Many have already commented on the thread and I agree with the OP and most of you. Just to add that I usually sit in a window seat in F and am constantly amazed by the number of people who want to sit in a dark tube - it freaks me out really. I'm often the only person with the shades up - even in the middle of the day! I have closed them when the sun is hitting another passenger in the face but would politely decline if someone said it's making their video/movie hard to see. Love the responses of others who say that looking out the window is like their support animal. Will put that in my back pocket!

Um... "inconvenience others"? What?

It's sad that you can't appreciate seeing our beautiful country from the air - one of the great benefits of flying - but that is of course your choice. Just don't see it as an "inconvenience" to your movie/phone/sleep/whatever if window seaters want to enjoy that view.

I'll add another incredible viewing experience to what others have said on the thread... if you depart BOS on RWY 9 heading south sitting on the left side - on the initial right turn, you'll see Provincetown and the entire cape. In a few minutes, Chatham, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard will come into view at the same time - so cool! I've sailed Chatham to Nantucket and it takes 4 hours, but to see it, plus MVY in the same view - wow!

So, yeah, I'll keep the shades up - sorry for the "inconvenience".

View from 17C right now on an AS 739. 17A and E shades are up and what appears to be an open shade at the bulkhead. That’s it.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e28aae564.jpeg

As a frequent BOS flyer...RW09 departure is great, but RW27 departure sitting on the right side (regardless of which way you're flying) is something else. Gets you an incredible view of downtown Boston during a left bank, then Cambridge, the Charles River, and the rest of the suburbs.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...59c4bc9db0.jpg
UA 477 BOS-SFO (B753 N75853), January 31, 2022

All this talk about the sun has me wondering....

What kinds of sunglasses do the pilots wear? Not having a shade must suck. That sun up there is insanely bright.

Non-polarized, as they interfere with viewing certain electronic displays.

Under most circumstances however, polarized is preferable, and personally I find the optic coatings available on Oakley lenses to be outstanding, not only for safe light attenuation, but actually resulting in clearer vision and enhanced color rendition.

One warning about "cheap" sunglasses. If proper UV protective coatings are not applied, regardless of claims they're present, you end up having your pupils open up wider as a result of the shade provided by the tint, and expose your eyes to the full amount of damaging ultraviolet that your pupils would normally guard against by closing down in bright sunlight.

Absolutely....I like the sunlight and reserve a window seat......

Thank you, everyone, for contributing to this thread. For everyone's benefit, I now provide the correct answer:

The passenger sitting in the window seat adjacent to the shade controls whether the shade is up or down and should not feel the least bit shy or guilty about making a decision to raise or lower the shade without consulting with a neighbor or any other passenger. If that passenger prefers to keep the shade lowered, they can lower it. If that passenger prefers to keep the shade raised, they can raise it.

That said, the passenger controlling the shade should also be conscious and considerate of others' desires. That doesn't mean that the passenger always has to do what others want them to do, but he or she should try to be conscious of factors like glare and bright lights during times that other passengers are sleeping or watching movies (although in my opinion watching a movie is the least important of these factors). Again, the passenger controlling the shade can rightfully make the call, but should try to be considerate when possible. Sometimes that will result in a compromise -- a shade partially lowered, although not lowered all the way -- but sometimes one of the passengers -- likely the one not controlling the shade -- will just have to deal with it.

You said exactly what I was about to post, except that I would have been less eloquent.

The same principle applies to seat reclining.

Now what is the etiquette when you mix the two? I am frequently adjacent to two window shades when I am reclining, but only one when I am not. :p

I am so interested in this thread because I have found myself in this situation a few times recently. I get motion sick and being able to look out the window helps keep my equilibrium in place and allows for me to keep from getting sick. Not to mention you feel claustrophobic crammed in a dark place (especially if you are in steerage). Plus I actually look out of the window a lot, even if it is just open ocean.
On a daytime TATL flight from Europe-US on AA the flight attendant asked me to shut my shade because children were trying to sleep. I responded that I would rather not as I get motion sick and I did not wish to sleep so I could adjust to the time change. He turned away from me in a huff. Another AA flight daytime as well this time from US-Europe the flight attendant was saying I would have to shut my shade because at some point it would disturb other passengers.
Interestingly enough on a recent Delta flight BRU-JFK I was the only passenger in J that kept the shade open the whole time and was never asked to close it.

People choose window seats for reasons; people choose aisle seats so they can get up and move around without having to ask someone to move. In choosing a window seat I give up the ability to move freely without asking the person/people next to me to move; in choosing an aisle you give up control of the window. If it matters to you, choose a window seat.

I never understand the flight attendants saying for the comfort of others; what about my comfort?

I absolutely hate when I don't have a window seat and the window seat person in my row closes the shade for the entire flight, including takeoff and landing. I try to book window seats when I can, and unless it's it a long haul flight where people want to sleep, I keep the damn window shade up, come hell or high water. Even on a long haul flight, I keep it open for the duration of the main meal and only close it after the meal is over.

I find the views from the air amazing and cannot fathom why anyone would want to deprive themselves of that experience.

Unfathomably rude.

This behavior... wow, just wow.

maybe it's regional/cultural? I flew LHR-BUD two weeks ago during the day. Most of the shades were up in Y and J. I was in 1A and watched Europe go by underneath me. My neck craning hurt when I landed but was worth it.

LHR BUD is a 2 hour flight... You are generally the most likely to see shades up on shorter, daytime flights. That said, I have been surprised in the US to see morning / midday 2 hour flights with mostly shades down this year.

On long haul flights, and in cabins with lie flat seats, the default is shades down, as many people will be taking advantage of the lie flat seats to lounge / sleep. That's just the reality as we enter 2023.

To those that prefer shades up - do you ask those sitting in window seats to lift the shades up when you are sitting in the aisle (no judgment, just curious)

Nope. If I'm not sitting at the window then I have relinquished all control/input/judgement over said window.