What was it that was so weird about my VirginAir flight last Tuesday? The mood lighting? The cool video screens (which weren't working so we got vouchers for a free drink on our next flight)? The very comfortable seats that put any Y seat I've sat in on UA to shame?

Nope.

It was the windows. They were beyond spotless. It was as if you were looking through polished diamond (which is maybe a bad analogy; could be that would distort terribly, but it sounds good!).

What a difference.

Of course, this feature came along with another; NPS (New Plane Smell). This was a brand-new A320, and I'm sure that's the reason for the clean windows. After a while, Virgin will probably let those windows go to seed, just like everyone else.

Or does everyone else? I don't fly much other than UA anymore. Are UA windows typical of the rest of the world's airlines?

Thanks-

I find the 733s are better than the rest of the fleet. I have yet to come across a real crummy window though.

I've seen plenty of boogers and hair grease on UA windows.

... and scratched so badly that you can't see anything.

... and dead bugs galore

... and disgusting human nose grease skidmarks

Sounds like the IFE screens (except for the bug part).

A clean window is nearing essential for me these days.

Admittedly, I've seen a few crumby ones (mainly on a certain Irish LCC).

Its when there's an ice splodge or crystals has formed, and I have my camera out and realise that the perfect pictures i've just taken have this nasty thing in the middle of them

I haven't had a really clean window on a UA flight for the last couple of years. It's a bummer when you want to take a pic out the window but the camera keeps focusing on the smear....

Tim

Two words: Manual Foucs

Its got to a point where I keep a spare lenscloth and give the window a quick polish before taking a pic sometimes....

Which works fine if the smudge is on your side of the glass. Unfortunately, the part you can clean is only 1/4 of what might be obscuring the view.

I actually noticed a very nice window on a 752 last week. I especially appreciated it when we flew over the Grand Canyon.

Noticing how clean (and clear) it was got me looking around the cabin to see if the plane had just been majorly serviced. Bad idea! Pretty much all the stuff described above was smeared on all the hard surfaces as well as the back of the seats in front of me.

Since this is not specific to United or Mileage Plus, please follow it in Travel Buzz. Thanks.

l'etoile
UA moderator

I take a lot of pictures out of the window while in flight.

Some people place Windex in a device designed to look like a normally sized highlighter pen. It is actually a spray bottle and fools the TSA 100% of the time. I of course would never dream of making the american security apparatus look like complete buffoons. Anyway, the same people that do this also keep some Brawny kitchen towels handy.

Personally, I choose seat 6A on UA's B-757's whenever I am able to fly in a First class seat domestically (If I am on an international flight and plan to take pictures, I also choose the "A" seat directly in front of the entry door). This gives me the opportunity to clean the window(s) from the jetway prior to boarding the aircraft. I have yet to encounter a problem cleaning the window for row 6 on a 757 when boarding from a U.S. jetway. However, the 777's can sometimes be a challenge depending on the entry door being used to board.

That's a really good idea, PhlyingRPh!^ Never thought of that!

That is hilarious. UA has PAX doing spring cleaning on their planes. Too funny.

Indeed. I also fluff pillows, shake the dust out of blankets and clean tray tables with antiseptic wipes too. All I need now is a vacuum cleaner and I'll be able to take care of the pretzel crumbs and shrivelled up pieces of fruit that have been stuck between the carpet and the wall since the planes last D check.