This is one of those never-ending questions in air travel: who controls the window shades on a flight?
In my opinion, the person sitting on the window seat decides after considering input from other passengers and crew members.
I decided to write about this because of a tense conversation I had with an Air France flight attendant on a very long flight. (The image above is from a Malaysia Airlines flight I took earlier today. )
She tried to shame me for opening the window shade after I had slept more than 8 hours and when it was an early afternoon in the arrival city.
The flight from Paris to Tokyo was delayed by an hour or two way past midnight. I was seated in the business class cabin.
I let the flight attendant know upon boarding that I was not partaking in any F&B festivities during the flight. I had purchased a bottle of San Pellegrino from the airport shop that would sustain me for the duration of the flight.
Why would an airline serve dinner at around 2 AM (departure city time) and then breakfast around 6 PM (arrival city time)?
These timings make absolutely no sense from the passengers’ perspective but may be optimized for the crew members’ comfort (at least with Air France).
Right after takeoff, I slept for eight or so hours and was ready to get some work done.
I prefer working when there is enough light, and the light options that airline seats usually provide are rather dim. So, I partially opened the window shades to get some natural light.
And here is when the issue began.
A flight attendant came and asked me to close the window shade for the comfort of the other passengers.
I asked if the passengers could not use the eye shades provided in the amenity kits and if they really cared about my or other passengers’ comfort during these nonsensical meal times.
The conversation continued for a while, and the flight attendant suggested that I should fly with Middle Eastern airlines capable of offering on-demand dining. I told her that I understood that the flight attendants prefer dark cabins, so they have to do the absolute minimum amount of work during the flight.
It was one weird conversation.
Conclusion
I usually try to time sleeping and resting on these long-haul flights in a way that makes sense in the arrival time zone, and I usually skip all the meal services unless the airline offers on-demand dining.
Natural light helps me keep my alertness up, and it is easier to get some work done during these flights (like writing this piece on this Malaysia Airlines flight) when you are not tired.
I use the eyeshades and earplugs to sleep when other passengers are enjoying the in-flight F&B, but why shouldn’t I be able to use the window shades for my comfort?
I understand that the flight attendants wish to control the cabin’s ambiance, so they have to do the absolute minimum amount of work and get passengers to sleep most of the time.
The Air France flight attendant could have asked if I would close or lower the window shade, but trying to shame me into doing it was over the line for me.
So, in your opinion, who controls the window shade and why? Please comment below.
