So let the Sun Shine in...

[kevrosmith]

Grrr.. not too happy this morning with my VA FAs effort to "make my flight as comfortable as possible, please don't hesitate to ask" spiel. With the early morning sunrise blaring through the window on the eastern side of the plane - I was on the western side - I asked the FA if they could get the pax at seat A to draw the window shade: they were sleeping anyway! He leans over and says to the pax "would you like to draw your shade to sleep better?", to which the answer was "no, I'm fine". Ahem... what about the rest of us. Couldn't they have said "do you mind drawing the shade for the other pax in the plane..."?? What would other people expect in this situation. I thought the FA could've done a better job at making it more comfortable for everyone else.

 

[tuppaware]

Grrr.. not too happy this morning with my VA FAs effort to "make my flight as comfortable as possible, please don't hesitate to ask" spie.........her pax in the plane..."?? What would other people expect in this situation. I thought the FA could've done a better job at making it more comfortable for everyone else.

And what if you wanted the blinds open, and someone else asked them to be closed? Would you let someone else dictate your choice ?

 

[ejb]

Until we all travel in private planes I don't see any end to this problem.

I always like to have the shade down and if I am in the window seat do so when allowed but if I am not at the window seat I live with whatever happens as I know if someone asked me to put it up I would decline unless told to do so by a FA.

ejb

 

[Alanslegal]

i might end up looking like a douche-bag but i resort to wearing my sunnies if and when some pax wants to keep the shades open :-|

 

[Nigelinoz]

I prefer to have the shades up when sitting in a window seat because for me it lessens the feeling of being enclosed in a metal tube away from the outside world,however having said that if I'm asked to close it then I do so,I have no desire to antagonise my fellow passengers,I guess it's a case of give and take.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[mannej]

Where do you draw the line of making your flight as comfortable as possible to the detriment of someone else's comfort?


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[ozmille]

I tend to prefer the shades to be closed. The glare on my IFE screen irritates me. Usually during night flights the crew make sure they are all down.

 

[samh004]

In the OP’s case, if the pax was sleeping anyway, I don’t see why the FA couldn’t have suggested more firmly closing the shade, however if he was awake and gazing out then it’d be more about his choice.

Perhaps the pax genuinely didn’t realise someone else wanted the shade shut t aid in their comfort, and perhaps kevrosmith could have leaned over himself and asked the pax.

 

[JetLagged]

The passenger responded to the FAs question - which was not really a good reflection on the request that the OP had made. I for one believe the FA should have tackfully mentioned that the open shade was irritating others, and given that the other passenger was trying to sleep anyway....

 

[kevrosmith]

Yes, some of you have touched on the general thoughts I was having at the time.

I could've leaned over and asked, but they were 4 seats + aisle away. I did think to do that, but I generally don't like to make a fuss. If I was a seat or two away, it would've been much easier and I would've felt quite comfortable to politely ask.

I was also thinking about the pax around me: I had my laptop out, doing work, flicking between folders and plastic pouches etc. The sun was reflecting off my laptop and flickered off all the plastic everytime I moved them. I'm sure this was causing the people next to me discomfort as well. (I was in the middle seat). So I was feeling bad for them

The fella next to me did resort to keeping his sunnies on.

I just thought the FA didn't look at the overall situation very well and their specific question led to a pretty closed-response.

I'm not usually one to make a fuss but I thought it was handled poorly.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I tend to prefer the shades to be closed. The glare on my IFE screen irritates me. Usually during night flights the crew make sure they are all down.

I agree with this, particularly in J, or even better F as the FA's close the shades prior to making my bed up for me :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

Where do you draw the line of making your flight as comfortable as possible to the detriment of someone else's comfort?

And some people take full advantage of the situation by making themselves comfortable without any thought for those around them.

Reclining at all times including meal services, faulty headphones leaking noise, hog armrests, sit in window seats when they know they will get up every hour or so etc.

We are all travelling together in the same metal tube in the sky for a few hours. It is not that hard to stop and think what you are doing and how it will impact those around you....

 

[8803]

Similar situation in J aboard QF485 MEL to PER (763, VH-ZXA) last Saturday morning (I was in 3A on a JASA).

Elderly gentleman sitting in 2B, next to his wife in 2A, complained to the FA mid-flight that the sun glare entering the open shade in 1K, reflecting off the passenger's wine glass, was making it difficult for him to read his book.

FA duly went over to the younger lady (wearing sunglasses, with her feet up) & with a big smile, politely asked if she'd mind closing her shade as the passenger in 2B had complained about the reflected glare. No complaints from 1K & shade closed.

My initial reaction was that I thought it was a bit precious to be complaining about such a trivial matter (& that I had to post a recollection of this here ASAP!), because as others have mentioned, you choose where you sit, but I have a greater appreciation of this issue if you're trying to work (as I was trying to do). I wasn't going to bother posting until the OP started this thread!

 

[Hvr]

I would actually prefer the shade up when travelling and would decline the request if so made. Although given that I usually sit on the aisle I respect that it is the window person's call.

In Feb this year I was travelling ICN-NRT (JAL) and was the only person in J. Just after take off the FAs went around and closed all of the shades. I didn't say anything because I really didn't care and it would be churlish to make them go back and put them up but I suspect they would have been very happy to do so.

At the last minute before the seat belt sign went on they then went around and put all of the shades up.

I was sitting in the middle section so I wasn't bothered at all.

 

[JetLagged]

In Feb this year I was travelling ICN-NRT (JAL) and was the only person in J.

Wow - must have been a VERY quiet flight - and a very lonely one in many ways. Are you sure you had used your deodrant that morning?