A plane passenger has divided the internet after a viral TikTok showed him physically stopping the seat in front of him from reclining for the entire eight-hour overnight flight.
The video, shared by a fellow passenger name Gazza, showed the man sitting stiffly with both hands flat against the back of the seat ahead.
Every time the passenger in front tried to lean back, his palms held it firmly in place.
‘This guy sat like this for eight hours on an overnight flight to stop the people in-front reclining,’ the overlay text read.
The user begged in the caption: ‘TUI, can we ban people like this, please?
The short video has now been viewed more than 2.6 million times.
The comment section quickly exploded, with viewers fiercely divided over whether the man was protecting his personal space or crossing the line into pettiness.
Many people agreed with the man’s actions, with one person saying, ‘I understand him.’
A plane passenger has divided the internet after a viral TikTok showed him physically stopping the seat in front of him from reclining for the entire eight-hour overnight flight
‘To me, reclining your seat on a plane is just inconsiderate and disrespectful. I feel like it should only be OK during genuine “sleep hours” with the lights dimmed,’ someone else wrote.
‘He did well, people reclining their seats are sooo annoying,’ another person added.
‘Valid honestly. Reclining seats cause more problems for everyone,’ a different user declared.
‘Yeah, those seats shouldn’t recline, they simply isn’t enough space between the rows,’ someone else observed.
However, others were shocked by his ‘ridiculous’ behavior and argued he should have picked a different seat.
‘This is ridiculous. If people don’t want people to recline to this point, they should just go in business class,’ one person recommended.
Another wrote: ‘Why can’t people accept [that] seats are made to recline?
‘If you don’t want to deal with that, pay for business or something. You booked that ticket knowing the person in front might recline.’
The video , shared by a fellow passenger name Gazza, showed the man sitting stiffly with both hands flat against the back of the seat ahead
‘Yeah, because that’s more comfortable for eight hours than a seat slightly reclined in front of you,’ a user sarcastically said.
‘Nope. A reclining seat is a feature I PAID FOR. If you don’t want the person in front of you to recline, pay extra to sit in the front,’ someone else affirmed.
‘I’m reclining. If you stop me, then imma get the crew to make you let me. If you want more leg room, upgrade your ticket. Simples,’ another personr decided.
Some even shifted the blame away from the man entirely and instead slammed airlines for designing the seats that way.
‘Yeah, those seats shouldn’t recline, they simply isn’t enough space between the rows,’ one user observed.
Someone else wrote: ‘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.’
Despite the annoyance reclining your seat might bring to another passenger, experts say it’s completely acceptable.
The comment section quickly exploded, with viewers fiercely divided over whether the man was protecting his personal space or crossing the line into pettiness (stock image)
‘Deciding when to recline your seat on a plane involves self-awareness, social awareness, and situational awareness,’ Lisa Mirza Grotts, an etiquette expert, previously told Travel and Leisure.
‘Further, consideration during mealtime is crucial. Even then, make it gradual, turn around, and attempt eye contact.’
Avid traveler Ilse Gutierrez added: ‘Reclining your plane seat is allowed and expected on overnight flights, where getting comfortable is essential.
‘I wouldn’t typically recline on a short flight of one to four hours, but for anything longer, sitting straight up becomes too uncomfortable and unnatural.’
