Window Shades UP or DOWN?

[Mattg]

I flew from MEL to KUL today. It was a beautiful, clear day and we were getting some great views of southern Australia after takeoff. Then about 40 minutes into the flight (before the meal service even began!) the crew came around telling passengers to put their window shades down. I must admit, I was pretty annoyed. It was a daytime flight - no need for a pitch black cabin.

 

[sinophile888]

So what did you do?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I flew from MEL to KUL today. It was a beautiful, clear day and we were getting some great views of southern Australia after takeoff. Then about 40 minutes into the flight (before the meal service even began!) the crew came around telling passengers to put their window shades down. I must admit, I was pretty annoyed. It was a daytime flight - no need for a pitch black cabin.

Oh that's easy. Customers connecting to Europe wanting to adjust to the time at their destination the minute they step on board*... it would still be dark in Europe

*based on feedback from the same panel of passengers QF uses that demanded the charging for exit rows, cafe breakfasts, removal of ATA etc etc

 

[Mattg]

So what did you do?

I didn't have much of a choice but to put it down. But I'll admit I was one of those annoying people that kept opening it to see the view outside. It was a fairly empty flight and I had the row to myself, so hopefully I didn't annoy too many people. (Some passengers did this even more frequently than I did.)

I did question the FA as to why the shades needed to be down on a daytime flight. He said that other passengers needed to sleep. It was 11am (8am at the destination)...

 

[patdthompson]

I flew from MEL to KUL today. It was a beautiful, clear day and we were getting some great views of southern Australia after takeoff. Then about 40 minutes into the flight (before the meal service even began!) the crew came around telling passengers to put their window shades down. I must admit, I was pretty annoyed. It was a daytime flight - no need for a pitch black cabin.

Oh, fair go, who needs the cabin in darkness during a daylight flight. If people want to sleep, sleep. Or is this a conspiracy to lighten the load of the FA's?

 

[Pushka]

Oh, fair go, who needs the cabin in darkness during a daylight flight. If people want to sleep, sleep. Or is this a conspiracy to lighten the load of the FA's?

More complex than that on International flights.
The only time I have seen them drawn on a domestic flight is if there is a sun issue. Or the window seat person wants to sleep. Their call in this case.

 

[get me outta here]

I have some good quality eye shades, so sunlight from an open shade does not bother me any more. I usually look out of the window now and then, but I do find the light often blinding, especially if it's early morning and I've just woken from insufficient sleep.

 

[Cocitus23]

I'm definitely an UP person. There is so much more to learn from the passing geography than there is from the damn IFE. But the discussion here reminds me of a funny (?) experience I had once. I was flying SYD - JNB and I was admiring the Tasmanian scenery. (I know, I know, some of you are going to say 'That's not possible, way off route'. But, believe me, that's the way they go - all to do with Great Circle Routes. Now I wouldn't even know this if I wasn't looking out the window, would I?)

In any case, while I was enjoying the view, I was accosted by this big burly South African guy (Sith Efrikan, if you like), whose aggressive words to me were "You should know that most people consider it very rude not to lower the shades." I should have told him to jump off, but I meekly apologised and lowered the shade, like some guilty thief caught in the act. I was annoyed by his presumption, as much as by my own meekness. I was sitting in seat A, i.e. left hand side, which I had deliberately chosen because of the great views of the coast of Antarctica which it offers. So I missed the carving icebergs and the sensational views of Kerguelen Island on that trip. And so too will you, if you switch yourself from the views which air travel has to offer!

Cocitus23

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm definitely an UP person. There is so much more to learn from the passing geography than there is from the damn IFE. But the discussion here reminds me of a funny (?) experience I had once. I was flying SYD - JNB and I was admiring the Tasmanian scenery. (I know, I know, some of you are going to say 'That's not possible, way off route'. But, believe me, that's the way they go - all to do with Great Circle Routes. Now I wouldn't even know this if I wasn't looking out the window, would I?)

Great Circle Mapper

 

[opusman]

Now I wouldn't even know this if I wasn't looking out the window, would I?

They have these things nowadays called computers that can show you all sorts of stuff.

 

[DC3]

Many AFFers would know when the view will be worth a look. Other than that I prefer shades down.

 

[SeatBackForward]

They have these things nowadays called computers that can show you all sorts of stuff.

