FLIGHTS are well known for being fairly cramped and uncomfortable for those travelling in Economy class. The hot aviation debate du jour concerns reclining seats - should it be done or not? And can you stop someone else from doing it?

Flights can be made much worse by the behavior of other plane passengers. A pet peeve of many travelers is people who recline their seats. The jolting of the seat followed by your tray table all but ramming into your torso as the flier in front leans back is a feeling known by most fliers.

Last week, a video went viral when a man repeatedly punched the back of woman’s plane seat after she reclined it. Viewers were divided over who was in the wrong, with many arguing she should not have reclined her seat thus.

So, is there a way of stopping this unpleasant action from happening to you? One flier has claimed to have a savvy method of preventing someone from reclining their plane seat.

The contribution was made in the comments section of an article on The Guardian concerning the seat debate. The user suggested that a clever move with a piece of paper could stop the person leaning back.

“Take on board an A4 sheet of paper and fold slightly asymmetrically about 5x to make a thickish wedge - wedge this into the wheely thing on the back of the seat in front of you (sic), they wrote. “Now it will only recline an inch or so. Arguments averted, calm flight.”

The suggestion was met with divided opinions, with some criticizing the offering. Others were impressed - “What a good idea,” one person wrote. “Superb advice,” another added.

 However, forcibly preventing someone from putting their seat back is likely to end in trouble. A fracas broke out on a United Airlines in 2014 when one passenger attempted to use Knee Defender safeguards.

These are two plastic clips which are placed at the top of either arm of the tray table.

They then keep the seat in front of you locked in place. Following the incident, United then publicly stated that passengers are not allowed to prevent fellow travelers from reclining their seats if they so choose. Many airlines have banned then device since then.

Luckily, there are ways you can avoid the problem of fliers who recline their seats which are non-confrontational.

On most airlines, the seats in the emergency exit row have limited recline or don’t recline.

By nabbing one of the seats behind, you won’t have to worry about anyone reclining into you.

>>Return to Newsletter

Express UK