The dispute over aeroplane seat reclining is a prevalent yet contentious topic that many travellers have come across. How far does one person’s quest for comfort cross the line into another’s personal space?
This grey region is aptly illustrated in a recent message we got from a reader named Mark. His experience serves as a reminder of social norms, exhaustion, and the frequently unsaid rules of flying in confined spaces.
As you read his story and our analysis of it, think about how you might have reacted if you were him or her.
Mark’s letter is as follows:
Hi,
Yesterday, I flew home from a work trip. I am a 34-year-old male. The flight, which lasted six hours, was on a low-cost carrier with almost little legroom. In order to give myself the most space possible, I paid more to reserve an aisle seat because I’m 6’3″.
I was completely worn out by the time we boarded the plane, which was unfortunately delayed by two hours. I worked through the night to finish a presentation for a big customer meeting that morning, and happily, everything went smoothly. But by the time I got on board, I was exhausted.
In an attempt to get some much-needed rest, I leaned my seat back sharply as soon as the seatbelt light went off. I failed to look behind me first. “I can’t breathe!” screamed the woman behind me almost instantly, and I found out later that she was pregnant. I was taken aback, but to be honest, I was simply too exhausted to cope.
I retorted in frustration, “Then take first class!” She remained silent after that.
I put on my noise-cancelling headphones, ignored the odd stare from the guy next to me, and fell slept for the most of the journey. It wasn’t until we landed that I gave it any more thought.
There’s something you might want to read, sir, a flight attendant murmured softly as we were getting off the plane. The woman behind me left a message, which she gave to me. She clarified that she was eight months pregnant and that the abrupt shift of my seat had compressed against her abdomen, resulting in pain and breathing difficulties.
“I couldn’t afford a more expensive seat because I was flying to see my mother, who is terminally ill, one last time before giving birth,” she revealed.
I’m conflicted right now. According to my wife, I should have been more conscious of the individuals around me and was in error. Since I arrived home, she has been angry with me, and she says I need to figure out how to make things right.
On the other hand, my brother thinks I have every right to utilise the seat if it is made to recline.
In his opinion, the woman overreacted and ought to have spoken to me in a calm manner rather than shrieking.
I keep getting conflicted about this. Given my level of fatigue, was it unreasonable of me to lean back in my chair without first checking? Or was I only utilising a regular feature to which I am entitled as a traveler? I can’t stop thinking about her circumstances and what she said.
Was it wrong of me to recline my seat if it caused harm to another person? Or, even though the result was regrettable, was I justified?
