Few people look out the plane's window anymore (Why?)
Aug 9, 23, 2:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 114
Few people look out the plane's window anymore (Why?)
Just got off a plane that flew into Asheville NC. The weather was clear, with excellent visibility, and incredible views of the Great Smoky Mountains in mid-summer with full greenery. But hardly anyone was looking out the window in the last 10 minutes of the flight.
Yes, I know some of the travelers may have taken the flight many times before and already seen the view, but that specific day views were extraordinary. It was so clear and beautiful. It was so green. It looked like a little piece of heaven.
I have noticed that fewer and fewer people are looking out the window of the plane in recent years. Their window shades are closed for the full flight. Why?
Yes, I know some of the travelers may have taken the flight many times before and already seen the view, but that specific day views were extraordinary. It was so clear and beautiful. It was so green. It looked like a little piece of heaven.
I have noticed that fewer and fewer people are looking out the window of the plane in recent years. Their window shades are closed for the full flight. Why?
Aug 9, 23, 5:24 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.5MM; AS MVPG 75K
Posts: 20,835
that said, I will continue to do my part to encourage people to appreciate the views out the window
Aug 9, 23, 5:53 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,060
Just got off a plane that flew into Asheville NC. The weather was clear, with excellent visibility, and incredible views of the Great Smoky Mountains in mid-summer with full greenery. But hardly anyone was looking out the window in the last 10 minutes of the flight.
Yes, I know some of the travelers may have taken the flight many times before and already seen the view, but that specific day views were extraordinary. It was so clear and beautiful. It was so green. It looked like a little piece of heaven.
I have noticed that fewer and fewer people are looking out the window of the plane in recent years. Their window shades are closed for the full flight. Why?
Yes, I know some of the travelers may have taken the flight many times before and already seen the view, but that specific day views were extraordinary. It was so clear and beautiful. It was so green. It looked like a little piece of heaven.
I have noticed that fewer and fewer people are looking out the window of the plane in recent years. Their window shades are closed for the full flight. Why?
David
Aug 9, 23, 10:21 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Toronto
Posts: 26
I still look out the window periodically, and my kid likes it. I think screen time is the biggest part, but also the accessibility of flying. Its less of a novelty than it was twenty or thirty years ago (or even further back).
Aug 10, 23, 1:40 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BOS & SFO
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 625
Coming up on 100 consecutive window seat segments by end of month, and can agree on that last point -- sitting through a BOS-SFO on a 737 the other day that was functionally 9 hours on the plane due to delays next to two people asleep the whole flight was...not great.
Aug 10, 23, 5:35 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,447
It's really sad to see these people who are so addicted to their screens that they can't be bothered to look out the window. Not that long ago, people would spend weeks or months looking forward to a flight, doing what countless generations of humans before could only dream of doing. These screen addicts also go out to eat and stare at their phones at the table instead of talking to each other. Really sad. 
Aug 10, 23, 8:25 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: POZ / LON
Programs: TP *S | LH M&M | KQ ST Elite | BAEC Blue
Posts: 90
Looking out of an airplane's window is one of the most enjoyable things I can imagine.
Looking at the world below from 37000ft going in "slow motion" is one on the very few activities that completely makes me forget of all stresses and dramas of modern life.
Who wants to stare at their phone screen when you are descending towards INN so close to the mountains that you can even see some people skiing down the slopes? Or flying over the Aegean sea and seeing all those Greek islands scattered around, or Croatia's shoreline followed by the Swiss Alps on a 3 hour long flight?
Looking at the world below from 37000ft going in "slow motion" is one on the very few activities that completely makes me forget of all stresses and dramas of modern life.
Who wants to stare at their phone screen when you are descending towards INN so close to the mountains that you can even see some people skiing down the slopes? Or flying over the Aegean sea and seeing all those Greek islands scattered around, or Croatia's shoreline followed by the Swiss Alps on a 3 hour long flight?
Aug 10, 23, 8:44 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 92
I do love looking out of the window, as long as there's something to see. Flew over the Pakistan/China border recently and had a great view over the mountains, including what I think was K2.
Having said that, on some longer flights the excitement of repetitively scrolling scenery or cloud cover does tend to dull after a while. I used to fly between Japan and Europe, and my need to see Siberian tundra from above has pretty much been fulfilled for this life.
Having said that, on some longer flights the excitement of repetitively scrolling scenery or cloud cover does tend to dull after a while. I used to fly between Japan and Europe, and my need to see Siberian tundra from above has pretty much been fulfilled for this life.
Aug 10, 23, 8:46 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 341
It's really sad to see these people who are so addicted to their screens that they can't be bothered to look out the window. Not that long ago, people would spend weeks or months looking forward to a flight, doing what countless generations of humans before could only dream of doing. These screen addicts also go out to eat and stare at their phones at the table instead of talking to each other. Really sad.
I love looking out the window and regularly see others enjoying the views from up high on nice weather flights. My Instagram feed is often full of photos from the window seats of friends and acquaintances.
Aug 10, 23, 8:59 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 828
As others have stated it's because people are engrossed in their screens. It's also this trend that you can have experiences through your phone screen, you don't need the real thing. Like looking out at the NYC skyline. That's the real threat to society (Omin now off).
