Does only the seat 1A window shade need to be up for taxiing and takeoff?
Aug 6, 2023, 4:15 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,094
Does only the seat 1A window shade need to be up for taxiing and takeoff?
I’m confused: with window shades in planes so often closed in the summer when the plane is parked at a gate, when the plane starts to taxi before takeoff:
1. Does only the window shade for seat 1A need to be open;
2. Do more window shades need to be open; or
3. Can window shades stay closed?
And who sets this policy: AA or the FAA or some other regulator?
I was recently yelled at by an FA for not having my seat 1A window shade open (since the captain had just told us to close them to keep the cabin cool). Nobody else was told to open the window shade.
But on subsequent trips, window shades remained closed and the FAs did nothing.
So I’m confused. Thanks.
1. Does only the window shade for seat 1A need to be open;
2. Do more window shades need to be open; or
3. Can window shades stay closed?
And who sets this policy: AA or the FAA or some other regulator?
I was recently yelled at by an FA for not having my seat 1A window shade open (since the captain had just told us to close them to keep the cabin cool). Nobody else was told to open the window shade.
But on subsequent trips, window shades remained closed and the FAs did nothing.
So I’m confused. Thanks.
Aug 6, 2023, 4:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 656
I’m confused: with window shades in planes so often closed in the summer when the plane is parked at a gate, when the plane starts to taxi before takeoff:
1. Does only the window shade for seat 1A need to be open;
2. Do more window shades need to be open; or
3. Can window shades stay closed?
And who sets this policy: AA or the FAA or some other regulator?
I was recently yelled at by an FA for not having my seat 1A window shade open (since the captain had just told us to close them to keep the cabin cool). Nobody else was told to open the window shade.
But on subsequent trips, window shades remained closed and the FAs did nothing.
So I’m confused. Thanks.
1. Does only the window shade for seat 1A need to be open;
2. Do more window shades need to be open; or
3. Can window shades stay closed?
And who sets this policy: AA or the FAA or some other regulator?
I was recently yelled at by an FA for not having my seat 1A window shade open (since the captain had just told us to close them to keep the cabin cool). Nobody else was told to open the window shade.
But on subsequent trips, window shades remained closed and the FAs did nothing.
So I’m confused. Thanks.
Aug 6, 2023, 5:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
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Posts: 7,489
I’ve been on flights where the FAs wanted window shades up in row 1- said in case of evacuation sometimes it’s easier to assess the outside situation before opening the doors from the row 1 windows vs the tiny porthole windows in 1L and 1R.
Aug 6, 2023, 8:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
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A number of regional jets -- definitely all CR7 and CR9s -- need 1A open as the "lookout" window. I should know whether E70/75 is also on the list because 1A is my go to on that aircraft, but all my E75 routes were upgauged to A319s over the past couple years so I just don't remember...
Aug 6, 2023, 8:06 pm
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
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Posts: 10,725
I don't mind the windows being closed on the ground to keep the cabin cool, but it drives me crazy when the flight begins and most at the window seats don't open them...just makes the cabin feel too dark and claustrophobic....for some reason I noticed this most often on AA rather than AS flights. There is a lively discussion about window shades over in the AS forum...
Aug 7, 2023, 6:58 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Aug 7, 2023, 8:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AA EXP & Life Plat; AA 4MM; TWA Life Plat; HH Diamond
Posts: 1,109
It's an airline policy to not require all window shades to be open. After the L1011 abortive takeoff at JFK in 1992 resulting in a hull loss, TWA changed it's policy to require all window shades to be up during the takeoff and landing periods to assist in an evacuation should one become necessary.
Aug 7, 2023, 9:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 245
It's an airline policy to not require all window shades to be open. After the L1011 abortive takeoff at JFK in 1992 resulting in a hull loss, TWA changed it's policy to require all window shades to be up during the takeoff and landing periods to assist in an evacuation should one become necessary.