Your seat is not a sleeper berth: Ministry to flyers after viral video
Days after a viral video of an American Airlines passenger punching the reclining seat of a woman sitting in front of him left the internet divided on whether to recline or not to recline, the government has put out what it calls “etiquette of flying”.
“A little bit of basic good manners and respect are always worth a thumbs up. Your seat is not a sleeper berth. Don’t be inconsiderate of other people’s space,” the civil aviation ministry tweeted on Saturday, with an illustration of a reclined seat on a flight.
The ministry further advised passengers, “With the limited space you have, if you must recline, do it carefully. Always think about the people around you because no one wants your head in their laps.”
While many argued that recliner seats were indeed meant to be reclined, some others wanted airlines to increase the legroom.
In another tweet on Friday, the ministry urged travellers to be considerate of the cabin storage space. “Don’t be a binhog, be a responsible traveller and travel smart,” the ministry tweeted.
In a recent video, an angry man can be seen continuously punching the reclined seat of a woman in front of him. “I’ve decided to share my assault, from the passenger behind me, and the further threats, from an American Airline flight attendant. She offered him a complimentary cocktail,” the woman tweeted.Similar incidents of battle for
legroom on flights has initiated debates on whether it’s up to airlines to make more space between seats or if it’s up to flyers to make adjustments.
Twitterati inclined to recline
But Twitterati flyers were not inclined to take this seat reclining advisory lying down. @PATHAK 20 made a scientific pitch for this cause, pointing out, “For starters it has nothing to do with etiquette. If seat reclines passenger has the right to recline. seat pitch is the issue. Issue instructions to airlines in india increase seat pitch in economy reclining seat will not be an issue. Commercial interest only is incorrect.”
@meetmeat05 also felt so: “Instead of teachin etiquettes to passengers, why dont you make technical regulations so that you control reclining and space between seats?”
@doc_ted countered with: “Pls ask the airlines to stop packing is like sardines”
@AjaySin24156381 also felt, “...recliner seats are made to recline .... onlything is how much gap airlines keep between the rows so that person in back seat does not get discomfort...there is no mistake of traveller .... either you keep recliner with gap or remove reclining facility.” @Smantri4 concurred: “If it’s my seat and it reclines, I have all the rights. If the other passenger has problems with it then talk to the airline and pay up for more room. Bring up a law for specific room and penalize airlines who do not follow them”. It would be hard to resist the urge to stretch on a long-haul flight was the general consensus. Others spoke of how hard it was for differently abled people and seniors to travel sitting bolt upright for the duration of the flight.
However, @Anistone6 said, “It’s not about how much. Even if its 10 degrees, you can suddenly smack the guy behind you right in the face! The one reclining, needs to let person behind them know, before moving an inch!!”