I'm probably booking a flight from JFK-HKG (not sure which exact flight yet). I'm a window seat person and really enjoy looking out, at least during the day not over water. I've heard that on CX, the FA's usually request that you keep the shades down for the entire flight. Is that true? I understand the sun glare issue, but is there any room for compromise on such a long flight?

Thanks!

I just flew CX 831 yesterday. Most people, like myself, want to rest/sleep.

... for which eye shades are available.

If you have a window seat then it's up to you whether the shade is open or closed.

Half-way is a fair compromise.

This is a problem for me - I took the afternoon flight HKG-LHR last year (repeating it in three weeks), and after they served the meal, they dimmed the lights and asked for the shades to be lowered. I like to look out the window and watch Siberia go by, but when you've got the only open shade in the cabin, it's like a searchlight next to your face, even if it's not really blazing outside.

It's hard to see anything at all, really - your eyes get accustomed to the gloom inside.

Usually wen everyone is sleeping, i open the shade 1/6 open or open half snap a photo and close it again. But yea, i hate it when the FA's tell us to close it every time when i open it!

I don't hate it. Many times the glare does interfere with the screen resolution. Then again, I don't think I've encountered the situation where an FA has asked me to close my window shade as soon as I looked outside. Out of curiosity, how long did you have the shades up before a member of the cabin crew asked you to close them?
I agree with you. But I also agree with christep, there are always the eyeshades if sleep is an overriding concern. From what I've seen, though, many window pax don't stare out the windows most of the time; they just want the understandably nice use of natural daylight for reading or vegetating.

I personally haven't found it problematic to open the shades for a minute or so to admire the winter or mountain views outside. Then I close the shades just out of consideration.

Depending on the where the sun is and how high you are flying.
The open windows are like searchlights. Its super glaring becasue you are above cloud levels and its extremely bright. Not to mention its bad for your eyes being so bright.

Things to consider

1. LCD screen viewing of the people around you area is affected badly.
2. Perons next to you is reading a book or is not sleeping

When I feel bored and want to look out, I do so at the exit doors at the rear of the aircraft. Not all of them have windows but some of them do and you can enjoy the view as much as you like.

No one will say anything if you open the windows for a snap shot or to view outside. But if you want to keep the windows open, make sure its not super glaring, if not the Fas wont let you keep it open.

As they shouldn't. Selection of or assignment to a window seat does not with it confer the ownership of the window.

One of my favorite features of the A345 used for TG's now-discontinued JFK-BKK run was the lavatory window in J. The TG crew was also very insistent on shades-down in the cabin, and I was definitely not the only passenger who took strategically-timed rest room/sightseeing breaks.

I like to stick a plastic prism sheet on the window and watch the colored rainbows spin around the cabin.

Oh gosh, i would be in hysterics if anyone did that......would hate to be the person next to you or on the aisle seat next to you....

That's what the blanket is for...the window seat passenger to see outside without "disrupting" anybody.

I even use the blanket to make it dark enough to conduct a "latitude check" (see the stars) on eastbound overnight transpacific in my "A" seat.

wow that's a good strategy, how come I never never thought of that... I should try this next time.

I like the window as well just as OP has posted - so for me it means using the window after all that is what I paid for. And as someone mentioned eye shades for those not wanting the glare. Now having said that of course there is compromise so I can accept half closed though I do like to have dinner with the window open as the world passes by.