Window Blinds on Transcon Flights

[TirEoghain]

Hi folks,

I'm not sure if this was discussed anywhere before, but thought I'd just mention it here because it relates to a Virgin Australia flight from PER to SYD.

Recently I was sitting in J on VH-XFE on a 10:15am flight, arriving in Sydney at 17:30, so it was a daytime fight. We had a good til wind behind us, so the flight time was only 3.5hrs.

After the meal service was all finished up, I went to the toilet and came back to find that the whole J cabin was in darkness due to the closed window blinds. I had seen this done before on EY flights for both day time and night time flights. I generally don't like the practice anyway, but it irked me that bit more on a 3.5 hour domestic flight.

I took a walk down the back of the plane and saw that the Y cabin windows were all open. Can anyone shed any light (excuse the pun!) as to why the FAs would do this on a short day time domestic flight, or far that matter even on any day time flight?

 

[samh004]

Sounds like they didn't want to deal with the J pax, so sending them to bed early might eliminate having to cater to them

 

[TirEoghain]

That thought did cross my mind..

Had I known they were going to do that, I would have moved from 1A to 1C due to the ongoing IFE issue on that seat!

 

[simongr]

I personally prefer the blinds down - when it is very bright I can't see what is on my iPad screen. It can also get quite hot.

 

[bullerdude]

I personally prefer the blinds down - when it is very bright I can't see what is on my iPad screen. It can also get quite hot.

Likewise, I prefer the blinds down as it is easier to relax without being blinded and it is easy to work on a laptop.

 

[pythonisman]

That thought did cross my mind..

Had I known they were going to do that, I would have moved from 1A to 1C due to the ongoing IFE issue on that seat!

They still haven't fixed 1A in XFE? That's ridiculous.

I moved from 1A to 2K over 2 weeks ago because of the horrid noise coming out of the headphone jack -- surely you'd think they'd have fixed the issue by now!

 

[lovestotravel]

They still haven't fixed 1A in XFE? That's ridiculous.

I moved from 1A to 2K over 2 weeks ago because of the horrid noise coming out of the headphone jack -- surely you'd think they'd have fixed the issue by now!

I was going to start a thread on that actually, as I knew it would not be fixed for quite a while

 

[TirEoghain]

They still haven't fixed 1A in XFE? That's ridiculous.

I moved from 1A to 2K over 2 weeks ago because of the horrid noise coming out of the headphone jack -- surely you'd think they'd have fixed the issue by now!

Yep, same issue is still here. As well as the handset being taped onto the holder with duct tape. That happened me last week, 8th Oct.

I'll actually drop them a message now to advise them of the problem. I'm sure the more people tell them, the quicker they would address it.

 

[casanovawa]

I like the blinds up... I choose windows seats always so I have the option to look out the window periodically as I enjoy it and would be quite miffed if forced to put them down... If asked politely by the person next to me i might put it down for some of the way, but at the end of the day, i paid for the seat and if i want to look out the window i will... They want a dark cabin pay for a private jet... In most other things like reclining my seat etc I am quite thoughtful to those around, but a darkened cabin on a short flight in day time is a bit over the top IMO...

 

[Moody]

It's a simple concept - people in the window seats don't "own" the window, just like how people in the aisle seats don't "own" the aisle. They are both shared resources.

 

[stomplad]

I think its strange. I like the flight to reflect time of day where I am flying to. I wouldnt like a morning/afternoon flight in the dark. If I choose a day flight I chose to have a day experience not a night experience.

 

[drewbles]

FA's fed and watered the J DYKWIA's and wanted them to sleep so they could get on with their gossip in the J galley.

</tongue_in_cheek>

 

[TirEoghain]

I think its strange. I like the flight to reflect time of day where I am flying to. I wouldnt like a morning/afternoon flight in the dark. If I choose a day flight I chose to have a day experience not a night experience.

This is exactly my view on it.

Nothing to do with ownership of windows or any of that lark. Just don't want a dark cabin in the middle of a lovely day. To me the flight just isn't long enough to justify preparing the whole cabin for sleeping anyway.

 

[Moody]

This is exactly my view on it.

Nothing to do with ownership of windows or any of that lark. Just don't want a dark cabin in the middle of a lovely day. To me the flight just isn't long enough to justify preparing the whole cabin for sleeping anyway.

I doubt that they were expecting the whole cabin to go beddy-byes (though the odd individual may have done so). It was probably more about IFE screens and general glare. Maybe the solution is to retro-fit cameras to all planes (a'la A380) and let people select the outside view on screen.

Then again ... that is uncomfortably close to a Leunig cartoon.

 

[TirEoghain]

I doubt that they were expecting the whole cabin to go beddy-byes (though the odd individual may have done so). It was probably more about IFE screens and general glare. Maybe the solution is to retro-fit cameras to all planes (a'la A380) and let people select the outside view on screen.

Then again ... that is uncomfortably close to a Leunig cartoon.

I did have issue with glare once on XFD on the K side flying from SYS to PER, thinking I should have sat on the other side.. If that was the issue, you would think that they would do the same in the back of the plane.

XFA and XFB have the cameras on the IFE, but I haven't noticed if the other three have.

This year I have done 8 A330 flights, and they all had the windows open in J, except for that flight last Monday. I didn't have any red eye flights though.

 

[casanovawa]

I think video screens have been in planes for the last 20 something years haven't they and we have managed to muddle through with blinds up... I think we'll probably somehow manage it into the future as well...

 

[casanovawa]

It's a simple concept - people in the window seats don't "own" the window, just like how people in the aisle seats don't "own" the aisle. They are both shared resources.

And good, then we'll share them up unless there is a very good reason not to....

 

[lovestotravel]

I think video screens have been in planes for the last 20 something years haven't they and we have managed to muddle through with blinds up... I think we'll probably somehow manage it into the future as well...

Not on brand new Virgin 737's :shock:

 

[simongr]

And good, then we'll share them up unless there is a very good reason not to....

Good reason being I don't get blinded by the sun and I can comfortably watch the iPad.

That is as valid a reason for having them down as someone wanting to watch the clouds wanting them up.

 

[mickeyc747]

They still haven't fixed 1A in XFE? That's ridiculous.

I moved from 1A to 2K over 2 weeks ago because of the horrid noise coming out of the headphone jack -- surely you'd think they'd have fixed the issue by now!

XFE has been like that for at least 3 months