Comments on: Poll: Should you lower the windowshades during a daytime flight? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:39:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Abraham http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14763 Abraham Wed, 16 May 2007 02:03:22 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14763 Nope, it's actually LOWER your window shade. I should be clear that this takes place during ascent/descent, not while taxiing. I'm not sure why, b/c I agree with you on the logic. Ultimately, I have never felt in danger with AF. After all, they evacuated my parents off the Airbus crash in Toronto. Nope, it’s actually LOWER your window shade. I should be clear that this takes place during ascent/descent, not while taxiing. I’m not sure why, b/c I agree with you on the logic.

Ultimately, I have never felt in danger with AF. After all, they evacuated my parents off the Airbus crash in Toronto.

]]> By: I. http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14762 I. Wed, 16 May 2007 01:36:42 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14762 I always leave the shades down during the flight out of respect for fellow passengers, even though I do enjoy a peak out once in a while. On another note, I've been on three flights where the person behind me and my boyfriend insisted with great persistence that I do not recline my seat... even though the person in front of me and 509830843 rows ahead have done so. It's not a big deal since I'm a petite Asian, but for my 6ft boyfriend it's been less than comfortable with his long legs. I always leave the shades down during the flight out of respect for fellow passengers, even though I do enjoy a peak out once in a while. On another note, I’ve been on three flights where the person behind me and my boyfriend insisted with great persistence that I do not recline my seat… even though the person in front of me and 509830843 rows ahead have done so. It’s not a big deal since I’m a petite Asian, but for my 6ft boyfriend it’s been less than comfortable with his long legs.

]]> By: Matt http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14759 Matt Tue, 15 May 2007 22:23:24 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14759 Basically, my opinion (right or wrong) is that s/he who controls the window seat, controls the window. The only time I have seen this different is for takeoffs and landings when the airline might specify that the windowshade HAS to be open. Basically, my opinion (right or wrong) is that s/he who controls the window seat, controls the window.

The only time I have seen this different is for takeoffs and landings when the airline might specify that the windowshade HAS to be open.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14758 Anonymous Tue, 15 May 2007 13:14:09 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14758 Who is the wishy-washy reader who added this option to the voting: "As in any social situation, you have to balance what everyone around you wants, and try for the best balance." And who are the 58 people who picked that! That's exactly the problem: You <em>can't</em> balance this sort of thing. Any open shades will piss off some people. Keeping the windows shut the whole time annoys others. And letting people open and shut them periodically for a strobe light effect is maybe the worst for everyone. Eyeshades for sleepers, open shades for folks who want them. Put my vote down for "Yes of course!" Who is the wishy-washy reader who added this option to the voting: “As in any social situation, you have to balance what everyone around you wants, and try for the best balance.” And who are the 58 people who picked that!

That’s exactly the problem: You can’t balance this sort of thing. Any open shades will piss off some people. Keeping the windows shut the whole time annoys others. And letting people open and shut them periodically for a strobe light effect is maybe the worst for everyone.

Eyeshades for sleepers, open shades for folks who want them. Put my vote down for “Yes of course!”

]]> By: Oliver http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14755 Oliver Tue, 15 May 2007 03:49:59 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14755 If you plan on sleeping on a plane, might I suggest eye shades and ear plugs? Problem solved. If you plan on sleeping on a plane, might I suggest eye shades and ear plugs? Problem solved.

]]> By: Tim Arai http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14742 Tim Arai Mon, 14 May 2007 06:30:50 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14742 I'm torn about this. I fly frequently to Japan and I have to admit, it annoys me when someone opens up the shade in the middle of the flight after the lights are dimmed. It wakes people up and it's jarring. But at the same time, I suppose they also have the right to look outside. I guess though, if I were in the window seat, as I know how annoying it can be to the people near you, especially the ones who are sleeping and trying to not get jet lag, I would resist the urge. After all, it's not just ME on the flight but a few hundred other people. Many of which are sleeping. I’m torn about this. I fly frequently to Japan and I have to admit, it annoys me when someone opens up the shade in the middle of the flight after the lights are dimmed. It wakes people up and it’s jarring. But at the same time, I suppose they also have the right to look outside.

I guess though, if I were in the window seat, as I know how annoying it can be to the people near you, especially the ones who are sleeping and trying to not get jet lag, I would resist the urge.

After all, it’s not just ME on the flight but a few hundred other people. Many of which are sleeping.

]]> By: niccolo http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14741 niccolo Mon, 14 May 2007 06:03:24 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14741 In the future, this will be less of an issue. Newer airplanes will have windows that dim, but are not totally opaque. So, you'll be able to look out the window, and not disturb your neighbors. In the future, this will be less of an issue. Newer airplanes will have windows that dim, but are not totally opaque. So, you’ll be able to look out the window, and not disturb your neighbors.

]]> By: quarkdoll http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14740 quarkdoll Mon, 14 May 2007 04:17:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14740 You mean <b>-raise-</b> the shades during take-off (and landing) - oui? (Unless AF is unlike every other major airline, and intent on being purposely unsafe -- peut être vrai, les français (et les françaises) sont les français (et les françaises)...) You mean -raise- the shades during take-off (and landing) - oui? (Unless AF is unlike every other major airline, and intent on being purposely unsafe — peut être vrai, les français (et les françaises) sont les français (et les françaises)…)

]]> By: Abraham http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14738 Abraham Mon, 14 May 2007 03:57:54 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/05/12/poll-should-you-lower-the-windowshades-during-a-daytime-flight/#comment-14738 I am an Air France only customer on T/A flights. If the pax referenced above had paid any attention to the pre-takeoff announcements, he would have realized it is AF POLICY to lower the window shades during take-off. Thus, said pax was not within their rights b/c they defied an order from the flight crew (and indirectly, from the Captain). I would guess that the steward felt it was easier to ignore this pax than anger everyone else on-board by involving the entire flight crew (i.e., alerting the Captain). This actually highlights a more general issue... no matter how monotonous and long, on-board announcements should never be ignored. They are there for your safety, comfort, and most of all, they are the rules during flight!! I am an Air France only customer on T/A flights. If the pax referenced above had paid any attention to the pre-takeoff announcements, he would have realized it is AF POLICY to lower the window shades during take-off. Thus, said pax was not within their rights b/c they defied an order from the flight crew (and indirectly, from the Captain). I would guess that the steward felt it was easier to ignore this pax than anger everyone else on-board by involving the entire flight crew (i.e., alerting the Captain).

This actually highlights a more general issue… no matter how monotonous and long, on-board announcements should never be ignored. They are there for your safety, comfort, and most of all, they are the rules during flight!!

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