Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to fly CW regularly and more recently had the chance to experience NF (3 times). I love it and there is little to complain about. A quick look at the back of the plane does tend to put things quickly in to perspective.
However, I am astonished at the lack of privacy people will put up with considering the huge amounts of money these tickets cost. Even in First you have strangers looking at you while sleeping. I don't mean staring but it makes me feel uncomfortable.
Why don't/can't BA install curtains so you could pull them around your seat? On the last few flights I've looked at how this could work in terms of the fittings and I can't see anything major stopping this from happening.
I've noticed that the new Suites that some of the 'bling' airlines are introducing are not full height but at least they have identified passengers lust for privacy.
I realise that crew need to check seat belts etc. but they could easily look though a 'gap' to ensure you are complying when the seat belt sign illuminates.
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to fly CW reguarly and more recently had the chance to experience NF (3 times). I love it and there is little to complain about. A quick look at the back of the plane does tend to put things quickly in to perspective.
However, I am astonished at the lack of privacy people will put up with considering the huge amounts of money these tickets cost. Even in First you have strangers looking at you while sleeping. I don't mean staring but it makes me feel uncomfortable.
Why don't/can't BA install curtains so you could pull them around your seat? On the last few flights I've looked at how this could work in terms of the fittings and I can't see anything major stopping this from happening.
I've noticed that the new Suites that some of the 'bling' airlines are introducing are not full height but at least they have identified passengers lust for privacy.
I realise that crew need to check seat belts etc. but they could easily look though a 'gap' to ensure your are comlying when the seast belt illuminates.
What do you think? Or am I just being mad?
Oh, the humanity. Strangers, just looking at you.
I thnk 'mad' is a bit strong, but perhaps 'over-sensitive' might fit?
A bigger problem with the NF layout to me is that from A seats you can see the screen of the passenger across the aisle and it is quite bright and distracting.
I would like a curtain to block off that view, but I am not worried about being seen sleeping - it's not as if I am in my pyjamas or uncovered. I sleep in CE, so it's hardly unusual for me to be seen sleeping.
I was reading an article about the MegaBus Sleeper service between London and Scotland and the caption next to the picture of a bed says "with only a curtain for privacy". So a passenger having paid only a few pounds for a bed on a coach expects more than "only" a curtain yet on a plane with a ticket costing a few thousand pounds there is no privacy at all.
And I agree about the light pollution. It applies both ways. On some day flights, where some passengers may want to sleep, I feel guilty about leaving the blinds up and letting in daylight. And on night flights I feel guilty about having the reading lights/monitors on.
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Fully enclosed suites/space, be it by door or curtain are not permitted on UK carriers by the CAA... I may be wrong, but that is what I understand to be it.
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Almost everybody travelling in F will have been to public school and will therefore be jolly comfortable in and derive a certain amount of comfort from dormitory sleeping!
My view is that it's unreasonable to expect other passengers to sit in darkness just to accommodate them.
My view is that it is unreasonable for me to expect other passengers to sit in darkness just to accommodate me, but at the same time, it is also unreasonable for me to expect other passengers to be affected by my window shades left up / lights being left on.
It's all about being considerate towards other passengers where-ever and whenever possible. It is an enclosed space. It only takes one selfish person to adversely affect many others.
If everyone took a selfish view, it would be a miserable flight for everyone and no-one would be better off.
Almost everybody travelling in F will have been to public school and will therefore be jolly comfortable in and derive a certain amount of comfort from dormitory sleeping!
Mr D (ex Public Schoolboy) says that this prepares you for a stint at Her Majesty's Pleasure !!
But if there are privacy screens in CW surely something similar can be rigged for F (some sort of fan type arrangement maybe) - then it's not 'enclosed' as such but does make 'one' feel less exposed.
Of course this is conjecture as having never had the pleasure of travelling in F I am assuming there are no privacy screens, feel free to correct me (most people do !!!)
Fully enclosed suites/space, be it by door or curtain are not permitted on UK carriers by the CAA... I may be wrong, but that is what I understand to be it.
What about toilets?
And what would the definition of 'enclosed' be? A 1" gap, 2" gap at the top?
I don't wish to sound argumentative but I always find it amazing what airlines can get away with in the spirit of lack of expectation.
Another example, how hard would it be to make the foot stall in CW strong enough for it to be a buddy seat? Surely not much? And there's so much more.
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Some people have a need to the type of privacy that the Op refers to. They get private jets.
Everything can be bought at a price. Clearly, the price of an F ticket is insufficient for the type of privacy referred to here. The alternative here is buying up every single seat in F (so it is the price of 14 F tickets - suspect BA will offer a group discount)
Any airline remains a form of public transport (yes, even in F) and that involves mixing and being seen with other people.
One would argue that most BA CW window seats have a very high level of privacy; more than most F seats. These are the seats where there are the most complaints about being forgotten about during service.
Ask for an extra duvet and pull it over your head? Of course you would broil nicely
Actually I like the lack of privacy. When everyone else is asleep it gives me a chance to sneak round and draw things on their faces
Seriously though - 64A/K is a highly prized seat even though other seats have better placed windows. The only reason I can think of for this preference, and its one that is often stated, is privacy. So perhaps it has some value as Lee_Again suggests?
