This is a new one for me and the thread is not meant to be a blinds open/closed debate but every probability it may descend in to that .

On my flight to PEK on 1st August (dep: 04:05hrs) A380 J Class, shortly after take-off, the cabin crew closed the window blinds from their central control panel.

Understandably, given the departure time and there would have been quite a few connections, the majority of pax would want to sleep and given we were flying eastwards into daylight, the darkened cabin would be more conducive for rest.

I, myself had a rare sound sleep and was woken (as requested) for breakfast before arrival. Unfortunately, this was two hours before we arrived. As the cabin was fully illuminated by the interior lights at this time, I attempted to open the window blinds to have a look at the landscape below but they were still in the locked and closed position. It was only around the 40 minutes to arrival announcement by the captain that the window blinds were then opened.

I've done this flight a few times now and if memory serves correct, this is the first time I have experienced the crew controlling the window blinds for nearly the full duration of the flight. I had tried to close mine again due to the glare on the tv screen but couldn't.

Is this a usual occurrence on EK? For me, it was my first time experiencing this.

Safe & Happy Travels

S

Haven't had that experience, however, it would freak me out not being able to see out at all, even by cracking the blinds a little from time to time (claustrophobic). It would be enough to make me not use EK - I wonder if F cabin's blinds were locked? Surely not

I don't think this is a usual occurrence, although hopefully some of the more experienced EK travellers will contribute to confirm. This is the first time it has happened to me in the past year of flying EK.

Safe & Happy Travels

S

Good thing Aceboy wasn't on this flight.

I shouldn't really giggle, but I did.......

S

On the blinds topic.

I was a recent flight to Singapore (A380) and the blinds in J Class were manual plastic blinds just like in Y class.

I felt cheated, honest i did

Happened on the way to Perth in F, two of us in the cabin and all the blinds down, went to the J bar, blinds open all the way through the J cabin.

That gets me worried about my upcoming flight to AKL.....

If its the day flight(s) they might not close them.

My flight to Perth left at 03:00.

Could always ask the crew to unlock - sometimes they forget...

My thoughts exactly...

This wasn't meant as a moan and didn't bother me, only an observation of something I had never encountered before. Was interested to see if this was a regular thing on EK.

Safe & Happy Travels

S

(1000th Post )

Congrats on your 1000th!

It's relatively uncommon but not unknown - I find they are more strict with keeping it locked in J rather than in F where it's a matter of leaving them down during night flights but unlockable if someone asks.

I was on a flight a few months back where I wished the Y economy blinds were locked! :-)

"night-time" flight in source time-zone with full daylight outside, cabin lights off and all blinds closed. Some lovely small child was enjoying a continuous series of opening and closing the blinds, not only sending the entire cabin from daylight to darkness repeatedly.. but a super bright glare right into my eyes as I was on the opposite side of the cabin.

Fortunately I'm not a bitter old soul, and they only did it for a minute or two.. so was vaguely amused and carried on with my life.. until they repeated it a few hours later anyway ha ha.

I would normally say "too bad". All passengers won't be on the same time zone, and if you're at the window then do as you please with the blind. Eyeshades are available for those that want them.

In this case however, a kid just playing should be put right.