“To recline or not to recline.” That is the question that’s been all around the internet in the past several months (well, between coronavirus and 737-MAX reports, anyway). Should you recline. Shouldn’t you recline. What the head of airlines say you should do about the recline.
I don’t know what Pat Cassidy, the co-lead anchor at Hard Factor News for Barstool Sports used to think about reclining, but after a recent Delta flight, I’d suspect he’s more against it than for it. Here’s why…
Cassidy was on a Delta flight when the person in front of him decided to recline. His MacBook Pro got caught up in it and his screen was smashed. He immediately took to Twitter.
He then went on to mention the flight attendant’s response, and a few other comments:
Two days later, he posted that he had gotten the following reply from Delta:
Hello Patrick,
Thank you for writing us about your experience. I’m sorry your laptop was broken due to another passenger reclining on your seat. It’s not fair when one person’s behavior affects another person. Please know that Personal property damaged in-flight as a reult of a passenger action is not reimbursable. We regret the inconvenience this has caused you.
As a goodwill gesture, I’m adding 7,500 bonus miles to your SkyMiles account. They should be transferred into your account within three business days.
Thank you for your loyalty with Delta Air Lines, [sic] we are looking forward to serving you again.
So his computer, which could have cost $1,000 to $2,000, depending, was smashed and Delta offered him the equivalent $75.
Nice.
But also not unexpected.
If a Delta employee breaks your stuff, you may have a leg to stand on. But if another passenger breaks your stuff, Delta can claim no responsibility for it. It’s in their Contract of Carriage.
The moral of the story? Always have breakage insurance for your electronics.
What do you think? Should Delta have reimbursed him more? Or should he be happy with what he got?
*** All Twitter photos PC: Pat Cassidy/Twitter
*** Feature photo: kissclipart
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
12 comments
Another reason to buy first class.
are you effing kidding me? Delta su*ks. Hope he spent the rest of the flight kicking the seat in front of him, constantly. That’s what I do. Keep em wondering when the next hard kick is coming. Yup, I know it’s not nice. But either is having a broken laptop.
I’m assuming the person in front of you didn’t ask you if it was alright to recline back giving you ample time to move your laptop out of the way. What you would have to do at that moment is ask that passenger to pay for damage/replacement. If answer would have been no, I think you would be able to take him/her to small claims court. As little as the $75 plus miles seem to you, by rights Delta didn’t have to give anything. That is tragic what happened.
It wasn’t me – it was some guy. But…yeah.
Sorry, but the passenger in front isn’t liable. You as owner are for putting it in position it could be broken. (The image shows the monitor was opened and positioned under the bottom of IFE screen, thus was crushed when seat reclined)
You are wrong. If the one who reclined the seat had not reclined his seat, the laptop would not have been destroyed. The one who reclined caused the breakage. Your answer is typical. I wonder what your response would be if YOUR laptop had been broken?
Seats recline, so be ready for it. Mindblown.
why is Delta even in the picture here? by their reasoning the airport where the plane lands and the country that owns the airspace and the society that breeds the pax who reclined the seat should all be responsible for his laptop.
Make sure you put your precious laptop where he can’t be caught in the reclining seat.
Bet Apple would give you a new laptop!
The few times I use my laptop in coach, I make sure that I don’t open it in a way that would get caught if/when the seat in front of me is reclined. It’s inconvenient, but prevents what happened to this guy. (Isn’t that pretty much common sense?)
Seat back tray tables were designed for food and drink; the laptop wasn’t even a thing at the time. As others have said, plan for and expect the jerk in front of you to rapidly slam their seat into the reclined position without warning. That said, for those who feel it’s so important to recline your seat, at least do it slowly and without malice if you are too antisocial to speak with the person behind you first.