The Disappearing Act: The Vanishing of Reclining Seats on Airplanes

The airplane seat recline button has sparked controversy and even led to a micro-industry dedicated to creating devices to prevent the passenger in front from encroaching on your space. In the past, all economy class airline seats had built-in recline, but now there are entire seat models that no longer provide this option.

What caused the disappearance of reclining seats in certain places? Is it ultimately beneficial or detrimental? Should passengers exercise their option to recline their seats? These are questions that elicit varying responses depending on whom you inquire within the airline industry.

Let's discuss how reclining seats work. At its most fundamental level, there is a mechanism concealed in the structure beneath your seat cushion that includes a pivot, wires connecting it to the button on your armrest, and a pneumatic canister that returns the seat to an upright position. Seat manufacturers refer to this as kinematics: the moving parts.

For airlines, this translates to a cost, primarily in terms of maintenance. Any kind of mechanism is susceptible to breaking, whether due to normal wear and tear or because passengers do not handle airplanes delicately.

Secondly, it is also a matter of weight cost as these mechanisms can quickly accumulate. Modern airplane seats, which are lightweight, typically weigh between seven and 10 kilograms (15-22 pounds) per passenger today. Every ounce of weight saved translates to reduced fuel needed for transportation.

Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, it also leads to disruption costs. When passengers argue over seat reclining etiquette, flight attendants are forced to intervene like schoolyard monitors. In some instances, the situation has escalated to the point where flights have been diverted for safety.

Counting every inch

Even if you can recline, not everyone thinks you should.

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What if seats were unable to recline?

In the late 2000s, a new generation of highly engineered super-lightweight seats began to emerge in the market. These innovative seats did not have a recline function, as part of their super-lightweight design. This was cleverly marketed as "pre-reclined," with the backrest fixed at an angle between fully upright and slightly reclined.

At first, the focus was primarily on budget airlines. Known for their short flights and no-frills approach, these carriers targeted Jet2, a UK airline that caters to European package vacationers. In 2009, Jet2 made a groundbreaking decision to use pre-reclined seats from the emerging seatmaker Acro, changing the way airlines view seating options.

Formerly known as the Clark seat, and rebranded as the Series 3, the Acros seat differed in several important ways. One notable difference was the absence of recline, but another was the unique design that sculpted the seat pan and backrest into a fixed, concave "bucket" shape.

The man in China was fined $478 for reclining his seat on the train. This design allowed taller passengers to gain a couple of extra inches of space by positioning their knees on either side of the "bucket."

Those few inches make a big difference. On an all-economy single-aisle airplane such as a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, there are approximately 30 rows of economy seats. In the past, the seats were spaced at about 30 inches (76 centimeters) of pitch - the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front, minus the thickness of the seat itself.

If an airline can save just one inch of space per row, that adds up to 30 inches across the entire plane, which equates to an entire extra row of seats.

In the past ten years, several seat manufacturers have made advancements in pre-reclined seating and other space-saving innovations. One highly respected company in this field is Recaro, a German seatmaker recognized for their racing car seats. Recaro Aircraft Seating not only provides fully-equipped economy class seats for long-distance flights with adjustable recline and a tilting seat pan, but also offers slimline pre-reclined seats designed for shorter flights.

The rise of the pre-recline

Replacing recliners with "pre-recliners" can mean fewer angry passengers.

Stefan Kruijer/Airbus/p202106006

According to Mark Hiller, CEO of Recaro, the airline has the option to select a pre-defined backrest angle of either 15 or 18 degrees during the seat configuration process. This can enhance comfort through a greater backrest angle, or accommodate specific passenger counts for special layouts.

The primary benefit is the increased living space for passengers, as reclining does not encroach on their space. Additionally, there are cost advantages, including fewer moveable parts, improved reliability, simplified maintenance, and reduced weight and cost without the need for additional mechanisms or kinematics.

Hiller refers to the special layouts often referred to as "max pax," which is the maximum passenger count certified for an aircraft by the industry. For example, on an all-economy Airbus A321neo narrowbody, the current maximum passenger count is 244. However, some airlines with spacious business class seats have fewer than 150 passengers on the same aircraft.

It is evident that an aircraft with 244 or even 230 seats is not going to be the most spacious option available.

In recent years, seat manufacturers have developed techniques to create the sensation of more legroom by slimming down the seatback, repositioning the structure to avoid obstruction of the knees, and enhancing shin clearance. These slimline seats, once favored by low-cost carriers, are now being adopted by full-service airlines as they compete with budget airlines.

Pre-reclined seats could be an advantage on short-haul flights.

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Is it OK to recline your seat? The great reclining debate

They are achieving this by providing economy-plus extra legroom seating for purchase at the front of the economy cabin. These seats may include a more fully featured model with recline and AC power sockets, while regular economy seats may be pre-reclined and have no power or only a USB outlet.

These innovative cabins, known as hybrid cabins, may feature seats with varying colors, disappearing movable headrests, or a switch from fabric to leather seat coverings. Keep an eye out for them on your next flight.

Are pre-reclined seats a positive or negative? After covering the industry as a journalist for 15 years and flying for over 40, my conclusion is that they are generally positive, especially on short-haul flights of just a few hours. This is primarily because they eliminate the potential conflict with the person in front and behind.

Long-haul flights are different, and the reclining seats are here to stay, but with added shin clearance for the pre-reclined seats. Just be considerate and check behind you before reclining, do so slowly and smoothly, and return your seatback upright during meal times without needing to be asked by the crew.