Why Your Airplane Seat Has To Be Upright for Takeoff and Landing

Here’s something you’ve heard on every flight you’ve ever taken: “Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright and locked position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed beneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments.” In all likelihood, you’ve happily complied with those instructions every time a flight attendant has given them. But have you ever stopped to wonder about the reasoning behind them? Here’s why your airplane seat has to be upright for takeoff and landing. 

Safety, Safety, Safety

The simple reason why these instructions exist, as with most aspects of flying, is safety. As per part 121 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, “No certificate holder may take off or land an airplane unless each passenger seat back is in the upright position.” In this case, “certificate holder” refers to the air carrier, and passengers have to follow the law just as much as they do.

As for why it’s safer, the most important part of that ubiquitous instruction is the word “locked.” When your seat is secured, it’s better prepared to withstand any impact that could arise from turbulence or bumpy landings. Because airplane seats are unlocked when reclined, a change in speed or an abrupt stop could hurt you or the passenger behind you — you could go flying forward or their knees could get crushed, depending on the situation.

Evacuation factors into it as well. As anyone who’s ever flown in economy knows, having the person in front of you recline their seat limits your movement when you get up to use the restroom or stretch your legs. Having unobstructed access to the aisle in the event of an emergency is considerably more important, which is also why seats in front of the exit row either don’t recline or recline less than other seats. Even the tray tables in the exit rows on some planes are configured so that passengers don’t unintentionally unlock them during an evacuation.

Why Takeoff and Landing Are So Critical

It’s no coincidence that you have to do this during takeoff and landing, whereas actual flight time is fairly relaxed. Takeoff and landing are indeed the most dangerous parts of flying, though statistically they’re still quite safe. 

A study by Airbus confirmed that the vast majority of all accidents occur during those phases. “Approach and landing are highly complex flight phases, which place significant demands on the crew in terms of navigation, aircraft configuration changes, communication with Air Traffic Control, congested airspace, and degraded weather conditions,” per the study. Boeing’s research had similar findings. 

Though there’s no cause for alarm — flight remains the safest way to travel by a considerable margin — there are plenty of reasons to listen to the cabin crew when they tell you to return your seat to its full upright and locked position.