Airplane Seat Reclining Etiquette: Stop Apologizing for the Button (opens in new tab)

Airlines shrunk economy pitch from 35 inches to 31 inches over 40 years, cut recline from 4 inches to 2 inches on major US carriers, and eliminated the recline button entirely on Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant. The etiquette debate is a fight over scraps the airlines already took. Where the button still exists, you paid for it, and using it is not rude.