I really can't believe some people. Use a prohibited device to keep another airline passenger from being able to recline their seat, then press the point until the flight ends up diverted.

I'd be in favor of legislation that would require such *****************s (fill in your favorite pejorative term(s)) to have to reimburse the airline for the cost of fuel and landing fees related to the diversion.

Either that or just chuck them out at 37,000 feet.

Article: United Jet Diverted as Fliers Fight Over Knee Defender Device - NBC News

The seats should be in a fixed position. I get smooshed by some idiot every time I fly.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

They should have diverted to some podunk airport with a long runway (ex SAC base, anyone?) and left them there. Good luck renting a car or getting on another flight.

And people wonder why I prefer to drive whenever possible.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Blast from the past . . . seven years ago

Airline Etiquette / Seat management

How far back do you recline the seat when you drive?

X2

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

...x3

Everyone flying should use those simple and effective devices to keep the rude person in front of them out of their lap.
If enough people defy them, the airlines will change policy.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

YES !!! ...and if the airlines won't lock seats, carry a set of blockers

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

I'm somewhat tall, and I can tolerate the seat in the upright position.

So, when a pax drops the seat in front of me, (and this action depends on the level of interference with my body), I just start to slouch a bit, and let my knees constantly bump and fidget into the back of the seat. Remember how annoying it is to have a kid in back of you kicking the seatback......

If I have to vacate the seat, I make sure to use the top of the seat in front of me to leverage my out.

Ooops, sorry....

Sometimes they ge the hint, sometimes not. but I do get some satisfaction knowing that they are getting bumped around.

Fault really lies with the carrier, if you are going to jam people in, don't let the seats recline.

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Flying is a cattle call and it sucks, granted. Moo. But reclining the seats is rude and inconsiderate? I don't fly commercial anymore unless it unavoidable. Then I usually sleep on the plane.

Have things changed that much since the early 90's? Last time I was on that airport/rental car/hotel hamster wheel.

I wonder. How big are you people and can you really not function with seats reclined in front of you? Is it a body mass issue?

It is kinda sad to hear. I grew up on airplanes back in the early sixties and got to see the Golden Age. Flying was a luxury.

Bolt upright. I'm hella short and this position works best for me.

I first flew commercial in 1993 when I was 15. Security has gotten more annoying, and the meals have pretty much gone away. Aside from that I don't think much has changed.

5'2" and 160 lbs. I find it a minor annoyance if the person in front of me fully reclines their seat. Being seated next to a screaming kid is much much worse. That time I had to fly from Kuwait International to Hartsfield sandwiched in between two 6'+ 200+ lb dudes wasn't exactly great either.

I missed that by a couple decades and kind of wonder what it was like. I also missed trans-oceanic crossings by ship being a common thing. While it certainly took longer, I think that was probably a more comfortable way to travel, unless you were poor and stuck in steerage.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

You guys are clearly traveling in better class seats than I am. The few degree difference between upright and death upon landing is negligible in cattle class.

I'm 6'3" and 3 bills so uncomfortable flying is just a given for me, reclined seat in front of me or not. While leg room is at a premium, and I do go for the exit rows whenever available, it's shoulder room that I have the biggest issue with. I put my headphones on, close my eyes and just hope I'm not next to a talker or another dude (or lady) my size.

If they're counting on common courtesy to take the stress out of flying, I guess we can plan on a continued level of stress.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

That's me, too, Jim. It works slowly but often effectively.

btw, airlines have been shrinking hte seating for some time:


A skirmish for space on planes makes for even tighter squeeze, smaller seats - Business - The Boston Globe