[darkstar999]

Flawed logic. You have the "right" to recline since that feature is built into the seat you are paying for. You don't have the "right" to play annoying music because that is socially unacceptable and not built into the cost.

[judk]

Way does built-in in mean? Airplanes are designed to withstand noise, and smells too.

Social acceptability is defined by society. Why is reclining acceptable?

[MereInterest]

Because when every person reclines, as usually happens whenever meals are not being served, there is the same amount of space between each seat, but all the seats are in a more comfortable position.

[k-mcgrady]

>> "Because when every person reclines, as usually happens whenever meals are not being served"

I have never seen this happen on short of long haul flights. Unless is it night time the vast majority of people tend to have their seats upright. From what I've seen the reason is simple - in flight entertainment in on the back of the seat and most people want to watch a movie.

[regularfry]

"Comfortable" is subjective, though. While there may be the same distance between seats when they're all reclined, the change in the shape of the space is enough to make a previously workable arrangement impossible because, and here's the remarkable bit, people are different shapes.

[ericHosick]

I would probably use the word ability instead of right.

Further, just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean you should exercise that right.

The fact the conversation is happening means this isn't exactly an open and shut case on social acceptability on reclining.

[darkstar999]

Good call. I put it in quotes because it didn't seem right.

[regularfry]

> Flawed logic. You have the "right" to recline since that feature is built into the seat you are paying for.

Flawed logic. You've paid to be moved from A to B. Incidental furniture is a bonus: you merely might have the ability to recline the seat.

[pge]

not just socially unacceptable (which may vary by person) but more important against the rules of the airline. In buying a ticket you agree to abide by the rules, which means not being loud and playing music, and means allowing others to recline.