[AssKissinger]

That's totally retarded. A reclining seat does not decrease the amount of leg room for the person behind nor create it for the person reclining. It doesn't move the entire seat backwards like in a car. Having the tray down the entire flight would impede on one's space a lot more than a reclining seat, however. If the person behind me used one of those fucking things I'd wait until the pane landed and then beat his bitch ass down so fucking hard he'd remain a reclining position himself for the rest of his life.

[Ptyx]

A useful tool if you like to get the shit beat out ya at 30 000 feet.

[omae mona]

The next version of this device will have an artificial hand that rises upward and extends its middle finger when the front passenger turns around to figure out what's going on.

Sheesh... have we really reached the point where the average person doesn't have the social skills to ask the person, "excuse me, could you warn me before you lower your seat"?

Let's brainstorm.. what type of similar item would be useful and sell well in Japan?

[Big Booger]

I think the space between seats needs to be extended.. that or taller people need the front seats where they can extend their legs. Airline seating is incredibly small.. and it seems to be getting smaller so they can fit more seats in an airplane at a time to be cost effective.

I would pay 50 or 100 dollars more per ticket to ride in comfort, but the prices of business class is out of my league.

[hanasims]

That's totally retarded. A reclining seat does not decrease the amount of leg room for the person behind nor create it for the person reclining. It doesn't move the entire seat backwards like in a car. Having the tray down the entire flight would impede on one's space a lot more than a reclining seat, however. If the person behind me used one of those fucking things I'd wait until the pane landed and then beat his bitch ass down so fucking hard he'd remain a reclining position himself for the rest of his life.

No doubt this person is shorter than 5'5". Just jealous that you have to pad your shoes, rather than protect your knees. I am 6'3" and I know what it is like when someone reclines the seat on my knees.

[kamome]

There are a few problems with this device:

1) Competing interests: the tall guy with long legs in back versus the right of the guy in front to recline. Hey, the guy in front paid the same amount as the tall guy, so the tall guy doesn't have the right to prevent the guy in front from reclining the entire trip.

2) The tray: If the tray has to stay down, you're just replacing one restriction on movement with another.

3) The obvious, free solution: If the tall guy is worried about not getting enough circulation, he can stand up and walk around the cabin

4) No real need for the device: the seatback in economy class has such a tiny range of motion, it's not much of a recline. You can't recline the seat to the point you are "crushing" the guy's knees behind you.

[WarlocK]

As a "Tall-Guy" I can understand the motivation behind this invention. Everytime I fly on a plane, I always try to sit either by the emergency exit, or at the front of the row, where there are no seats in front of me.

But at the same time, I also believe that this device infringes on the right of the person to recline.

I think omae mona makes a good point.

Sheesh... have we really reached the point where the average person doesn't have the social skills to ask the person, "excuse me, could you warn me before you lower your seat"?

Reading this thread reminded me to dread my upcoming 18+ hour flight back home for the holidays. I wish I was rich and could get the hell out of economy class.

[kamome]

I wish I was rich and could get the hell out of economy class.

Make enough international flights in the bowels of economy class, and eventually you too can become a silver elite frequent flyer member(tm)! Just got my membership in the mail from Northwest, which entitles me to an occasional free upgrade to business class--which at this point is the only way I will be able to sit with the rich and famous.

[Caustic Saint]

I wish I was rich and could get the hell out of economy class.

Make enough international flights in the bowels of economy class, and eventually you too can become a silver elite frequent flyer member(tm)! Just got my membership in the mail from Northwest, which entitles me to an occasional free upgrade to business class--which at this point is the only way I will be able to sit with the rich and famous.

I had one of those once. In '99 I went back and forth from Korea to the US East coast two times - all on Northwest. That put me at about 24,800 miles in one year. Silver Elite needs 25k in a year, but they gave it to me. The membership packet was one of the nicest pieces of direct mail I've ever seen. I think I still have it (along with the card) at home somewhere.

Sadly, I didn't fly enough in 2000 to keep the status, and never even had a chance to get a free upgrade out of it.

[kamome]

Silver Elite needs 25k in a year

Huh??! I wish it were only 25k. I needed to hit 60k before reaching the promised land. The airlines have made it much more difficult to achieve elite status. The bastards.