An Appeal to Common Sense

Dear Adult Airline Passengers,

Don't pretend you're living in a bubble. You've heard about the THREE flights that have been diverted because someone reclined their seat. Three flights because adults cannot seem to act like adults.

First of all, especially on a domestic flight, it just isn't going to take you that long to get there. One or both of you can easily, easily handle being slightly uncomfortable. Because you're adults.

Next let's talk about the word compassion. I know that someone reclining back on you sucks. The last flights I've been on were budget flights, there wasn't leg room to start with. My point is I've been there. But you know what I'd really do if faced with that situation? I would ask myself if it was worth it. I wouldn't know if they were pregnant, or had a back ache or a reason for reclining. Even if they're just being selfish and want to try sleeping slightly more comfortably I can stand to be compassionate.

If you have an actual, physical reason that someone reclining onto you would cause undue suffering for the few hours of flight try something like this: "Excuse me fellow passenger, you are most certainly entitled to recline your seat backwards. However I very recently had knee surgery and it would be best for my recovery if I could move my knee regularly which is harder to do when you recline."

This is polite because it isn't not specifically asking them to give up their reclining, rather just appealing to their sense of good nature by explaining your specific reason for discomfort.

Now conversely, I don't recline my seat either. Because I am also trying to be considerate to the people behind me. I can handle a little discomfort in order to just get to my destination on time! Diverting a flight puts a major cramp in my style and prevents every other single person on the plane from getting to where they're going as fast as possible. Airplanes are not buses. They are not supposed to make extra stops whenever someone gets a whim to demand to get off.

So here's what we're going to say: don't recline unless you have to, and if someone reclines onto you, just pray for them and yourself. The end.