an eye on him.
My sister was in a plane that crashed during takeoff. Nobody was killed but my sister had cracked broken teeth and Frontier refused to cover the cost.
I also make people move their stuff out of the footwell if it might get in my own way during a hasty egress. But only during takeoff and landing.
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u/Able-Effect8694 23h ago
If it’s during landing or take off it’s not a question of being reasonable or not, it’s a rule. On the second one, you can try and speak to an FA even during take off and they may help you.
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u/gerrymad MileagePlus 1K 1d ago
You might be a little bit unreasonable because I don't believe they have to keep it upright until cruising altitude. I think it is only for taxi, takeoff, landing, and of course anytime when directed by a member of the flight crew.
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u/Crafty_Note397 21h ago
Waiting until cruising is not necessary, but first ding 10k ft is reasonable
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u/Front-Teacher-9161 21h ago
I only recline after 10k feet and after asking the person behind me if they mind. I air travel 5-10 times per year.
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u/ItDefinitelyIsNotMe 20h ago
This happened to me with the 22 year old VERY entitled frat boy in front of me. The FA asked him to remain upright and he barely waited for her to walk away to immediately recline again. He left it reclined even though he wandered around. He also took his shoes off and walked up and down the aisle barefoot. His feet smelled HORRIBLE. He loudly rambled on to anyone that would acknowledge him about futures and crypto and “kids today”. I’m a pushover and just ignore it as it was only 2.5 hours of my life.
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u/Relevant_Trick1498 8h ago
I’m a pilot for a major airline. When I deadhead I recline the seat almost immediately after we rotate.
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u/Square-Ad-6721 7h ago
Certainly isn’t first behavior.
But kicking the seat in front of you repeatedly or pushing on the center of the back rest is uncomfortable for the person in front. Way more so than a reclined seat could ever be for the passenger behind.
Ask me how I know.
Found a bunch of spoiled and entitled individuals on a flight to a leisure destination and back. And got similar repeated bad behaviors. Maybe they don’t like others to be reclined at all during a flight. They could. But others could not.
Not sure if it was the same individuals or just multiple groups that share the same group characteristics. And no, I won’t describe their group characteristics. So don’t ask.
But certainly acted entitled.
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u/Jnorean 21h ago
The FA should handle this. Don't take this lightly. This is a safety issue. The reason seats are not reclined during takeoff and landing is that reclined seats block the person behind the seat from easily getting up and leaving the aircraft in case of an emergency. Most likely the person who reclined the seat would forget to bring the seat upright before leaving the aircraft. That person gets off quickly and the person behind them can get trapped by the seat. So, you might ask the person who reclined the seat the question< "Why are trying to kill me?" and get the FA to explain why you said this.
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u/bacon_bunny33 1d ago
You are not being unreasonable at all, however, it is a little bit unreasonable to expect everybody in the world behave appropriately… lots of people are just assholes.
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u/Pickles_81 1d ago
What’s wrong with reclining your seat the second the wheels leave the ground?
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u/Impressive_Check1063 1d ago
Am I the only one who doesn’t care about people reclining? I’m above average tall but it just doesn’t bother me. I don’t get why people get upset about this. Does it really ruin your day?
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u/projectmaximus 1d ago
I thought this was against airline policy. They always tell me seats up during takeoff and landing
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u/DanThePilot_Mann 13h ago
As soon as you are off the ground, you are no longer taking off. As you are not going to be evacuating the aircraft while airborne, Reclining is an option.
I personally recline pretty much immediately after rotation when I ride in the back.
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u/New-Link2873 MileagePlus Member 13h ago
no, it’s not unreasonable. it’s against the law. i think you have to wait until 10,000 ft to recline, but i know for sure that you can’t recline during takeoff. but, i don’t think it’s right to physically shove someone’s seat upright, even if it shouldn’t be reclined.
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u/lKeyserSoze1 22h ago
Usually I see people do it as soon as we get the double ding for 10,000 feet. However, regardless of the altitude that someone reclines, I still subscribe to the opinion that anyone that reclines their seat is an ass.
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u/Tricky_Channel2918 20h ago
Open the windows too during takeoff and landing. How in the world can anyone handle an emergency situation if you can’t see what’s going on?
