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How To Prevent Airline Seats From Reclining

by Mike Barish (RSS feed) on Nov 18th 2008 at 1:30PM

Gadling has covered everything from travelers' preferred airline seat positions to middle seat etiquette. But now we've discovered a traveler who has taken matters into his own hands and gone guerilla on people reclining their airline seats.

(Note: Gadling does not promote or condone any behavior that violates airline policies and procedures. We are, however, amused by this.)

Artist/Blogger Evan Roth really hates when people recline their seats on airplanes. So, with the help of a zip-tie and some good old fashioned ingenuity, he rigged the seat in front of him to remain upright. Rude? Sure. Vandalism? Maybe. Hilarious? Abso-f'n-lutely.

The plan is beautiful in its simplicity and it's not like he endangered his fellow travelers or put the flight in peril. I'd be pissed if he did it to my seat but I can sleep just about anywhere, including upright plane seats, so I probably wouldn't even notice. Besides, there are other ways to sleep on planes.

Kudos to you, Evan. And I hope the rest of you don't get any ideas.

Filed under: Blogs, Airlines, Transportation

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

biru Nov 18th 2008 2:44PM

Encouraging this sort of behavior is irresponsible. You could have also made the title 'how to prevent my seat mate from using his tray table'.

pam Nov 18th 2008 2:41PM

This bums me out. Why? Because you're giving coverage to a guy who's messing with his fellow passengers, not a guy who's trying to fix what's wrong with flying.

He blames the passenger, calls them an obscenity. The problem isn't the passenger, it's the AIRLINES. They're the ones who shoehorned the extra rows of seats in.

The reclining passenger is just trying to get from A to B with a little space, maybe catch some shut-eye. The seat is up your nose NOT because of the passenger, but because the airlines sacrificed your space.

What happens when the passenger in the hacked seat tries to see what's up? What happens when the flight attendant finds the hacked seat? What happened to just asking the person in front of you nicely for a little more space? "I know it's a hassle, but your hair is up my nose. Wouldja? Please?"

I'd like to see more "gone guerrilla" tactics to change the industry and less in being a jerk to your fellow fliers.

Mike Barish Nov 18th 2008 2:58PM

Looks like someone also zip-tied my readers' senses of humor.

Michael Nov 18th 2008 3:10PM

I love it! I've long ranted about people putting their seats back and how they should stop producing planes with reclining seats. I don't know what is wrong with the previous posters but I love it!
Good work Mike Barish!!

simone Nov 18th 2008 3:19PM

i recline my seat never considering the passenger behind me. i'm the guy that reclines his seat right when the plane leaves the ground and its not back up til they tell me. if i am too close, recline your seat and we got the same amount of room we started with! i catch you zip-tying my seat ill yell bomb and point right at you!

Willy Nov 18th 2008 5:58PM

Hilarious response! Especially when they haul you off the plane for making idle threats! I love it!!! I hope you're on my flight! I could use some fun next time I'm in the air.

RichieSakai Nov 18th 2008 3:46PM

I think this is hilarious. Mike, you half-heartedly said it, but i'm going to add something. The majority of Gadling commenters are lame. Lame people whom take things too seriously bug me more than what I would imagine it would be like to have my seat zip-tied. Don't take life so seriously or it will end sooner. This is what I think you people don't get: You don't have to approve of an action to think it is funny.

This video actually inspires me to take it further. How about wiring a battery up to the aluminum button. That way, when the "Motherfu#%s" try to put the seat back they get a shock. Or better yet, urinate on the seat in front of you and then warn the person not to sit in it. Or if it is a full flight, do both and the moisture will help conduct the electricity for maximum shockage.

Ah, just had another idea. I'll buy a pack of zip-ties and go to the airport to hand them out. I would justify this behavior by convincing myself that the victims are all as lame as you commenters... you Motherfu#%s!

Majnun Nov 18th 2008 3:52PM

I agree with Pam. I think that is HORRIBLE!!! I was on a 12 hour flight in the year 2000 where the man behind me wanted me to ride the whole way with my seat upright. Actually at that time and on that plane upright was tilted about 10 degrees forward and did not even give enough room for the tray table to go down. Also the leg room was the shortest I have ever seen before or since. In his case he was very fat and really needed the room which I did sympathize with. I am normally very accomodating but that one case was truly going to be a REAL physical problem for me so I refused. We were able to find someone to trade seats with me that didn't mind it though. There is ALWAYS something that can be done without resorting to trickery! I think that the guy who sabotages other peoples' seats is nothing more than a completely self-centered, power-hungry jerk and I hope he gets booted from all the planes he pulls that on.

Bil Nov 18th 2008 3:54PM

What a selfish jerk!

iomatic Nov 18th 2008 4:04PM

Wow, some of you commenters are whiny bitches.

Welcome to blog comments, dorks!

Joe Nov 19th 2008 4:19AM

I wonder if I was on a flight with this guy. My seat wouldn't recline and I thought maybe the guy behind me wedged his knee into something. So I turned around and asked him if it was okay. He just stared at me for a moment and nodded. So, I braced my knee and pushed really hard until I heard a pop. Seat worked just fine after that.

And yeah, the seat pitch these days sucks. But what can you do? People would fly strapped to the wing to save $10. I'm pretty sure they would fly standing up to save just a little bit more. Seat reclining is like standing at the stadium. One jerk in standing in the front sets off a domino effect of everyone else having to do the same.

Steve Nov 21st 2008 9:43AM

Out of courtesy for other passengers, I dont recline my seat. I actually find it more comfy to sleep upright on an airplane. The only time I will recline is if I need to get some work done on my laptop and the guy in front of me has his seat back all the way.

Reclining the seat is not a necessity. Try not doing it sometime, its still comfy, sometimes more so.