Originally Posted by
Tod E Tosser
This part is ridiculous. On flights with entertainment the FA will usually request that people in window seats pull down the shade in order to cut down on glare. They'll sometimes make the same request on overnight flights so passengers can sleep through sunrise.
Outside of takeoff and landing I doubt shade use is policy. I think it's just the airline asking you to be courteous to fellow fliers.
Remember this was on an ERJ, so no IFE, it was a 10am departure, so no overnights. I think I was actually the only one sleeping, and it was not as restful as it could have been because I was having "Shade Wars" with the FA.
When I had the shade half drawn, she came by with her bev. service and requested I move it all the way down. I politely debated to her that half shade was more than sufficient "window" to determine if there was a hazard outside should the need arise for the use of the exit, and I politely reminded her that the galley service door was also an emergency exit and the porthole on it was much smaller than the window with half the shade drawn. She was polite as well and got my joke, but that's when she laid the "it's our policy and an FAA reg." (of course I already knew it wasn't an FAA thing).
I for one think it's a little stupid, but that's just me.