I can see it now, the Airbus A450 and the Boeing 888, now featuring IFE Window Cam, where passengers can select the view from ANY window on their IFE console..that'll remove the shades up/down issue.
"Ohh look mamma I can see my house out the window on my screen"

 

[Hvr]

Maybe there is a solution, if you put your shades down you can recline. Otherwise your seat is fully upright.

 

[Cocitus23]

Thanks for the map, SeatbackForward. Actually, they follow that route almost exactly on the return trip, i.e. JNB - SYD. You will notice that the route brings you into Australia over Cape Otway and continues on directly over the top of Melbourne. From my study in Port Melbourne I can see the vapour trace of the QF flight at lunchtime every day.

On the forward route, SYD - JNB they go much further south, departing Australia over Maatsuyker Island at the southern tip of Tassie, passing tangentially along the coast of Antarctica and reaching South Africa over Durban. I have assumed that the more southerly route is to avoid the westerly winds in the low 40s and 50s latitudes, but someone else might have better knowledge.

Sorry to have led the thread away from shades up or down, but you can see that I have actually learned a few things from travelling with the shade UP.

Cocitus23.

Cocitus23.

 

[opusman]

On the forward route, SYD - JNB they go much further south, departing Australia over Maatsuyker Island at the southern tip of Tassie, passing tangentially along the coast of Antarctica and reaching South Africa over Durban. I have assumed that the more southerly route is to avoid the westerly winds in the low 40s and 50s latitudes, but someone else might have better knowledge.

Maybe depends on winds, looking at the last 7 tracks on FR24, only one went over Tassie, the rest nowhere near.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/qf63/#8807bc7

 

[SeatBackForward]

Thanks for the map, SeatbackForward. Actually, they follow that route almost exactly on the return trip, i.e. JNB - SYD. You will notice that the route brings you into Australia over Cape Otway and continues on directly over the top of Melbourne. From my study in Port Melbourne I can see the vapour trace of the QF flight at lunchtime every day.

On the forward route, SYD - JNB they go much further south, departing Australia over Maatsuyker Island at the southern tip of Tassie, passing tangentially along the coast of Antarctica and reaching South Africa over Durban. I have assumed that the more southerly route is to avoid the westerly winds in the low 40s and 50s latitudes, but someone else might have better knowledge.

Sorry to have led the thread away from shades up or down, but you can see that I have actually learned a few things from travelling with the shade UP.

Cocitus23.

Cocitus23.

GCMap calculates the shortest Greater Circle distance between two ports. Flights will deviate from this for many reasons, wind, distance from nearest airport, etc. Its an interesting exercise of viewing how GC distance actually flow. Later this year I'll probably do HKG-YYZ:

Definitely one for Shades UP - as much as possible on a 15hr flight that cuts through sleep time, over an Arctic Northern Summer

 

[Mattg]

So, I flew CMB to LHR the other day. Once again it was a daylight flight, but the window shades were all lowered!

The flight left around lunchtime (early morning London time) and arrived about 7pm. Not sure why anyone would want to sleep, but anyway. About 5 hours in we had just hit land over Oman and I was thoroughly enjoying the view, when the crew came around asking all passengers to lower their window shades as it was "time to sleep".

This is the view we had:



Shortly afterwards we flew over Abu Dhabi and I had a peak out the window:





Why would I want to sleep or watch IFE with those kind of views?!

 

[njba]

I dunno if it's a 'formal' policy - but JAL issues their cabin crew little sticks with a rubber knob on the end... the cabin reach over passengers to lower the shades with said devices. There was no argument! :shock:

That's so typically Japanese. With a bow I'd imagine, too.

 

[wombatpatties]

I didn't have much of a choice but to put it down. But I'll admit I was one of those annoying people that kept opening it to see the view outside. It was a fairly empty flight and I had the row to myself, so hopefully I didn't annoy too many people. (Some passengers did this even more frequently than I did.)

I did question the FA as to why the shades needed to be down on a daytime flight. He said that other passengers needed to sleep. It was 11am (8am at the destination)...

For goodness sake, a ridiculous answer, again, catering to the masses.
Cover your own eyes up and think of others for a change. You poor pax.

 

[wombatpatties]

I am referring to the sleeping passengers and not Mattg!