Is it rude to push your seat back on the plane?

Unless you were sitting in a seat with extra legroom, or in first class, it would be inconsiderate to recline your seat, said Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert who runs the Protocol School of Texas. Space is tight, and it's common knowledge and no surprise that you will be sitting in tight quarters.



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Although passengers are within their rights to recline their seats as they wish, Harteveldt recommends at least taking a quick glance to ensure that leaning back won't hurt the person in back of you, and even politely inform them that you plan to recline.

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Always wait until boarding is finished. Then — and only then — you may kindly ask a fellow passenger if you may swap with them.” She notes that if people sit in the wrong seat, this can cause havoc for both other passengers and the crew, so just be patient.

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Generally there will be a round button on the side of hand rest. Press it and simultaneously lean back on the seat till you get to a seat position of your desire. If this doesn't work, then best bet is to ask the Flight Crew of the flight, they will definitely help you out.

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The back of the plane is definitely the worst place to sit for travelers who hate turbulence since it's far from the plane's center of lift and gravity. This section can also be very loud since some planes have engines and auxiliary power units toward the back of the body that make a lot of noise.

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The reason this seemingly insignificant task is written into federal law is simple: It's for safety. In the upright position, the seat is locked and most robust to withstand any force from a potential impact, says former pilot Hans Mast, now a travel agent with Golden Rule Travel.

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A strategy that travelers have been trying for years to varying degrees of success is the middle seat trick — when checking in online, two people traveling together will each select the aisle and window seats in a three-seat row and hope that the middle seat remains open.

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For more expert advice, a former flight attendant revealed that the emergency exit is usually the best place to sit on a plane. She said: These seats usually come with an extra fee, so you're less likely to have people sitting next to you here.

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However, passengers need not freak out over throwing off an airplane's center of gravity for the entire flight. After takeoff, passengers are free to move about the cabin without fear of disrupting critical weight distribution. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's OK to take over empty seats without warning.

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If the seat trade is not equal, however, most experts and frequent flyers agree the only appropriate requests are if a family is separated from young children, or if a passenger needs care during flight from their traveling companion.

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Stay in Your Own Space
Following airplane etiquette means that you do not do this. While in your seat, please keep all of your body – arms, hands, head, legs, feet, and other parts – only in the space that is bordered by your seat measurements. Trust us, your neighbor will thank you for this small act of civility.

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Usually, it's best to pick a seat toward the front of the plane for several reasons: It's usually quieter, and you can get on and off faster. There's a balance between choosing front/back and window/aisle.

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In a recent survey of 1,100 Americans by travel website the Vacationer, 46% said it is rude to fully recline, and that they don't recline. Some 28% said it was rude, and they would politely ask if it was OK before reclining. And 23% said it wasn't rude. A YouGov poll found differences across regions.

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The middle seat in the final seat is your safest bet
The middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared to 44% for the middle aisle seats, according to a TIME investigation that examined 35 years' worth of aircraft accident data.

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