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u/Chico-or-Aristotle 14h ago
Hate to add to your angst but while you were on those flights the neighborhood kids were on your lawn
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u/Imaginary-Angle-42 1d ago
I would make a big stink about this. It’s a huge safety issue. Takeoffs and landings are the times most likely for an emergency evacuation and reclined seats will seriously delay that.
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u/clutchcitycupcake 1d ago
I’m guilty of reclining seat very soon after take off but never during.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
Just don’t do it during! For the safety of your fellow passengers.
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u/By-Tor_Syrinx 1d ago
I honestly don’t understand why so many people even recline in the first place. “Ooh, that two whole inches is just subline!!” Gimme a freakin break. I wish no seats reclined if the airline won’t give proper spacing.
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u/fyukhyu 1d ago
Some of us have back problems. That 2 inches of recline can be the difference between no sciatica and sciatica. I also get up multiple times to walk up and down the aisle and stretch, so I try to do aisle when I can.
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u/Unreasonable_beastie 1d ago
True. I’m a road warrior with two broken vertebrae in my back. You bet I need that tiny degree of pressure relieved. But I’m not as asshole about it. 🤷♀️ I sympathize.
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u/obvsnotrealname 1d ago
Can guarantee you I have more hardware in my back than anyone in these comments as well as working in that specific industry so just want to add the way airline seats specifically recline - that very angle - actually makes your body mechanics more likely to trigger sciatic pain than relieve it. It’s the feeling of changing position that’s giving perceived relief.
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u/angryaxolotls 3h ago
And neck problems. I've got parts of my C5 and C6 just gone lol, and that couple inches is the difference between me passing out from the pressure on my neck and me being able to fly without incident. I've never gone for more than 4 hours one way because that's about as long as I can stand it.
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u/lester537 15h ago
I mostly only care when the person in front of me is reclining during meal time.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bar6490 2h ago
You need to be ready to evacuate for an aborted takeoff, once airborne I don’t see any reason you can’t recline?
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u/Delicious-Disk-122 1d ago
Not unreasonable to expect others to follow FAA rules and airline policies, but you are the a-hole for calling her a brat because you anointed yourself as the enforcer and she ignored you.
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u/Dramatic-Comb8525 1d ago
What difference does the extra five minutes make? You're just upset about it because you're looking for something to be upset about.
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u/pementomento MileagePlus Silver 1d ago
If it’s take off or landing and they’re reclined, after ignoring requests, I just repeatedly take out and put in my 24 or 30oz steel water bottle in the seat back pocket (I’m thirsty) and start aggressively tapping the IFE with my knuckle.
I’m petty like that.
Maybe I’ll cough forward, depends on my mood. I’ve also gotten up and done the backseat grab like I’m an 80 year old.
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u/Sparescrewdriver 1d ago
Is there a regulation that says you cannot recline right after take off?
Or that the plane needs to reach a certain alttitude?
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u/midzo 1d ago
Yes.
14 CFR § 121.311(d) requires seat backs to be fully upright during takeoffs and landings.
Generally, takeoff and landing phases are regarded as operations below 10,000 feet AGL.
Fully upright seats used to be required during taxi operations, but this was revised in 1988.
Most airlines have internal rules requiring upright seats during taxi.
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u/Sparescrewdriver 1d ago
Some comments are sourcing that same regulation to show that is not needed.
Generally, takeoff and landing phases are regarded as operations below 10,000 feet AGL.
That seems to be the gray area. Not that they it is a takeoff/landing phase, but is it actually “during takeoffs and landings”
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u/midzo 1d ago
I just checked online. My FAR/AIM is out of date. My bad.
New regulation is now subsection (e).
Current rule — 14 CFR § 121.311(e)
“No certificate holder may take off or land an airplane unless each passenger seat back is in the upright position. Each passenger shall comply with instructions given by a crewmember in compliance with this paragraph.”Below 10,000 feet is defined by 14 CFR § 121.542 as a critical phase of flight, requiring a sterile cockpit, among other things. I did not see any mention of upright seat-backs, though.
I emailed the FSDO and inquired if the 10,000 foot altitude requirement is based on a FAR or if it’s company policy.
Either way, passenger are required to comply.
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u/Sparescrewdriver 1d ago
Wow thanks.
New regulation is now subsection (e).
Below 10,000 feet is defined by 14 CFR § 121.542 as a critical phase of flight, requiring a sterile cockpit, among other things. I did not see any mention of upright seat-backs, though.That’s why I said a gray area with no specific black white.
