4 ms·

Once I almost got my laptop crushed because the person sitting in front of me reclined their seat and it caught the laptop's screen (it was standing on the tray

by Grue3 11y ago

Once I almost got my laptop crushed because the person sitting in front of me reclined their seat and it caught the laptop's screen (it was standing on the tray). If only I had this "knee defender" it wouldn't have been a problem. I mean, how is that guy supposed to know they shouldn't recline at this very moment? If they can't recline because of knee defender, they will ask me and I'll be able to save my laptop from danger.

dhimes 11y ago
It's amazing how thoughtless and selfish some people are. I young woman in front of me had a child who was pretty disruptive, but for some time I was able to distract him and he eventually calmed down. As soon as he did the woman punched the recline button and literally slammed the seat down. If I had been using anything other than a netbook it would have been toast. And as a reasonably tall guy my knees certainly didn't appreciate it. This is why we can't have nice things.
- loco5niner 11y ago
  It's possible she wasn't thoughtless and selfish, but that she simply didn't know better.
CaptainZapp 11y ago
What about reclining very, very slowly? That's what I usually do and then only on long haul flights. I for one would absolutely not appreciate guerrilla tactics in a cramped and potentially tense environment by fellow passengers.
- themartorana 11y ago
  Unfortunately it's the airlines that create the potential for this flare-up to begin with. Every time I get on a flight I swear the seat in front of me is 1" closer to my knees. I try to fly Southwest as often as I can domestically, because they have the most leg room that I've found (and I can only afford economy).
nly 11y ago
Maybe you should just accept that using a laptop in economy is crazy to begin with. Read a book, use a tablet, enjoy the crappy in-flight, talk to your neighbour, or have snooze instead.
- vorg 11y ago
  > Read a book, use a tablet, enjoy the crappy in-flight The reclined seat in front reduces the space between the eyes and book so it becomes a little blurry, Ok for an hour, but causes a headache after 10. Ditto the tablet and movie screen. If you recline to compensate, it hurts the back because non-reclined with the pillow inserted between back and seat is really the only comfortable way to spend an entire flight.
  - dzhiurgis 11y ago
    Audiobooks is a good thing on plane, even some entertainment systems have them.
- michaelochurch 11y ago
  I may be showing my age here, but I remember when flying wasn't something to be dreaded. The few inches we've lost have really made a difference. Twenty years ago, you could read or use a laptop in coach and first-class was a frill for rich people. In 2015, aside from the people with upgrades, most people in first-class don't want to be there (i.e. they're not there because they're wealthy, but because their disabilities or age make coach literally impossible) and most actual rich people fly private because even first class isn't great. I find that the only thing that I can do on planes, these days, is take a pill, make sure I get 2 armrests (I'm 6' and 195 pounds) and nod off-- and I don't sleep very well. If we had 300 mph trains at competitive prices like Europe and Japan have, I'd rather take those.
  - nly 11y ago
    20 years ago very few people had laptops. In fact, say 20-25 years ago, flying at all was a luxury (at least for most of us in Europe). I don't dispute that legroom has become stingy as air traffic has increased, but I think it's unfortunate to use ye olden days to set expectations for today. 'Economy' implies getting people from A to B as economically as possible. An inch of extra legroom means fewer seats on the plane, and even if I had to pay 5% ($40-50) more, then it's too much. Some of the 'premium economy' options aren't that expensive anyhow. I flew Virgin Atlantic in April and only paid something like $60 for a bit of extra room (and as a bonus, because few people do, had an empty seat next to me). Another thing with regard to your age, and I mean no disrespect, is that I believe ones tolerance for certain kinds of discomfort tend to decrease with age.

by Grue3 11y ago

dhimes 11y ago

It's amazing how thoughtless and selfish some people are. I young woman in front of me had a child who was pretty disruptive, but for some time I was able to distract him and he eventually calmed down. As soon as he did the woman punched the recline button and literally slammed the seat down. If I had been using anything other than a netbook it would have been toast. And as a reasonably tall guy my knees certainly didn't appreciate it. This is why we can't have nice things.

loco5niner 11y ago
It's possible she wasn't thoughtless and selfish, but that she simply didn't know better.

CaptainZapp 11y ago

What about reclining very, very slowly? That's what I usually do and then only on long haul flights. I for one would absolutely not appreciate guerrilla tactics in a cramped and potentially tense environment by fellow passengers.

themartorana 11y ago
Unfortunately it's the airlines that create the potential for this flare-up to begin with. Every time I get on a flight I swear the seat in front of me is 1" closer to my knees. I try to fly Southwest as often as I can domestically, because they have the most leg room that I've found (and I can only afford economy).

nly 11y ago

Maybe you should just accept that using a laptop in economy is crazy to begin with. Read a book, use a tablet, enjoy the crappy in-flight, talk to your neighbour, or have snooze instead.

vorg 11y ago
> Read a book, use a tablet, enjoy the crappy in-flight The reclined seat in front reduces the space between the eyes and book so it becomes a little blurry, Ok for an hour, but causes a headache after 10. Ditto the tablet and movie screen. If you recline to compensate, it hurts the back because non-reclined with the pillow inserted between back and seat is really the only comfortable way to spend an entire flight.
- dzhiurgis 11y ago
  Audiobooks is a good thing on plane, even some entertainment systems have them.
michaelochurch 11y ago
I may be showing my age here, but I remember when flying wasn't something to be dreaded. The few inches we've lost have really made a difference. Twenty years ago, you could read or use a laptop in coach and first-class was a frill for rich people. In 2015, aside from the people with upgrades, most people in first-class don't want to be there (i.e. they're not there because they're wealthy, but because their disabilities or age make coach literally impossible) and most actual rich people fly private because even first class isn't great. I find that the only thing that I can do on planes, these days, is take a pill, make sure I get 2 armrests (I'm 6' and 195 pounds) and nod off-- and I don't sleep very well. If we had 300 mph trains at competitive prices like Europe and Japan have, I'd rather take those.
- nly 11y ago
  20 years ago very few people had laptops. In fact, say 20-25 years ago, flying at all was a luxury (at least for most of us in Europe). I don't dispute that legroom has become stingy as air traffic has increased, but I think it's unfortunate to use ye olden days to set expectations for today. 'Economy' implies getting people from A to B as economically as possible. An inch of extra legroom means fewer seats on the plane, and even if I had to pay 5% ($40-50) more, then it's too much. Some of the 'premium economy' options aren't that expensive anyhow. I flew Virgin Atlantic in April and only paid something like $60 for a bit of extra room (and as a bonus, because few people do, had an empty seat next to me). Another thing with regard to your age, and I mean no disrespect, is that I believe ones tolerance for certain kinds of discomfort tend to decrease with age.