Closing plane ✈️ window shades

[live love laugh]

It’s a big thing on social media that’s now a sweeping trend: to shut all the window blinds on the plane throughout the flight. I just saw a flight attendant, addressing the passengers asking them to close our blinds so all the passengers could “rest“. Personally,I think this is one of the stupidest things ever. I like to look out the window, especially when it’s time to land. But with social pressure people actually will keep their blinds closed the entire flight. I don’t see the sense in it. What about you?

[Timewas]

1. Personally

Whenever I can I choose window seat in order to enjoy the flight. No reason to close the shades as far as I can see

[róisín_dubh]

2. If I'm in the window seat...

I do with it what I want. Which, 99% of the time, is stare out it at the beauty of the world. The joy on my partner’s face as we flew over the Alps is something I shall never forget- he’d never seen them from above; and I love following the Thames as I’m returning from a trip.

People need to a) get off socials and touch grass; and b) bring an eye mask.

[fujiyamasan]

18. I did the same with my kid the last flight we took

He was fascinated looking at everything below. One of the most memorable sites I remember seeing from the air was crater lake in Oregon.

To this day, I’m still amazed every time we lift off the ground. I cannot imagine what someone transported from another historical period would think of air travel.

[Emile]

22. I flew over the Swiss Alps in a prop plane. Amazing scenery

[RT Atlanta]

3. what happened to intellectual curiosity?

As in, we (people) were not built to fly - pause from the goddamned screens and take a peak at the world below as you fly over it from 7 miles in the air.

You're basically riding in a 'submarine' now with all the shades pulled.

[róisín_dubh]

5. As a college professor...

I can assure you that’s dead.

[littlemissmartypants]

14. I feel sorry for you. My students couldn't pass my classes without doing ...

Assignments that required them to physically interact with others and the outside world.

It took some creative thinking to create the assignments, but they were hands-on and required without exception. No excuses.

The best part was grading them.

[TxGuitar]

25. I've often wondered how flight has influenced the sciences

Like geology--from above you can see obvious old riverbeds and such and I wonder if being up in the air was revelatory in some way.

[RT Atlanta]

31. it must have affected the sciences in a positive way

Like most things in life, when you change perspective and have another vantage point, you can think and consider the item in new ways (and see new connections)!

[Tetrachloride]

4. i can see it both ways

[Krazy_Kat]

6. I always get a window seat...

...because I like to look out the window, especially during takeoffs and landings.

[MustLoveBeagles]

7. I'm afraid of heights

Oddly enough, when I flew I preferred the window seat. I think the beauty of the earth below overcame the fear I otherwise would've felt.

[sdfernando]

28. I also have a fear of heights.

...and while I haven't gotten over it...the one place it doesn't affect me is on an airplane. I can sit at the window and look out and have no fear. I can't say the same for standing at window on a very high floor of a building.

[MustLoveBeagles]

35. Same here

[IcyPeas]

8. These days if you have to pay for a selected seat then it's YOURS for the duration.

My 2 cents

[Skittles]

9. I've never heard of that

I always fly window seat and I have only ever been requested to close the shade after landing in very hot weather.

[unweird]

10. Close the window please

I like to gawk out the window and have window seats on both legs of a trip today. But the glare, oh my. I keep the shade down to minimize the glare of daylight. The glare comes at you from the side and not from above which is why I prefer the shades down too. One more reason for those redeye flights, no glare from the windows.

[bamagal62]

12. The glare is brutal.

I hate when people aren’t aware of that.
If you can’t see land, close the friggin’ blinds.

[Celerity]

11. This has been going on for so long, especially on long flights from Europe & Asia to other continents. I like it, a lot.

[Melon]

13. If it a long flight early or late I'll shut it.

If the sun is glaring in I’ll shut it.
Other than that if someone asks politely I try and be pleasant.
If you tell me what to do I’ll stare into your soul and leave it.

[Cheezoholic]

15. I ALWAYS sit by the window and that shade never shuts. If you're worried about it get a window seat and shut it

There's too much to look at out there from that rare perspective and I soak in my plane tickets worth. I've flown over 500 times in my life and the things I've seen out that window. Nope, ain't happening. Sorry if anyone thinks it's rude. Like I said if it's gonna bother someone that much they shoulda bought their own window seat. I can't put a pillow over that baby's head so my window shades staying open

[kairos12]

16. Blinded by the Flight.

[littlemissmartypants]

17. I'd quickly be very polite in reminding someone that I considered my purchase of a window seat...

For very personal reasons. And then decline the request.

[Buns_of_Fire]

19. They're only doing it for your own good...

[JCMach1]

20. Your view (no pun intended) changes when you are like hour

8, or 9 into a flight. At maximum altitude there is very little to look at.

I hesitate to call anything within the US a flight. They are so short. Pretty much do what you want then

Long haul international...? These are NOT the same.

[Emile]

21. I don't fly very often. Looking out the window is fun.

[MineralMan]

23. When I fly, which is rarely now, I choose a window seat in an emergency exit row.

My wife sits in the aisle seat in that row. I have the window shade up so i can watch the passing scenery. Unless the sun is coming in the window. Then I close it.

I'd object to being forced to close that shade. These days, you pay extra for window seats. They have windows. Use them if you pay for them.

Social media is full of bullshit posts. I have never heard airline staff telling passengers to close those shades.

[Pobeka]

24. Natural light is better for us.

My architect daughter tells me that over and over. Lots of studies showing that fact. Getting natural light into built structures is a major consideration these days.

That full spectrum of light frequency coming through the window is far better than any artificial lighting from the plane.

Keep the shade up if you want.

If people want to watch a movie, they can up the brightness on their mobile screens.

If people want to sleep, they can bring an eye mask. I wonder if there are eye masks available on a plane if you ask?

Personally, if I am reading a book on a plane, I far prefer the natural light from a window over the artificial lighting.

Lowering the shade on the tarmac to help prevent heat from coming into the cabin makes perfect sense too.

[True Dough]

26. Shade up or down,

I've been discouraged from climbing out on the wing. What can a guy do for a little excitement these days???

[Mark.b2]

27. I take 2-3 trips a month on American....

and I alwys take a window seat, when it’s available. And it nearly always is.

I will always open the window. I like knowing where I am, plus I do like looking out the window.

If bright sunlight is beaming through the window, I will close the shade part-way or completely. It just depends on the situation.

But, at the end of the day, as the window seat occupier, I decide when to open and close (except when the flight attendant instructs me otherwise). But, I’m alwys considerate of my fellow passengers. In 30+ years of frequent flying, I’ve never had a problem with anyone.

[beaglelover]

29. I feel very claustrophobic (sp?) when all the window shades are closed during a daytime flight.

If I'm in a window seat, I will close it a little but not all the way. I'm not giving into entitled people who cry that they can't see the content on their phones if the shades are up.

[City Lights]

30. Why have windows if the blinds are to remain shut?

I love looking out the window when flying. If a passenger wants to "rest," let them wear an eye mask.

[intheflow]

32. Was it an international flight?

Was it a nighttime flight? If so, this might be reasonable. If not, it seems weird.

[live love laugh]

34. The post I saw didn't give a location.

I’d seen prior posts about putting shades down but when I flew from Seattle only two weeks ago 95% of the shades were down in broad daylight. I thought this really seems to be a “thing”. Then seeing yet another post further piqued my curiosity.

[Takket]

33. That's absurd

Window shades are operable for a reason. If they were supposed to be closed than the window would simply not exist. If you want to sleep and the light is bothering you, that’s what eye masks are for.