The Airline Passenger
If you fly a lot, you understand there is a bit of a controversy in the friendly skies these days. Shocker.
The silent, muffled debate revolves around the proper incline of your seat. Is it OK to recline your seat on a long flight? If so, how far back? Is the act of reclining sanctioned and approved by the airline gods-- or are you a spawn of Satan if you recline your seat?
Like most things these days, everyone has an opinion…
One side firmly believes, “Absolutely not. It's rude. Stay out of my space. You don't have a right to get in my face.”
The other side, however, says, "Of course I can put my seat back. It's a 12-hour flight. I paid hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars, for this flight. The airlines designed all 350 seats on this plane to recline for a reason!"
I have crossed most of the oceans around the globe many times—and I happen to be a member of the second school of thought that says you CAN put your seat back-- if you are polite about it.
Unfortunately, on a recent flight to Turkey, the 20-something girl seated behind me happened to be of the opposite persuasion…
The flight involved 12+ hours on the plane. You're in the air for 10+ hours, so you need to get rest. Sleep is vital.
Around 11pm, I politely informed the young lady behind me that I would like to put my seat back. A courtesy gesture, in my thinking. My request was met with physical resistance. She resolutely placed her knees firmly on my seat back-- so that I could not put my seat at the desired angle to achieve a blissful night of rest.
Here's the scenario. A Trazadone was already leeching its way into my system. The guy seated in front of me—who shared my personal philosophy regarding airline seat reclining—had boldly positioned his seat all the way back. He was totally in my face. So now, I am scrunched between two opposing forces. Picture me in a fetal position—I sort of looked like an overbaked Cheeto.
