Aircraft Seats
Happy New Year to everyone! I spent the Christmas/New Years break visiting my wife’s family in Alabama, but I am back in the Wisconsin office tapping away on my computer keyboard.
Try as much as I do to write positive-themed postings on my blog, I just can’t help but vent every now and then. This posting is one of those times.
Yesterday, I was on a flight from Chicago to D.C. I had planned to catch up on a little work on the flight, and had my laptop ready to go. But low and behold, right after takeoff, the lady in front of me reclined her seat all the way back. Now instead of a computer screen in my view, I had the top of her head.
Maybe back in the days when passengers had more legroom between seats, reclining seats were a nice amenity. But with today’s trend to squeeze seats as close together as possible, reclining seats have lost their practicality. Whenever the passenger in front of you reclines his or her seat, you are left with very little room. Getting up to go to the restroom is difficult. And try retrieving something you stored under the seat.
I think it’s time for airlines to do away with reclining seats in coach/economy. They have gone from being a nice amenity to being a nuisance. The airlines stopped serving us food. Some did away with blankets and pillows. Why not make everyone who wants to sleep do with the seat upright? Heck, this could even lead to money savings. After all, that would mean no more broken reclining mechanisms to repair.
Do you also feel it is time to retire reclining seats?
Joe Escobar
Joe, Are you serious?? If you are going to take away reclining seats, why not take away the windows? They only get scratched and then you will not need shades. How about the folding arm rests? Ever try to share an arm rest with the person next to you?
I stay up as long as I can the night before a trip so that I can recline the seat and sleep all the way to my destination. I used to sleep in the terminals also but this usually resulted in missing the flight. Hugh
Have all the airline miles you log caused you to go insane?? You want to work, stay at work or home ! ! I, as most others want to try and relax as much as possible in the shrinking space we are now allowed. You want to take away the only amenity we still have? Loose a few of those extra pounds you have put on and the space won’t seen so tight ! !
If it were up to me, I would design a cabin with different sections. One section would be the “snoozing section” of the aircraft. Seats in this section would recline even further than the ones in today’s aircraft do. In order to enhance the sleeping experience, I would remove the windows in this section (thanks for the tip Hugh).
Another section of the cabin could be set aside for those that wish to remain awake — whether they choose to read, work, or use approved electronic devices to help pass the time. The backs of these seats could have video monitors that won’t be hard to see since the seats will be non-reclining and remain upright all the time. This section would have nice big windows like the 787, free wireless access, and AC outlets to keep the passengers’ electronic devices charged.
You would just select your seat preference when you purchase your ticket. Snoozing section or awake section.
But we know that these changes aren’t going to happen. So I’ll just have to settle for reading my latest issue of Cycle World, listening to music on my iPod, and trying to otherwise relax with someone’s seat back in my face.
Joe
Removing the recline is an excellent Idea. I cannot tell you how many times I have been hurt by the clown in front of me reclining into my knees. Granted I am 6′5″ tall and need leg room. If the bulkheads are not available then I am at the mercy of the non-attentive, uncaring, sleepy masses that recline without a thought in the world. As a former Airline mechanic I know that the companies would save money and weight by eliminating seat recline mechanisms and also the tray adjustments could be locked to one position. Can you imagine not having to rush to fix a seat before the next flight because the recline cable snapped and you have to fish a new one in 15 minutes. If the seats had ears that bend to hold the passengers head in the center then they can snooze away without disturbing other passengers either on the recline or by slumping over into the next seat crack to pillow their head. We all know that company profits are now thought of as a greater need than passenger comfort, so if I cannot have three feet for my two legs then the seats should also be locked out to protect my personal space.
Right on!!! I put in well over 120 flights per year and other than the baggage carousel leaners/vultures, the one thing that bugs me the most is the inconsiderate idiot that slams his seat back into my knees/face/laptop/meal at 5000 FPM. And, believe me, it’s not just an issue in economy or coach. I never recline my seat no matter how tired I am because I know how much it annoys me when someone does it to me. Don, Hugh, SLEEP AT HOME and keep your seat back out of my face!!
Airbus is considering a fix for your seat complaints…padded inclined wall (no seat). More people per plan and no leg room of reclining complaints
This is similar to the age old smoking arguement! Smokers (Sleepers) consider it an infringement on their rights - and non-smokers (non-sleepers) consider it an infringement on thier rights. My thinking is that everyone who pays for a ticket in economy should get the same space. So having one seat recline into the space of another in such tight quarters is a problem. Either space the seats further apart to accomodate sleepers, or remove the recline feature!
Try Jetblue airways there takeing out a row of seats to give more leg room. That should help with getting in or out of the rows.
