Rant: Closing window shutters on EVERY long-haul flight
May 3, 2007, 12:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Orchard Field
Posts: 1,421
Rant: Closing window shutters on EVERY long-haul flight
Why do FAs do this? Is it to subdue PAX, just like turkeys in factory farms are kept in very dim lighting so as not to excite them?
It's very annoying when I'm not sleepy, and neither is anyone else in the cabin. A couple of days ago I was travelling ORD-LHR (dep 4pm local time, arr 6am local time) and the FA told me "We are closing the windows because it's daylight for the whole trip". No, it's not!
And I've noticed they do this on every airline I've travelled on flights to/from Asia and Europe, no matter which cabin I'm in.
It's very annoying when I'm not sleepy, and neither is anyone else in the cabin. A couple of days ago I was travelling ORD-LHR (dep 4pm local time, arr 6am local time) and the FA told me "We are closing the windows because it's daylight for the whole trip". No, it's not!
And I've noticed they do this on every airline I've travelled on flights to/from Asia and Europe, no matter which cabin I'm in.
May 3, 2007, 12:12 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Orchard Field
Posts: 1,421
May 3, 2007, 12:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
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I sat in window seat on AF flight IAH-CDG a couple of years ago, couldn't sleep, we were probably 1 hr from landing so I inched the shade up a bit and FA came by and slammed the shade shut.....
I like shade open too.... I tend to be a little claustrophobic when all shades are shut.
I like shade open too.... I tend to be a little claustrophobic when all shades are shut.
May 3, 2007, 12:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Seattle & Paris
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May 3, 2007, 12:37 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
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Same experience here. Was flying NW NRT-SEA late Oct, ETA 0645, sunrise 0645, was told to shut shade so not to "wake people up at sunrise". Hello! We're landing at sunrise and you idiots turn lights on ~80 minutes ahead to serve breakfast! (Must've been a FA who hadn't worked since Aug or been working NRT-LAX [sunrise way before arrival].)
May 3, 2007, 12:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,681
What can you say.
I like to control the shades and often keep them open. And at the same time it can be very annoying if light is shining in my eyes from someone else's open window shade.
I feel like a herded cow in an airliner anyway (even in F). So this just adds to the frustration.
I like to control the shades and often keep them open. And at the same time it can be very annoying if light is shining in my eyes from someone else's open window shade.
I feel like a herded cow in an airliner anyway (even in F). So this just adds to the frustration.
May 3, 2007, 12:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Platinum
Posts: 170
i would assume the brightness factor especially during early afternoon would cause distractions from whatever pax are doing including sleeping or watching the movie "loose change" 
May 3, 2007, 12:49 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
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Posts: 5,485
Opening the window shades helps with this. 
Seriously, though, light in the eyes when the sun is on the horizon can be annoying.
I sometimes try to sit on the side of the aircraft away from the sun so that this isn't a problem.
Seriously, though, light in the eyes when the sun is on the horizon can be annoying.I sometimes try to sit on the side of the aircraft away from the sun so that this isn't a problem.
May 3, 2007, 1:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
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Posts: 2,641
I agree.
To me it makes sense that if you want light, and others don't, you can have personal, directed light from the overheads, but if you don't and others do, it's pretty annoying to have the shades open.
Of course you could wear a mask, but I find them annoying and more of a burden when I want dark, than a reading light is when I want light.
May 3, 2007, 1:04 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
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May 3, 2007, 1:18 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The Jersey Shore
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Posts: 1,866
I agree.
To me it makes sense that if you want light, and others don't, you can have personal, directed light from the overheads, but if you don't and others do, it's pretty annoying to have the shades open.
Of course you could wear a mask, but I find them annoying and more of a burden when I want dark, than a reading light is when I want light.
To me it makes sense that if you want light, and others don't, you can have personal, directed light from the overheads, but if you don't and others do, it's pretty annoying to have the shades open.
Of course you could wear a mask, but I find them annoying and more of a burden when I want dark, than a reading light is when I want light.
Having said that, I do think it's common courtesy to lower the shade if it's hitting someone right on their face. Especially is that person is trying to sleep.
BUT... if light bothers a passenger so much, I think he/she should spend $20 on a decent mask. Knowing you're that that sensitive and not being proactive about it is a bit silly (nb: this is not direct to the previous poster, so no offense)