The Best Way to Recline on a Plane
Airplane seats recline for your comfort, but this can make the flight uncomfortable for people behind you. If you want to lean back, here’s how to do it without being rude.
According to etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning, you should always avoid reclining while eating . It’s the same with very short flights, when everyone has their own laptops and it’s obvious that they are trying to work. However, when other people start to recline late at night, go for it. Just make sure you do what former flight attendant Beth Blair at BBC Autos recommends:
… the most successful ‘seat recline’ I have observed was when a passenger wishing to recline back turns around and addresses their intended movement with the passenger seated behind them and simply asks, “Can I recline my seat?” “Yes” is usually given with a smile, and very rarely the answer is “no” – sometimes “not yet.” I heard passengers say, “I work on my computer and I really need a seat. Would you mind waiting 15 minutes for me to finish?
Regardless, pressing a button and slamming the seat back will always look a little rough, even if you’re just trying to get into your seat . And if you’re going to lean back without asking, at least do them a favor by only half leaning back.
Is reclining the seat rude? | BBC Autos