Window Shades UP or DOWN?

[Anna]

If I'm in a window seat, and I'm usually not, then UP (at least part of the way) especially when I'm trying to get my brain to adjust whatever those chemicals are that control sleep patterns/jet lag and are triggered by exposure to light/dark.

I especially hate a darkened cabin on a daytime flight between Aust and SE Asia. Always feels wrong.

 

[leadman]

I struggle a bit with the concept that you're leaving Europe aka LHR at 11:50am and within 20 minutes all shades are down! I've only been awake 4 - 5 hours, just starting the day and suddenly I'm in a cave! Not even "beer o'clock" and you have distant memories of being in a crib in the nursery ward at a hospital. Seriously I think there is a time for them to be down and not being open like 5 hours into the day flight from Europe, or opened early morning when 90% of people are asleep...

 

[Pushka]

Shades were down on the 9.30am departure from Dubai. No way was I going to be able to sleep. Was a surprise when visiting the bathroom to see sunshine and blue sea.

 

[tuapekastar]

Very rare that I'm in a window seat. If I am, and there is something interesting to look at I'll have it up...not necessarily 100% of the time, but for when I feel like looking out. I am considerate to any obvious effect on someone's enjoyment of IFE near me, but I detest when FAs go into automatic 'blinds down' mode on LH flights after meal service early afternoon. The cynic in me suggests they just want everyone to sleep so they can slack off (I don't know if that is true, just seems an odd thing to do). All that said, I'm hardly ever near the window and aesthetically don't care whether they are up or down (doubts about crew intention aside).

 

[GarrettM]

I generally like up unless, as mentioned, it's causing issues for IFE or something else. Especially when flying over some good landscape. It's been a while since I have done any long-haul or night time flying though.

Semi-related but I always prefer a window seat for any domestic legs. I don't usually have to get up to use the loo and I don't want to have to get up so others (usually my SO) can.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It's really annoying when 'everyone' has them down, all except one infrequent traveller...grrrr

Don't assume that such a traveller is infrequent, just because they have a different preference! Their preference is just as valid as yours.

 

[boomy]

Feels like déjà vu. Didn't we had this debate last year on another thread?

Anyway my preference is shades down*.
Best views are usually during take off and landing anyway.

*Apart from the QF flight to Antartica

 

[emeline]

On the SYD-LAX haul with QF in J I like to enjoy the view until after meal service. Then I close them and watch movies and eventually drift off to sleep. I normally wake about an hour or two before breakfast is served and I quite like opening a window shade, sitting up or laying on my side and looking up at the stars. I also love being able to catch that first glimmer of light that signals I'm almost in LA

 

[bsb]

Up. I go insane being in a dark cabin when trying to get into the correct time zone. If I need to sleep, I use a mask. Up Up Up

 

[Pushka]

I hate the mask though. Very uncomfortable around ears and nose.

 

[robd]

Down, down, down
(Three times for effect )

Like this?



Not for me. Generally I'm an upper. Lots of factors to consider though - length of flight, time of flight, previous flights, next flights, seat companions, sun orientation, etc.

 

[newmarket]

I hate the shades down...unless it is for glare

 

[TomVexille]

I prefer down, as the light contrast across the cabin is too annoying. My eyes can adjust too all up or all down but once in flight I prefer everyone to be down, there is nothing to be seen out there.

It's really annoying when 'everyone' has them down, all except one infrequent traveller...grrrr


Alby

How presumptuous. There's plenty to see out the window if you dare to look.

 

[newmarket]

...There's plenty to see out the window if you dare to look.

Right on, Tom. There's a whole world out there and shades down is a coffin. The overly hot economy cabins just add to the effect.

 

[Princess Fiona]

If I am at the window it is usually up.And the evidence for that milords is here-

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Those pics are wonderful but as a shades down person except for takeoff and landing I reckon I would be able to take the majority of those pics too ( admittedly they would look nowhere near as pretty as yours).
I love a window seat, forward window is in my preferences but unless it's a daytime short flight my shades go down in the cruise.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I prefer down, as the light contrast across the cabin is too annoying. My eyes can adjust too all up or all down but once in flight I prefer everyone to be down, there is nothing to be seen out there.

It's really annoying when 'everyone' has them down, all except one infrequent traveller...grrrr


Alby

Not sure that the traveller is necessarily infrequent but otherwise I totally agree with you.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

There's plenty to see out the window if you dare to look.

I've looked!

 

[TomVexille]

I've looked!

View attachment 62321

Amazing! :mrgreen:

 

[Duffa]

I agree with others who believe that the shades down thing is a ploy to make everyone fall asleep so they can go on a skeleton crew until the next meal service. I have no objection to a bit of psychological trickery but I think it is a bit rich to darken the cabin at 3 pm on a summer day.
Furthermore, more sleeping means less imbibing and all that Krug could go to waste.

p.s. Happy to keep them down for you, Cruiser.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Shades down, and miss more spectacular views?