I was hoping you would clarify a recent experience I had in F on a BA flight from MIA-LHR.

When I got onto the plane, all the F window shades were down for every seat in the F cabin. I assumed this was to create a calming atmosphere and possible for privacy since the MIA terminal buildings are close to where you sit in first with the angled position of the plane.

The crew were lovely and brought out champagne and we pushed back, and were about to take off still with all the blinds down in the F cabin. I decided I liked to see the action on take off, and put my blind up as did the gentleman in 1A.

I do alot of my flying on Qantas, and they tend to be quite rigid about window blinds being up for take off and landing, in the event of an incident so that passengers can see if there is smoke/ fire outside.

I was therefore curious about a 747 taking off with all the blinds down in the F cabin. Is this normal for BA planes to take off with all cabin blinds down?

Or are Qantas being a big rigid insisting that blinds are up for take off and landing, and it it is really fine for planes to take off with passenger window shades down?