Legroom on a plane

[eharding]

Oakey said:

eharding said:

So, to be clear...you're complaining that you end up with your laptop, um, on top of your lap?

If the seat in front is reclined at an angle of 50 degrees and the OP's laptop needs to open to an angle of 120degrees...

...then he has to fold his table away, and place his laptop...on.....his.........lap?

[carl_w]

eharding said:

So, to be clear...you're complaining that you end up with your laptop, um, on top of your lap?

Try it. You'll discover that even on your lap you can't get the screen to the correct angle to be able to see it. Plus there's the sickening scraping noise as the impolite recliner suddenly reclines the back of the seat against your £1500 laptop.

I have no issues in biz or 1st class longhaul, nor do I have issues when I'm travelling in my own time. But if due to scheduling issues I'm travelling in the company's time shorthaul cattle-class, I expect to be able to work.

[eharding]

carl_w said:

eharding said:

So, to be clear...you're complaining that you end up with your laptop, um, on top of your lap?

Try it. You'll discover that even on your lap you can't get the screen to the correct angle to be able to see it. Plus there's the sickening scraping noise as the impolite recliner suddenly reclines the back of the seat against your £1500 laptop.

I have no issues in biz or 1st class longhaul, nor do I have issues when I'm travelling in my own time. But if due to scheduling issues I'm travelling in the company's time shorthaul cattle-class, I expect to be able to work.

So, what is there about the airline's description of the seating, service or facilities in 'cattle-class' that leads you to assume that you should be able work on your laptop during the - mercifully brief - flight?

[carl_w]

eharding said:

So, what is there about the airline's description of the seating, service or facilities in 'cattle-class' that leads you to assume that you should be able work on your laptop during the - mercifully brief - flight?

The provision of a tray table suggests that it should be possible to use it.

[Corpulent Tosser]

What has happened to Pistonheads ?

Members flying in economy, where is your sense of pride, you should be in business class as a minimum.

[vescaegg]

carl_w said:

I have no issues in biz or 1st class longhaul, nor do I have issues when I'm travelling in my own time. But if due to scheduling issues I'm travelling in the company's time shorthaul cattle-class, I expect to be able to work.

Perhaps if you expect to be able to work you should stump up the extra money to upgrade your seat rather than complaining about someone who just presumably wants to relax on the flight they have paid the same as you for?

Or tell your company to upgrade you if they expect you to work?

[JagLover]

Corpulent Tosser said:

What has happened to Pistonheads ?

Members flying in economy, where is your sense of pride, you should be in business class as a minimum.

Most of my flying has been on business but premium economy (once) was the best I've had. Your typical SME is not going to pay for their auditor to fly business class.

[blueg33]

There are lots of comments from people saying that they have paid for a seat that reclines and therefore should be able to recline it regardless of the impact on the person behind

But looking at various airline websites so far I cant find one that refers to being able to recline an economy class seat. So how can the claim be made that this is what a person is buying?

BA - no mention of recline
Quantas - refer to reclining
American - no reference to recline
Virgin - fully adjustable (whatever that means, but I assume it includes reclining)
Flybe - no reference
Singapore - no reference to recline

This is how Singapore describe their economy seats, other airlines descriptions are similar

singapore airlines said:

New Economy Class

Through the use of innovative design and materials, the new Economy Class seats are more comfortable with increased personal space. Passengers are also able to enjoy the state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system.

Available onboard the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from September 2013.

More airlines refer to legroom and seat pitch than recline, I would therefore argue that it is this you are paying for unless reclining is specifically mentioned. This somewhat undermines the argument of "I have paid for a reclining seat, so I will recline it"

[carl_w]

vescaegg said:

Or tell your company to upgrade you if they expect you to work?

Unfortunately the days of companies paying for business class short-haul travel are largely over.

[vescaegg]

carl_w said:

nfortunately the days of companies paying for business class short-haul travel are largely over.

Then tell them you can't work on the short flight if they are still expecting you to? Their problem surely?

Although I agree they shouldn't recline on short haul anyway.

[King Herald]

blueg33 said:

There are lots of comments from people saying that they have paid for a seat that reclines and therefore should be able to recline it regardless of the impact on the person behind

I don't really care what the airline says about it, but if I get on a plane and the seat is designed to recline then I will recline it, on a longer haul flight.

On a short haul, I would not be bothered if none of the seats were designed to recline.

But the airlines know damn well that were they to put all non-reclining seats on long haul flights they would probably be losing regular customers.

