We recently flew IB6831 MAD-SCL with Iberia which departs at 12:20 and lands at 21:50 and after the meal service the lights were out and blinds closed for the whole flight. Same thing happened on MAD-LIM last year.

Is this standard operating procedure or is it just the crew want an easier life? Why would anyone want to sleep if you are arriving into SCL at 10pm when you'll go straight to bed? I thought maybe it was for connecting passengers but as Iberia fly to very limited destinations going East surely most connecting passengers will be coming from Europe and hence won't have been awake for long? The majority of cabin were awake watching films or reading with lights throughout the flight.

We asked the crew and they said those travelling for business want to sleep. Wouldn't someone travelling for business want to get some work done on the plane and I would imagine having the lights on would be preferred?