Note: The date and flight number aren't really important but for those who want all the details of my experience I'm adding everything.

Once on board Sunday's NW2632 GPT-MEM on a CRJ200 I'm in 2A and what appeared to be a sweet elderly lady plops down in 2B.

All is fine and we takeoff. Once we're above 10K feet, and in solid cloud cover, I prepare to settle in for my usual twenty minute nap on this short haul. I put my sunglasses on, flip my hood from my sweatshirt over my head and close my eyes before reaching up and pulling the window shade closed.

Seconds later the window shade flies open and the lady says, "I was looking at the clouds!" in a lecturing tone. Now keep in mind these weren't billowing, beautiful clouds, just a thick mass of bright nothingness out the window. After a couple seconds of sitting speechless, I told her the bright light hurt my eyes and I then returned the shade to a closed position. She immediately stands up, summons the FA and demands a seat change without mention of the window shade saga. The FA honors the request for a new seat and offers me beverage service a few minutes later as if nothing happened.

I've observed armrest disputes, seatback disputes and even airflow disputes in my two decades of air travel. I can understand the aisle passenger who wants to see out the window if there's land below or even a nice sunset/sunrise. Maybe even one who wants to see some nice shapely clouds. But this was a view of complete nothingness. I did not notice the other PAX looking out the window so I closed it without a thought. But to reach over another pax and open the shade, when it's obvious he/she was trying to nap, is something I've never witnessed or been a part of.

In the end I guess I should've been happy to get the extra seat but I sat through the rest of the flight just shaking my head to myself as to what just happened.

Given the number of FT members, I'm sure someone has observed a similar situation and I'm just curious how it played out...

Thanks for letting me vent. ;-)