[alfaman]

blueg33 said:

More airlines refer to legroom and seat pitch than recline, I would therefore argue that it is this you are paying for unless reclining is specifically mentioned. This somewhat undermines the argument of "I have paid for a reclining seat, so I will recline it"

There is a common expectation that seats recline - to the extent that on the seat plan the non- reclining seats are mentioned (IIRC).

The descriptions also don't say that the seats are padded - so don't complain if you're sitting on a slatted wooden bench with a rigid back - right ? ( as it's not described to the contrary )

[alfaman]

blueg33 said:

More airlines refer to legroom and seat pitch than recline, I would therefore argue that it is this you are paying for unless reclining is specifically mentioned. This somewhat undermines the argument of "I have paid for a reclining seat, so I will recline it"

There is a common expectation that seats recline - to the extent that on the seat plan the non- reclining seats are mentioned (IIRC).

The descriptions also don't say that the seats are padded - so don't complain if you're sitting on a slatted wooden bench with a rigid back - right ? ( as it's not described to the contrary )

[carl_w]

vescaegg said:

Then tell them you can't work on the short flight if they are still expecting you to? Their problem surely?

It's not about expecting me to, it's more that if I'm flying in working hours I expect to do work. Still, I don't have to do it much any more.

[scherzkeks]

blueg33 said:

More airlines refer to legroom and seat pitch than recline, I would therefore argue that it is this you are paying for unless reclining is specifically mentioned. This somewhat undermines the argument of "I have paid for a reclining seat, so I will recline it"

They have paid for a seat, and that seat reclines, so they have the right to recline. Everyone is uncomfortable in economy class. Deal.

[Otispunkmeyer]

As an aside. I am going to Kos on wednesday, on a Thomson aircraft. Its a new 737-800 and the seat pitch is....*drum roll*.... 28 inches.

Yikes. I was on a United 747 last year and their seat pitch was 31 in economy and 33/34 in premium economy (which is what I paid for) and even that was uncomfortable. 28 inches?! I am going to need levering out of the seat at the other end even though its only a 4 hour flight.

[blueg33]

alfaman said:

blueg33 said:

More airlines refer to legroom and seat pitch than recline, I would therefore argue that it is this you are paying for unless reclining is specifically mentioned. This somewhat undermines the argument of "I have paid for a reclining seat, so I will recline it"

There is a common expectation that seats recline - to the extent that on the seat plan the non- reclining seats are mentioned (IIRC).

The descriptions also don't say that the seats are padded - so don't complain if you're sitting on a slatted wooden bench with a rigid back - right ? ( as it's not described to the contrary )

There is a common expectation that you can sit without being in discomfort because the person in front is thoughtless.

[technogogo]

eharding said:

I'd just like to say that BA were operating the First Class cabin as a Club service in the 777 back from Denver last week, and at one point I was worried that the cubicle in front of mine had transgressed into my space as my toes were feeling a bit cramped as I was stretched out flat trying to snooze off - then I realised I'd tucked them into a corner, slight shift to the right and my toes are back into free space by probably a foot or so, and hence I was off to sleepsville for a solid 7 hours kip. God only knows what they offer when they're operating a full First Class service. I'm only grateful that I didn't lapse into full asleep-in-my-own-bed mode, in which case my habitual apocalyptic somnambulatory snoring and flatulence may have caused the flight to divert to Gander or somewhere equally remote.

Oh wow I was on that same flight! I am glad you weren't kept awake by the passenger who was farting the whole time.

[King Herald]

[quote=Otispunkmeyer

Yikes. I was on a United 747 last year and their seat pitch was 31 in economy and 33/34 in premium economy (which is what I paid for) and even that was uncomfortable. 28 inches?! I am going to need levering out of the seat at the other end even though its only a 4 hour flight.
[/quote]

On a Delta flight from Manila, though Japan to Detroit last year. It was a 28" pitch, short haul plane. The flight # continued through to Detroit, a further 13 hours away.

I knew they'd not expect anybody travel that far in a 28" plane, so I assumed they'd change the plane even though the flight number was the same......

No, they didn't. We had to re-board this same stty, miserable, scruffy, tired uncomfortable plane all the way to Detroit! I have short legs, but my knees touched the seat back in front!

[The Wookie]

King Herald said:

Sorry, I meant exit row seat. And I won't be picking fights, it'll be an accident each time.

Last time some smart arse 'accidentally' dropped a glass of red wine onto my mum's lap after getting snotty about having to sit next to her with a slightly outstretched knee from because of an injury, he ended up hobbling around baggage claim after 'accidentally' receiving a fully loaded baggage trolley at speed to the shins steered by her son who was clearly too big for him to pick a fight with

Edited by The Wookie on Friday 29th August 10:52