'I reclined plane seat and woman behind called me rude – so I got petty revenge' (2025)

A man has divided opinion after he reclined his seat on a plane and refused to move it back up after the woman behind him called him "rude and impolite" for doing so without asking

Flying etiquette is an unwritten code – and breaking it can spark fierce debate among travel fans. We're all aware that taking someone else's seat without permission is a no-no, and the age-old question of whether it's acceptable to ask to switch seats has sparked countless heated discussions.

However, there are other, lesser-known rules to follow when it comes to plane seats. One such example is the reclining seat conundrum. While reclining your seat can make your flight more comfortable, it often comes at the cost of invading the personal space of the person behind you.

As a result, many passengers opt not to recline their seats, no matter how tempting it may be. On the other hand, some flyers believe that if the seat is designed to recline, they have every right to do so.

A recent incident on a flight from Denver highlighted this very issue. A man boarded the plane and immediately reclined his seat, much to the dismay of the woman sitting behind him. She labelled him "rude and impolite" for not asking permission, but he refused to budge.

Taking to Reddit, the man recounted his experience: "I flew from Denver today, and a woman behind me said that I was rude and impolite for tilting my seat back. It wasn't even a request; it was more of an accusation."

Incensed by her reaction, the holidaymaker took his revenge by refusing to adjust his seat for the entire flight. He said: "Given her tone, I decided that I would keep my seat tilted. She went on and on about how unfair this was, and I reminded her that almost every seat in the aeroplane could be tilted, and that's what they were designed to do.

"She wouldn't back down, and very loudly asked the guy next to her if she was right. He very calmly said that this had been an issue with aeroplane seats ever since aeroplane travel went commercial.

"She and her seatmate continued to moan about how unjust it was and what a nuisance it caused. She even pointed out that the man in front of me hadn't reclined his seat.

"I carried on watching my film and paid her no mind for the rest of the journey, but as we got ready to land and straightened our seats, she exclaimed really loud, 'Finally, thank God'. I just chuckled."

Opinions were divided among commenters on the man's post. Some argued he was entitled to recline his seat whenever he wished, while others labelled it "rude" considering how "uncomfortable" it would have made the woman sitting behind him.

Others suggested that neither the man nor the woman were to blame for the squabble, pointing the finger at airlines for "cramming" passengers onto planes in such a way that reclining seats inevitably leads to discomfort.

One individual remarked: "I don't mind if the person in front of me puts the seat back, I just wish they would give me a bit of a warning so I can move my things/hold my drink first so nothing is broken or spilt."

Another chimed in: "I never recline my seat because I know how uncomfortable it is for the person behind me."

Meanwhile, a third declared: "This is one of those hot-button issues that gets everyone riled up. My steadfast opinion is that if it shouldn't be tilted, then the seats shouldn't be tiltable."