Asking Someone Not to Recline their Seat
1 Ask the passenger in front of you not to recline, politely.
If the passenger in front of you reclines, your first option is simply to ask them not to. Be polite and patient, and keep your voice low, so as not to draw attention, which may embarrass the other passenger. You might even ask them at the start of the flight, before they attempt to recline their seat. For example, you might say:
“Excuse me, would you mind keeping your seat upright?”
“Pardon me, can you sit upright for this flight? I’d be so grateful.”
2 Explain your reasoning patiently.
If you need your leg room for health reasons, like a leg injury, then you’ve got a pretty solid justification. But you can still ask and explain yourself even if you’re just tall, nervous about flying, or simply want to be more comfortable—those are all perfectly reasonable! Explain this to the other passenger patiently when you ask them to stay upright. For example:
“Sorry, it’s just that I get anxious on flights and need some personal space to stay calm.”
“See, I’m pretty tall, and there already isn’t much leg room. I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t recline.”
“Excuse me, I’m eating right now, and don’t have much room. Would you mind staying upright for a bit?
3 Involve a flight attendant or parent if things escalate.
If the other passenger refuses or becomes frustrated, you might consult an in-flight attendant and explain your situation to them. If the attendant decides your request is reasonable, they might instruct the other passenger to comply. Keep in mind that many airlines do allow other passengers to recline as they please, however.
If the other passenger is a child, consult their parents and ask them to swap seats with their child, or to calm them down.