A Canadian woman has reignited one of air travel’s most contentious topics – and her outspoken opinion has sparked fierce debate about what should and shouldn’t be considered acceptable behaviour in the sky.
Podcast host Carla Bezanson recently posted a snappy 20-second opinion video airing her travel gripe about passengers who recline their plane seats.
‘It’s hard to believe, but apparently 62 per cent of people say that when they’re on a flight, they won’t recline their seat out of consideration for the passenger behind them,’ Carla said in the short clip.
‘Which is crazy, because as someone in that 62 per cent, somehow it’s always one of the 38 per cent sitting in front of me – every single time.’
But it quickly become apparent that the host of the popular ‘Don’t Think’ podcast had struck a nerve as the seemingly lighthearted clip clocked up over 1.6 million views spawned and thousands of passionate comments.
Replies poured in from people on both sides of the aisle – including many that were firmly on Carla’s side, arguing that not reclining is simply common courtesy.
‘I am one of those 62 per cent – it’s just polite,’ one person wrote.
‘It’s selfish,’ agreed another. ‘Reclining minimises the tiny amount of space behind you, invading it without consent.’
Canadian podcast host Carla Bezanson shared a video airing her travel gripe about people who recline their seats on planes
The humorous clip saw Carla use statistics while explaining how she somehow inexplicably always winds up sitting behind someone who reclines their seat
‘I never recline. I can handle sitting upright if it means the person behind me can use their tray or get up,’ another added.
Reclining your seat on short-haul flights in particular were repeatedly called out as a major travel faux pas.
‘If the flight is under three hours, don’t recline,’ advised one traveller, echoing dozens of others.
But perhaps surprisingly, a vast majority of responses to the video felt Carla was wrong – declaring themselves as ‘proud recliners’ – and unapologetically part of the so-called 38 per cent.
‘It’s not rude to use a feature you paid for,’ said one popular reply, which had racked up over 5,000 likes.
‘I recline every time – it’s what I paid to do,’ another insisted.
One put it bluntly: ‘I always recline. My comfort comes first.’
Others couldn’t understand the fuss: ‘I’ve never got why an inch of reclining bothers people so much.’
The host of the popular ‘Don’t Think’ podcast recently shared a video on the travel topic to her @carlambezanson Instagram account – and it ignited a firestorm of online debate
Many pro-reclining contributors said they were baffled when others left their seats upright. ‘The feature’s there for a reason and I’m getting my money’s worth. I expect the person in front to recline too,’ wrote one.
‘Why would we deny ourselves the only bit of comfort purpose-built into the plane? Recline away!’ urged another.
Some even suggested: ‘If we all recline, we’re all comfortable and still have the same space.’
However, plenty of passengers said their willingness to recline hinged largely on the behaviour of those around them.
‘I usually don’t start it, but if the person in front reclines, I go for it too,’ read one typical reply.
‘I don’t recline unless the person behind me has,’ shared another. ‘Then it’s fair game.’
A number of passengers said it was simply a matter of being aware of others before pushing their seat back.
‘Just look and ask – it’s what they do on the Japanese bullet train. It’s simple, polite, and you don’t come off as thoughtless,’ one commenter suggested.
Although some frequent flyers agreed with Carla, they were in the minority of replies to the video
Many pro-reclining plane passengers said they were baffled when others left their seats upright when they had the option to recline
‘Always check who’s behind you before reclining,’ added another.
‘When I do recline, I check first. If the person behind is sleeping, fair game. Otherwise, I’ll stick it out because I care about others as well as myself.’
Meal times were widely cited as the one no-go for airplane seat reclining.
‘Team recline – but never at meal times,’ read one response.
‘I think it’s only rude during meal service. Otherwise, it’s fine by me,’ another agreed.
Tall travellers were also surprisingly split down the middle on the issue: some complained reclining seats pressed painfully into their long legs, while others swore by reclining as a rare way to nab a few extra inches of relief.
Even a handful of airline insiders chimed in to settle the debate. One former cabin attendant explained: ‘Seats only need to be upright during take-off and landing for safety. Otherwise, you’re free to recline – it’s better for your circulation.’
Another airline worker advised, ‘Reclining is a built-in feature. Most people use it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.’
There was agreement that reclining a plane chair was a no-go during the in-flight meal service
But others sat firmly on the fence of the divisive issue: ‘I never recline myself, but I don’t mind if the person in front does. I’m not sure how you’d use the lost space anyway,’ said one.
‘Reclining doesn’t make my seat any more comfortable, and someone else reclining doesn’t make it worse. Honestly, everyone needs to calm down,’ mused another.
Some practical replies suggested booking seats with more legroom like emergency exit rows or upgraded economy options if you’re so bothered by the squeeze.
And one cheeky commenter added some in-flight perspective: ‘I don’t care if you recline, but if you use speakerphone out loud on your mobile for calls or videos? Straight to jail!’
