Passenger etiquette - Window Shade
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA-EXP, MR-PP
Posts: 3,440
Passenger etiquette - Window Shade
I was on 11a SEA-CLT flight (8F) and I deliberately picked a window seat as I enjoy watching the scenery below. Some might know that on A321 there is a window that is pretty much right next to one's head when seat is reclined and clearly vast majority is in the 8F space.
Passenger 9F was very upset and kept on trying to shut the window shade claiming sun was in his face. So I waited over an hour making sure we had sun behind us so it would not shine in his face and clouds would clear where one would see the ground and opened the shade. 9F again claimed sun in his face and violently tried to shut the shade reaching way into my side of the seat to do so and using his knees to push my seat up.
Since I really don't like too much confrontation in confined space and despite him being much older (clearly in late 50's mid 60's) he got violent very quick so I gave up.
Just wonder about your thoughts about the situation.
Passenger 9F was very upset and kept on trying to shut the window shade claiming sun was in his face. So I waited over an hour making sure we had sun behind us so it would not shine in his face and clouds would clear where one would see the ground and opened the shade. 9F again claimed sun in his face and violently tried to shut the shade reaching way into my side of the seat to do so and using his knees to push my seat up.
Since I really don't like too much confrontation in confined space and despite him being much older (clearly in late 50's mid 60's) he got violent very quick so I gave up.
Just wonder about your thoughts about the situation.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,607
He obviously does like too much confrontation... The agents most likely will understand also that he does like too much confrontation and will appease passenger 9F to avoid an escalation of the situation. Enjoy watching the scenery on another flight. People such as passenger 9F are best avoided.
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
"We do not get involved in disputes between pax"
A few years ago in the winter I was on an AA flight from DFW to DCA. I was in the bulkhead window seat on the starboard side of the plane. It was pitch black dark when we left Dallas. The pax in the center seat told me to pull the shade down. I told her I enjoyed looking out the window at the lights of cities (when cloud cover permitted). In about fifteen minutes she reached her hand over and closed the window shade.
I called the FA and told her I wanted to keep the shade up. The pax said that she had a rare eye disease and that her eyes were so sensitive that even starlight was painful for her. I will swallow a little bull .... but this was a txrd.
I called the FA and told her I wanted to keep the shade up. The pax said that she had a rare eye disease and that her eyes were so sensitive that even starlight was painful for her. I will swallow a little bull .... but this was a txrd.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP>2m, Alaska MVP, Virgin Gold, Delta Gold, Starwood Gold, Cathay Pacific Silver
Posts: 599
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,947
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA-EXP, MR-PP
Posts: 3,440
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
How big of a deal is to leave the shade up esp. when shade is really not in your space but clearly in space of a passenger in front of you? If you have to reach so far in front that your hand is next to face of a passenger in front to pull the shade down it is clearly none of your business to pull it down.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PIT
Posts: 759
Reminds me of the old days of front cabin movie screens and people who didn't want to watch/or pay for the movies, so they lifted their shade up and washed out the picture. I actually remember one incident on a Hawaii flight where the culprit argued with the FA that they were unable to read with the overhead light because of an inner ear condition (I swear) and they required direct sunlight on the material. The FA moved him to the rear of the aircraft during the movie.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
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Posts: 7,256
#9
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
If someone asks nicely that's one thing, but if you're going to act like a jacka** I look at is as free entertainment to make their flight miserable.
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
Here is my personal philosophy:
1) aisle seat gets the flexibility bennie - up and down as much as they like
2) center seat - gets best space on BOTH armrests
3) window seat - gets control of the window shade.
But unfortunately, (and sadly) have to agree with view-with-a-room - arguing with such a jerk is dangerous.
1) aisle seat gets the flexibility bennie - up and down as much as they like
2) center seat - gets best space on BOTH armrests
3) window seat - gets control of the window shade.
But unfortunately, (and sadly) have to agree with view-with-a-room - arguing with such a jerk is dangerous.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Plat Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carl Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,002
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
#12
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,090
In about fifteen minutes she reached her hand over and closed the window shade.
I called the FA and told her I wanted to keep the shade up. The pax said that she had a rare eye disease and that her eyes were so sensitive that even starlight was painful for her. I will swallow a little bull .... but this was a txrd.
I called the FA and told her I wanted to keep the shade up. The pax said that she had a rare eye disease and that her eyes were so sensitive that even starlight was painful for her. I will swallow a little bull .... but this was a txrd.
If a person is really truly suffering from a rare eye disease, wouldn't they carry some form of night shades? The little eye masks cost about $2 and completely black out the light.
What's a txrd?
Last edited by StartinSanDiego; Oct 27, 2012 at 5:04 pm Reason: posted too soon
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SEA or BGR, Lower Earth Orbit
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I feel that you have control of the shade immediately next to you. If you're infront or behind the shade and not happy with it. Well, trade seats with someone.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
Sorry. I don't get it. If someone wants the shade down so badly that it's upsetting them, what difference does it make why they want it down? How big a deal is it to pull the shade down just for the sake of letting someone else enjoy the flight? I don't think it has anything to do with who is right and who is wrong. People are often kind to me and I try to be kind to other people. It just makes life easier.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I second StartinSanDiego's post.
No way would I reach across someone to close a window shade against his/her will, and no way would I let someone do that to me without consequences.
No way would I reach across someone to close a window shade against his/her will, and no way would I let someone do that to me without consequences.