Etiquette experts get real about this hot-button issue and whether putting your seat back makes you a jerk.

People are rarely at their best during air travel.

Just look at the mounting number of in-flight altercations and other troubling incidents these days.

A man in a blue shirt is sitting in an airplane seat with his knees pulled up, visibly uncomfortable due to the limited legroom. A woman is seated in front of him

One aspect of flying that really strikes a nerve with many travelers is seat reclining.

In November,a video of a screaming matchbetween passengers over one womans choice to recline went viral.

Below, Gottsman and other experts break down the best practices.

Two men, one in a floral shirt and lei, the other in a suit, sit in airplane seats facing each other intensely

So, is it OK to recline?

Whether to recline your seat is a matter of polite awareness, saidJodi R.R.

Smith, the president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.

A man reads a newspaper on a plane, looking annoyed as a child with headphones plays a game, resting her legs on his chair

We want to be able to maximize our comfort without inconveniencing anyone else.

This is quite a challenge in the shrinking seats found nowadays on airplanes.

As such, reclining your seat and interfering with someone elses comfort violates the basic principle of etiquette.

Person's bare feet rested on airplane seat in front, onboard a commercial flight. Airplane seats are visible in rows. No names are identifiable

There are situations in which reclining can be appropriate and more in line with etiquette standards, however.

The most important thing is to consider the individual circumstances of your flight, your fellow passenger and yourself.

So if the seat behind yours is empty, recline all you want!

A woman in a stylish dress is seated in a private jet, using her smartphone

The same goes for premium cabins.

There is ample room to recline without impacting any other passengers personal space.

Otherwise, give a shot to stay upright during short-haul flights.

If the passenger is juggling a toddler on their lap, they may recline as well.

The rules are a bit different for long-haul flights, during which reclining is more appropriate.

If youre going to recline, whats the right way to do it?

There are best practices for executing your recline if you feel so inclined.

Look behind you to see if there is someone sitting in the seat directly behind, Gottsman said.

Let the person know you would like to recline.

You never know, a polite conversation could lead to a new friendship.

Another important factor in the reclining conversation is the timing of when you do it.

The Federal Aviation Administration considers takeoff and landing two very critical stages in a flight, Vernon-Thompson said.

Therefore, they mandate that all seats are placed in an upright position.

It is of course proper etiquette to adhere to the request.

After all, it is in the best interest of all passengers and crew members.

And you and your fellow passengers are all in this together.

A bit of perspective can shift your attitude toward the positive.

This article originally appeared onHuffPost.