PTravel

I was flying a UA transcon the other day (I'm being vague about airports and dates in case the pax who is the subject of this post is a FT reader), seated in paid-for F, bulkhead window seat. As a lifelong flying phobic, albeit a frequent flyer flying phobic (FFFP?), I _always_ take a window seat. Flying bothers me a lot less than it used to, but I deeply despise turbulence (or the prospect of turbulence), and looking out the window helps me orient myself. Also, for some strange reason, if I can see the ground turbulence doesn't bother me as much.

The seat next to me was occupied by a pleasant person, and we even had a nice chat before takeoff about electronics. Towards the end of the flight, about 1-1/2 hours before touchdown, the pilot announced that we're headed for some bumpiness and turned on the seat belt light. I had been listening to channel 9 and heard other pilots reporting everything from light chop to moderate, sustained turbulence. I, of course, consistent with FFFP good practice ordered another glass of wine and raised my window shade. At that point, I noticed that I'm the only person with a raised shade in the F compartment, so I lowered it half-way. It was still, however, rather bright.

My seatmate asked me if I would lower the shade. I told him I needed to be able to look out -- that's why I chose the window seat. He said, not rudely, that it created a glare on the IFE screen (the plane had those little LCD monitors that swing down from the bottom of the overhead bin). The light from the window was not directly on the screen, i.e. it wasn't as if the sun was shining directly on it, and I had no trouble seeing the entire image on the screen. However, I also could not tell if, from his angle, there was a significant amount of glare or not.


I lowered my shade even more, so that there was just a tiny crack that I could look out of. However, he was clearly unhappy that I wouldn't put the shade down completely. Once we landed, we both disembarked without the usual "nice to chat with you" remark.

I can't say that I think he was wrong for being ticked off, but I'm also not convinced that I was wrong, either. I tried for the best compromise that accomodated both of our needs, albeit imperfectly. My only option would have been to lower the shade completely and spent the last 90 minutes of the flight in pure terror (as it turned out, the turbulence was, for the most part, relatively mild).

I'm really not clear what the etiquette of the situation called for, and would like to hear the opinions of other FTers. Anyone who knows me knows that I believe in not imposing on other passengers, and not accepting imposition. I honestly can't figure out how this situation would resolve against this dynamic.

Was I wrong? Was the pax wrong? Were we both wrong?

53flyer

You can't see turbulence, so leave the shade down rather than disturbing your seat opponent.

dchristiva

Short of telling your fellow pax about your "phobia" or "anxiety", I think you did the right thing. I don't believe that you're under any obligation to lower the shade, as the FA announcements tend to be along the lines of "as a courtesy to your fellow passengers, please lower your windowshade during the movie..." You tried lowering it halfway, then almost all the way. In my book, you tried to accomodate your fellow pax more than enough, and the other pax should have been a bit more compassionate.

As far as not being able to see turbulence goes, I've always been told that observing the horizon or some fixed object is a good cure for motion sickness, so I think there's some grounds for saying that being able to see the ground alleviates your nervousness when the flight gets bumpy.

Again, I see your fellow passenger's POV, but you were in the right, too.

frequentfoulup

Your seat, your shade. You more than met him halfway and made every attempt to be accomodating.http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=shade

This link covers the shade question extensively.

PTravel

I appreciate the sentiment, but don't understand the logic. I can't see turbulence, but I can see the horizon and the ground -- by seeing both I remain oriented and less terrified.

It's okay if your position is that my fear shouldn't inconvenience the person seated next to me. However, whether or not I can "see turbulence" is irrelevant.

olympicnut

I think you did the right thing, you made a compromise and closed it way more than 1/2 way. I cant imagine if your window was open just a crack that it was making THAT big a deal. A little maybe but if it truly was only open a little bit and nobody elses was, maybe there was some glare from someones light, or the coach cabin?

I always take a window because I enjoy looking OUT of the window at the geography below, something very few people do these days, but I do only keep it open less than half way.

John Galt

If someone told me "I like to see the ground", then I might be a little miffed...but if someone told me "I have a problem with flying," then that trumps my desire for a glare-free screen.

The two sound similar but can be distinguished from the fact that the former is a statement of personal preference (and I like being able to fart whenever I feel like it!) while the latter is a reasonable request for accomodation of a medical problem. I guess it's like seeing someone parked in a handicapped space with and without the sticker.

Of course, if someone told me "I tend to get motion sick when I can't see the horizon", then I'd be willing to open every shade on the plane!!!!!

flymrpuffy

I agree 100% with those who suggest you mention your propensity for motion sickness. It's well known among pilots that some individuals are calmed by by looking towards the horizon rather than staring at static instrument panel in front of them.

Additionally, many pilots get airsick unless they are actually the pilot in command, so different strokes, eh?! Your case is seems a little different - but whatever works.

Without knowing the whole story behind your phobia, your seatmate doesn't have the opportunity to be compassionate as he most likely would mistake your actions as being based in either indifference or just plain selfish behavior.

graraps

Then you won't have to worry about such trivial things (no shades on FR planes I'm afraid).

amartin1979

If I prefer not to watch the IFE B-move or TV-short clips garbage, then I can leave the shade open... not everyone is a TV addict, some of us enjoy the view out the window (or at least some natural light)

stinky123

It's untrue that you can't see turbulence. It often looks like a towering cumulus cloud or the outflow boundary of a low-pressure system, both of which you surely CAN see while flying over or through. I like to keep my window shade up in these kinds of conditions to know when the bumps will be over!

alanh

It sounds like the 787 will have electronically-tinted windows. I'm assuming the FAs will have a master control that lets them darken or lighten all of the windows.

JS

Why was the window shade closed in the first place? Just leave it up all the time (unless sunlight is coming in directly, which is pretty rare). That seems to work better than lowering it and then "surprising" someone else when you open it later.

The right answer is, "I want to look out the window" followed by "the screen looks fine to me".

Next time, don't cave so easily.

I wouldn't say the other passenger was in the wrong; after all, maybe he didn't think you cared if the window shade was up or down. Nothing wrong with asking, and like seat swappers, nothing wrong with politely refusing.

thagale

Actually, it really can. I'm not saying you should have closed your window, it's your window to do with as you please. But the way the glare works, even a tiny sliver of very bright light can totally destroy the ability to see anything on those "shiny-front" screens you most often find on planes.

PTravel

Actually, I did have it open. At one point, I fell asleep and, when I woke up, it was down. Either my seatmate or the FA must have lowered it.

I think you're right and you've hit the nail on the head: it's fine to ask, but it's fine to refuse.