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To Recline or Not to Recline: That is the Question

To recline, or not to recline? It’s a difficult question, when you think about it.

On one hand, reclining is one of the few “luxuries” available in coach. Those extra few inches may not make a huge difference, but reclining does provide a measure of comfort beyond sitting upright. Personally, I can’t sleep on a plane without reclining my seat.

Of course, reclining infringes on the personal space of whoever is sitting behind you. Who among us hasn’t had their knees crunched when the person sitting in front of us abruptly reclined? The lack of space is, obviously, the fault of the airlines, but reclined seats further compress what little room passengers have.

So, readers, what do you think? Is it good etiquette to recline your seat? Do you have your own set of rules for when it’s OK to do it—for example, when the person in front of you reclines, or on long flights? Do you simply recline the second your flight attendant gives you the OK? Or do you sit perfectly upright throughout the entire flight? Leave a comment below with your take on the issue. Thanks!

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