Originally Posted by
Tchiowa
The only problem I've seen with airlines not wanting you to look out the window is if it's light outside and people want to sleep in the plane. Open your shade and you might as well flash a spotlight around the cabin.
Originally Posted by
Cloudship
Well, that does tend to be a large percentage of the time one would be able to look out the window on a long distance trans-oceanic flight. I wish they would offer a window and cave option in first class.
Typically it would be in the morning on an eastbound trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flight where people are sleeping. During those times it is considered rude to open one's shade.
On the other hand, I've often flown westbound between Europe and the States or the States and Asia where the flights usually depart midday and on those flights most people are awake anyway. If they want their window shades down, it's usually so they can see their laptop or seatback screens better. I'm a lot more likely to leave my window shade up during those times. After all, the windows are there so you can look outside and what better and less obtrusive time to do so than the middle of the day when most people are awake?