MBS MillionMiler

I wonder how many of the 'window shades up' people are the same ones that complain about some FAs being too loud in the galley when they do their mid-flight social gigs. Or if I wanted to carry on conversations with my friend who is 3 rows behind me. They do provide earplugs, of course. I get it if everyone (or most) have their shades open, but when, seriously 75%+ of the cabin is trying to sleep, and there's a lone wolf with the shades wide open, while certainly within their right, I believe they are being inconsiderate. There has been more than one flight, while not trying to sleep, that again I could not see my movie screen because of the glare...Again, should I wear these magical, not-yet-invented eyeshades that display United's IFE directly on the eyeballs?

AirMiles2001

I'm pretty sure an FA can "command" someone to close a shade.

eng3

I forget the route and time of year but I recall one flight where we took off at sunset. Since it was dark out, I (and the FA) forgot about the window shade. The sun rose again about an hour before landing. I recall seeing the fake "sunrise lighting" they use to "wake us" as the actual sun was rising. It was kind of perfect because my eyes GRADUALLY adjusted vs opening the shade for landing and being hit with bright light after adjusting to total darkness for several hours.

I would think the window shade DOWN people would be the ones complaining in your scenario since I would assume if they aren't willing to use eyeshades, they arent willing to use ear plugs. The window shades UP people seem to be the ones saying that one should use eyeshades, so I would think ear plugs are included.

How do you know 75%+ of the cabin is trying to sleep? do you poll them? do you get up and look? Sometimes, I see people with the reading light reading a book or doing paperwork. Or watching IFE. Some people may not have chosen to close their shade but for the FA's insistence. Some are like you say and are use to sitting in the dark or close their shade if they see 75%+ closed, not because they want to sleep. But I agree, there is no know workaround to enjoy IFE when the sun is shining directly on a screen or in your eyes so that is the only time I think it is acceptable to ask someone to close their window shade. Some people can sleep during the day in direct sun light (like at the beach). Some people (like me) can't sleep even with light from the various buttons and indicators around me so I use an eye shade. You can't please everyone

MrGood

That would be interesting to know for sure! Even despite my claustrophobia/aerophobia/anxiety requiring me to often have my window shade up, I'm obviously going to consider closing it if there's a shine/glare that would disturb the cabin OR I'm notified that I'm bothering other passengers because of it. That's just out of common decency and respect...

And since there seems to be more unruly/rude passengers by the day, I'd suggest to airlines in general to have a reprimand in order, as a way to keep some form of air-etiquette. I mean, it shouldn't result in a No-Fly list or anything, but should be enough warning to prompt them to not do it again UNLESS there's a valid excuse for it (such as my own personal reasons above).

zigenbock

It's not selfish at all, In fact I think it is selfish that some people think they should be closed.....
Some people like myself pick a window seat to be able to look out. I get very claustrophobic and need to look out when I need to.

findark

I think the "happy medium" is for the window pax to control the shades... just like the aisle pax has easy access to the aisle and might cause complications if they were to sleep, etc. No, you don't always get the luxury of seat selection, but you just have to deal with your lot. If I end up in an aisle or center block seat, I don't get to look out the window which I normally enjoy. That's life. You're never going to please everyone, but I think it's a pretty reasonable compromise. At least in my flying experience, my use of my own shades has never seemed to be a major issue. On my westbound TATLs, there were usually a few cracked windows here or there for the entire flight, and the overnight flights are dark outside anyway.

Short of really outrageous noise, I don't have a problem with these things either - to be honest I'm always surprised that people can hear FAs. I have enough trouble understanding them over the engine drone when they're taking to me

In my opinion, when it's an issue of direct sunlight entering the cabin, it's polite to lower the shade to a point where it's not shining on anyone else. You can't really see much staring right at the sun anyway, and the spots of light can be extremely disruptive. I try to pick the shady side of the aircraft for this reason. But if a window pax really wants their shade open, I'm going to shut up and deal with it.

bocastephen

FA's can give orders which are based on published FARs and published airline operating policies. They cannot, for example, order you to stand on your head, take off your clothes, or finish your inflight meal. They cannot make up or invent policies which are not supported by federal regulations or airline policies. Window shade etiquette is most definitely not published in the FAA's FARs, so the only other option is for window shade usage to be defined somewhere in the operating manual, but none of us has a copy of that book to confirm its presence. So while refusing to follow a crew member instruction to lower the window shade could lead to any number of ugly results during the flight, in the end, the lack of a legal or operational basis for the instruction cannot result in any form of legal consequence provided the dispute doesn't escalate into something that would (ie, physical contact, verbal abuse, etc). If the Capt decides to call the police to meet the flight or diverts to offload you because you did nothing more than refuse to lower your window shade, while you could potentially be arrested, the charges are not going to stick or result in a conviction because the instruction had no legal basis....nor is a prosecutor or Admin Law Judge likely to even bother wasting 5 minutes on that kind of topic. United, could, however, decide to ban you, which they have the right to do.

HoustonConsultant

Oh man, I wish I had known that before my last flight.

I knew it seemed odd.

I probably should apologize to the older couple sitting across the aisle.

eng3

They can BELIEVE that they can. Sometimes belief is all it takes to cause a problem.

LimeyFlyer

So, based on some responses, FAs can do what they want... if you don't want sun in your eyes, book early and book the window, otherwise, rely on the compassion of your fellow traveler....

trmbn65

On Turkish, they actually close everybody's window shades when they make the beds. If somebody opens when the sun is up, they will come over quickly and close it. I appreciate this on their long haul flights.

bocastephen

That sounds better than Air France, where they might violently slam the window shade down and stare at you like your kindergarten teacher after you spilled paint on the floor.

Steve M

https://local.theonion.com/passenger...956-1832728158

Here is a suggestion from a fellow claustrophobic passenger: DON'T pick the window seat. Being right next to the fuselage, as well has having the overhead bin right above you, makes the claustrophobia worse. Especially on the long-hauls where the sleeping issue is most prevalent, they are most likely to be on twin-aisle aircraft. Pick a seat in the middle section on the aisle, and you'll feel far less cramped, constrained, and anxious than if you sit at the window.

narvik

This is a topic that should be consolidated under "Window Shades UP or DOWN?". With more than 133 replies in this thread in just over a week it's definitely a popular debate, likely because the views are so polar.

The only semi-helpful addition might be a poll, although judging by the likes received in post #2 vs. post #3 it might be clear where the poll results might potentially end up.



Not sure that is universally applicable. Pretty sure that's a very individual preference based on many factors, not the least whether the claustrophobia is coupled with some other phobias.

GFrye

Window passengers control the shades, aisle passengers control aisle access. Does that sounds like a fair deal?
I mean, if the window-shade-up crowd thinks that "use an eye shade if you don't sit at a window and want darkness" is a valid point, so is "I don't want to get up so you should wear a diaper if you don't sit at the aisle and need to do a #1 or #2 ".

(Apologies to the middle seat crowd who gets screwed twice...)