MADPhil

Or they can use a sleep mask and be in personal darkness without forcing their wishes on others. It's much harder to be in personal light unless the airlines start providing blackout curtained seats.

travelgeek1197

Dave Noble

Nobody needs darkness and nobody needs light on the flight

Those that want to ensure darkness can book one of the overnight flights
Those booking on a daytime flight, should have a reasonable expectation that it will be light during the day

CX may have crew trying to close shades, but if the request by cabin crew to close shades is refused, the crew will go away leaving the shade open

Science Goy

I think everyone should do what I want them to do, and I shouldn't be required to do what anyone else wants me to do.

/thread

arc727

Austin787

I suspect the FAs want the shades closed so the cabin would be dark which encourages more passengers to sleep. Then fewer people ask the FAs for things which means less work for the FAs.

FlyerTalker688786

For those support the windows to be kept open during transatlantic flight, I strongly suggest you to read the linked article.

Frequent flying seems glamorous, but it comes with serious health risks

Also some other information


Flying: What is the radiation level at a cruising altitude of 25000 ft?

Radiation Exposure of Air Carrier Crewmembers – FAA AC 120-52

Air travel exposes you to radiation – how much health risk comes with it?

I can cites more info if you needed. Some source are good and some are not very scientific. But the general consent is there whether you believe it or not.

it is your choice to keep the windows open if you sit next to the window. But it has health implications.

and Cabin Crew does not ask you to close windows so that they can do less job. It is about their health too.

ashill

There is absolutely nothing in that article that says anything about closing the windows or describes any health risks that stem from having the windows opened. The main health risk the article discusses is radiation. (That said, if you look at the statistics, you'll find that flying with the frequency of flight crew on a polar route is about 1/4 as bad for you as smoking: that's bad, but not going to kill you very quickly.) Closing the window shade does nothing to keep radiation out, which is presumably why the article doesn't include the word "window" or "shade". (Well, speaking as a physicist, I'll point out that visible and ultraviolet light are radiation too, but that's not what they mean.)

There is certainly an argument for doing everything possible to minimize jetlag. However, that doesn't argue for keeping the windows closed during the day; quite the contrary. For jetlag, the best thing you can do is do everything you can to set your body to destination time when you step on the plane. That means that if it's daytime at your destination, you should not be sleeping; you also shouldn't have the windowshade closed trying to convince your body that it's nighttime.

Therefore, the suggestion that leaving the window shades open has health risks to me seems to be uninformed fearmongering.

FlyerTalker688786

Sorry I was in the process editing my post when you replied.

It is your freedom to disregard your own health. But please do not quickly shoot the messenger. Many years ago it is fashionable to smoke on the plane and people quickly disregards the health risks for people surrounded by smokers.

keep the shutters down may not prevent the radiation. But it certainly stops most of the sunbeam into the cabin thus less risks.

There are more evidences I can find for you if you are interested. But if you decide to counter the health argument I would suggest you to calm down and look at this issue from other peoples point of view seriously.

ashill

I'm not shooting the messenger; I'm pointing out that the messenger has not actually provided any evidence supporting their claim about window shades. It is absolutely true that there is a negative health effect due to ionizing radiation. I have looked at all four of the articles you linked to; not one supports your assertion that closing the window shades reduces the ionizing radiation at all. And you also haven't pointed to any evidence that leaving the window shade open leads to any increased harm from UV radiation: there's essentially no direct sunlight in the cabin even with the window shades open because the sun is too high to shine directly in. There was some credible-looking evidence posted earlier about the impact of UVA radiation in the cockpit where they are exposed to direct sunlight through the window.

Spanish

You just can't argue with physics

I like window seats on the aeroplane. I read books during travels, and enjoy the natural light.

flying_geek

I see a new elite enhancement coming up. CKs get 100% override on 787, EXP 80%, Plat PRO 60%, Platinum 40% and Gold 20% - you can also buy a Window Control Upgrade for $120 per segment.

Let's turn those 787 into more of a money maker

ijgordon

Like those binoculars on top of the Empire State Building or wherever, insert 25 cents and you can look for 60 seconds. Hopefully it will take Apple Pay.

jordyn

Hahahahahahaha. You think the little window shades block out cosmic radiation? You will have to let the people who set up bomb shelters know that instead of digging those things underground they can just put some plastic window shades on the outside of buildings instead.

FlyerTalker688786

first please do not shoot the messenger

second, you can not compare apples and oranges. The radiation level are vastly different between the two you are trying to compare.

third, if you know any hard evidence that window shutters does not prevent sunbeam damage to human above 30000 feet and or the actual number of radiation level with windows shut or open, please kindly share here. If not I see no problem of shutting the window for health reasons.