Former Emirates flight attendant reveals the best time to recline your plane seat to avoid an onboard disaster

This summer, a viral video reignited the ongoing debate about airplane etiquette, in which a woman used her outstretched arms to prevent the person in front of her from leaning back in her seat.

The unnamed woman, who was traveling from Paris to Los Angeles, was filmed by the person sitting next to her arguing and pushing the chair forward. After a back and forth conversation, it seemed she had won the battle and kept looking at a laptop on her lap.

However, 34-year-old Caroline Kneitz, who worked as a flight attendant for Emirates for six years, told DailyMail.com that this situation was not handled properly and that there were better ways to resolve the tension.

Here, the travel professional, who is originally from the Netherlands and currently based in Dubai, reveals her ultimate etiquette dos and don’ts around the recline button.

Everyone has the right to lie down

Despite some airline passengers being staunchly against reclining, Caroline insists that ‘everyone has the right to recline their seat’ and that this is a feature the airlines have installed to make travel more comfortable.

She explains that if a seat cannot be reclined, the passenger “has the right to reseat and may be entitled to some form of compensation, depending on the airline.”

From her own experience, the flying professional says that people “get very upset if their seats can’t be reclined,” and she often has to intervene and find solutions.

Who is there? ALWAYS check before pushing back

The rudest thing, says Caroline, is when a passenger “just sits back without looking who’s behind them.”

She advises always checking to see who’s there before pushing your chair back.

If someone’s behind you and they’re awake, Caroline says, “The politest thing you can do is ask if they mind,” and “usually they’re fine with that.”

Time it right! After meal service is best

Caroline says it’s a big no-no to recline your seat too early in a flight.

As for the best time to sit back, she says: “I would advise always waiting until after the meal and drink service.

Top tips: Caroline Kneitz, 34, has worked as a flight attendant for Emirates for six years

“The last thing you want is to sit back abruptly and cause food and drink to spill all over the person behind you.

“I’ve seen this happen before, with spilled red wine being the main culprit.

“Once the shift has stopped, look back and check that the person has finished eating and drinking and that it’s okay to sit back.” As mentioned, this tactic usually works like a charm.’

Help is available – ask a crew member if unsure

If you are not sure how to handle reclining the seat, Caroline recommends asking a member of the crew for assistance.

“You may feel uncomfortable or afraid to interact with the person behind you,” she says.

“If this is the case, the crew will have no problem asking that person if it’s okay for the seat to move back for them.

‘In my experience, when the crew steps in to prevent a fight from breaking out, people usually respond very quickly.’

Don’t back down: remember it’s your right to sit back

Caroline revealed that when she worked in the industry, she often encountered taller and taller passengers complaining that they didn’t have enough legroom.

While she realizes this is true, she says these passengers have to accept that the person in the front has the right to recline and they can’t groan if they knew the seat dimensions before the trip.

She adds: ‘If space is a real issue for these people I would advise booking exit seats or upgrading to premium if feasible. They cannot prevent the person in front of them from leaning back.

“They may be squeezed in and uncomfortable, but unfortunately airline seat space has become increasingly tight.”