Search

Airline bans couple after racist row over reclined seat

Two travellers have been banned from Cathay Pacific flights after an argument over seat etiquette descended into racist insults. The incident occurred on a flight from Hong Kong to London, with a woman documenting her experience in a video posted on Xiaohongshu, China's version of Instagram. The woman, from mainland China, explained, "The lady sitting behind me asked me to put my seat up because it was blocking her husband's view of the TV. I politely declined, and she started stretching her feet onto my armrest, kicking my arm and cursing at me like crazy." A flight attendant stepped in to find a solution to the issue, but when the woman continued to refuse to put her chair up, the situation only escalated. "When (the female passenger) realised my Cantonese wasn't so great, she started throwing around some nasty comments, calling me a 'Mainland girl' and other derogatory stuff," the woman said, explaining how people from Hong Kong speak mainly Cantonese, whereas mainland Chinese mainly speak Mandarin. "Once I started recording, the husband behind me even shoved his hand on my armrest and started shaking it like crazy. I felt my personal space had been completely violated," added the woman, who said other passengers then intervened. In footage of the incident uploaded by the woman, a female voice can be heard saying in Mandarin: "You're old enough — why are you bullying a young girl?" And others can be heard shouting in Cantonese: "You're embarrassing us Hongkongers!" "After some passengers spoke up for me, the flight attendant finally said I could switch seats. I felt it was absurd—what if no one had backed me up? Would I have just been left to deal with it on my own?" the passenger said. "As a major airline, isn't Cathay supposed to know how to handle such disputes? Shouldn't treating passengers differently get some consequences? In a statement released Saturday, Cathay Pacific said it wanted to "sincerely apologise" for the "unpleasant experience," with the airline saying, "We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that violates aviation safety regulations or disrespects the rights of other customers." "We will deny future travel on any Cathay Group flights to the two customers involved in this incident." Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Heated argument between economy passengers reignites plane etiquette debate

A 12-second clip of two passengers arguing on a plane has reignited the age-old debate of whether it is acceptable to recline your seat on a plane. The viral video which was originally posted on TikTok and then re-shared on X, has racked up over 8 million views since Thursday. In the video, a frustrated woman was calling out another female passenger for pushing her seat the entire flight, right after they landed. “The whole trip she pushed my seat,” the woman said to a male passenger seated next to the female passenger accused of kicking her seat. “You seen it. You know she did.” “I’m allowed to put my seat back," she yelled repeatedly. Ian Miles Cheong, the user who posted the video on X, defended the woman saying: “She’s allowed to put her seat back. You don’t get to kick it repeatedly just because you want more space.” A few were on the woman's side and praised her for standing up for herself. “You are allowed! Period! You want space in front of you instead of pushing the seat, buy a seat with extra space or get your a** to business class. Reclining was put there for a reason,” one person wrote. “She was patient enough to wait till flight landed," they added. “If the seat is reclinable, recline it,” another commented. "What she’s saying is right. The woman has a right to put her seat back without someone kicking it," a third agreed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> She’s allowed to put her seat back. You don’t get to kick it repeatedly just because you want more space. <a href="https://t.co/WELD7Qh4Re">pic.twitter.com/WELD7Qh4Re</a> — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1719881310351863952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2023</a></blockquote> However, others claimed that there was an unwritten rule that you shouldn't recline your seat, especially on a short-haul flight, adding that the recline feature should be scrapped from airplanes. “Putting your seat back in coach is an unspoken thing most people don’t do. It’s really the airline’s fault because they’ve made coach so cramped and tight that putting the seat back shouldn’t even be an option,” one commented. “Airline seats simply shouldn’t be able to recline. It intrudes on the already very little space a person has on the plane for the person behind them,” another added. “Really it’s the airline’s fault for cramming so many people in such a small space. They don’t call it cattle class for nothing,” a third wrote. One user understood both sides of the argument, and blamed the airlines for making the seats so cramped. "It can be annoying sometimes to be behind someone with their seat all the way, but if the airlines didn't want to allow that, it wouldn't happen," they wrote. "You don't kick the seat like a baby. Blame the airline, not the person doing what the airline says is fine." Images: Twitter

