A TikTok displaying a person holding his arms flat in opposition to the seat in entrance of him for a complete eight-hour in a single day flight has reignited one among air journey’s most divisive debates: reclining seats. Posted by @heyimgazza, the Aug. 8, 2025, clip has racked up 2.6 million views and 1000’s of feedback arguing whether or not the passenger’s anti-recline stance was justified, or simply petty.

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“This guy sat like this for 8 hours on an overnight flight to stop the people in front from reclining,” reads the on-screen textual content.

Nearly 10,000 commenters participated within the ongoing conflict over reclining seat backs. The video was crossposted to r/TikTokCringe on Reddit the place u/iafx summed it up with their remark. “I will make myself very uncomfortable, to stop the people in front of me from making me slightly uncomfortable.”

But reactions to the put up counsel the problem has turn into extra divisive. Some individuals are in favor of reclining, however others contemplate it impolite. A 3rd class of commenters blame the airways for packing individuals in like sardines. Although these positions characterize a traditional breakdown of the recliner debate, commenters with agency positions impressed confusion amongst these much less positive.

@heyimgazza didn’t anticipate so many commenters from the anti-recliner camp to name the person along with his arms up a hero. The TikTok person wrote he was, “kinda, very shocked” so many commenters agreed with the person within the clip.

It seems that the controversy will rage on indefinitely.  

@heyimgazza TUI can we ban individuals like this please? #fyp #flight #jet2holidays #tui ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧

“Can we ban people like this please?”

@heyimgazza referred to as out the Dutch air provider servicing the flight within the video’s caption that learn, “TUI can we ban people like this please?” The TikTok person leveraged the outsized clown emoji and Jet2 Holiday meme sound in an try to underscore the passenger’s absurd conduct.

@coloredbubbles30 responded on the thread, “This is actually an interesting debate.” @smegatron03 replied, “Right, like I can’t even work out who’s side I’m on 😭.”

“Not all heroes wear capes.”

“This is ridiculous, if people don’t want people to recline to this point they should just go in business class.”

“Let’s focus on the real enemy here, which are greedy airlines trying to squeeze as many seats as possible together instead of providing humane space and comfort 😒.”

Is it okay to recline your seat on an airplane?

According to flight attendants—sure. The peacekeepers of the sky keep {that a} reclining seat is supposed to recline. 

In an opinion piece for CNN, Heather Poole, an creator and flight attendant with a significant US provider, wrote, “A recliner is allowed to recline, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. If you kick the seat or threaten to punch someone in the face, you’ll be the one removed from the flight—not the person who moved their seat back two inches.”

Tips for surviving a cramped flight

Passengers griping about air journey on social media have provide you with some further ideas for vacationers. Reclining your seat is appropriate on long-haul flights, particularly in a single day. Recline slowly and thoroughly. It’s courteous to have a look behind you earlier than reclining to verify your seat again received’t trigger a spill or a damaged laptop computer.

Don’t underestimate the facility of asking or letting the individual behind you already know that you just plan to recline your seat. And it goes each methods—if the individual in entrance of you majorly inconveniences you by reclining their seat again, you may at all times ask that they kindly rethink. 

Airlines are determined to chop prices

Social media customers on each side of the reclining seat again wars have identified that airways are the actual drawback. Airlines are so determined to chop prices that some price range airways are eradicating the reclining seat possibility altogether. It’s rumored that hard-up American Airlines saved $40,000 a yr after eradicating a single olive from a enterprise class meals tray.

The reclining mechanism in air provider seats provides weight, and 150 heavier seats will enhance gasoline prices for the airline. So some carriers are preserving seats locked upright, and others are charging charges for cabin house by the sq. inch. 

Either approach, airways are packing passengers in to economize, and vacationers have to determine get alongside regardless of that. If all else fails, you may at all times shell out more cash for a ticket with legroom. 

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