After six years working for an international airline and diffusing multiple spats over seat reclining, one flight attendant shares when and how to recline your seat considerately

While it is perfectly acceptable to recline your seat on a plane, there is an unspoken etiquette to the practice.

Passengers still, on many flights, sit in chairs that can recline back for comfort, but not all budget airlines offer this small, but often contentious feature. This is especially important considering it feels like cabin seats are getting progressively smaller and premiums are added to seats that boast more legroom.

The tight conditions – especially at high altitudes – can often lead to tension between passengers, which cabin crews are forced to reconcile. After six years of experience working for a major international airline, one flight attendant has seen it all.

In a feature for CN Traveller, the cabin crew member explains they have seen disputes over everything, including seat reclining. “I regularly deal with passengers arguing over when it’s appropriate to exercise this right to recline,” they write.

READ MORE: Jet2’s best and worst airline seats to book for extra legroom

The attendant shares one particularly heated confrontation on a flight from Bangkok to Sydney when a passenger hit the passenger in front of them with a rolled up magazine. The reason: because they reclined their seat. To save yourself from being on the receiving end of another passenger’s magazine, the flight attendant shares tips for how and when to recline your seat on an airplane.

Three golden rules to seat reclining etiquette

1. Be courteous and ask: While it may seem excessive and technically it isn’t necessary, asking before you recline your seat may help mitigate any simmering tension. The attendant advises: “Think of the recline button like a door knob; before you use it, “knock on the door” by asking the person behind you if it’s okay to recline your seat.
2. Don’t recline during meal service: This is technically already a rule on most airlines. Cabin crew members typically advise passengers to raise their seats before serving in-flight meals. Even if it isn’t mandatory, it’s a common courtesy that goes a long way: “If you find someone’s seat recline annoying, wait until you try eating with your back hunched and the meal tray pushing against your abdomen. Believe me, it’s not pleasant.”
3. Use your judgment: While it may be slightly more comfortable, reclining your seat on a short-haul flight isn’t always necessary. One tip from the attendant? Be considerate of who is sitting behind you before you commit to reclining.

“Take a peek and find out who’s sitting behind you. Maybe it’s a mother traveling with an infant on her lap, or someone who’s very tall, or a business traveller working from their laptop on the tray table. Some people won’t mind, but for others, it makes a big difference. Put yourself in their shoes, and remember they, too, want to travel comfortably.”

If you don’t want to have to worry about disturbing the person sitting behind you – or do not want to be disturbed by another person’s reclining seat, then you may want to pick your seat strategically.

Seats with most room

According to a recent survey by the UK consumer champion, Which? in which they measured the ‘seat pitch’ and width of all of the UK’s most popular carriers, one airline had the best economy seats. Aer Lingus seats had the most legroom, measuring in at 31-32 inches.

That said, British Airways came in at a close second, with a recorded average of 29-31 inches of legroom for economy seats. That said, different parts of the same aircraft offer different quality legroom.

For example, the best seats on Jet2 flights are reportedly in Rows 16 and 17, given their proximity to the exit doors. Keep in mind though that with the extra legroom comes extra responsibility, as travellers in these seats must be physically able and prepared to assist in the event of an emergency.