Travel Trouble

"I’m sorry, but no": Passenger on 12-hour flight stops woman from reclining

A passenger on a 12-hour flight from Paris to Los Angeles went to great lengths to stop the woman in front of her from reclining her seat. The footage captured on August 13 shows a woman in a black jumper stretching her arms out in attempt to prevent the passenger in front of her from reclining, reported The Sun. The chair jolts as the passenger in front kept trying to move back the seat, but the woman behind her was persistent, and used all of her strength to push the seat forward and keep it in an upright position. The traveller seemed to give up trying to recline her seat, but the woman behind her continued to place her hands on the seat. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but no,” she says as she continued her attempts. As tension rose between the two passengers, the woman in front gets fed up and asked if she could talk to someone, before confronting the traveller behind her. “Just let me know, what’s going on?,” she asked. “I said respectfully, can you please stop moving it back?" the woman behind her responded. “Respect the person behind you,” as the person in front explained that she is trying to recline her seat so she can sleep. The woman behind continued to tell her to “respect the person behind you” as she tried to watch a movie on her laptop. The confrontation seemed to work as the seat in front came to a standstill. Images: The Sun

Travel Trouble

Debate rages over "most reclined seat in the history of aviation"

Frustrated travellers have called out a passenger for reclining his seat all the way on a short flight. The Pointer Brothers shared a video to TikTok saying it’s the “easiest red card of all time” when someone reclines their seat when there’s not enough room to begin with. “5 hour flight home…is this the most reclined seat in the history of aviation,” their caption read. The video shows one of the brothers annoyed at being squished in his seat because of the person in front of him being reclined. At one point he moves really close to the passenger's head to show his frustration. <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7156382025732132142&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thepointerbrothers_%2Fvideo%2F7156382025732132142%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26lang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F0f73e1499904406bb843f4d28028f3d4_1666225042%3Fx-expires%3D1667966400%26x-signature%3DK1evkklXcSTqSnlVDK5VeUqWwl4%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Viewers said the brothers have a point in calling the issue out as planes are already cramped enough. “Those seats should just not recline, it’s cramped enough and I already don’t have leg room,” someone wrote. “That's when passive-aggressive tray adjustments commence,” another commented. “I’m 6’3” and I have never reclined my seat. I can’t bring myself to push into others' space, the dang planes are small the way it is,” someone else pointed out. Others however said the brothers were in the wrong and everyone is entitled to recline their seat. “So many people in this comments section don't understand how legroom works... reclining your seat doesn't keep your knees from being smashed,” someone said. “Wah people are using the seats for what they're for. Want more room, get first class,” another wrote. Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Give yourself some power: Why you should upgrade your recliners and sofas

Whether you’re returning home after a long day of work, or you’re sitting back and enjoying the fruits of your labour in retirement – you want to be as comfortable as possible, right? If you’re sitting on a couch that you’ve had for 20 years and you find yourself sinking into the spot you’ve been claiming as yours over that time, you might be in need of an upgrade. Or perhaps the sofa you bought last year just doesn’t seem to sit right in your living area anymore. Whatever the case, upgrading your current lounge to a <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/">new recliner or sofa</a> will not only enhance your comfort, it’ll change the aesthetics of your home. Here’s our tips on why you should upgrade, and what to consider: A mood enhancer If your old lounges and sofas are starting to look a little drab, it can really impact your mood when you’re trying to relax. It’s difficult to lie back and watch Netflix when in the back of your mind, all you can think about is how uncomfortable you feel. By upgrading to a new recliner or sofa, you will enhance your viewing pleasure, and you’ll feel much better for it. At the end of the day, your personal style and comfort are reflections of how you feel on the inside, and that upgrade might just hit the mark in feeling your best. Change is as good as a holiday You might have heard the saying that “a change is as good as a holiday”. So, when you can’t hit the airways and take off overseas, or you’re counting down the days when you can skip over the border to visit your family, making your home brighter and fresher can make a huge difference to the aesthetics of your home. Think bright colours, if life is feeling a little bit gloomy, or choose a design that’s sleek, elegant and sophisticated to match the person inside you want others to see shine through. Choosing the right upgrade – Power, Traditional, Contemporary and more! When upgrading your sofa, you want to make sure you’re getting something that is not only going to be the epitome of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/comfort-guides-au" target="_blank">comfort</a>, but also one that’s going to go the distance. Although you’ll find there are plenty of options on the market, a <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/recliners/power">power recliner</a> is by far one of the most popular, allowing you to have full control over your seating position with the simple push of a button. Conventional style recliners, on the other hand, have a lever that you can pull, and it pulls the leg rest up, allowing you to lie back and relax. Either option is going to enhance your ultimate relaxation preferences. Traditional recliners, such as the <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/eden-rocker-recliner">Eden</a> and <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/serenity-rocker-recliner">Serenity</a> Rocker with La-Z-Boy, are guaranteed to suit any home design. They’re built to last, comfortable and affordable. Step things up a notch with the stylish Scandinavian-inspired designs, such as the <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/recliners/rolf-nordic-recliner">Rolf Nordic</a> or <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/recliners/asta-nordic-recliner">Asta Nordic</a>; or opt for something more contemporary to maximise your home’s space and aesthetics, with the <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/anika-onyx-rocker-recliner">Anika Onyx</a> or <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/duor-colorado-power-recliner">Duo® Colorado</a>. Or even a power option such as the <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/sofas-modulars/taylor-2-seater-twin-power-recliner">Taylor Twin 2 Seater Power Recliner</a>. If you want to upgrade even further, upgrade to leather from fabric, or customise any of your favourites with dozens of colours and textures, arms and bases for free. Bring out your internal designer, and give yourself some power, by making the choice that’s right for you and your personal style. The best option There’s no single best option – it really depends on your own comfort and style preferences. Power recliners come with various positions and settings, and the value in comfort and support you get is worth the extra upgrade. Both are easy to maintain provided they are looked after, and the fabric chosen is one that’s easy to clean. Regardless of which type of recliner or sofa you buy, if you choose one from a reputable brand like La-Z-Boy with generous warranties, you’ll have it for many years to come. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://www.la-z-boy.com.au/">La-Z-Boy</a>.

