No cabin lights on during daylight - why?
Jun 28, 2019, 9:38 am
#46
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
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In my experience, crew usually demands shades be shut on long haul international flights, but on shorter flights they give passengers control of the shades. Not just United, but all airlines I have flown including foreign airlines. I like the electronic shades on 787s - even when fully dimmed I can still see outside.
Cabin lights are usually on during boarding, meal times, and deplaning; off other times.
Cabin lights are usually on during boarding, meal times, and deplaning; off other times.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:07 am
#47
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 439
It means that passengers have no say in keeping the window shades open or shut. The crew as the representatives of the Captain have the say. If they say keep it closed and if a passenger refuses then it could be escalated by them as not obeying the instructions of the flight crew. This is an offence. I do not know how it is in USA and FAA but in most countries not obeying the crew is an offence. The crew members are responsible for the safety and comfort of all the passengers. Hence if they request a passenger to either sit down or close the shades it is a lawful request and if any passenger interferes or not obeys the request then it can be construed as obstructing the crew doing their duty. Of course if the passenger refuses to close the crew will close it and then if the passenger opens it it becomes worse.
NB: The captain is not a dictator who marshals their staff, that's quite the opposite both of law and good CRM.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:19 am
#48
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
The thing is that this technically qualifies as not following crew instructions (at least when an FA demands it) is "interference" which is in breach of 14 CFR 121.580 (penalty defined by 49 USC 46504). All it takes is for the FA to say that (s)he felt intimidated and of course the company/captain will have his/her back and the pax always gets the short straw.
Jun 28, 2019, 10:29 am
#49
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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The thing is that this technically qualifies as not following crew instructions (at least when an FA demands it) is "interference" which is in breach of 14 CFR 121.580 (penalty defined by 49 USC 46504). All it takes is for the FA to say that (s)he felt intimidated and of course the company/captain will have his/her back and the pax always gets the short straw.
Jun 28, 2019, 12:44 pm
#50
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Given that the conversation revolves around a domestic flight on a US airline and the FAA is the arbiter, any reference to anything beyond FAA regs is useless. Please point to us in the regs where a request which does not materially alter the safety of the aircraft operation is "an offence". Chapter and verse.It's not. You trying to make a window shade on par with trying to smash open a window in flight is poppycock.
NB: The captain is not a dictator who marshals their staff, that's quite the opposite both of law and good CRM.
NB: The captain is not a dictator who marshals their staff, that's quite the opposite both of law and good CRM.
Another OP has already quoted the relevant laws on the instruction of the crew.
Jun 28, 2019, 1:30 pm
#51
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Holding up up a book (or now my iPad) to stop sunlight going directly in my eye just isn’t cool.
Jun 28, 2019, 1:45 pm
#52
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I always comply with a request from a fellow pax to close my shade if I am in a window. It's no big deal.
Jun 28, 2019, 2:01 pm
#53
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The thing is that this technically qualifies as not following crew instructions (at least when an FA demands it) is "interference" which is in breach of 14 CFR 121.580 (penalty defined by 49 USC 46504). All it takes is for the FA to say that (s)he felt intimidated and of course the company/captain will have his/her back and the pax always gets the short straw.
Also not sure what judge / jury would believe an open window shade in any way "interferes" with a crew member. OTOH, insisting that the shade remain closed when a crew member asks one to open it (so s/he can ascertain whether or not there is damage to the wing, for example) would be construable as interference.
Jun 28, 2019, 2:34 pm
#54
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Not if someone is recording it on a cell phone and it goes 'viral' on social media. 
Also not sure what judge / jury would believe an open window shade in any way "interferes" with a crew member. OTOH, insisting that the shade remain closed when a crew member asks one to open it (so s/he can ascertain whether or not there is damage to the wing, for example) would be construable as interference.
Also not sure what judge / jury would believe an open window shade in any way "interferes" with a crew member. OTOH, insisting that the shade remain closed when a crew member asks one to open it (so s/he can ascertain whether or not there is damage to the wing, for example) would be construable as interference.
- The crew is also responsible for the comfort of the passengers. I guess in the USA everything ends up in the court. In most of the other countries it would not. As others have mentioned the reading lights are there for passengers to read. If the glare from the sun or light from the outside is making it difficult for other passengers then the crew will instruct the shades to be closed and that is their right.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:31 pm
#56
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Jun 28, 2019, 6:20 pm
#58
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You're looking for sunflight.net 
Jun 28, 2019, 9:35 pm
#59
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I have absolutely no problem falling asleep in broad daylight which in my younger days resulted in several beach vacation sunburns.
Jun 29, 2019, 10:40 am
#60
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For those of you who find the reading light too dim or mis-aimed, buy a book light. There are hundreds available in every color, shape, price range....
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 29, 2019 at 12:23 pm Reason: discuss the issue; not the poster(s)