Is the standard now for window shades to be closed on all flights at all times?
#46
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On the 787 you often have no choice. On an AA MAD-DFW flight on Thursday the shades were set to full dark shortly after takeoff and were reopened close to landing. You had no ability to lighten them yourself. I thought this was unnecessarily restrictive as I have always enjoyed looking out the window on long haul day flights.
Those planes are doubly irritating because (1) the windows don't go completely dark and if the sun is pointing at your window it can be very annoying, and (2) there is no way to open/lighten just a bottom portion of a window like you can with traditional shades.
Those planes are doubly irritating because (1) the windows don't go completely dark and if the sun is pointing at your window it can be very annoying, and (2) there is no way to open/lighten just a bottom portion of a window like you can with traditional shades.
#48
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 19
It’s imperative for shades up in the exit row for take-off & landing; or ‘in the unlikely event of an accident’ = safety 101.
Otherwise, READ THE ROOM! Opening the shade onto a dark cabin while others are resting is egocentric. Some flyers have been up since the early hours are changing time zones and have missed sleep. BE KIND and look around you before jacking up that window shade on a darkened resting cabin. You can also use your words, and confer with your seat mates.
Otherwise, READ THE ROOM! Opening the shade onto a dark cabin while others are resting is egocentric. Some flyers have been up since the early hours are changing time zones and have missed sleep. BE KIND and look around you before jacking up that window shade on a darkened resting cabin. You can also use your words, and confer with your seat mates.
#49
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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It’s imperative for shades up in the exit row for take-off & landing; or ‘in the unlikely event of an accident’ = safety 101.
Otherwise, READ THE ROOM! Opening the shade onto a dark cabin while others are resting is egocentric. Some flyers have been up since the early hours are changing time zones and have missed sleep. BE KIND and look around you before jacking up that window shade on a darkened resting cabin. You can also use your words, and confer with your seat mates.
Otherwise, READ THE ROOM! Opening the shade onto a dark cabin while others are resting is egocentric. Some flyers have been up since the early hours are changing time zones and have missed sleep. BE KIND and look around you before jacking up that window shade on a darkened resting cabin. You can also use your words, and confer with your seat mates.
However, semantics aside, I agree with the broader points in your note. I put my shades down a recent JAL flight (HND-JFK) when most of the sparsely populated J cabin started lowering them post-meal, although I really wanted to stare/photograph the seas!
#50
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta, BA, SW
Posts: 42
I almost always choose a window seat because I like looking out the window. I would be really upset if my window were electronically darkened unless it was totally cloudy outside. Pilots used to point out interesting features to see, like the Mississippi River. I guess too many people these days are just looking at their screens. They're missing alot.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2
I love flying with the shade up. But if it's a long haul flight and people want to get acclimated to the new time zone I feel too guilty leaving it up. Hate the trend of having to have the shades down. United flight attendants waste no time telling me to put my shade down. I think the flight attendants like it because everyone falls asleep, or acts like it's nighttime and leaves them alone.
On a day flight to Europe we were flying over gorgeous ice floes over Canada and Greenland. It was truly spectacular scenery. I was the only one looking out the window. Everyone else was watching movies or sleeping with their shades down.
On a day flight to Europe we were flying over gorgeous ice floes over Canada and Greenland. It was truly spectacular scenery. I was the only one looking out the window. Everyone else was watching movies or sleeping with their shades down.
#52
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Can't believe the aircraft makers haven't pitched a no-window version of their models for passenger use yet.
I'm sure it's cheaper to build without windows than with, and if there's one thing we know about big companies, it's how they worship money.
Stick a couple of cameras outside on each side of the plane and pipe in "a full color, HD, wide angle view" onto PTV screens or streaming onto pax devices. Those who really want to "look out the window" can do so with a selection of views, never with water spots or dirt obstructing the view, always with a much larger angle of sky and ground than you can ever get out of a tiny window.
Those who demand real windows can book exit rows for a premium.
Win-win for everyone.
I'm sure it's cheaper to build without windows than with, and if there's one thing we know about big companies, it's how they worship money.
