Etiquette Often Goes Out The Window

With airlines squeezing more and more seats onto planes, passengers are becoming increasingly confrontational when it comes to reclining their seatbacks. That's because while seats may still recline as much as five inches... airlines have shrunk the space between seat rows.

The problem is most apparent to those trying to work on their laptop computers, when the person in front of them reclines their seat... and shoves the computer into the person's lap behind them.

The Wall Street Journal reports airlines are tackling the problem with varying levels of interest, and effectiveness. Southwest Airlines says it has standardized the recline on its planes to three inches, which in theory gives those seated behind enough room to work.

"It was impossible for a customer to use a laptop behind someone who had reclined fully in a seat that allowed four or 4.5 inches of recline," said Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford, adding the three-inch recline strikes a balance between "maximum comfort and usability."

Delta Air Lines is looking at seats that move forward as they recline, increasing room behind the seat. Some of the carrier's narrowbody planes are scheduled to get these seats starting in July 2007.

Other carriers, though, say they're sticking with seat recline -- no matter how little room there is between rows. That could mean tight quarters on Continental, which offers coach seats that recline as much as six inches, but have some of the narrowest rows in the business. United's seats have the same 31" pitch, or distance between rows, as Continental... but its seats don't recline as far.

In the end, that may lead to more arguments between passengers.

"I usually just say, 'Hey, Dude, there's no space here,'" said traveler Gene Wojcieszak. His was one of the more polite comments made toward those who recline their seats. Others told the WSJ they use of devices like the "Knee Defender," which latches onto the seat in front of you and limits its recline.

That device is banned by the airlines, as it can cause tray tables to break if angry passengers force the seatback against the device. Still others say they've found a way to keep seats from reclining without mechanical help.

Tim Allen, a Boston consultant, told the paper he knows the pressure point to push on the seatback in front of him, to prevent it from reclining.

"They try and they can't, or you push the seat back forward when they lean forward," he said. "Seats are too close. They shouldn't recline."

The airlines say each passenger has the right to recline his or her seat, if it is able to. (Exit row seats do not recline.) That sentiment was echoed by an etiquette expert with the Emily Post Institute.

Peggy Post says the polite way to handle the situation is to turn and tell the person behind you that you're going to recline your seat -- or, kindly ask the person in front of you not to recline if you are working.

But recliners have the right of way, Post added. "People are entitled to recline."

FMI: www.southwest.com, www.delta.com, www.united.com, www.continental.com, www.emilypost.com