Effective 1 Feb 20: shades must be open and outlet use ok for taxi, takeoff & landing
Jan 29, 2020, 12:41 pm
#76
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
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United Rule on Keeping Shades Open on Takeoff & Landing
This is a great rule as one must be able to see out the window during takeoff and landing for safety reasons of seeing anything that could cause an issue outside the aircraft. It amazes me on the large number of passengers sitting by a window that they keep the shade down on take off and landing. Hat off to Qantas in Australia as they have had this rule for a long time.
Jan 29, 2020, 5:43 pm
#77
Join Date: Dec 2004
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It's pre-Feb 1, but here's my experience today -- I had three short-haul mainline flights in F:
1. Old announcement -- plugs out, no mention of shades
2. New announcement -- plugs OK (except exit rows), shades must be up for T/O and landing, but no enforcement at all
3. New announcement -- pluss OK (except exit rows), shades must be up for T/O and landing, enforced on T/O but not landing
1. Old announcement -- plugs out, no mention of shades
2. New announcement -- plugs OK (except exit rows), shades must be up for T/O and landing, but no enforcement at all
3. New announcement -- pluss OK (except exit rows), shades must be up for T/O and landing, enforced on T/O but not landing
Jan 29, 2020, 5:47 pm
#78
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On my flight LAS-SFO 2:55plm today, apparently shades down (about half of them,) and reclined seat backs (at least 4 I could see) were OK during taxiing and takeof in F cabin.
Jan 29, 2020, 6:26 pm
#79
Join Date: Sep 2015
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By the time you're at 10k there's a lot more time (height) before you can realistically reach the ground, at which point it's actually ok to recline.
Jan 29, 2020, 8:51 pm
#80
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Or there could be an emergency going on, with passengers unaware, and the pilots too busy focusing on preparing for landing ASAP and too little time to notify the crew, never mind time for the crew to check that seats are back up. Or even worse you're already on your way down to an off-runway landing for whatever reason.
By the time you're at 10k there's a lot more time (height) before you can realistically reach the ground, at which point it's actually ok to recline.
By the time you're at 10k there's a lot more time (height) before you can realistically reach the ground, at which point it's actually ok to recline.
Feb 2, 2020, 6:59 am
#81
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Today’s flight Feb 2 EWR-IAH. No announcement to keep shades open. Many closed, including my seat mate, who closed them after I had opened them before he boarded. Either fake news by OP or FAs not following the new orders.
Feb 2, 2020, 9:02 am
#82
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I was wondering about that when I came back to the US on 1/31 - both my international and domestic flights' FAs enforced the rule.
I think it is great UA is doing it - it makes sense, all the non-US airlines I have been on enforce this and even some UA Express carriers enforce this. Now only if they can spend a few extra seconds to check people don't have devices plugged in and stuff behind their legs during takeoff and landing.
I think it is great UA is doing it - it makes sense, all the non-US airlines I have been on enforce this and even some UA Express carriers enforce this. Now only if they can spend a few extra seconds to check people don't have devices plugged in and stuff behind their legs during takeoff and landing.
Feb 2, 2020, 9:58 am
#83
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Feb 2, 2020, 10:29 am
#84
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Just took off from LGA on UA 320 LGA-DEN. It was clearly announced that window shades must be opened for take off.... however there was absolutely no enforcement. Closed shades throughout the cabin. Probably a 50/50 split.
Feb 2, 2020, 5:48 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: AA, HH, UA, Amtrak
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FA's won't like this new rule: it means more work for them!
IIRC all window shades are oftentimes closed during hot, sunny weather to reduce the plane's interior heating up, as the plane just sits there on the ground.
Now the FAs not only have to make the announcement to open the shades, but also have to go down the aisles and open (or shut) them themselves, if there's no one sitting in a row.
I already foresee them demanding a service or service item be cut, to avoid them from getting overworked.
IIRC all window shades are oftentimes closed during hot, sunny weather to reduce the plane's interior heating up, as the plane just sits there on the ground.
Now the FAs not only have to make the announcement to open the shades, but also have to go down the aisles and open (or shut) them themselves, if there's no one sitting in a row.
I already foresee them demanding a service or service item be cut, to avoid them from getting overworked.
Not when plane is standing at the gate.
Feb 3, 2020, 10:19 am
#86
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This makes complete sense. Don't want people tripping over wires in an evacuation.
Feb 3, 2020, 3:21 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Today, ORD-EWR on a 737-800, FAs mentioned shades needed to open at both takeoff and landing. There were some audible "huh?" reactions, but everyone in my 3-4 row vicinity complied.
Feb 3, 2020, 5:22 pm
#89
Join Date: May 2010
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I was referring to the fact that oftentimes the window shades are all closed while the plane is on the ground, so there is now a definite need to open all shades for take-off, thusly adding to the workload of the FAs.
Feb 3, 2020, 5:26 pm
#90
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HA is the only domestic airline I know of that consistently invokes this policy.
On all other domestic airlines, I have witnessed...
In other words: Pick an FA and an airline, and it'll generate a new interpretation of this policy.
On all other domestic airlines, I have witnessed...
- No mention of shades up for takeoff/landing at all
- Shades up for takeoff/landing, but only in exit rows
- Shades up for takeoff/landing, but only in exit rows and bulkhead seats
- Shades up for takeoff, but not for landing
- Shades up for landing, but not for takeoff
- Shades up everywhere for takeoff/landing, but not enforced
In other words: Pick an FA and an airline, and it'll generate a new interpretation of this policy.