La-Z-Boy launches ‘never recline’ petition for airplane passenger seats—and it’s closing in on 200,000 signatures

Sydney Lake
Updated ·2 min read
La-Z-Boy launched a petition against airline passengers reclining on flights.

There are any number of things that can annoy you on an airplane—from crying babies to rowdy passengers and long bathroom lines. But one of the biggest debates in airline etiquette is whether or not it’s acceptable to recline your seat for a more comfortable ride.

La-Z-Boy has a firm stance on the matter: “Do the upright thing. Recline at home. Not on your flight,” the American furniture manufacturer said in a recent ad campaign.

La-Z-Boy has even taken it as far as to launch a petition to ban reclining on airplanes.

“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, which CNBC Travel reports has gathered more than 186,000 signatures.

Petition signers have the chance to win a free recliner and $500 toward a flight, according to the La-Z-Boy ad posted to YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iNGAGsR6H0

“Just because you can recline doesn’t always mean you should,” according to La-Z-Boy.

La-Z-Boy didn’t immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.

While the tongue-in-cheek campaign is a clear marketing tactic, it gets at one of the top irritants for airline passengers. The ad shows a customer’s drink getting knocked over when the person in front of him reclines, and another passenger’s knitting getting disrupted from the same action.

Some airline passengers have visceral reactions to seat reclining, one flight attendant said.

“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,” Niccolo Serratt wrote in a Condé Nast Traveler article published in June. “Ask any flight attendant; we all have similar horror stories.”

Meanwhile, etiquette experts take varying approaches on whether it’s appropriate to recline your seat on a plane. For example, William Hanson, an etiquette coach and author, told BBC it’s more about choosing a good time to recline your seat, which wouldn’t be during a meal or if the person behind you is using their seat-back table.

Others say it’s completely fine—otherwise, airlines wouldn’t have the option for it at all.

“The aircraft wouldn't have the option to recline if it wasn't acceptable,” Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert, consultant, and founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, told Travel + Leisure. “While only a slight adjustment in angle, it can make a huge difference, comfort-wise."

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

Latest Stories

  • 2025 will be a 'show-me' year for nuclear: Expert

    Nuclear energy emerged as a focal point of discussion in 2024. To provide corporate insight on this growing trend, Radiant Energy Group managing director Mark Nelson joined Brad Smith and Josh Lipton on Morning Brief. Nelson reflects on the evolution of nuclear energy's prominence, noting that, while 2023 saw increased interest from tech companies, 2024 was "like the whole world discovered nuclear." He explains that the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy requirements led to a realization that "the tech players didn't have a realistic energy-growth strategy," creating an opening for nuclear energy. However, he cautions that despite numerous "commitments" from major companies this year, 2025 "will be the year of 'show me.'" "I think what's become clear is that the top executives of these companies were sort of blindsided by the energy problem, and they're scrambling to learn as much about energy as quickly possible," Nelson tells Yahoo Finance. While noting that "nuclear is a special form of energy," he remains optimistic about infrastructure development in 2025, stating that "the noise is all in the right direction." Nelson also comments on President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Energy leadership nomination of Chris Wright, saying, "I've heard nothing but good things." He adds, "When I see Chris Wright coming in, I see somebody who loves what he's heard from the nuclear story, and his job at the Department of Energy will be to see how he can continue the momentum." To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • Snow forecast through Christmas Eve for parts of the Maritimes

    HALIFAX — Parts of the Maritimes that were hit by a weekend snowstorm are in for more of the white stuff this Christmas Eve.

  • Christmas Eve storm to bring up to 40 cm of snow to N.B.

    Last-minute shoppers will have to fight more than just the crowds if they plan on heading out Christmas Eve throughout New Brunswick.A storm is bringing as much as 40 centimetres of snow to higher-terrain areas of the province, according to Environment Canada.The weather service has issued snowfall warnings for the Fundy coast, interior Charlotte County and the Sussex area. Those areas can expect 15-25 centimetres.A special weather statement has also been issued for other areas of southern New B

  • This Ex-Airline Employee's Mind-Blowing Flight Hack Is Going Viral And You Won't Believe How Simple And Smart It Is

    Do this the morning of your trip and thank yourself later.

