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Cannix Yau

Cathay Pacific Airways’ decision to blacklist a Cantonese-speaking couple after a dispute over a reclining plane seat has sparked a heated debate among Hongkongers, with many asking the question: is it OK to recline?
The squabble broke out when a mainland passenger reclined her seat, sparking accusations from a couple seated behind that her action obstructed their viewing of in-flight entertainment.
The couple, who spoke Cantonese, started to jostle her seat, kicked her arm, verbally attacked her with slurs, and called her a “mainland girl”.
Here is what you need to know about aeroplane protocols.
1. When may Cathay ban passengers for misconduct?
Cathay has said it maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that compromises aviation safety or disrespects fellow customers.
The couple was banned from future Cathay flights under the carrier’s “General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage” policy.
Under Article 8 of the rule, passengers risk getting banned by the airline for misconduct such as getting drunk to the extent it poses a safety or health risk to others.
Prohibited behaviour also includes committing a criminal offence during booking a ticket, during the check-in or boarding process at the airport or on board the aircraft, or failure to observe the airline’s safety or security instructions.
Those who have caused harm to, injured, or used threatening, abusive, insulting, discriminatory, obscene or lewd language or behaviour towards others, or have made a bomb threat or other security threats, may also be rejected by the airline.
2. Can passengers recline their plane seats?
Kenneth Kwok, chairman of Cathay’s Flight Attendants Union, said it was absolutely fine for passengers to recline their seats.
“Usually we will just ask passengers to put their seat back upright due to meal service so the one at the back may eat in a proper sitting position,” he said.
“In other words, aside from during take off and landing, once we are done with the service, passengers may recline their seats at any time for their comfort.”
3. What are some acts of misconduct in economy class?
Kwok said some passengers might skip their meals and want to take rest while others were having their meals.
“We will ask them to put their seat upright for the time being as well. It does happen that sometimes the passenger will get mad about this,” he said.
“We will just explain the situation to the passenger and help him understand others.”

Kwok said some other misconduct would be fighting for personal space with neighbours in tightly packed plane cabins. “Especially the one who sits in the middle seat may get no arm rest to lean on, same for overhead compartments,” he said.
“From time to time, when the flights are full, passengers do fight for the overhead bin for their own luggage.”
4. What are some acts of misconduct in business class?
⁠Kwok said in business class, personal space was not an issue but some have become too comfortable and “forgot that it is actually a public space”.
He cited examples where passengers used speakers to watch their videos from their personal devices, without regard to others who were trying to get some rest.
“But in general, business class would have fewer problems in terms of fighting for more personal space,” he said.
5. How do flight attendants resolve conflicts?
⁠Kwok said flight attendants should listen to the passengers’ problem first and then try to help them understand the situation by having them see things from the other side.
The goal is to have both sides back down a little to minimise the inconvenience caused to each other, he said.
“If it escalates to verbal or physical abuse, we can always give verbal or written warnings to the passengers to ensure they comply with our instructions,” he said.
“We may also send messages to the ground, so that the security team will be waiting at the gate to stand by once we arrive.
“But we usually try to resolve the problem on the spot as much as we can.”
Kwok said that if there were other seats in the same class, they might change seats for the passengers, but they “rarely” offer in-flight upgrades for the passengers, unless customers agree to pay the differences.
“But our crew manager may exercise their discretion in extreme cases and after safety considerations,” he added.


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Cathay Pacific

To recline or not? A look at in-flight rules after Cathay bans Cantonese couple over seat row

Cathay has blacklisted a Cantonese-speaking couple after they squabbled with a mainland passenger over a reclining seat. Photo: Shuttlestock

Flight attendants will try to resolve conflicts between passengers before getting help, an expert has said. Photo: Dickson Lee

Cathay Pacific denies firing cabin crew over row between mainland passenger, Cantonese couple

Cathay Pacific says it has not warned or terminated any flight attendants over the incident. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s Cathay bans Cantonese couple over insults hurled at mainland Chinese passenger

Cathay confirmed on Saturday the incident occurred on flight CX253 on September 17 and apologised to those affected. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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The Post unpacks protocols, common misconduct on flights and what can get you blacklisted


The Post unpacks protocols, common misconduct on flights and what can get you blacklisted.


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Explainer | To recline or not? A look at in-flight rules after Cathay bans Cantonese couple over seat row

The Post unpacks protocols, common misconduct on flights and what can get you blacklisted

1. When may Cathay ban passengers for misconduct?