If the cabin is darkened by the FAs that's a sign for you that the cabin is supposed to be darkened. Not that hard to figure out.
So on a recent evening flight, they dimmed the lights (~8pm ish, with a landing time of 9:30pm, so no adult would be finding it especially tough to be awake). I was reading quite happily by the light from the window (setting sun, but on the other side of the plane) and then the shade was lowered, meaning I had to turn on my overhead light, which was magnitudes brighter than the light from outside, and annoyed a few people in front / behind me (who hadn't been annoyed by the window shade light). In this instance, I am sure the crew dimmed the light in an attempt to get an easy service, not because of any sensible 'people will sleep for 45 mins' reason. BTW there was no IFE on this flight so the window shade being up wasn't stopping anyone watching TV.
LondonElite
Jun 27, 2016 9:57 am
Is it me, or does this debate just keep going around in circles?
I am sure the crew dimmed the light in an attempt to get an easy service, not because of any sensible 'people will sleep for 45 mins' reason.
Maybe it's just confirmation bias but I rarely see FAs enforce any other policy with as much zeal as the cabin dimout. The individualist in me yearns for the moment when it's up to each window-seated pax to decide what to do with their shade.
LondonElite
Jun 27, 2016 11:40 am
Some of us do! ;)
HMO
Jun 27, 2016 11:58 am
My wife is a windows person. I'm an aisle one.
She loves seeing the landscape, I prefer watch the IFE or use my iPad.
Sometimes a compromise isn't possible, because of the window position or sun position. Why should my desire to use electronics triumph over her desire to see the outside?
