Mark, a 34-year-old business traveler, recently wrote in about a tough situation. After an exhausting all-nighter and a two-hour flight delay, he reclined his seat right after takeoff, desperate for rest. But he didn’t check behind him—where a pregnant woman was seated. She cried out, “I can’t breathe!” He responded, “Then fly first class,” put on his headphones, and slept through most of the flight.
After landing, a flight attendant handed him a note. The woman explained she was eight months pregnant, flying to see her terminally ill mother, and his sudden recline had caused her pain. She couldn’t afford a better seat.
Now, Mark is conflicted. His wife says he was inconsiderate; his brother thinks he did nothing wrong. He wonders: was it thoughtless to recline without checking, or was he just using a feature meant to be used?
What do you think—was Mark in the wrong, or just unlucky?
