[neonstatic]

It's only dead space if you are not using it. I like to open my laptop and place it on the tray. When the person in front reclines, I am forced to sit still for the duration of the flight. I usually fly from Europe to Asia, so 10-12 hours.

[asdff]

I'd be baffled if that actually stops you from using a laptop. The seat hardly moves. And the tray slides forward a bit too.

[kelnos]

Not baffling at all. When I'm in an economy seat with typical seat pitch, someone reclining in front of me makes it difficult to impossible to use a laptop on the tray table. The recline angle of the seat means you have to angle the screen downward in an uncomfortable way. I'll often end up putting the laptop directly on my lap in that situation, but that creates other comfort/ergonomic issues.

[neonstatic]

Well, you'd be baffled then. When the seat in front is reclined, I can't open the lid fully or even well enough. I've tried.

[camgunz]

What if you also recline?

[billforsternz]

(Not the person you're asking, but...) I don't want to adversely affect the person behind me, but I also accept the right of the person in front of me to recline if they want to. It's not easy being me.

[camgunz]

I honestly thought like, the protocol was seat up for take off/food/landing, reclining otherwise.

[roryirvine]

Yeah, I don't understand this - pretty much every long haul flight I've ever been on has been like this: meal service finishes, lights dim a bit, everyone reclines, lights go out, people either doze off or watch the IFE.

To be fair, I have actually once seen someone not recline, but they had four or five visits from cabin crew before the lights went off making sure they were okay, or if they wanted to be moved, or if there was a fault with their seat. Like, even the crew thought it was an unusual occurrence.

Yet every thread that touches on this on HN, there are people saying "I never recline, what about the person behind me?". And then they complain about being uncomfortable!

[billforsternz]

My problem is I don't want to be first to recline, if the person behind me reclines, fine.

[neonstatic]

This only works if you are okay with developing neck issues

[camgunz]

You're gonna get neck issues working off that tray table too my friend.

[neonstatic]

Fair :D