Window shades *MUST* be down?
Jul 3, 2014, 11:38 am
#46
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PDX USA
Programs: AS MVPG, AA, BA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG, Hertz 5*
Posts: 690
I'm a fairly frequent flier. Just commuting to work for the past 20 years (on my own dime I might add) I have had 1,560 take-offs and landings. Add in vacation travel and I've no doubt I am approaching 2,000 separate flights. To this day I ALWAYS choose a window seat. I am still in awe of air travel. I love looking out of the window no matter where in the world I am flying, even if it is SEA-ANC for the 520th time. I've seen it all and I want to see it again.
I will close the shade if instructed by an FA but other than that, sorry, I like the view.
I will close the shade if instructed by an FA but other than that, sorry, I like the view.
Though, I would ask the FA why I need to close the shade. If it's for someone else's comfort, I'll politely refuse and indicate I've considered their plight, but I didn't have any eye shades to offer them, so I would apologize for not being able to succumb to their needs.
That said, I am courteous. During morning or sunset flights when the sun is low and has a tendency to come straight into people's eyes, I'm always looking (especially during turns) to lower the shades to avoid the laser blast of sun directly into their eyes. During turns, I must be something comical to watch as I'll raise/lower the shade as necessary to follow the sun line...
Jul 3, 2014, 11:44 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
This. +1 ^
That said, I am courteous. During morning or sunset flights when the sun is low and has a tendency to come straight into people's eyes, I'm always looking (especially during turns) to lower the shades to avoid the laser blast of sun directly into their eyes. During turns, I must be something comical to watch as I'll raise/lower the shade as necessary to follow the sun line...
That said, I am courteous. During morning or sunset flights when the sun is low and has a tendency to come straight into people's eyes, I'm always looking (especially during turns) to lower the shades to avoid the laser blast of sun directly into their eyes. During turns, I must be something comical to watch as I'll raise/lower the shade as necessary to follow the sun line...
I have often been "blinded" by sun directly in my eyes. I use the in-flight GoGo card to block the light for the short time it is painful. Yes, I understand full well that my pain is not the concern of those wanting shades open. that is why I used to GoGo card.
Jul 3, 2014, 12:50 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,993
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Whoa...wrong thread. Mods, please delete.
Originally Posted by Chugach
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Before the UA merger I used CO as my backup, and it was great. I flew them enough to get Silver, which was usually enough to get upgraded on their SEA-ANC flights.
Now I use DL as my backup. Yeah yeah SkyPesos, bullying AS, all that stuff. At the end of the day, they have a decent schedule out of ANC and connecting in MSP is more direct than SEA if you're headed to the east coast.
I also have a 7H account for intra-Alaska stuff that I can't credit to AS.
Before the UA merger I used CO as my backup, and it was great. I flew them enough to get Silver, which was usually enough to get upgraded on their SEA-ANC flights.
Now I use DL as my backup. Yeah yeah SkyPesos, bullying AS, all that stuff. At the end of the day, they have a decent schedule out of ANC and connecting in MSP is more direct than SEA if you're headed to the east coast.
I also have a 7H account for intra-Alaska stuff that I can't credit to AS.
Jul 3, 2014, 1:00 pm
#49
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JNU
Programs: HH D, AS MM/MVPG for life/AL, Awesome Wipes VIP Club, NEXUS, Hertz 5-Star Gold
Posts: 2,893
I offer the following observations from an operational perspective (as I don't believe I have seen this particular twist yet addressed in the thread):
When I <gasp> sit in Coach, it's normally in the exit row, and normally in an aisle seat. There have been instances where my window-seat-based row-mate has lowered the window shade either prior to takeoff or on landing approach.
In these situations, the FA has instructed the window seat person to kindly raise the shade so the exit row pax can have a clear view of hazards in case an emergency evacuation is needed.
Intuitively, this makes sense to me as window shades could become unmovable in the event of a bad landing or crash. So, best to have them up to begin with.
Of course, there could be a school of thought that a bad landing or crash could cause the lowering of a window shade by virtue of impact force.
The truth is out there somewhere!
When I <gasp> sit in Coach, it's normally in the exit row, and normally in an aisle seat. There have been instances where my window-seat-based row-mate has lowered the window shade either prior to takeoff or on landing approach.
In these situations, the FA has instructed the window seat person to kindly raise the shade so the exit row pax can have a clear view of hazards in case an emergency evacuation is needed.
Intuitively, this makes sense to me as window shades could become unmovable in the event of a bad landing or crash. So, best to have them up to begin with.
Of course, there could be a school of thought that a bad landing or crash could cause the lowering of a window shade by virtue of impact force.
The truth is out there somewhere!
Jul 3, 2014, 2:18 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,957
I offer the following observations from an operational perspective (as I don't believe I have seen this particular twist yet addressed in the thread):
When I <gasp> sit in Coach, it's normally in the exit row, and normally in an aisle seat. There have been instances where my window-seat-based row-mate has lowered the window shade either prior to takeoff or on landing approach.
In these situations, the FA has instructed the window seat person to kindly raise the shade so the exit row pax can have a clear view of hazards in case an emergency evacuation is needed.
Intuitively, this makes sense to me as window shades could become unmovable in the event of a bad landing or crash. So, best to have them up to begin with.
Of course, there could be a school of thought that a bad landing or crash could cause the lowering of a window shade by virtue of impact force.
The truth is out there somewhere!
When I <gasp> sit in Coach, it's normally in the exit row, and normally in an aisle seat. There have been instances where my window-seat-based row-mate has lowered the window shade either prior to takeoff or on landing approach.
In these situations, the FA has instructed the window seat person to kindly raise the shade so the exit row pax can have a clear view of hazards in case an emergency evacuation is needed.
Intuitively, this makes sense to me as window shades could become unmovable in the event of a bad landing or crash. So, best to have them up to begin with.
Of course, there could be a school of thought that a bad landing or crash could cause the lowering of a window shade by virtue of impact force.
The truth is out there somewhere!
Jul 5, 2014, 7:49 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: DL
Posts: 248
You're not paying for the view, you're paying for transportation from Point A to Point B. Your seat assignment could change for operational reasons, and no airline has a Contract of Carriage that guarantees seat assignments.
If you complained to customer relations asking for a partial refund because you missed out on the view, you'd be told to go pound sand.
It's just common decency. @:-)
If you complained to customer relations asking for a partial refund because you missed out on the view, you'd be told to go pound sand.
It's just common decency. @:-)
Actually, if I complained to CR, I'd very likely get compensation.
As for common decency.... no. Common decency is to realize that some people sit by a window and actually want to use it and that it is their right just as it is your right to try to sleep or whatever. It's also common decency to realize that if you can't sleep in daylight, the burden is on you to bring what you need to do so if that's what you want to do because, well, it's daylight out. Don't like it? Go live in a cave.
Jul 7, 2014, 3:01 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
Spend 3 hrs on a SAAB flying ANC-DUT and just try to lower the window shades! Passengers also manage without reclining their seats. Come on people - get over it.
Windows are for looking out of. The world is a wonderful place.
Windows are for looking out of. The world is a wonderful place.