• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Knee Defenders and Passenger Comfort

Should KneeDefenders be banned from use by the FAA?

  • Yes

    Votes: 3 25.0%

  • No

    Votes: 5 41.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 4 33.3%
  • Total voters
    12
Travelsonic

Travelsonic

DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
1,390
Reaction score
328
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Centrist
6 years ago, a product titled "Knee Defender" came out - plastic pieces that go on/lock to the arms of a tray table to prevent the seat in front of you from reclining.

Airlines (Northwest, Delta, and American for exmaple) have banned it. Internet forums can be the source of much debate, but the question to you is:

Is it right to restrict somebody else's recline for your own comfort?
 
Hmmm...that may explain some difficulties of late.

No, they're not cool at all.
 
As someone who's 6'3", absolutely not. When the person in front of me reclines, my knees take a pounding. It is the recliner that is not being courteous, not I.
 
Travelsonic said:
6 years ago, a product titled "Knee Defender" came out - plastic pieces that go on/lock to the arms of a tray table to prevent the seat in front of you from reclining.

Airlines (Northwest, Delta, and American for exmaple) have banned it. Internet forums can be the source of much debate, but the question to you is:

Is it right to restrict somebody else's recline for your own comfort?
Click to expand...

Is it right to restrict somebody else’s leg room for your own comfort?

Let's face it, you bought coach, this is what you agreed to tolerate for a reduced price.
 
You know the seat in front of you may be reclined when you buy your coach ticket. If you think that will be too restricting, buy first class ticket.
 
I don't mind kicking the seat in front of me. ;)
 
How do these things work?
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
It is the recliner that is not being courteous, not I.
Click to expand...

... for using a capability built into the seat, as opposed to somebody using something to disable another's seat capability?

I know there are jackass ways of reclining your seat - I've seen it, but don't generalize like this.

P.S: I've have nothing but good things to say about the legroom in jetBlue's aircraft, even those at only 34" without the additional 4." When reclining, the cushion moves forward a little two, meaning the allnighter I pull the night before flights can result in a good short nap for me... when little kids aren't kicking the seat that is.


P.P.S: I'm not a "fast recliner" - I actually recline fairly slowly, but if somebody passed judgement on me and put this thing on my seat, I would be pissed off.... what ever happened to polite conversation? (This does go for both parties too)
 
Last edited:
earthworm said:
Shall we start WW3 over some recliners and knee defenders ?
As I say...when man behaves...this includes the airline CEOs.
Click to expand...

If you don't settle down I'll unleash my 8 year old on you. :mrgreen:
 
Travelsonic said:
... for using a capability built into the seat, as opposed to somebody using something to disable another's seat capability?

I know there are jackass ways of reclining your seat - I've seen it, but don't generalize like this.

P.S: I've have nothing but good things to say about the legroom in jetBlue's aircraft, even those at only 34" without the additional 4." When reclining, the cushion moves forward a little two, meaning the allnighter I pull the night before flights can result in a good short nap for me... when little kids aren't kicking the seat that is.


P.P.S: I'm not a "fast recliner" - I actually recline fairly slowly, but if somebody passed judgement on me and put this thing on my seat, I would be pissed off.... what ever happened to polite conversation? (This does go for both parties too)
Click to expand...

Ask me first and then lets see if what you want is painful to me. Perhaps we can work out a compromise. Do it uncourtesously, and I will do the same. Your chair will get kicked, repeatedly.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Ask me first and then lets see if what you want is painful to me. Perhaps we can work out a compromise. Do it uncourtesously, and I will do the same. Your chair will get kicked, repeatedly.
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... considering YOU, not I will be the one getting yelled at by the FA when (s)he is called, pot calling the kettle black?
 
americanwoman said:
As someone here who's 5'1", I don't care much about leg room. :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

Ditto.
Anyway, I rarely sit anywhere with my feet on the floor. I just don't find it comfortable.
In the car, usually my husband drives and I ride shotgun with my feet up on the dash; at the movies, on the bus, in my computer chair or anywhere else (including, hypothetically, on a plane, if I ever get around to flying anywhere) I invariably have my feet 1. tucked under me or 2. up on the seat with my knees against my chest, and usually a book propped on top of them, hiding my face.

Sitting straight up in a chair with my feet on the floor gives me a headache.
 
Travelsonic said:
Hmmm.... considering YOU, not I will be the one getting yelled at by the FA when (s)he is called, pot calling the kettle black?
Click to expand...

That's OK. You want to act like a jerk, I'll respond, regardless.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Ask me first and then lets see if what you want is painful to me. Perhaps we can work out a compromise. Do it uncourtesously, and I will do the same. Your chair will get kicked, repeatedly.
Click to expand...

When you buy a coach ticket, you know that there will be a seat in front of you and you know those seats recline. If I am on a trans-Pacific flight (which can be up to 18 hours), you definately need to spend some time reclining in your seat, if only to sleep for a few hours.

Having said that, I try to recline slowly and check if the person behind me has his/her knees up or not. However, kicking the seat in front of you because their are exercising their seat's basic capability is HARDLY a mark of courtesy.
 
ludahai said:
I am 5'9" 140 lbs. I have never had a problem in a coach seat, regardless of whether or not the person in front of me has his/her seat in the recline position.
Click to expand...

I have never had a problem stuffing a 5'9" 140 lbs. man in the overhead compartment. :2razz:

j/k
 
The property is not yours so no, it is not right to introduce foreign objects to modify how this property was designed to function.

If you don't like it, find other means of transportation.
 
ludahai said:
When you buy a coach ticket, you know that there will be a seat in front of you and you know those seats recline. If I am on a trans-Pacific flight (which can be up to 18 hours), you definately need to spend some time reclining in your seat, if only to sleep for a few hours.

Having said that, I try to recline slowly and check if the person behind me has his/her knees up or not. However, kicking the seat in front of you because their are exercising their seat's basic capability is HARDLY a mark of courtesy.
Click to expand...

With everything you said, you would not get kicked. You checked and asked. Chances are, unless I had a major problem with it, I wouldn't care.

And as far as courtesy goes, you get what you give.

And I am curious why I'm arguing this, though, since I do not fly.
 
I would ****ing kill someone for using one of those things. The seat in an upright position KILLS my back and neck. I wait, anxiously and in a good deal of pain, until they allow us to recline our seats. Then, mine goes back immediately.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom