gonezen

September 24 my wife and I were on the ORD to PEK flight and some jerk in C wouldn't close his window shades the entire flight. (Daylight the whole flight.) Apparently he needed to spend the entire flight reviewing God knows what in his big fat briefcase and the two available reading lights weren't sufficient for this. He did finally close one of the shades but half opened it later. Despite numerous complaints from other passengers, the FA's said they could only "request" that the jerk close the shade. One guy complained to the jerk's wife who told him to complain to the FA. At one point another passenger even yelled out, "What the hell, he can only read in the daytime?" The FA's got creative though and rigged up blankets across empty seats to block the light during sleep time. I have never before observed this type of inconsiderate behavior from a passenger and I wonder if the FA's just should have had a flight officer "chat" with the fellow. One of the FA's said she had only had this situation once before in a very long career.

kevinsac

Demand? I'd say no, unless it was a security issue, which this certainly was not.

Request? Absolutely!

But there are many folks who graciously decline the opportunity to close the shades on a day-time flight. It's a general consensus that the window-seat pax "owns" or controls the shade. Certainly not a courtesy, but ....

Besides, in C, just reach into your amenity kit and grab the eye shades. That makes it darker than with the window shades drawn.

UnitedSkies

I think you're going to find a lot of folks here prefer to not have a dark cabin...

MayorMcKnife

They can absolutely require that shades be opened for take off and landing.

12172003

1. Get a window seat yourself.
2. Buy eyeshades. They are only $1 or so, weigh nothing and do not occupy any space.
3. Having daylight has your body adjust to local time more easily.
4. What times should the shades be closed? Wheels up to Wheels down or in between meal service or ? Maybe this guy got a full nights sleep not the night before or just doesn't need that much sleep. Why are you imparting your needs for an absolute black room to sleep in onto others?

bmvaughn

No, I'd say that they are unable to "demand" that it be closed as much as they can demand that it be open (except takeoff and landing).

Sounds unfortunate, but I am sure that the gentleman had a legitimate reason.

FlyinHawaiian

This seems a better topic for TravelBuzz!, so that's where I'll move it.

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United Mileage Plus Forum

BonnieSEA

I like being able to look out of the window in my window seat. But I have certainly been pressured by FAs to close the shade so other people can see the movie. I don't like it, I feel rebellious and it seems like I should "own" the light in that space, but I usually "obey."

ajax

It would be one thing if the light you "owned" were confined to your personal space - but it's not. It's spread across the cabin.

I see keeping your window shade open during a flight as akin to playing loud music at home with your windows open. Sure, you're allowed to do this. But it's highly inconsiderate and anti-social; it disturbs everyone else and interferes with their ability to enjoy the service that they've paid for.

Just my two cents.

TrueBlueFlyer

I guess I'm a jerk too.

I always book a window seat so I could actually look out of that window and see stuff.

--Russ

BonnieSEA

Sigh... I inwardly battle about being able to look out "my own" window for which scenery I also paid for... but then I acquiesce to the the FA's imperative and to morality, that we are all people together and should be nice to each other and get along. Later, sometimes I slide the window half-way up for a peek and feel rebellious again.

A part of me admires that man; I would not be able to stick to my guns in the face of all that adversity. But intellectually I agree with you: it's inconsiderate and anti-social to disturb everyone else.

njx9

One can easily put on eye shades if the fact that I like to look out the window bothers them. Don't make me responsible for your (not "everyone's") comfort, when you're perfectly capable of dealing with it yourself.

the phoenix

C class. Business. He was conducting his business. Therefore he was within every right to do what he needed to do. Who are you to impart YOUR selfish needs upon him? The easiest solution, an eyemask and earplugs, are a win-win. They only cost you a few bucks and being his time is his money, you are both ahead.

^exactly.

Hmmm. Interesting. So if the "jerk" paid a premium price for a ticket that allowed him to carry out his business needs, why shouldn't he enjoy the service he paid for? It is in fact a business seat.

Is the 'jerk' a bit inconsiderate? Yes. However, I learned early in life that "considerate behavior" is not to be expected. I will live a longer, much happier life knowing that inconsiderate jerks are out there and the answer are earplugs and an eyemask.


Lastly, there is such thing as comprimise. The OP states that first, the window was full blown.

Later, he half opened it. Thats a step in the right direction.

The 'jerk' is being considerate of the OP.

However, at this point, it seems the OP is being inconsiderate in expecting the supposed jerk to close it fully. The lack of comprimise is likewise inconsiderate and perhaps hypocritical.

PITBULL1K

Interesting, it was a day flight presumably...depending on the time of arrival, i tend to like having natural light especially if I want to sleep at the right time when I've arrived.

I have been on a flight from AKL-SIN on SQ in F, with one other passenger, it's a day flight arriving 8.30pm in the evening. Guess what, I didn't feel sleeping in the afternoon but the FAs closed all the shades and wanted mine closed - when challenged, apparently the other traveller wanted to sleep! Nobody asked me, I kept mine half open. Am I a selfish jerk too?

djk7

The question is not CAN the FA demand this, but should they, just because YOU prefer it.

Add me to the list who think that the supplied reading lights are often inadequate, and who don't like spending a long daytime flight feeling like I am in a cave.

I bring eye shades and earplugs when I plan to try to sleep on a flight, since I don't think it is practical, or reasonable to try to impose my preferences (window shade up/down, talking/no talking, reading lights on/off) on a plane load of other people.

Not surprisingly, this topic has been covered before:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149410
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201209
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=830896
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=295550
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157809
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=440583
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411816
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=436405