  • Russian air defence missile incident emerges as likely cause of Azerbaijan Airlines crash

    According to Azerbaijan Airlines, 37 passengers were Azerbaijani citizens. There were also 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhstani and three Kyrgyzstani citizens.

  • FAA halts all American Airlines flights in the US after airline reports technical issues systemwide

    The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. after the carrier reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday.

  • Video shows deadly Kazakh plane crash, survivors pulled from wreck

    STORY: :: This video contains content some people may find distressing:: Eyewitness video shows a plane crashing in Kazakhstan:: December 25, 2024:: Aktau, Kazakhstan:: Kazakh authorities said 62 passengers and five crew were on board; many are feared deadAn Embraer passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying that 28 people had survived.Reuters was able to verify the location of the video said to show the moment of the crash but not the date. However, information on FlightRadar24.com showed the flight last seen near Aktau airport on Wednesday (December 25).Kazakhstan's emergencies ministry said in a statement that fire services had put out the blaze and that the survivors, including two children, were being treated at a nearby hospital. The bodies of the dead were being recovered.Azerbaijan Airlines said the Embraer 190 jet, with flight number J2-8243, was flying from Baku to Grozny, capital of Russia's Chechnya region, but had been forced to make an emergency landing around 1.8 miles (3 km) from Aktau in Kazakhstan. The city is on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan and Russia.

  • For Alan Cumming, the Highlight of a Transatlantic Cruise Was Secret Midnight Strolls

    To process some losses and revelations in his family, Alan Cumming cruised across the Atlantic.

  • Most flights on CVG on time after American Airlines delays

    Most flights on CVG on time after American Airlines delays

  • These soft, supportive slippers are my travel must-have, and they're just $17

    They have a rubber sole that can stand up to the longest concourse treks, but they won't take up much room in your suitcase.

  • Tough Christmas Eve travel across the maritimes

    The Maritimes are in store for some tricky travel on Christmas Eve. Details with meteorologist Amandeep Purewal

  • Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights

    American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into overdrive and winter weather is threatening more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. (AP Video: Lekan Oekanmi)

  • Technical glitch briefly halts American Airlines flights at RDU, nationwide

    The delays could have ripple effects across the system on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest travel days of the year.

  • Alaska Airlines passenger opens emergency exit and climbs onto wing because she was ‘anxious’

    The woman was sent to hospital for a medical evaluation after the incident

  • Here's your holiday travel outlook for Dec. 25

    Here's your holiday travel outlook for Dec. 25. Several areas of the country could be impacted by the weather including the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

  • W Las Vegas officially debuts at Mandalay Bay

    The highly anticipated W Las Vegas has officially opened, marking the transformation of the former Delano Las Vegas into the globally celebrated W Hotels brand. The post W Las Vegas officially debuts at Mandalay Bay appeared first on The Manual.

  • American Airlines resumes flights after brief grounding ahead of busy Christmas travel

    (Reuters) -American Airlines said on Tuesday its flights had resumed after a technical glitch forced the carrier to issue an hour-long ground stop, disrupting travel for thousands on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest periods of the year. The issue that briefly affected the carrier's ability to get its planes in the air involved network hardware and was caused by DXC Technology, an operating system vendor responsible for maintaining its flight operations, the airline said. While customers were still pressing for details on their delayed flights, the relatively brief stoppage means American will likely avoid a full-scale meltdown that could ripple for days during the peak holiday travel season.

  • Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights

    WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive.

  • Traveler tips for navigating holiday rush at Louisville's airport

    Traveler tips for navigating holiday rush at Louisville's airport

  • No delays or cancellations listed at OKC Will Rogers International Airport as American Airlines experiences technical issues

    No delays or cancellations listed at OKC Will Rogers International Airport as American Airlines experiences technical issues