I discovered something on a recent Delta Air Lines flight in First Class aboard an MD-90. If the person in front of you reclines fully, it is impossible to fully open the thin and light 12″ Macbook computer. That’s right. The computer I bought because it’s thin and light, isn’t small enough to be used in First Class when someone in front of you reclines. I Tweeted my displeasure to the Twitterverse.
Really, I’m Not Angry But….
The “I’ve become an angry old man” hashtag was meant to add a tiny bit of humor to my admittedly first world problem, I’m really not that angry or old, but I want to circle back to this because airline cabin configurations are becoming an issue. I was seated in 3C and my #bragtag clanging, Diamond Medallion friend was in 2C. I should have known something was up when 2C refused to stand up to let 2D escape to the bathroom. (By the way: if you’re on the aisle and the window needs to get up, stand up and let them out because there really isn’t that much room between seats, even in First Class. Just ask Bob.) But once that was over, the real fun began.
My friend to the front decided to get comfortable. Hey, I don’t judge…really. But as I said before, it’s not so much that you recline, it’s the way you recline, and 2C was serious about his reclining. SLAM! Thankfully, I still have some of the reflexes of my aviating youth and slid my brand new laptop back just enough to avoid the sound of dollars and screens going crunch. But 2C wasn’t done, for obtaining that true level of comfort on a 1.5 hour domestic flight was his mission so he began to wallow around and squirm in his seat to get things just right. All the while forcing his seat back ever closer to the top of my computer. 2C’s seat machinations even began to catch the eye of my fellow First Class travelers across the aisle who alternatively glared at the spectacle while occasionally giving me an apologetic smile.
Since no one else in the 16 seat cabin reclined, I couldn’t compare seats to see if maybe, just maybe, 2C’s seat was a little out of adjustment. Seriously, it reclined further than I’ve seen a seat recline in a long time. If I can write notes on your head without leaning forward, you’ve reclined too far. I finally gave up the fight and the idea of working during my flight and put my computer away while mumbling to myself, “thank goodness I didn’t buy a first class ticket for this.”
Does This Rant Say Anything About the State of Air Travel?
Not really….but….maybe….. I’m beginning to wonder if we may have arrived at a place where airlines are on the cusp of pushing too far? I’m not talking about some super-behemoth laptop here. A 12″ Macbook is tiny. Am I really asking too much to be able to use it in flight without some kind of cable and pulley system hanging from the ceiling? I don’t think so.
What to Do?
Well, what can you do? I blame the airlines and not travelers for creating situations like this. They’ve pushed seats closer together, even in First Class, but haven’t adjusted how they recline as far as I can tell. Some airlines have “cradle” seats where the bottom of the seat pushes forward, and the back of the seat doesn’t encroach quite so far into the space of the traveler behind it.
Additionally, I’m taking my own self-defense measures. Next time I clear into F on an MD-90 and I really want to work, I’m going for a bulkhead seat if one is available. I will be that guy who fights to the front of the line and gets his bag stowed in the overhead since I have to stow both the carry on and briefcase. Further, I will dread flying in coach a lot less depending on where I’m sitting. The very next week, on the very same kind of airplane I was seated in an exit row in coach, 25B, the single seat exit row to be exact. I had about the same amount of legroom (other exit rows have a bit more) and the seat in front of me wouldn’t recline. I could use my laptop to get work done….in coach. Irony. Otherwise, I’ll just reach for my iPad and read a book. The likelihood that I accomplish life-changing work on a 1.5 hour flight is about as likely as 2C ever finding that “just right” angle for his seat. (Off soapbox)
-MJ, March 25, 2016
First class on AA MD-85: Passenger in front of me SLAMS (caps are really insufficient here) his seat back during meal service. My meal and a full glass of red wine come flying back all over my clothes. No apology and a belligerent attitude from the jerk recliner in front of me.
Several easy solutions if you “Must be on your laptop for the 1 1/2 hour flight”. #1 Bulkhead seat. #2 Exit Row. #3 Fly Spirit Airlines. There, now you have no need to worry about seat reclines.
I very rarely recline because I like to be considerate of the passenger behind me… I always choose an aisle seat so I don’t have to disturb someone when I get up to go to the bathroom, but if I was stuck with a window seat and the jerk next to me didn’t stand up to let me out, I’d be making sure to bump him as much as possible, both on getting out of my seat, and upon return. If someone reclines too far and cuts into my personal space, I make sure to push my knee into the… Read more »
The real issue at hand is the airlines trying to squeeze every bloody red cent out of its customer. It’s ingenious how they have used illusion and turned the new shrunken spaces into not their problem. Us passengers are left to quarrel amongst each other about recline vs no-recline vs standing up to the airline and saying, “Hey the amount of space you’ve given to passengers on a plane is 1) no longer humane 2) and a safety concern.” Sure, #1 is debatable, but #2 is fact. It’s interesting rather than proactively admit to this and fix it, the airlines… Read more »
MJ you just did an awesome job of covering my next tirade! The degree of inconsideration shown by many fliers is amazing. When and if I ever recline my seat it is never all the way and I usually let the person behind me know ahead of the act. I also ask the person in front of me to let me know when they are going to recline so that I can adjust my computer. 90% of the time the person in front of me will never recline. Unfortunately I forget to do this sometimes and the need for quick… Read more »
The DYKWIA full seat recliners are the worst. No consideration of anyone behind them. It’s such a shame when I frequently bump their seat because it’s reclined into my face. Time to eliminate the recline option or add space between seats. The current configuration is abysmal for passenger comfort and there’s NO EXCUSE for being unable to work comfortably in FC.
And not getting up to let someone use the lav? Ummm, hell no. I’m not climbing over anyone. Stand your ground and insist they get up. Man up people!
Fly American. Seats have 3-4inches more pitch on PMAA planes and they don’t make you request an upgrade to Main Cabin Extra
When you first posted it never crossed my mind something may have been wrong with the seat. I fly those planes often as i live in norfolk so that is basically all we get. I recline my seat-in a very slow manner-i have yet to see a laptop that wouldnt open behind my reclined seat on those planes. You may be on to something thinking the seat was broken. Still no excuse for reclining at such a rapid pace as to damage someones property or person (your knees for example).
[…] of complaints for the FAs. She immediately crammed her seat all the way back even before take off (hello MJ on Travel). This action just added to the joy of exiting my seat as described above. I was able to enjoy a […]