Should Airlines Ban Reclining Seats? Here’s What Americans Think

American air passengers have revealed that they support the ban of one particular flight behavior that tends to annoy other passengers.

A survey by La-Z-Boy, the company that invented reclining chairs, has revealed that 41 percent of American adults say they support a ban on passengers reclining their seats on domestic flights, per a new Harris poll.

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of La-Z-Boy from October 16-18, among 2,051 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, 1,876 of whom have been on an airplane at least once.

La-Z-Boy launched a campaign that highlights some of the frustrations that passengers face when people decide to recline their seats on flights. In a short ad video, scenarios include someone’s drink spilling, someone struggling with the reduced leg room, and someone’s knitting being disturbed.

“The survey proved what we’ve sensed from the beginning: the airplane reclining debate is universal and not divided by age or gender,” the survey claims. “The survey results show very consistent support levels for a reclining ban based on gender and age cohort.”

Of the 1,105 women surveyed, 42 percent said they support a ban on reclining seats on flights. Meanwhile, 40 percent of the 924 men surveyed said that they support such a ban.

Of the 720 respondents that were aged between 18 and 34, 42 percent support a ban on reclining seats on planes. However, not as many people aged 35-44 support a ban, with 38 percent of people in that age range saying they would support it.

Of the 307 people aged 45-54, 41 percent said they would support a ban on reclining seats. For the 282 people aged 55-64, 35 percent would support a ban and for the 353 people aged 65 and above, 46 percent support the ban.

In recent years, airlines have been opting for lighter seats rather than ones that recline. William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, told Condé Nast Traveler in a 2024 interview: “This trend has been occurring for several years now, and I think it will continue.”

Meanwhile, British Airways was among the airlines to introduce pre-reclined seats in the last few years.

Reclining seats seems to be a contentious issue for many flight passengers. One X user, David Preece, said: “People who recline their seat back before take-off need to be immediately ejected from the plane.”

Meanwhile, @no_earthquake wrote: “Everybody else is afraid to admit it publicly but I will: It’s fine to recline your seat all the way on airplanes. The seat was literally designed to recline, and whoever is behind you can also recline theirs.”

“To literally anyone who reclines their seats on planes, don’t you have any consideration for the people behind you? Like I’m dying here.” said @findinglex.

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