THE long-debated ‘should you recline on a plane’ may no longer be an issue for passengers.
A number of airlines are reducing how much seats can recline, or even scrapping seats that recline on flights entirely.
GettyAirlines are reducing the amount your seat can recline – or even scrapping it altogether[/caption]
The controversial feature has long caused debate, and even resulted in serious altercations – earlier this year, a passenger was caught punching the seat in front after an argument about reclining.
Budget airlines scrapped the option for passengers to put their seats back years ago, with Ryanair ditching the option back in 2004.
This is less of a problem for travellers, as the flights are often short haul and never overnight – so the need to get comfy to sleep isn’t an issue.
But other airlines who offer longer flights and ones where shut-eye is a must are also quietly removing the function.
Instead, seats are “pre-reclined” so they operate between fully upright and fully reclined back.
Jet2 was one of the first to utilize this back in 2009, with new technology at the time created by Acro allowing the middle-ground seats.
British Airways flights that are shorter than four hours also have the “pre-reclined seats” while Delta seat reclines were reduced from four inches to just two inches back in 2019, along with United, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
And Finnair even introduced a new business class seat that had no recline function, which Sun Online Travel tried out.
Mark Hiller, CEO of seating company Recaro, told CNN: “The airline can choose a pre-defined backrest angle position of 15 or 18 degrees within the seat configuration process.
“This helps to provide either more comfort via increased backrest angle or fulfil special layouts with specific passenger counts.
“The main advantage is increased living space, as a passenger’s living space is not intruded by recline.”
It might even be better for you, with experts saying a “slight recline” is best.
Andrew Lawrence, president of the Chiropractors Association of Australia, previously added: “The pelvis – specifically the ischia or the hard bony things we sit on – and the area where the spine and pelvis meet are under the greatest pressure when we’re sitting upright and awake.
“But when we sleep the neck takes the biggest pressure.”
It’s not the only reason why airlines are scrapping the feature.
Reclining seats require more complex mechanisms that allow the seat back to move, which can result in more problems and issues when it breaks.
And without these extra mechanisms, seats are often lighter – making the plane lighter too, and can fit in more seats or use less fuel.
Despite this, airlines offering long-haul routes are unlikely to ditch the feature entirely any time soon.
And if you do find yourself on a plane that has seats that recline, remember to never do it during take off or landing, as well as during meal service.
Make sure to check behind you before doing it too, with horror stories including broken noses and smashed laptops.
And a plane expert has revealed the magic phrase you can use to stop people reclining in front of you in the mean time.
GettyAirlines with long-haul routes are unlikely to remove reclining seats – for now[/caption]