Should you not recline your seat in a plane?

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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So, if you're wondering where to sit on a plane for the smoothest ride, book seats up front or over the wing for less turbulence. Hot Tip: Sitting in the window, aisle, or middle seat doesn't affect turbulence.

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The FAA requires that seat backs be upright for take off and landing to provide as much room as possible for the people behind you to get to the aisle in the event of an emergency evacuation. This requirement has been in place for decades.

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Seats in the back are away from the wings, which causes a more turbulent ride. Seats in the back are also usually closer to the lavatory, which could mean foul odors. Finally, those sitting in the back are the last ones to off the plane, which is bad if you have a connecting flight.

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.

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Because the wings provide the plane's stability, the seats closest to them will offer a smoother ride. If those seats are not available, the next best place is towards the front of the plane. It is best to avoid the back if turbulence will cause you distress, as it is the most susceptible to bumpiness.

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Many people think they need to sit up completely straight but research suggests sitting in a reclined position is actually better for the spine as it reduces pressure. Back in 2006, academics in Canada and Scotland found that reclining by at least 135 degrees was effective in relieving back pain.

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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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Seats at the back of the plane tend to be bumpier, and sitting towards the back also means you're one of the last passengers to get off the plane after landing. Similarly, the bulkheads at the front of the cabin are where families with babies and young children sit.

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In general, obese passengers on airlines who require a seatbelt extender and/or cannot lower the armrests between seats are asked to pay for a second seat on their flight, unless there are two empty seats together somewhere on the plane. Special size passengers have little to no choice when it comes to this rule.

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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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Logically, the safety of these seats makes sense. Seats at the back of an airplane are close to exit rows while providing more cushion from any collisions that may impact the front of the plane first.

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The worst seats on an airplane for turbulence are the jump seats in the back of the plane, where the flight attendants sit, followed by the passenger seats towards the back of the aircraft.

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Grab a seat near the center of the plane, over the wings, or toward the front of the aircraft. These areas are more stable, and you'll notice less turbulence than at the back of the plane.

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Spirit. Like Frontier, Spirit has the skinniest rows of any American airline, with a seat pitch of 28 inches — and they don't recline. Spirit lagged at 8 out of 10 American airlines studied in the in The Points Guys' 2021 report.

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Research found that the noise experienced in window seats was four decibels higher than the middle and aisle seats. Meanwhile, at the back of the aircraft, there is a lot of low frequency noise, says Kochan.

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The seats are taken by other passengers. Seats in the rear are popular because they are close to the lavatory. Depending on the airline, it may also be the first rows to be served in-flight meals.

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