Stick a couple of cameras outside on each side of the plane and pipe in "a full color, HD, wide angle view" onto PTV screens or streaming onto pax devices. Those who really want to "look out the window" can do so with a selection of views, never with water spots or dirt obstructing the view, always with a much larger angle of sky and ground than you can ever get out of a tiny window.
Those who demand real windows can book exit rows for a premium.
Win-win for everyone.
#53
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Posts: 1,455
Can't believe the aircraft makers haven't pitched a no-window version of their models for passenger use yet.
I'm sure it's cheaper to build without windows than with, and if there's one thing we know about big companies, it's how they worship money.
Stick a couple of cameras outside on each side of the plane and pipe in "a full color, HD, wide angle view" onto PTV screens or streaming onto pax devices. Those who really want to "look out the window" can do so with a selection of views, never with water spots or dirt obstructing the view, always with a much larger angle of sky and ground than you can ever get out of a tiny window.
Those who demand real windows can book exit rows for a premium.
Win-win for everyone.
I'm sure it's cheaper to build without windows than with, and if there's one thing we know about big companies, it's how they worship money.
Stick a couple of cameras outside on each side of the plane and pipe in "a full color, HD, wide angle view" onto PTV screens or streaming onto pax devices. Those who really want to "look out the window" can do so with a selection of views, never with water spots or dirt obstructing the view, always with a much larger angle of sky and ground than you can ever get out of a tiny window.
Those who demand real windows can book exit rows for a premium.
Win-win for everyone.
I actually am surprised no one has done this if it would be cheaper to have no windows.
As for the camera, I watch the air disasters series and the plane that crashed in the early 80's or late 70's shortly after taking off from O'Hare had a new feature of a bird eyes view camera out the front of the aircraft. Word is that camera was slowly phased out after the accident. I think I read that some still had it for a few years after but it eventually disappeared.
#54
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#55
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I actually am surprised no one has done this if it would be cheaper to have no windows.
As for the camera, I watch the air disasters series and the plane that crashed in the early 80's or late 70's shortly after taking off from O'Hare had a new feature of a bird eyes view camera out the front of the aircraft. Word is that camera was slowly phased out after the accident. I think I read that some still had it for a few years after but it eventually disappeared.
As for the camera, I watch the air disasters series and the plane that crashed in the early 80's or late 70's shortly after taking off from O'Hare had a new feature of a bird eyes view camera out the front of the aircraft. Word is that camera was slowly phased out after the accident. I think I read that some still had it for a few years after but it eventually disappeared.
#56
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I actually am surprised no one has done this if it would be cheaper to have no windows.
As for the camera, I watch the air disasters series and the plane that crashed in the early 80's or late 70's shortly after taking off from O'Hare had a new feature of a bird eyes view camera out the front of the aircraft. Word is that camera was slowly phased out after the accident. I think I read that some still had it for a few years after but it eventually disappeared.
As for the camera, I watch the air disasters series and the plane that crashed in the early 80's or late 70's shortly after taking off from O'Hare had a new feature of a bird eyes view camera out the front of the aircraft. Word is that camera was slowly phased out after the accident. I think I read that some still had it for a few years after but it eventually disappeared.
I don't recall any complaints from the passengers
#57
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SEA, MKE, PSP
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Posts: 396
Airplane window shades open or closed?
I’m currently on a flight (left 8:30pm so dark out). My seatmate will open the window, look to see what’s going on, then close it. Lol. Why not just leave it open? I personally hate the windows closed it’s like traveling in a tin can not knowing anything, plus I’m prone to motion sickness. I get that in bright sunlight and watching something you want it closed. But on a night flight why have it closed?
Do you prefer open or closed?
Do you prefer open or closed?
#58
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I can't stand windows open on day flights, but will always close at night because it will get light when people are still trying to sleep. Having a dark cabin on day flights plays havoc with jet lag avoidance.
#59
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#60
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I prefer them open all the time except at certain points on TPAC's.
But I'm an aisle seat guy so it's never really my call unless I'm in a F/J config where there is only one seat.
But I'm an aisle seat guy so it's never really my call unless I'm in a F/J config where there is only one seat.