Fear of flying is in the reclining

DEAR AMY: I just returned from an overseas flight on which the person seated behind me did not allow me to recline my seat. This problem seems to come up every time I fly. On these flights I have tried asking permission of the person behind me (sometimes they say "no") and I have also tried just easing the seat back. Sometimes the person in back of me responds by hitting my seat back. I always wait until the meal trays have been picked up, but people have their computers set up on their tray tables and don't like the seat in front of them reclined. Help! I have another flight coming up and am already worrying about this issue. If the chairs shouldn't be reclined, why do the airlines have them?

--Sleepless in Chicago

DEAR SLEEPLESS: I shared your letter with Corey Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants, who applauds your courtesy.

She also asks you to understand that while seats do recline, airplanes are stuffed from stem to stern with reclining seats that may not have been in the aircraft's original design. "Over the years, profit has trumped passenger comfort, and some airlines have redesigned cabin interiors to accommodate more seats (in coach) and, in turn, more tickets sold," she says.

Reclining your seat to the full extent could theoretically pin the person in back of you into his seat.

A recent incident involving a fight between passengers over this issue resulted in a plane turning around and being forced back to the airport. Many thousands of dollars were wasted and many otherwise innocent people had their own trips seriously disrupted because these passengers couldn't recline peacefully.

It's best to say "Hi, I'm going to recline a little bit. Just letting you know." Then recline slightly and hope the person in back of you also adjusts.