To me, if a certain kind of accommodation is needed badly enough in any situation, ask for it at the very beginning. If it isn't given to you, you either live with whatever is given to you, or you get up and take your business elsewhere. In my opinion, this all depends on how people feel concerning whatever is in front of them and of course no two people are going to feel the same way. Did the woman ask for a seat that wasn't in front of other seats so that she could recline the one that she sat in with no issue? Did the man and woman ever think about trading places if that would've made things better for them and everyone else around them?
God bless you and them always!!!
Holly
P.S. Question. Who else besides me on this planet understands well enough the meaning of the words "compromise" and "considerateness"?