You know, sometimes I understand the window blind thing. When landing in the United States on regional jet somewhere warm, the flight attendant will ask that blinds be pulled down to keep the plane cool during the turnaround. Logical.
What is not particularly logical is when you are asked to put them down on a day flight. The air conditioning is on, you’re flying at 35,000 feet, so it’s definitely not to keep the cabin cool.
Window Blind Woes
One reason I choose to sit in a window seat is to watch the world go by. Usually you’re treated to some spectacular views, even when it’s just sky and clouds. Flying over the Persian Gulf at midnight or the Rocky Mountains at dawn is really something else.
Therefore it is quite frown inducing when the crew come through and ask you to put your blind down. I want to see the view! I am flying, for goodness sake, doing something that billions of people have never done in their lives. Seeing out is part of the deal.
One possible reason for it is that sun through the windows causes glare on the inflight entertainment screens. That makes sense, after all there’s a reason why movie theatres have no windows. I too like to enjoy my film in a dimly lit area, so I get it.
It’s pretty hard to stomach at night time, though. The reasoning behind that is that people will be asleep when dawn comes, and light streaming through the open window will wake everyone. Got it, but still…
The Nuclear Option
While crews will ask nicely and then get firm with you if you refuse, they do have a nuclear option now. On the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, they have a master switch which can dim all the windows at once, leaving you with no choice in the matter. Very big brother!
Overall Thoughts
I think it’s safe to say that I like to see outside when I’m flying. On the one occasion when I’ve been asked by another passenger to close the blind, I’ve been happy to do so, so I am not one to sit and make a huge fuss about it.
Some people believe the crew want the cabin dark on day flights so that people will snooze and therefore reduce their workload. I’m not entirely sure that’s true, but I’m happy to be corrected. Considering what you can see when you’re flying, even on clear overnight flights, I’m glad to have windows in the first place. Just permit me to look outside!
Have you ever had the crew Gestapo ask you to keep your window blind closed on a flight? What do you think of being asked to keep it closed? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Last week, I flew from BWI Airport to Los Angeles LAX non stop, on a clear sunny weekday, taking off at 6:30 am.
I had a middle Seay in between two people, and also observed that for about 20 rows, every window seated passenger kept their window shades down, and our part of the cabin had the lights dimmed. Never once in the 5 hour flight did the window seated passengers have an interest in letting in the bright sunshine morning of America.
I immediately assumed that all 50 passengers worked for some same organization. Were these American sunshine hating Americans FBI? CIA? Israelis? Secret Service?
Nonetheless, it was supposed to be a great flight, but these passengers never once opened the window shades to let other get light into the plane cabin. Very strange flight on United Airlines last.
Hahaha! FBI? CIA? Love it! Interestingly, I had a similar experience from JFK to LAX on a 6:00am departure recently. The shades stayed down for most of the plane for basically all of the five or six hour flight. I can understand it in the beginning as people probably wanted to catch a little sleep, but the whole flight? So weird. Thanks for that!
I have developed a severe fear of turbulence and looking out the window helps me stay calm when there are serious bumps.
I almost had a physical altercation with a passenger in the row in front of me over this issue a few years ago. It was a daytime transcon flight. He reached back to my row and closed the window next to me, without asking or even saying anything. I opened it again and he then did the same thing while looming over me and yelling at me about how his family was trying to sleep. I told him to sit down and back off, but by that time, a FA had come over and said that we both had to calm down or we would be reported. I was shaking with anger, but kept my cool and vowed never to close my window on daytime flights, unless it is bothering me personally. I fail to see how keeping the shade open at nighttime would bother most people.
Sorry to hear you’ve a fear of turbulence, that must be really awful. Have you tried doing one of those fear of flying courses that some airlines run? It might help to reduce your anxiety over it.
Good to see you stood your ground with that window guy. Sounds like he was definitely having a bad day. Interesting story – thanks for the comment!
I live in the southern United States, and we don’t have Aurora Borealis down here. For eastbound trans-Atlantic flights I like a window seat on the port (left) side, on hopes of seeing the northern lights. I actively select non-787 Dreamliners for those flights, since the flight crew normally dims all the windows shortly after takeoff and that cannot be over-ridden by an individual passenger.
I quite like the southern United States! I really enjoyed visiting Savannah. I’ve never spotted the northern lights myself. That would be some sight to see when flying, so you’re definitely best on the port side going eastbound. Good move avoiding the Dreamliner as well. Hopefully you catch them sometime! Thanks for the comment!
Window shades are not the worst. People that keep their phones on brightest setting and then tilt it to beam in your face all night are worst.
Now that’s a good point, actually. I’ve seen that a few times with people using them very brightly when the cabin is dark. The screens don’t give off nearly as much light. Thanks for the comment!
The worse is when the plane is landing and the militant passenger (won’t mention the race or gender) insists on closing the window shade. There have been cases where there’s a fire and passengers can’t see which side the fire is located resulting in DEATH.
Yes, that’s the whole point of the blinds up for takeoff and landing, so people can see outside if there is an accident to assess the danger. That’s so stupid, to close the blind on landing… it’s not that scary! Thanks for the comment!
I understand pulling them all down after arrival to keep the cabin cool. But I love being able to have them open for takeoff and landing, no matter the time of day. One of the most unnerving landings was when I had an aisle seat and *everyone* around me had the blinds down during descent. We hit the ground minutes before I expected to, which startled me.
Yes, I avoid sitting in the middle middle of a large aircraft because I like to see out. It is weird not being able to see when you’re landing, I completely agree. It seems to come out of nowhere! Thanks for the comment!
Yes, and it frustrates me like no other. If someone needs to sleep on a 2 hour day time flight, perhaps an eyemask would be a good investment?
United in particular is notorious for crews who proactively order passengers to close their window shades. Delta seems more friendly in this regard.
A lot of people actually enjoy looking out the window and seeing sights around them. My world doesn’t revolve on your personal device entertainment or daytime sleeping habits. Sorry.
If a passenger whines about it to the crew, the simple response should be “Perhaps you can ask the passenger, it will be up to them whether to keep it open or closed.”
In fact, outside the US, it’s a regulation to leave the window open for takeoff and landing. I can’t stand when it’s closed — and some people can get a little claustrophobic without it open too.
Yes, it certainly is a regulation here in Europe to have the blinds open for takeoff and landing. It’s a safety thing and I quite like it. I’ve found that American Airlines don’t usually ask you to close the blinds, so it’s interesting to hear how United have a different approach. I agree with you, closing the blinds on a short flight is irritating. Besides, even on long flights, after the movie, it’s sometimes nice to sit back and sip a drink and look out at the world passing by, marveling at the miracle of flight. Thanks for the comment!
Day=Open
Night=Closed
Taking into account time on destination.
True, I can generally live with that, though on a clear night there’s plenty to see outside… if it’s not an over water flight, of course!
There’s always one selfish tool who lights up the entire cabin…
Haha – clearly you like a dark cabin! Thanks for the comment!
Perhaps that ‘selfish tool’ is claustrophobic?
A very good point!