For debate: should UA put privacy screens on seatback monitors?
Dec 14, 2017, 9:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SFO
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Posts: 59
For debate: should UA put privacy screens on seatback monitors?
One thing I notice on a lot of flights is that the movies that other pax are watching contain a large amount of highly distracting drama and action-film violence. Personally I find this makes it much harder to either relax or get work done on flights, when those are things I'm trying to do. Do others have the same experience? Would people here support UA and other airlines putting privacy screens on seat back monitors to limit their viewing angles, and ensure that what each passenger is watching doesn't distract others too much?
Dec 14, 2017, 9:30 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
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If you're watching Game of Thrones, United should require a waiver from your seatmate certifying that they're caught up and won't glimpse any spoilers (also that they're OK with absurdly gratuitous scenes of sex and violence). 
Dec 14, 2017, 9:33 am
#4
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Dec 14, 2017, 9:39 am
#6
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The old 777's already have privacy screens at least in J. On long flights, especially intl, the FA forces all the window shades closed so it is pitch dark. I don't think it matters if there is a privacy screen, then light from a screen, reading light, 10" IPAD on full brightness will be distracting if you are trying to sleep. That is what the eye shade is for.
As for just being distracted while you are reading a book or watching your own screen, I tend to get "tunnel vision" so it doesnt really bother me too much. The screens aren't really very bright. I find someone with a laptop or ipad on full brightness far more distracting. Especially when I am in Y.
As for just being distracted while you are reading a book or watching your own screen, I tend to get "tunnel vision" so it doesnt really bother me too much. The screens aren't really very bright. I find someone with a laptop or ipad on full brightness far more distracting. Especially when I am in Y.
Dec 14, 2017, 9:54 am
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
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One side effect of the polarized style privacy screens is that they actually block a significant amount of light off-axis as well. It would make me feel less guilty about falling asleep 10 minutes into my movie, knowing my seatmate isn't kept up by the light.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:09 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum, QF
Posts: 59
Personally I find that it's quite hard to not watch a moving screen that's in my field of view, especially when there's something very dramatic on it. Out of curiosity, did you grow up in an environment where there were TVs playing all the time? I suspect that people who've been around a lot of ambient TVs are much better at ignoring them.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:19 am
#9
formerly FrequentFlyKid
Join Date: Nov 2002
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I think that your suggestion is the proverbial "slippery slope". If you do that, where does it end? There will always be something that is distracting or bothersome to someone. To me, it's a bit of a reach to say that someone watching a movie or TV program is distracting to other passengers to the point you would need or want a physical blockade of the screen simply because it may be an action scene or otherwise dramatic. I don't want this to delve into a topic outside of the OP's post, but it ties directly into what's happening in society in general: everything is bothersome and offensive anymore and we give credibility to things when we shouldn't. This would be one of those things, in my opinion.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:28 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Personally I find that it's quite hard to not watch a moving screen that's in my field of view, especially when there's something very dramatic on it. Out of curiosity, did you grow up in an environment where there were TVs playing all the time? I suspect that people who've been around a lot of ambient TVs are much better at ignoring them.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:33 am
#11
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One thing I notice on a lot of flights is that the movies that other pax are watching contain a large amount of highly distracting drama and action-film violence. Personally I find this makes it much harder to either relax or get work done on flights, when those are things I'm trying to do. Do others have the same experience? Would people here support UA and other airlines putting privacy screens on seat back monitors to limit their viewing angles, and ensure that what each passenger is watching doesn't distract others too much?
NO NO NO, another that cant look the other way to avoid something that bothers you, and wants someone to control what others see. UGH,
Dont worry about what other people are watching just concern yourself with what you are watching.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 14, 2017 at 11:11 am Reason: discuss the issue, not the poster(s)
Dec 14, 2017, 11:06 am
#14
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Dec 14, 2017, 11:20 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I've certainly thought about it when traveling with my child and wishing there were privacy screens on monitors within my child's field of vision showing R-rated content.