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The Knee Defender: Preventing Airplane Seats from Reclining
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I'm not sure if this is horrible or brilliant.
I suppose the answer is horrible if it happens to me and brilliant if I can do it to someone else. The item in question here is the "Knee Defender." This is a little gadget which clamps on the pull-down tray of an airplane seat and prevents the person in front of you from leaning back.
Sure, it's insidious and evil, but it's also genius. The only problem is that many airlines prohibit the use of such contraptions. The clamps are small enough, however, that it is difficult for a flight attendant to see unless, of course, the person in front of you complains. Chances are they'll simply think their seat is broken and grumpily sit upright the duration of the flight.
This sort of pisses me off. I would almost guarantee that anyone who selfishly uses such a device reclines their own seat while doing so. Jerks!
Reader Comments (Page 26 of 26)
tiff Jan 19th 2007 7:32PM
Im so glad there are other considerate people such as myself. I dont put mine back either because of how much i hate it done in front of me. Your average person only thinks of himself..hats off to you guys.
Debbie Jan 19th 2007 7:35PM
My worst expirience was when I was 7 month pregnant with a rather large belly. I was on a 4 hour flight and I had put my knees up on the seat in front of me so that the person (who was sitting in the bulkhead row with lots of room) couldn't recline.
She complained to the flight attenddant who said we would have to work it. The flight attendant offered the lady a whole row of empty seats available further back.
My husband kindly informed my "wanting to recline neighbour" that I was pregnant and that when she leaned back her chair back was resting on my belly.
She decided to recline anyway. I got up and moved to an empty row and stretched out for a nap. I hope she was comfortable!
I don't mind peopel reclining and I have done it on occasion but I always check to see if I might be getting just a little too close to my neighbour.
I also always try to get the bulkhead or exit rows where there is much more room.
Gerry Jan 19th 2007 7:53PM
This would be terrific! I would have killed for it on one never-to-be-forgotten 3.5 hour flight. The guy in front of me reclined his seat and then repeatedly kept trying to push it back further although it was all the way back. My knee pain was unbelievable. I politely asked him to stop and received verbal abuse in return. I asked the flight attendant to intervene but she said there was nothig she could do. By the time I reached my destination my knees were actually bleeding. Why is it that people feel they have the right to abuse others, but those whom they abuse have no rights?
robyn Jan 19th 2007 8:07PM
A plane ride is just that!!! All persons should be comfortable, and if the jerk in front of you is reclining its making your trip, the same ride not comfortable. You both paid the same ticket amount so keep your seat up and let others fly in comfort.
Tal D Jan 19th 2007 8:21PM
My knees fit too close to the back of the seat in front of me on the majority of planes but:
#10 What a great idea. It would work on me if someone did that. If I hear someone 6 rows back cough I cover my nose and mouth immediately.
#20 I hope you applied a little extra food to her hair.
How f......g rude of her.
I applied a double wad of freshly chewed gum to the coat tail of the gentleman that kindly wedged his way in front of me and blocked my view during an outdoor auction. He never knew the difference and I'm sure the gum stuck to the driver's seat of his fine automobile he was driving; at least I hope it did..
Angela Jan 19th 2007 9:30PM
How many more times is AOL gonna plug this? For one thing it is ILLEGAL and it's like they are endorsing it. Especially since this is the third time it's been on the front thing. Second thing, are they getting money from the website for doing putting it front page (ie so they'll get more hits)
John Coldesina Jan 19th 2007 10:57PM
My wife and I are not tall people, but for some reason a bigger proportion of her height is in her legs between her hips and knees. This makes for not much room for her knees. On top of this she has painful knees. She almost cry's when someone rams their seat back and leaves it there. I think that those who must recline should do it only after checking with the person into whose space they are intruding.
leeah Kendy Jan 20th 2007 7:49PM
I PAID FOR MY SEAT TOO !! I will RECLINE IT AS FARRRRR AS IT WILL GO !! You don't like it?? Tough shit!! Fly first class. I will smack the shit out of you if U put that STUPID device on my chair !! You better know who you are messin with before you do stupid shit. HA HA HA !!
leeah Kendy Jan 20th 2007 7:51PM
You stupid people need to go whine some where else !! Get over the seat thing!!
Tony Jan 21st 2007 11:10AM
On a long transatlantic flight years ago, the man in front leaned all the way back and would not come "up" even a little bit. I folded my newspaper in such a way that it fell over the top of his seat back. After one or two swipes with his hand, the seat back magically went back to upright. Have used this procedure on many occasions and it always works. Good luck.
Nina Jan 22nd 2007 8:04PM
The whole uproar over seat reclining seems to coincide with the expanding girth of the American flying public. Never have six inches of space been cause for so much whining. If you can't fit in the space of your seat when the person in front reclines, try reclining yourself. If you still can't fit, sorry, but you're just not built to fly commercial. At least not coach.
Nina Jan 24th 2007 3:02PM
BTW, I'm curious to know if any of these gargantuan specimens of humanity, so put off by the affront of seat reclining, feel any sense of personal responsibility for the amount of space they take up width-wise. I wonder what their reaction would be if someone came up with a handy device called, say, "the hip defender", you know, to keep your neighbors flesh from taking up any of your seat. I know I could have used one at times.
Editors Jan 26th 2007 2:04PM
I've always been a recliner, but after reading all the comments you've definitely caused me to reconsider! It's a far-fetched wish, but wouldn't it be nice if the airlines would just give us some more room?
Joe Jan 28th 2007 1:39PM
On a recent overseas flight just after takeoff a gentleman in front of me reclined his seat but not gradually. Basically he just slammed the seat back into my knees.I let out a couple of choice expletives and I could hear the guy just chuckle a little. I would never use the device to prevent someone from reclining his or her seat, because I like to relax on long flight also. My son is 6 and very outgoing, when I told him that the man in front of us said he would give him a pet turtle if he kept him company during the flight,my son was happy to agree. Needless to say this man did not relax much on the 9 hour flight.
Alexis Jan 29th 2007 11:36PM
all you people who think that others leaning their seat back is inconsiderate, and then go and bother the person who did it, need a REAL lesson in manners. you're all hypocrites, and if flying in coach isnt "good enough" for you, then just fly in first class. its worth it, if youre just going to waste all your time pissing off the person in front of you.
wavawerks Feb 2nd 2007 7:34PM
Yes! On a recent trip from Aruba, the person in front of my husbande...who was seated in the first row in first class so they had all the room in the world...violently reclined their seat while my hubby was eating and spilled wine all over his cream-colored pants! Without so much as an apology! If this device will spare the cracked knees, broken computers, and wine and food spills caused by the extremely selfish and inconsiderate...I applaud their use!!
I rarely recline, and only when first checking behind me to see what's going on.
sarah Fisk Feb 26th 2007 4:04PM
Why aren't we holding the airlines, who design the airplanes for profit over basic human need, accountable? It seems to me you are competing for a resource (space) rather than confronting the people who control the resource to give you what you need. Your energy seems misplaced.