Recliner chairs are a real comfort on an otherwise demoralizing experiance of flight.one must first beg for a ticket at a reasonable price,then just try and get it when you want to leave. then,your stripped of your ego and clothes for a search when you do not look Arab ( Racial profiling). then , processed throught a line like cattle going down a shoot, then try and find your seat without causing havoc around your chair while trying to put your valubles in the overhead storage (the airlines cannot guarentee their safty in baggage). then , sit in the most unconfortable chair for 8 or 10 or 12 hours while watching the news of the latest victums of flight 800 . You can’t sleep as the child behind you keeps kicking the back of your chair as the food tray is there,the tv is there ,and the magazine rack is there.. the parents arguing over the food on the tray and the people infront of you are talking and laughing , having the time of their lives . Just try and recline and sleep !! People who have the stupidist Ideas of how better to do things , are the ones who never leave the office or home and when they have to fly they have a schoffer drive them to the airport , then get on a private jet and be catered and pampered during the flight . then,,when they retire ,,they retire off the stolen funds from the employee’s trust funds getting some rediculis monthly check of a million dollars or so.. why don’t you just take the seats out completely and let the basterds sit on the floor or better yet let them bring their own cousions .(let them eat cake)just a thought .
I still like the idea of a reclining seat,the designs that are out there are very uncomfortable.The other problem is people wetting the seats.Passengers want a cheap seat,(typically 69 to 169 dollars)then destroy a 200 dollar seat cushion enroute.The people that didn’t care about pensions and lives being destroyed want cheap fares and comfortable seats.They are still only half way to their objective.Stop whining and be happy if the front half arrives at the same time as the back!:)
I’m sorry but I have to disagree. Having flown many times over the past year with a race team, the ability to stretch back a little to snooze after a tough week is nice to look forward to.
I worked for six years as a line mechanic for American Airlines, and we did have the occasional seatback/recline repair. I spent much more time and the airlines resources digging foriegn objects such as tampons and drinking glasses out of clogged toilets. Perhaps they should close down the lavs, install a couple of extra seats and save money while make more revenue at the same time.
If I’m not mistaken, Midway Airlines has airplanes full of business class seating, and good cookies too.
Joe, I so feel your pain. I am short so leg room does not bother me as much, but I just came back from Europe and the reclining seat in front of me was horrible - the flight attendant had to push the guy in an upright position so the food tray would fit. I don’t recline my seat because I know how much it bothers me. I don’t have any answer, maybe one day I’ll make enough money to afford first class or win the lottery and get that private jet ;-). Until then the middle seat is where I’ll be.
If you had 3 or 4 stripes on your coat sleeve you would have been in first class!
I work for an airline, and have found these devices left on an aircraft from time to time. Knee Defenders to disable the recline mechanism of the seat in front of you. Here is the website: http://www.kneedefender.com/html2/buy.htm
I’m tall-ish (6ft) but seldom use the reclining feature of my chair. It doesnt seem to make much difference. Reclined feels like I get to lie back *maybe* an extra inch. It’s not worth it. I’ll tell you what will make the biggest difference on your next flight: Noise Cancelling headphones! I got a pair of Bose Aviation X for my flight training, and man… if their Quiet Comfort ones work half as good as these, then I’m sold! I tried watching a movie on my iPod on the last flight… even with in-ear headphones on I had to crank the volume up to the max! The airlines should ditch the recliner seats and install these noise canceling headphones!
Having just been tortured from LAX to Amsterdam by a seatback reclined the entire flight in front of me, all I can say is RIGHT ON! I could not even keep a cup on my tray because of it. Being ever conscious of the mechanic’s plight however, I can see that eliminating seat recline mechanisms and window shades will also eliminate a lot of mechanic jobs. As far as the tall pasengers are concerned though, hey, that’s just one disadvantage of your particular brand of birth defect…live with it. By the way, the Quiet Comfort headset is on my personal MEL list. I never leave home without it.
I also have active noise reduction headsets when I travel, though they are Sennheiser, not Bose. It is remarkable how much ambient noise they reduce. Much more pleasant (quiet) way to spend time with a seat back in your face.
Joe Escobar
[…] Happy New Year to everyone! I spent the Christmas/New Years break visiting my wifes family in Alabama, but I am back in the Wisconsin office tapping away on my computer keyboard. Read more… […]
[…] Happy New Year to everyone! I spent the Christmas/New Years break visiting my wifes family in Alabama, but I am back in the Wisconsin office tapping away on my computer keyboard. Read more… […]
Hi Joe! I completely and utterly agree with the idea to do aaway with reclining seats. I was on a flight from Dublin>Heathrow>Vancouver and onboard all of the flights, a person reclined his/her seat so i could barely move. Although everyone has a rigth to their comfort on board an airline, maybe the restrictions on reclining seats should be pushed further. I could not eat, work on my laptop or use the restrooms. I mean, a 9 hour flight is a long time without a restroom! When we were on our final approach into Vancouver, this person refused to move!! I called cabin crew and it was quickly resolved, but just before touchdown this person reclined their seat a little more.
Killian