You are right. Regulations require shades to be up during take off and landing: if there is a mishap, any emergency responders outside should not have their view blocked. Similarly, it is normal courtesy to have them down if a movie is being shown. At all other times, it the discretion of the passenger seated at the window.

United should give you some compensation per hit. :D

You want to get in a pissing match with me?

Chutzpah
 

On a recent UA flight, I had the window shade about 2/3 down at the start of the movie. Without any warning the middle seat occupant, a business traveler, leaned across and physically lowered it further, while turning on my reading light. I told him that I wanted to see the view from time to time, and edged it up to its former position. When we hit heavy clouds, I lowered it all the way. Near the end of the flight, my seatmate, less charged up, engaged in some light banter.

I couldn't find any reports of violence at the PHX baggage claim in the Phoenix newspapers, so either it wasn't that spectucular, or it was very subtle. :D

Revenge At Baggage Claim
 

I was curious to see just how disabled she was re her cane and walked very fast to catch up to her. I happened to know a UA employee who was in the area and went up and said hi, and gave him a short version of what had happened, he said in a rather loud voice, Point her out to me and I will
handle her, UA does not tolerate any form of physical abuse. She was listening to this and I loudly said "there she is, the lady in red"! She was with a gentleman (husband)? and without saying a word to him she hightailed it to the nearest ladies room.. After about 10 minutes she popped her head out the door. saw us and went back in, by this time her husband had caught up and asked if there was a problem, and had we seen his wife. He was told that she had struck me several times with her cane and it was policy to file a report to determine appropriate action. Her husband said that she sometimes might come across as mean spirited but had a really good heart! Yeah whatever. By this time she had been holed up for almost 30 minutes, we told her husband that there would be someone waiting for her at baggage claim and left..

I think that's the best revenge I've heard of yet! :D
oh, that's cruel...

If someone ever tells me to do anything "at once," the last thing I will do is what they said. If the light is blinding someone, if there is a movie, if the engine is on fire, I will lower a shade. Otherwise, whenever I am in the window seat (which is essentially never--not once in at least two years), I will keep it open.

About a year ago on a Delta plane LAX-ATL I had a lady? sit behind me and physically raise my shade everytime I closed it to sleep. She knocked me on the shoulder too. I told the FL and they said she wouldn't be civil with them either and they just ignorred me

I agree with everyone who said it's up to the FA first and the occupant of the window seat second. And I'm virtually certain that if I'm asked to "raise the shade at once" by a fellow pax, I'm gonna moooove as sloooowly as posssssible!

Bring a roll of duct tape and when someone starts the up and down game with you, tape it in the position you desire.

Duct tape fixes everything!

That's the first time I've heard of someone opening the shade -- the usual complaint is they want it closed (for sleeping, movie watching, or just glare).

Nice story, but in the true FT spirit I still think UA should pay you compensation for each hit of the cane. :)

30 mins. in an airport bathroom!:(

Cruel, but well deserved!:p

lol

That's when knowing how to say, "I'm sorry. I don't speak English" in some very obscure language comes in handy.

:D

PBQ.. you're a genius...!!!:D:D

I know a guy from the Czech Republic... I'll ask him for a "phrase".... that'll do for a start.. too bad my Finnish friend went home.......that's a GREAT language for obfuscation.......^