UA Edition: Window shades up? Who controls / decides?
#31
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS Gold (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,282
#32
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: LH BA SPG
Posts: 1
To each their own
i ask people directly especially if it’s a night into day flight. I do think it’s selfish but good eyeshades are always in my travel bag. And if I write an airline review I’ll out those Pax, by name but at least seat number if I can manage it....nice the way we are addressed by name in the forward cabins.
#33
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Guadalajara MX,
Programs: VB, UA, AM
Posts: 163
#34
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: ORD/CLE
Programs: UA 1K HH Diamond
Posts: 293
I'm in the "do what you want if you have the window seat" for long haul because that arctic scenery is beautiful and always nice to get a little daylight over a 10+ hr span. But where I do sometimes get irritated is on the 6am Monday flights shot haul flights where it's pitch black on the ground and everyone on the plane just wants to go back to sleep for an hour or two before the work day and one person has the shade up for the sunrise flooding the entire narrow body cabin. And not many people bring a sleep mask for a short flight.
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
I am on the fence about this. On the one hand, your window, your control. And people SHOULD bring eyeshades..there is certainly more light than the overheads. People have reading lights, there is light from the galley, light from the seatbelt sign, exit sign etc. I recently did a TPAC in AA in J, window side on a 777, and even though they used the colored lights, my pod was still facing the dim purple recessed light.
On the other..I see no need for it on day flights of extended daylight time over the ocean. What is there to see but endless ocean, endless haze or endless overcast below?
And of course, if you are on the sun side, it is even more intrusive, sometimes making it hard to see the IFE, or even making you hot.
It's a case to case thing I guess.
Why? Do you think the airline is going to punish them? Or that it even cares?
Want the window? Book the window.
On the other..I see no need for it on day flights of extended daylight time over the ocean. What is there to see but endless ocean, endless haze or endless overcast below?
And of course, if you are on the sun side, it is even more intrusive, sometimes making it hard to see the IFE, or even making you hot.
It's a case to case thing I guess.
Want the window? Book the window.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 10, 2019 at 1:26 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#37
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
On my most recent TATL flight last month, the dreaded late afternoon LHR-LAX flight the FAs kept the windows dark. I like the window seat as I want the natural light. I kept nodding off which I did not want to do as I try to stay awake to better acclimatize to the local time . Had a dreadful time with jetlag after that trip. I use the sunlight to help my body adjust to the time zone.
On the red eye TATL flights I close the shades as leave at night and arrive in the morning. On the reverse, leave in the daytime and arrive at night I want the window shades open.
The FA controls of the window shades on the 787 annoy me.
Agree with other posters though, you want to control the light in the cabin you choose the window seat.
On the red eye TATL flights I close the shades as leave at night and arrive in the morning. On the reverse, leave in the daytime and arrive at night I want the window shades open.
The FA controls of the window shades on the 787 annoy me.
Agree with other posters though, you want to control the light in the cabin you choose the window seat.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
I'm the opposite - I find it immensely unsafe to have the shade down during landing. I wish more US carriers require all window shades up during take-off and landing. I typically choose Window seat for this purpose.
On the original point - keep in mind some TATL flights take-off nightime or red-eye resulting in sunlight hitting plane mid-trip. The original passenger may be knocked out or wearing eyemask.
On the original point - keep in mind some TATL flights take-off nightime or red-eye resulting in sunlight hitting plane mid-trip. The original passenger may be knocked out or wearing eyemask.
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,254
I'm never clear on why people would want to plant a flag on this particular hill. If I'm trying to sleep, I put on the eyeshades. If I'm trying to watch a movie and I'm getting window glare, I ask for the shade to be pulled. Not for the entire flight, for a couple of hours or less (once the relative positions of sun, window, and screen change). What's the big deal?
#41
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 565
I'm really glad that someone brought this up. I was just thinking the other day, "You know, what FT could really use is a discussion thread about window shades and whether they should be up or down."
#42
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
I know it is controversial but I find it rude, especially when often more than 95% of the plane puts the shades down. If keeping the shades up only affected the person in the window seat then fine but it often affects a lot more. And not everyone brings an eye mask. After all, not all are flying Polaris and not all are experienced flyers.
I like views as much as the next person but would much rather allow my fellow passengers to sleep comfortably.
I like views as much as the next person but would much rather allow my fellow passengers to sleep comfortably.
#43
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,567
Window Shade Etiquette
International Window Blind Etiquette
Not allowed to open window shade!?
or UA forum
Too much crew control of window shades on 787?
Fly the Darkened Skies: What's Up with the Windowshades on UA?
UA's window shade policy and safety on take-off / landing
or other airline forums
... I will stop here ...
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,347
eye bras
Maybe a digression from the discussion, but I would like to complain that for some months now the eye shades have been cost-cut into eye bras (the padded side facing the face has been removed), and eye don't like it.
#45
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,809
Is that person being selfish?