Seriously?? Third flight diverted over reclining seat row!

I have never seen a seat that will recline as far as the one in the picture. The only time I recline my seat is on a flight to Europe and even then, it isnt really what I would call reclining. A little courtesy and forebearance on all sides goes a long way.

I disagree. The consequences of Melly's choice to save money and lap carry a large toddler is that she was cramped/short on space. It's not the responsibility of the passenger in front of her to accommodate Melly's money-saving decision.

I know it can be uncomfortable for very tall people but the man in that photo would have enough room for his knees if his feet were on the floor. It only the top half of a seat that reclines not the whole seat,

I hate to say it but I agree too. I suffered through a flight a few months ago with a lap child next to me. He kept grabbing my iPad, drink, screeching the whole flight. The mom did hardly anything to stop him. I wish lap children aren't allowed. It unsafe for them and uncomfortable for those next to them.

I don't often sleep on planes, but this is pretty much the only way I can manage it comfortably. (Arms crossed, head on arms). But I usually wait for the person to recline first. Either way, reclining has never bothered me, and I pretty much never do it myself. The only time it bothers me is if I have an open drink because I don't want it to spill.

I agree that the person who starts this type of altercation should be put on a no fly list.

This is about my post- and I agree too. That is one of the reasons I said nothing to the lady in front of me, because she has every right to recline her seat if she chooses. However, if it were me, I would not have reclined my seat all the way if there were a lap child behind me, now that I have been in that position. I can sleep just as well a few inches more upright. Flying with a lap child was my absolute only option- it was either that, or not go. I was thankful for the option. On the way home, the plane had empty seats so he was able to have much more room. But it was just as miserable... He is just not a flyer!! And I did *everything* I possibly could to quiet him so as not to disturb the other passengers. Luckily there were no complaints about him, I would have felt awful! It will be a long time til I fly with a toddler again, LOL  

I believe they should continue the flights so long as they aren't any danger to the flight itself and have marshalls waiting at the gate when they arrive.

I am sorry, clearly I am a bitch today, given the 2nd post on this thread, and both being argumentative.

But, I cannot imagine even for a minute this is what your husband looks like in this situation on a plane. If he does then it is HIS CHOICE to sit like that, He can put his knees down. How do I know this you might ask? My DH is 6'8" and does not need to sit with his knees up like that. That is just silly. Are his legs cramped? YES, Does he have any space? NO  When we fly we do fly economy, as that is what our budget allows, he just makes the best of a very uncomfortable position and goes with it. The picture being referred to is just DRAMA.

Well, nepean, all I can say is your DH must be all torso, because my DH is 6' 7" and I can PROMISE you, this is exACTly what he has to do.  There is nowhere for his legs to go. Period!

This is why we get the bulkhead seat or emergency aisle.

My dh is 6'5" and while uncomfortable while flying he can put his legs down just fine.

Total exaggeration.  The man clearly has his ankles at his seat height.  You can even see the laces in his shoes.  Put your feet on the floor people!  My husband is over 6 feet, and an ex-colleague topped 6'5" - even he could still sit in economy.  It's not the funnest experience, but that's true whether or not the seat reclines. 

Yep, sadly that is the truth.  I wish we could afford 1st or business class, but alas, no.

Alright - let's layer in a little math for fun. An extremely tall inseam for a man would be 38" (we're talking special order or a big and tall store and you're probably topping 6'6" and/or have a higher than normal % of leg. A cursory search says femur to tibia ratios range from abut 52% to 56% we'll go on the high side and say our tall man has a femur length of 21.3 inches. Now here we're getting a little unscientific. I measured my womanly behind (which I'm going to guess is probably rounder than a typical man's) and from seat back to start of my inseam is 8". So our tall man needs 29.5 inches from the seat back to fit his knees in economy. Now most low cost airlines have downsized from a a stand seat pitch of 33-35 to 31" (particularly on short distance flights). With a 31" pitch and a 1" seat cushion our tall travelers knees brush the chair in front of him. For a longer flight, or less squishy airlines he has an inch or two at most with his back flat against the back of his seat. Uncomfortable, I bet, absolutely no wiggle room - and forget about crossing your legs, it's not going to happen. He chooses one of those crappy 30" pitch airlines, he is definitely going to be uncomfortable. BUT, his knees aren't up by his ears. If your inseam tops 36 inches or you have a particularly rotund behind - you're going to be uncomfortable. But as 74% of passengers say they're not willing to pay more for more legroom - airlines have no incentive to put fewer seats on the plane and charge more.

I heard today it cost around $6000+ when they have to divert or land. This includes airline landingfees, compensating people who miss connections and so forth.