Posted on 09/02/2014 6:33:02 AM PDT by Wolfie
I got into a seat (one of the few times I flew coach) and found that the seat wouldn’t go back. I got up to look and saw those insipid things in the tray table arms. I asked the dude to remove them and got a big diatribe about his rights and his legroom and me being inconsiderate and violation his rights that I wearied of quickly and took my seat, with the offended person continuing his speech—knowing that pasting this guy in the mouth wouldn’t go over well.
Once we leveled off at 30-thousand whatever feet, I braced my feet on the chair mounting in front of me, pressed the button, and gave a good hard push. The knee defenders creaked, creaked, one split and very quickly the other one gave way as well. So much for “unbreakable”.
The offended guy was absolutely furious, called the FA, demanded that I be arrested and was told by the flight crew to sit down and be quiet or HE would be the one arrested—they are an unauthorized seat modification that he was neither trained to install (asked if he had an A&P ticket—he didn’t) nor given permission by the airline to install them.
After 3-1/2 hours Houston to Las Vegas he started his verbal beratement all the way until we were parked and the rows in front of us cleared. An FA pulled me aside, told the other guy to continue on his way, and once was out of earshot, asked how I got enough force to break those. I explained, showed how simple it was and the FA had a good laugh and thanked me for showing me how it worked. Seems he’s had several of those incidents and now knew how to advise pax how to fight back without a word. And yes, that really is an unauthorized modification.
Exactly...
I’ve had my nail clippers get confiscated by the TSA goons, how the hell do knitting needles get a pass?
Only if she's trying to knit an Afghan.
When my son was about 4 we flew somewhere. He had was in a car seat. He was on the small side for his age. HE didn’t have enough leg room and kept kicking the guy in front of us. There was not enough leg room on that plane for a short 4 year old.
I then realized that flying was something awful to be engaged in only under dire need.
I assume you mean the person in front of me, who bought a product that doesn’t allow them to recline when my knees are jammed into the back of their seat?
excellent column. thanks for sharing it.
This thread is a great reminder that Freepers can argue about ANYTHING. Love it.
I read somewhere that a European airline was floating the idea of a semi standing coach configuration with a cushioned “rest” that was contoured to the average body. The pitch was much less, of course.
Could someone explain to me why the reclining seats are such a problem? Every time I’ve flown (in steerage), I note the seats recline only about two inches. How can that two inches inconvenience anyone?
Good for you.
A few things to virtually everyone else on this thread cheering on the poor oppressed in the back:
First and foremost for all the passive-aggressive jerks with their little tricks to stop the seat from reclining, why don’t you act like a human being and simply ask the person in front if you (nicely) to not recline their seat. If you’re civil about it they might just agree. But if that simply too much, if it’s too much to act like a human being instead of like an animal defending his territory...(and I’m going to assume the latter is the case for anyone who argues with the points below)..
If one is too tall for coach seat space, buy an upgrade. Your boss won’t do it because you’re on a business trip? Tough, do it yourself. Or get another job.
All the people on this thread who are complaining about the lack of legroom, exactly how does the distance of 2 inches of recline damage your legs/knees so unbearably? (and that’s 2 inches from the top of the seat, not the bottom where your knees are, thus even less distance is being taken from “your” space really). You’re really so large the loss of an INCH of legroom causes knee damage? Wow. You should be in the NFL (or really in business class)
Finally what’s to stop you from reclining your own seat? Nothing but your own perceived (not real) invasion of space. Because yeah, the reclining function is part of the seat I bought, and nothing prevents you from reclining your own seat. Unless you’re one of those poor shlubs in the seats up against the bathrooms (in that instance I don’t recline my seat if I’m in front of such people.). Thus, since I paid for a reclining seat I have every right to that function. And you loose no space if you don’t think like a selfish jerk and simply recline yours.
The seat reclines. It is supposed to. Some airlines make fat people buy two seats. If you want a seat with more legroom and/or to be behind a non reclining seat, pay extra for the premium coach seats in the exit row. Maybe airlines should charge extra for tall people like they do for fatties.
Exactly my point. See #50.
“Only if she’s trying to knit an Afghan.”
Good one.
If reclining seats are such a bad idea, why do they recline? All planes, all airlines.
Ha! Some months after 9/11, I was boarding my first flight after that fateful day, and was shocked to see that large knitting needles were allowed on board by a woman wearing a headscarf. She was accompanied by a man wearing a turban. I kid you not. These needles were probably 10-12” long and came to a point, suitable for use as a weapon. The TSA is such a sham.
Just curious ... how tall are you?
Cuz at a certain height, two inches makes all the difference in the world.
Bottom line you pay for x amount of space.. if the person in front reclines you lose part of that space.. that you can only gain back if you also recline.. and take space from the person behind you...
The article was poorly written. Which woman was taken off the plane? the knitter or the sleeper?
I wonder if the individual airline can deny her future flight/tickets and simply do what casinos do: claim she is persona non-grata? Also, casinos share this information. Maybe the airlines should create a "black book" to protect their investment and safety?!
At the least, the airline should sue her for the diversion. In my estimation (I'll let the commercial pilots chime in on this), that diverting a flight, landing, delay, fuel, fuel tax, gate tax, landing fees, etc would be north of $100,000.00?
I’m 5’8”.
Are you significantly taller? If so, and if a reclined seat causes you pain (physical), why are you not able to buy a larger seat?
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