Petition To Ban Reclining Airplane Seats Reaches 200,000 Signatures

A campaign launched by La-Z-Boy, a furniture company, to ban reclining seats on airplanes has gained significant traction, with nearly 200,000 people signing a petition to support the cause.

Newsweek has contacted La-Z-Boy for further comment.

Why It Matters

Airplane etiquette often sparks debates, with passengers divided over common irritations such as crying babies, rowdy seatmates, and long bathroom lines. But few issues stir as much controversy as the question of whether it’s appropriate to recline your seat for added comfort during a flight.

In late November 2024, La-Z-Boy introduced its #BanReclining campaign with a playful video urging people to “Recline at home, not on your flight.” Though primarily a promotion for the brand’s signature reclining chairs, the initiative also featured a petition where supporters could pledge to advocate for banning reclining seats on airplanes.

What To Know

The brand is particularly famous for its recliners, which feature a patented reclining mechanism that allows users to adjust the backrest and footrest to their comfort. La-Z-Boy products also include sofas, love seats, chairs, sectionals, and home accents such as ottomans and tables.

“Do the upright thing. Recline at home. Not on your flight,” the American furniture manufacturer said

“I commit to reserving the act of reclining for my home, and will not engage in reclining aboard any and all future flights,” reads the petition,

In October 2024, a Harris Poll revealed that 41 percent of Americans would back a ban on reclining seats on domestic flights.

What People Are Saying

Nelly Martinez Garza, Senior Director of Consumer Marketing at La-Z-Boy said: “Our #BanReclining campaign is simple: Just because you can recline doesn’t mean you always should.”

Niccolo Serratt, a flight attendant, wrote in a Condé Nast Traveler article published in June: “I remember flying from Bangkok to Sydney when a passenger got up and began whacking the passenger in front of them with a rolled-up in-flight magazine simply for reclining their seat,”

Professor Jim Salzman of the University of California, Los Angeles told BBC News in September: “[The airlines] are able to pass on the anger and frustration of cramped seating to passengers who blame each other for bad behavior instead of the airlines who created the problem in the first place.”

Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert, and founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, told Travel + Leisure: “The aircraft wouldn’t have the option to recline if it wasn’t acceptable.”

“While only a slight adjustment in angle, it can make a huge difference, comfort-wise.”

What’s Next

Those who sign the petition can win a free recliner and $500 in flight credit.