Home & Garden

Popular airline ditches reclining seats

The prospect of a flight without being able to recline your seat would seem unbearable for some, but passengers flying with a popular airline will have to get used to the idea after it announced it would be ditching reclining seats. British Airways officially announced it would be fitting non-reclining seats on 35 planes set to fly economy on short haul routes, to help slash ticket prices for customers. The changes, which are said to have been spearheaded by the airline’s chief executive Alex Cruz who formally worked for Spain’s low-cost carrier Vueling, received a mixed reception from passengers and could risk the airline’s elite status. A British Airways spokesman said: “As well as new long-haul aircraft, we have 35 brand new short-haul planes arriving over the next five years. “We are installing at-seat power throughout the aircraft and will soon offer on-board Wi-Fi. “The new aircraft will have brand new seats set to a gentle recline to ensure everyone in the cabin enjoys a comfortable journey. “These changes will also allow us to offer more low fares to customers.” What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to purchase less-comfortable seats for an international flight, if it meant you’d be getting cheaper airfares? <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=travel-insurance&utm_medium=in-article-banner&utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Travel-Insurance_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Travel Insurance"/></a>

International Travel

Passengers could soon have to pay for right to recline

People taking liberties when reclining their seat on a plane is one of the chief causes of inflight consternation. But a controversial new study suggests this problem could be eliminated by asking passengers to pay for the right to recline. Christopher Buccafusco and Christopher Jon Sprigman, two law professors from New York, believe passengers would be willing to pay an additional surcharge for seats with reclining capabilities, which could help to restore calm in the skies. The professors surveyed a large group of travellers and found most would be willing to pay as much as $16 extra to the passenger behind them for the right to lean back. Interestingly, those in the seat behind say they would need at least $53 to sacrifice legroom, and would be willing to pay as much as $24 to stop the person in front of them reclining. The study also suggests passengers would be open to bargaining to strike a fair compromise. “People seem more willing to make trades when the objects changing hands aren’t dollars but gifts of equivalent value. When we analysed this data, it seems very likely that people are more likely to end up with an efficient distribution of seat space when bartering with booze than with bucks,” the professors wrote. “When the exchange is money, we have successful transactions about 15 per cent of the time. When the exchange is a gift of equivalent value, however, we have successful transactions about 36 per cent of the time. That’s more than double the number of transactions.” “Nobody likes the recent turn toward airlines charging for every service. But maybe what we need is more of that. Most airlines still hand out free drinks, and sometimes little bags of pretzels,” they wrote. “Maybe instead they should charge for them and allow passengers to purchase them for one another. Everyone wins. Seat recline space is efficiently allocated. Airlines are marginally further from bankruptcy.” Would you be willing to pay for the right to recline?

