Window Shade Etiquette
Apr 21, 2015, 1:53 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2010
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For the same reason as you wanted darkness, they maybe wanted light, to get their wake/sleep cycle where they wanted it. If that were the case (and neither of us know) you were the one being discourteous by making the self centred request, which immediately brings a certain amount of pressure on the recipient.
You wanted to sleep during the "day" so should have facilitated that yourself, be it with good quality eyeshades, earphones or whatever.
Describing the other parties as you have is poor form.
Apr 21, 2015, 1:56 pm
#32
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Apr 21, 2015, 4:51 pm
#33
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I think it is rude to presume that claustrophobia can just be dismissed, and that there is "nothing to see out there."
I select window seats because being able to see out makes a huge difference in my comfort/anxiety level when flying. I am not an inconsiderate oaf, however. If I notice that a pax near me is trying to use their laptop or IFE and glare is an issue, I'll do 1/2 shade, position myself to try and block as much light as possible, etc.
And on eastbound TATLs, especially in summer, I get that sunrise is much too early and just take a pill, close the blind, and try and chill/sleep. But that isn't practical on short flights - medications often have an 8 hour impact and suggest not driving, which is not an option if I have a 2hr hop to DEN and am getting a rental car.
So in the vein of "courtesy and consideration to others" I hope those of you who expect shade-down compliance will be mindful that flying in a small metal tube with no view out can be very uncomfortable/anxiety inducing for some pax.
I select window seats because being able to see out makes a huge difference in my comfort/anxiety level when flying. I am not an inconsiderate oaf, however. If I notice that a pax near me is trying to use their laptop or IFE and glare is an issue, I'll do 1/2 shade, position myself to try and block as much light as possible, etc.
And on eastbound TATLs, especially in summer, I get that sunrise is much too early and just take a pill, close the blind, and try and chill/sleep. But that isn't practical on short flights - medications often have an 8 hour impact and suggest not driving, which is not an option if I have a 2hr hop to DEN and am getting a rental car.
So in the vein of "courtesy and consideration to others" I hope those of you who expect shade-down compliance will be mindful that flying in a small metal tube with no view out can be very uncomfortable/anxiety inducing for some pax.
Also, wouldn't an aisle seat where you can get up, move about, look out the window by the galley, etc. be preferable?
Apr 22, 2015, 4:49 am
#35
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What you described does not end up with the other pax being deemed discourteous, only in your mind.
For the same reason as you wanted darkness, they maybe wanted light, to get their wake/sleep cycle where they wanted it. If that were the case (and neither of us know) you were the one being discourteous by making the self centred request, which immediately brings a certain amount of pressure on the recipient.
You wanted to sleep during the "day" so should have facilitated that yourself, be it with good quality eyeshades, earphones or whatever.
Describing the other parties as you have is poor form.
For the same reason as you wanted darkness, they maybe wanted light, to get their wake/sleep cycle where they wanted it. If that were the case (and neither of us know) you were the one being discourteous by making the self centred request, which immediately brings a certain amount of pressure on the recipient.
You wanted to sleep during the "day" so should have facilitated that yourself, be it with good quality eyeshades, earphones or whatever.
Describing the other parties as you have is poor form.
Apr 22, 2015, 6:13 am
#36
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If you have used eye shades before then you know that they do not block all light, especially if there is a window open with the sun beaming right on your face. And I've had sun beaming over from the other side of the plane and from in front and behind as well-- so being in the window seat doesn't help. Light has a way of getting everywhere
Window shades and seat reclining seem to be areas fall into two camps. There's the "screw you, got mine" camp who believe that everyone else must comply with exactly how they want it. And the "we're all in this together" camp that understands that you aren't going to have everything perfect in a cramped, crowded environment like a plane and you've just gotta accept that and put up with it.
Apr 22, 2015, 1:15 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
That's fair enough. So you won't mind when I'm in the aisle seat if I don't rise or raise my tray when you need to use the lav. Maybe I have a bad back and you certainly would be "discourteous by making the self-centred request." You should have "facilitated that yourself" be it with rubber pants, Depends or "whatever."
For my part, I always go for an aisle seat and a little bit light doesn't keep me awake anyway.
Apr 22, 2015, 1:36 pm
#38
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I take the window seat, as I like to lean against the wall to sleep. OTOH, if the turbulence is bad enough to wake me up, it's bad enough to be very helpful to be able to raise the shade enough to see that yeah, everything is actually OK out there.
Apr 22, 2015, 2:19 pm
#39
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Don't think I've participated in the myriad of window shade threads, but as always, consideration, courtesy and communication will solve almost all problems. Bottom line, though, there has to be a decider, and the person who is in the window seat gets to make the ultimate decision.
More problematic question to me -- on some aircraft (727? not sure, but I've only seen it on domestics) -- on some aircraft, there will often be a window that is roughly adjacent to a seatback, such that the pax in both 21A and 22A would be able to manipulate the shade. In those cases, who gets decision-making control?
I've actually had situations where I put such a shade down, and the passenger in front of me says he wants it up.
More problematic question to me -- on some aircraft (727? not sure, but I've only seen it on domestics) -- on some aircraft, there will often be a window that is roughly adjacent to a seatback, such that the pax in both 21A and 22A would be able to manipulate the shade. In those cases, who gets decision-making control?
I've actually had situations where I put such a shade down, and the passenger in front of me says he wants it up.
Apr 22, 2015, 3:25 pm
#40
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Are you absolutely sure that if you piss me off sufficiently that you won't end up sitting in yours?
People who insist on keeping the blind open when the cabin crew politely ask for it to be lowered should keep in mind what they might need from their seat mates as the flight progresses.
Apr 22, 2015, 3:25 pm
#41
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[With all shades in the down position, the "sardine can" is even more confining.]
Apr 22, 2015, 6:33 pm
#42
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It appears he was doing it for his own selfish reasons so deserves the refusal.
Would you still side with him in taking your imaginary retribution?
Apr 22, 2015, 6:57 pm
#43
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Speaking of long haul flights, the concept applied should be "what does the majority want". On eastbound TATL, most people want to sleep. The actions of 1 (or a few) should not be detrimental to the rest of the cabin.
Apr 22, 2015, 7:17 pm
#44
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I have even had the FA walk around with a dinner tray closing windows after the window seat person left the window open on red-eyes. Even though it is night when we take off, eventually the sun will rise.
Apr 23, 2015, 4:11 am
#45
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But the people who press their noses against the window to stare slack-jawed at the clouds and ignore a request from the cabin crew to close the blinds should consider their position and the potential repercussions.
Dismiss my position as "imaginary" at the risk of your dry pants as you wish.