To recline or not to recline is one of the hottest debates in air travel and contentious for many passengers. So why is a furniture company famed for reclining chairs getting involved?
La-Z-Boy launched its campaign to #BanReclining in late November 2024 with a tongue-in-cheek video encouraging people to ‘Recline at home, not on your flight’. While the initiative is, of course, an ad campaign for the company’s iconic reclining chairs, it also included a petition where people could pledge their support for banning reclining on airplanes.
CNBC reports that, in just a month, the petition has gathered 186,000 signatures of support. Nelly Martinez Garza, Senior Director of Consumer Marketing at La-Z-Boy, commented, “Our #BanReclining campaign is simple: Just because you can recline doesn’t mean you always should.”
Reclining seats on airplanes: a perennial problem
As people get bigger and airplane seats get smaller, the row over the right to recline continues to rage. In September 2024, passengers on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to London got into a row over a reclining seat, culminating in the people behind verbally abusing and shaking the seat of a Chinese woman who had leaned back. The couple, from Hong Kong, were ultimately banned from flying with the airline.
A Harris Poll survey, released in October 2024, found that 41% of Americans would support a ban on reclining seats on domestic flights. The groups most in favor of a ban included the over 65s and those in the 18 – 35 age group.
Another survey, published by data intelligence company Morning Consult, found reclining seats on short haul flights to be one of the top 10 pet peeves of flyers, with 30% saying they were “very bothered” and a further 32% “somewhat bothered.” And a 2023 survey by YouGov found that attitudes towards seat reclining varied by region, with European flyers most bothered and UAE passengers the least.
The unspoken rules of reclining seats in flight
Reclining seats need not disrupt flights, but passengers are urged to consider their fellow flyers before taking advantage of this feature. Advice from etiquette coaches includes:
- Check with your neighbor: Ask the person behind if they mind you reclining before you do it
- Recline slowly: As the tray table of the person behind you is attached to your seat, recline slowly and gently to avoid startling them or disturbing items they may have on the tray
- Pick your moment: Reclining is not allowed during taxi, takeoff and landing, nor is it advisable during meal service
Of course, passengers using low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Spirit, and Allegiant will be wondering what all the fuss is about. Many low-costs have opted to install non-reclining seats as they densify their cabins, removing contention from the issue.