When can you recline your seat?

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.



People Also Ask

Most airlines allow about 5 degrees of recline in economy class, with an uncivilized 30 to 31 inches of pitch (a rough way to measure legroom).

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Most airlines have lie-flat seats in business class on wide-body (twin-aisle) aircraft. However, watch out for some notable exceptions to this general rule.

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Answer: While passengers cannot lie flat in premium economy seats, the adjustable headrest, as well as extra legroom and reclined seats, make for a comfortable journey. Additionally, many airlines offer comfortable blankets and pillows for a relaxing time.

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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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If you're lucky enough to find yourself on an otherwise empty row, there's nothing stopping you from lying down across the seats.

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United Airlines offers fully lie-flat seating on many of its domestic routes. In fact, if you're traveling a long-haul itinerary with pairings between New York, Denver, D.C., Honolulu, Texas, Los Angeles, Orlando or San Francisco, there's a strong chance the premium cabin will include fully lie-flat seats.

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Which airlines have lie-flat seats in business class
  • American Airlines: Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft.
  • Delta Air Lines: Airbus A330 and A350 and Boeing 767 aircraft.
  • United Airlines: Boeing 767, 777 and 787 aircraft.
  • JetBlue Airways: A321 aircraft with JetBlue Mint.


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To avoid engine noise from the outside of the plane, keep clear of the back of the plane. Engine noise is deflected backwards, so sitting in front of the wing is your best chance of avoiding external noises, especially if you are seated on the window.

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Yes, you're making an incorrect assumption. They all recline. But the recline is limited in domestic first class (except the JFK-SFO/LAX routes) compared to international first and business classes.

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What Are the Worst Seats on a Plane?
  • The dreaded middle seat is our pick for the worst seat on a plane. ...
  • Seats towards the back of the plane tend to experience more turbulence than those towards the front. ...
  • An aisle seat located near a bathroom is one of the worst seats on the plane.


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More Money, More Amenities Although the differences between first class and business class are not as significant as those between economy and first or business, there are still some variables to consider when making your travel choice. In general, first-class costs about twice as much as business class.

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Once seated, you'll get an additional seven inches of pitch—38 inches compared to regular economy's 31 inches. You'll also get eight inches of seat recline (that's one to three inches more than coach, depending on the aircraft), as well as a leg and foot rest.

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