A woman reignited the debate over airplane etiquette this week after she got into a shouting match with a fellow passenger because she accused him of “repeatedly moving her seat” as she reclined it.
And to clarify the dispute, an etiquette expert has now expressed her thoughts on pressing the seatback button in the middle of a flight and advised not to do it at all on short-haul flights.
Katarina, who lives in Europe, points out in a TikTok that “reclining the seat is not prohibited as the function is there.”
However, she says, “It’s good manners to always check on the passenger behind us before sitting back.”
Katarina, who lives in Europe, points out in a TikTok that “reclining the seat is not prohibited as the function is there.”
To minimize the risk of upsetting the neighbors, the TikToker recommends “avoiding the seat back on short-haul flights.”
The travel pro stresses that if someone behind you is “in the middle of a meal with the tray table open or watching a movie on the seat screen,” reclining your seat would be a “reckless” act.
In Katarina’s TikTok of her sitting on a plane, she can be seen taking a look behind her and checking if everything is okay before reclining her seat.
“It is important to be considerate of other passengers,” she explains.
To minimize the risk of upsetting the neighbors, the TikToker “advises against full seat adjustment on short-haul flights.”
In addition to reclining the seats, Katarina tackles a number of other airplane etiquette topics.
In another video she advises passengers how they should use the armrests.
She says: “Completely blocking the armrests puts our fellow passengers in an uncomfortable position.”
To be a well-behaved traveler, Katarina recommends: “Please remember, if you are seated by the window or aisle, leave the center armrests for the passenger in the middle seat as they take up the smallest space of the three.”
In addition to reclining the seats, Katarina tackles a number of other airplane etiquette topics. In another video she advises passengers how they should use the armrests
@katarina.etiquette
AIR TRAVEL ETIQUETTE, Part 3: The Armrests 💺 Mutual respect and considerate behavior are even more important when flying, as flights are often long and crowded. ❌ Completely blocking the armrests puts our fellow passengers in an uncomfortable position. ✅ Please remember: If you are sitting in the window or aisle seat, leave the middle armrests for the passenger in the middle seat as it takes up the smallest space of the three seats. In addition, the window and aisle seats each have their own armrest. ✅ Alternatively, the armrests can be shared by both passengers – one’s elbow is in the front, the other is in the back of the armrest 🤗
♬ Original sound – Ian Asher
Another taboo, says Katarina, when flying is “applying perfume, nail polish or other strongly scented cosmetics.”
Continuing on the topic of grooming, Katarina says that filing nails, polishing nails, brushing hair, or plucking nails should not be done
“In addition, the window and aisle seats each have their own armrest.
“Alternatively, the armrests can be shared by both passengers, with one elbow at the front and the other at the back of the armrest.”
Another taboo when flying, says Katarina, is “applying perfume, nail polish or other strongly scented cosmetics.”
Explaining this, she explains, “What seems like a good way to pass the time during a boring flight could cause an allergic reaction in one of our fellow passengers.”
If you need to apply scented cosmetics, the etiquette expert recommends going to the bathroom or waiting until after the flight.
Continuing the theme of personal hygiene, Katarina says that “filing nails, polishing, brushing or plucking hair” should not be performed because “a plane is not a beauty salon” and these actions could “leave residue that could affect our fellow passengers.” ‘
She emphasizes again: “We should always pay attention to personal hygiene in the toilets or just wait until we get off the plane.”
How to lean back accordingly
Like Katarina, New York-based etiquette coach Myka Meier told that everyone has the right to sit back, “no matter what others think.” For those who want to sit back, here are their top tips for avoiding a stir:
1. Sit back slowly: Make sure you don’t throw your chair back. Instead, if you want to recline it, do so carefully and slowly so as not to spill anything when someone takes a drink.
2. Avoid reclining during meals: If you recline, it is advisable to put your seat in the takeoff and landing position during meals. That’s because eating is very difficult when the front seat is reclined, and it’s only fair that everyone can enjoy their meal.
3. Consider whether you need the full tilt or just a slight tilt: Also consider the people around you and their comfort level. Maybe leaning back slightly for an hour, rather than fully reclining for two hours, is enough to make the person behind you feel comfortable too.
5. Look behind you before leaning back: Consider whether the person is working on a laptop, drinking, or perhaps carrying a small child and needs extra legroom. Think about others behind you before you decide to sit back or not.