International Travel

Should reclining seats on planes be banned?

We've all experienced it... the feeling of mid-flight rage when your knees are jammed against the seat in front of you or your coffee lands on your lap. We've all been on the other side too; reclining our seats in an attempt to get comfortable on a long-haul flight. It's an ongoing battle and now passengers are willing to sacrifice their own comfort with 91 per cent of travellers saying seat reclining should be banned, or at least allowed only during set times on short haul flights. An international survey of over 1000 travellers, by travel site Skyscanner, found that 43 per cent felt even long haul flights should implement set times for when passengers are permitted to recline their seat. 60 per cent of cabin crew from around the world report either being involved in, or having witnessed, heated arguments between passengers on the very touchy subject of reclined seats. Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman explains why reclining seats fuel passengers' rage: "It's partly because there are two general personality types while travelling". "There's the 'Altruistic Soul', who is considerate of others, and the 'Selfish Ego', who will look to increase their own comfort at the expense of others." 70 per cent of the people polled admitted they would still recline their seat when in front of a pregnant woman, and 80 per cent said they wouldn't care if the person behind was elderly or frail - indicating an alarming amount of 'Selfish Egos' amongst the crowd. Women aged from 18-24 were the most likely to display 'Altruistic Soul' tendencies, while men over the age of 35 were more likely to exhibit 'Selfish Ego' characteristics. Almost a third of those surveyed said that someone's reclined seat had caused them major discomfort and 3 per cent revealed that they'd even suffered an injury. The survey also found that a third of passengers played it safe when travelling, with 64 per cent admitting they had never reclined their seat because they were too worried about the reaction they'd receive. What do you think? Should reclining seats be banned in economy class? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/6-dirtiest-places-on-a-plane-revealed/">6 dirtiest places on a plane revealed</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/tips-for-travelling-if-you-have-a-history-of-heart-disease/">Tips for travelling if you have a history of heart disease</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/tips-for-getting-through-the-airport-stress-free/">5 tips for getting through the airport stress-free</a>

Travel Tips

The 5 rules for reclining your seat on a plane

Cramming a 100 strangers into a tight airplane cabin is always going to result in some difference of opinion. The biggest point of contention? The etiquette surrounding reclining your seat. Many believe the right to recline your aeroplane seat comes with the territory. You purchased a ticket for a seat that features a little round button opening up six inches of potential semi-comfort. What kind of person would deny anyone that? However, some people can’t be trusted with this luxury, jolting their sea back and forward the whole journey, causing mayhem for your tray table. So what is the rule of thumb? Let’s take a look at these five proposed “rules”. 1. Look back You have the right to recline, but also the choice to be merciful. Give your friendly neighbour warning with a casual look behind you and if they look like they have basketball all-star length legs, use your own judgement on how selfless you want to be. 2. Meal service Don’t even think about reclining now. Can’t we all agree to spare our fellow passengers food and beverage spillage? 3. Take only what you need Do your fellow passengers a favour and recline only as far back as you need, you don’t need to take space just because it’s there. 4. Recline slowly Coming in hot is pointless in your quest for five degrees of reclining space. You’ll get there just as effectively if you take your time, so the person behind you doesn’t end up with a sore rib from a sharp movement. 5. Use your words We are all so use to stone cod silence in airplane cabin, only quietly murmuring to our companions. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon though, so why not embrace the shared experience, speak up and say thank you and apologise when it’s necessary. What do you think about seat reclining etiquette? Should you simply get to do what you like since you paid for it? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/10-amazing-queensland-waterfalls/">10 amazing Queensland waterfalls</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/04/top-10-australian-destinations-to-visit-in-2016/">Top 10 Australian destinations to visit in 2016</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/04/pictures-from-best-drives-in-australia/">10 jaw-dropping pictures from Australia’s best drives</a>

International Travel

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Airline bans couple after racist row over reclined seat

Heated argument between economy passengers reignites plane etiquette debate

"I’m sorry, but no": Passenger on 12-hour flight stops woman from reclining

Debate rages over "most reclined seat in the history of aviation"

Give yourself some power: Why you should upgrade your recliners and sofas

Popular airline ditches reclining seats

Passengers could soon have to pay for right to recline

Should reclining seats on planes be banned?

The 5 rules for reclining your seat on a plane

Our Partners