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I read that some airlines such as United Airlines ban the use of Knee Defenders during flight. Is there any comprehensive list of airlines that ban the use of Knee Defenders during flight (or conversely a list of airlines that do not ban them)?

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  • 14
    I'm curious if users of Knee Defenders recline their own seats.
    – CGCampbell
    Aug 27, 2014 at 20:51
  • 4
    @CGCampbell I'm sure they have a 'Knee Defendant Honor Code'.
    – a20
    Aug 28, 2014 at 9:31
  • 4
    @a20 egocentric jerks have an honour code? Unless it is "I do what I like, others be darned" of course. Most people who go out of their way to control the behaviour of others (including spending good money on things like this) are people who don't give a darn about other people, and will throw their seats back the moment the seatbelt sign goes off and not put them back up until they're told to in person by a flight attendant (and then complain about it).
    – jwenting
    Aug 28, 2014 at 10:54
  • I'm sure it was tongue-in-cheek...
    – Mark Mayo
    Aug 28, 2014 at 12:52
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    The picture with the man with his knees up is a joke and misrepresents. I'm tall and I put my feet under the seat in front of me. Why promote a false image that isn't accurate. put your feet under the seat in front of you dummy!
    – user19748
    Aug 29, 2014 at 15:19

2 Answers 2

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It would appear not, but there's nothing stopping us from creating one. People can edit the answer as we find more.

Airlines that ban the Knee Defender

Airlines that discourage but don't ban the Knee Defender

Airlines that allow the Knee Defender

Airlines with seats that do not recline

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  • 2
    That source about some British airlines supposedly allowing Knee Defender is really dubious... Aug 28, 2014 at 12:38
  • @it's really old, but it's a source. If someone has something more up to date, they can update it...
    – Mark Mayo
    Aug 28, 2014 at 12:54
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    On two low-fare US Airlines, Spirit and Allegiant, the seats do not recline so Knee Defender is superfluous. Aug 31, 2014 at 0:15
  • I believe Cathay Pacific used to obviate the need for one, mainly due to its fixed-back seats (non-reclining faux-recline), but I don't know what they do now that they've gotten rid of them. Speaking of which, what's Emirates' policy on them?
    – gparyani
    Sep 14, 2014 at 7:04
  • For reasons given in the other answer, the contents of this one is superfluous. Jun 3, 2015 at 13:08
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Such a list would not be meaningful. All airlines have wide rules to prohibit "tampering" with seats, with Knee Defenders or otherwise; you can improvise one with a well-sized bottle, after all. Those that point out the Knee Defender as banned are only making it explicit that this specific device is not allowed.

More to the point, if the passenger unable to recline complains, the flight attendants will insist that you stop using it.

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  • 14
    Yes, but the point I'm trying to make is that "not banned" does not equal "allowed". Aug 27, 2014 at 5:34
  • 16
    No. Everybody has the right to recline and the responsibility to accept getting reclined on. If you don't like this, pay for a bigger seat. See also: travel.stackexchange.com/questions/20171/… Aug 27, 2014 at 8:08
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    I don’t mind getting reclined on, but the person in front is going to have to accept that they’re not going to be able to recline very far as my thighs are long enough that my knees act as their own Knee Defenders in most economy seats. Aug 27, 2014 at 11:48
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    @Robin There is always a nice solution of asking a person in front not to do this.
    – Karlson
    Aug 27, 2014 at 13:58
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    @a20 What I mean is that it would be a pointless and empty gesture because nobody likes it when the person in front of them reclines and everybody knows that. The unwritten rule is that if someone wants to recline, they recline. Asking for permission is pointless. Also, I've been flying economy class for about 30 years and I've never had someone ask me for permission to recline their seat, so I'm not sure what you mean about there being less thoughtfulness and courtesy "nowadays". Sounds to me like misplaced nostalgia for the "good old days".
    – JLRishe
    Aug 28, 2014 at 9:25

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