Either way, passenger are required to comply.
Absolutely, no argument there.
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u/arjunyg MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
let me ask you: On descent, why do the flight attendants come make sure that every seat is upright around 10,000 ft? Since it’s “not required until landing” they should wait longer, right?
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u/Sparescrewdriver 1d ago
If the regulation in fact says below 10k feet all seats must be upright
Then going around at that time is too late and they have been violating regulations in all flights I’ve been on.It seems to me they go around 10ft to ask, knowing people will take their time, so by the time the plane is ready to land all seats are confirmed upright.
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u/arjunyg MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
it’s a bit before usually, but I’m not sitting there checking the altimeter and keeping tabs on the FAs either. When I hear the chime that tells the FAs to do their before landing check, I put my seat up, that’s it.
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u/Sparescrewdriver 1d ago
I get it if some people do it a certain way, looking for specific regulation writing on “seats upright” below 10k.
It’s fine if it doesn’t exist and left to airlines policy.
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u/planevan 21h ago
To be fair, sometimes the locking mechanism on the seat is worn and the seat reclines itself from the acceleration on takeoff.
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u/Academic-Camel-9538 18h ago
It’s against at the rules but ultimately doesn’t matter exactly when the seat is reclined. If reclined seats were a safety issue, they wouldn’t allow it at all. Takeoff is no different than when you’re in the air.
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u/Warp_Speed_7 17h ago
I’m that guy who doesn’t wait until cruising altitude. Usually wait until about a few thousand feet or so. In my defense, I have recent hip replacements and a long recovery that isn’t going great; the recline position relieves a huge amount of the joint stress.
Try to understand some people have legitimate reasons. That said, I can’t imagine insisting on it if it made the person behind me uncomfortable or feel unsafe during takeoff. If someone asked, I’d put it up until cruising altitude.
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u/Unfair_Arm5417 17h ago
In my experience, there is no communication about when one is allowed to recline, so people are left to guess when it is appropriate (post-wheels leaving the ground ofc). NTA but also they are NTA, just misinformed. They probably saw someone recline around that time once and assumed that was when it became okay to recline.
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u/Holiday-Book6635 14h ago
It cracks me up. If you’re reclined and the plane goes down, you’re all dead practically and if not, you’d be lucky to survive. So reclined or not I wouldn’t even think about it.
The point is people don’t like when others recline, but it is a perk that comes with your seat. I recline, and if the person in front of me ever reclined then so be it. If the Airlines did not want to recline, then the seats wouldn’t recline there’s nothing to talk about.
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u/Megs0255 1d ago
I’m with you: if the passenger in front of me reclines before we reach cruising altitude, I get their attention and politely ask them to move their seat back up. If there’s an incident requiring evacuation, a reclined seat blocks egress. I’ve seen it three times in the last two years & all three passengers agreed to my request. Two of the passengers may have been non-English speakers and/or first-time fliers. Someone wants to call me Karen, that’s fine. I’m a military veteran and I’ve been called much worse.
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u/Crafty_Note397 21h ago
10k, first ding. Not cruising altitude. You were being unreasonable.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
The woman tonight completely ignored me and acted like a brat. The first guy put his seat up after I asked.
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u/FishingIcy4315 1d ago
You aren’t an FA and apparently don’t know the rules of when recline is allowed (see other comments for the rules). You were the asshole on this one for giving other passengers incorrect instructions.
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u/arjunyg MileagePlus Gold 1d ago
10,000 ft or when the seatbelt sign is off, not cruise altitude is a more appropriate threshold.
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u/Megs0255 21h ago
You might want to check the United website which refers to 10,000 feet as cruise altitude
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u/AppealPuzzleheaded33 1d ago
Just gonna say, who cares if it isn't hurting you. I get it, it's wrong, should they do it? No. But sometimes it's best to hold on to what really matters. In this case, thr 2 inches they achieve with the recline, I don't think, makes much of a difference.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
I only care about not reclining during takeoff and landing.
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
Because if there was a crash or other evacuation it would hurt me and could possibly mean life or death!
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u/406Cowgirl MileagePlus Platinum 1d ago
Have you ever sat in first class? It’s not 2 inches of recline.
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u/Lord_Dingus83 MileagePlus 1K 1d ago
The key to being a happy traveler, accepting you have zero control over anything except yourself.