The Necessity of Upright Airplane Seats During Takeoff and Landing

The few inches of personal space occupied by a reclined airplane seat represent some of the most coveted territory in existence. Conflicts have arisen over these inches. Considerable effort has also gone into resolving these disputes (and, just so you know, there is a more courteous way to recline your seat).

Regardless of which side you take in the reclining debate, there’s a common understanding during two crucial phases of every flight: the moments of takeoff and landing when passengers are asked to keep their seats “in the upright and locked position.”

While it might seem trivial to lose a few inches of recline, these inches are vital for safety during takeoff and landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and various international aviation authorities mandate that passengers secure their seats in the “upright and locked” position during these critical flight stages. It might feel trivial to be corrected by a flight attendant for an inch, but, as with many aviation safety protocols, there’s a solid reason behind it. Unfortunately, this reasoning is seldom conveyed clearly, leading many to believe it makes no difference.

Here’s why adhering to these instructions is crucial for safe air travel in the unlikely event of a real emergency.

Unlocked seats pose a risk of injury to you or the passenger behind you

Airplane seats are engineered to provide robust structural support when in a fully locked position. You might have experienced this if you’ve sat in a malfunctioning seat that reclined even when it was supposed to be upright. If an aircraft begins to brake suddenly (especially under high acceleration), the seat is designed to absorb that force. However, if the seat is even slightly reclined, it could lurch forward or backward with significant force, potentially injuring both the passenger in that seat and those behind them. Seat belts alone won’t suffice in such a scenario; as they only secure your waist, your torso and head could be violently thrown around.

Reclined seats block access to the aisle

Another important reason for ensuring seats are fully upright and locked is to allow passengers in the row behind you to access the aisle quickly in case of an emergency. If a seat reclines unexpectedly (or breaks) and cannot return to an upright position, it could obstruct the exit for those behind. Aircraft designers take no chances with this, especially near exit rows; hence, seats directly in front of an exit row are fixed and do not recline at all, as they are crucial evacuation points.

Aircraft are designed to facilitate a complete evacuation in under 120 seconds, even if only half of the emergency exits are functional. This may sound surprising, but this design has been instrumental in saving lives during actual emergencies. For instance, when an Air France Airbus A340 overran the runway during a thunderstorm in Toronto in 2005 and caught fire, all passengers were saved because the crew executed a rapid evacuation.

This is also why tray tables must be stowed and carry-on bags should be fully under the seat in front of you. Every second counts.

What about flat-bed seats?

The same safety rule applies to all passengers, regardless of cabin class: seats must be upright during takeoff and landing. In 2022, Finnair creatively sidestepped this issue by remodeling some of its business-class seats to prevent reclining altogether. Instead, the seats can either be fully upright or lie-flat, with no middle ground (reviewers have noted that they’re comfortable either way).

Now that you’re aware, try to be understanding when flight attendants request that you return your seat to its “fully upright and locked position.” Knowing the reason behind their request may help you take it more seriously.