I have had similar experiences with Euro and other non-US carriers, especially on short haul flights. In fact, most carriers I have flown outside the US require shades to be up for takeoff and landing as a safety measure, and it has always struck me as odd it isn't required in the US.

It depends where you're sitting on the plane too. Especially if you're on/just behind the wing, the glare reflecting off the wing can be pretty strong. On a recent TATL I had the 'amusing' experience of going almost blind when just looking to my left. I think the whole row sighed relief when I (politely) asked the lady in the A-seat of my row to close her shade. She had been so occupied by her book that she had not once looked up or noticed the bright lights.

Don't understand why someone would ever need an FA to make such a basic request of a fellow passenger.

Maybe you shouldn't fly.

Often rather have the FA make a request instead of getting in an argument with a fellow passenger. Let's face it, in the scenario above the guy had to know that he was creating a problem. So depending on him for courtesy, or a courteous response to your request, is a tad to optimistic for me.

^^^

Maybe he just shouldn't fly long-haul red-eyes.

There are primarily-daytime alternatives on pretty much every route out there, even if there are some where the overnight flights are the main options.

If you've got a flight leaving at say, 10AM or noon, and you're complaining about the light and not being able to sleep, it's particularly disingenuous. Even with a 12-hour long-haul, that's going to be primarily waking hours for someone on the local clock.

I flew a 787 Trans-Pac last year. The only time I get a window seat is when I fly in a premium cabin (I am claustrophobic and anything but immediate aisle access is panic-inducing!) On this flight I happened to have 2 PE seats to myself, one aisle, one window. It was crystal clear weather, I watched some of the most fantastic scenery underneath us as we flew over Alaska and Far-Eastern Russia - absolutely breath taking, and I am so glad I had a window to look out of to see it. I am unlikely to ever see these parts of the world any other time, so I consider it an amazing opportunity to see some of the world I won't otherwise get to see. I quite happily watched the world go by for a long time. Quite why anyone would think that strange is beyond me - untouched wilderness, with beautiful snow drifts, snaking rivers, far more beautiful and entertaining than anything you can put on the IFE!

The FA dimmed the cabin (no shades on this 787, just tinted windows), but you can manually control the tint - I didn't 'open' it all the way, just enough to see out of, and the FA seemed fine with that. It was the middle of the day (based on our destination time) so being awake (even if others felt it was still the middle of the night departure time) is valid IMO - the sooner you get on to destination time, the less jet lag will bother you.

On other flights, e.g. Trans-Atlantic overnight, I have seen amazing arrays of stars, so clear, thousands upon thousands of them, absolutely breathtaking. I haven't been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights from a flight, but I imagine that would be spectacular.

One of my favourite views when flying is the approach over the UK coming in to Heathrow from N. America. Seeing the first cliffs of Cornwall, then the farmlands of the home counties, and, if you are really lucky, the approach up the Thames where you can see the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tower Bridge etc. It's home to me, and I love watching it.

When looking out the window, I think a lot of people get so concerned with looking at the ground that they forget to look straight out and above. I love clouds! i love to watch for other planes - flying along side, crossing paths, speeding by in the opposite direction. Or the numerouse stars you can see on a dark night. But nothing beast the full moon over moonlit clouds.

and the occasional werewolf sighting

As a serious suggestion - if you have issues with reading in a darkened cabin, I highly recommend investing in a Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Voyage. It will allow you to increase the font size larger than an ordinary printed book, and the screen backlight gets surprisingly bright at its highest setting. It will likely improve your reading experience both at home and while traveling, regardless of ambient lighting conditions.

Why do you think I like the full moon?

I love my Kindle Paperwhite. Compared to previous Kindles, the increased resolution is great since prefer reading with small type (the benefits of being young and a fast reader ). I'd imagine the Voyage is even nicer if you're willing to spend $200 on an e-reader.

Another vote for the kindle paperwhite - seriously life changing!

The Kobo H20 is pretty slick, too. Adjustable font and backlight, plus you can take it to (and in) the pool!

Looking out of the window while flying over a raging thunderstorm at night and viewing the constant flashes of lightning gives that a run for its money, in my opinion.

So I am choosing seats for a flight cross country east to west. I can choose a window seat on either side of the plane. There are more interesting things to see on the A side of the plane, but that is going to be the side the sun is shining in from. I can choose the F side to avoid the sun factor, but then I won't get to see those interesting parts.

So, do I give up watching what I want to watch so that the other passengers can get to watch what they want to watch? Does the fact that hey can watch those same shows and movies from home too, but I can't see the ground from my living room factor in?