Airline passenger news and views

I have been in this position and complained to the stewardess. They gave my partner and I a small bottle of wine each. Not a great result but better than nothing.

They probably can't sell these seats separately, so they are not going to be at a discount price. They ought to use them for crew etc and not for the public but trust the airlines to squeeze in the maximum number of people.

Given that the airline elects to use these seats, which they probably will do if the aircraft is full, then it is just the luck (bad luck) of the draw if you end up in them. I generally avoid using the back loading stairs if I am at the end of the queue so as to avoid the risk of ending up right at the back.

I read the comment above and see that some airlines give you a bottle of wine to make up or perhaps to shut you up. I am really not sure what else you can do.

This is unfortunate, you were unlucky there. The last few flights I have managed to pre-book decent seats on the 24hr online check-in facility, this worked very well.

My recent experience with Cathay's non-reclining "shell" seats on a flight from SFO to HKG was awful. I have never experienced the kind of back pain I experienced after having to sit in these seats for 15 hours each way. Whoever at Cathay thought it would be a good trade-off to have to sit bolt upright for 15 hours (rather than attempt to "recline" by slouching your back and jamming your knees into the seat in front of you) just so that you wouldn't have to adjust your PTV screen when the person in front of you reclines, needs to have his/her head examined.

Yes, this has happened to me too, it is so uncomfortable, and difficult when trying to get your hand luggage out etc. I agree that there should different pricing when booking these seats, it is unjust and unfair that you should pay the same as other passengers.

I have experienced these horrible non-reclining seats in the past. I am of average height and am usually quite comfortable on a flight but in this case the the lack of seat recline put an intolerable stress on my lumbar spine which was left unsupported (literally in mid air) when I tried to stretch to a sleeping position. My advice to passengers who are already booked on Cathay Pacific economy is to take a good sized travel pillow for lumbar support.

I have no problem with non-reclining seats. I don't normally recline my seat and I don't like it when the person in front tilts his or her seat back as far as possible. I flew one trip with me in the window, an older couple in aisle and middle, and their 20 month old granddaughter sitting on grandma's lap, and when the passenger in front of grandma tried to recline his seat he nearly crushed the toddler. I would be delighted to see the reclining option removed from all seats (and this goes for buses as well as airplanes).

Im with the person above i never recline my seat out of respect for the people behind me.Although whenever im flying i always get seated behind some inconsidiret git who feels they need more room than everyone one else. yes you old bag in seat 2a on flight tcx0479Ly antalya to bristol 12/10/2010. PS since you said you had a bad back i probaly paid for your seat as well as my own and had to put up with you lying on my lap all the way home.

I always try and use a airline where I can pre book my seats as I am not comfortable sitting at the back of an aircraft and I always like to sit with my family. I think that if you do have to sit in the uncomfortable seats right at the back of the aircraft then you should pay less than you would pay for a reclining seat.