BA 787 Window Blinds
Thread Starter

Joined: Aug 2002
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
BA 787 Window Blinds
Are window seat passengers permitted control of the shades outwith take off and landing or are they enforcing black outs on daylight flights to keep the us poor SLF sedated and less bothersome?
Anyone had relevant experience? I am looking to book and I am tempted to choose the B787 option but I need my window view.
Thanks!
Anyone had relevant experience? I am looking to book and I am tempted to choose the B787 option but I need my window view.
Thanks!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 137
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From: UK
Why be so concerned about the 787? My experience these days is that passengers have no control over any blind, manual or electronic. The crew on day flights go around telling people to have them down and in some cases get the senior purser to tell off those recalcitrant PAYING passengers to do as they are told.
I can supply a list of long haul airlines operating this policy in my substantial experience.
Night flights I understand the need for the policy. Day flights I don't. I have seen on here, and heard people say it is because there are passengers who joined the flight and are in another time zone and therefore need to sleep. It is in my view another degradation of what was once a wonderful experience. For example, flying over Greenland, flying over northern east Russia, flying over Siberia, flying over the Oman, flying over north west Australia, seeing the Himalayas when crossing India, crossing Baltistan, seeing Afghanistan in both the summer and the winter, flying over Mont Blanc. All stunning views on a clear day.
I can supply a list of long haul airlines operating this policy in my substantial experience.
Night flights I understand the need for the policy. Day flights I don't. I have seen on here, and heard people say it is because there are passengers who joined the flight and are in another time zone and therefore need to sleep. It is in my view another degradation of what was once a wonderful experience. For example, flying over Greenland, flying over northern east Russia, flying over Siberia, flying over the Oman, flying over north west Australia, seeing the Himalayas when crossing India, crossing Baltistan, seeing Afghanistan in both the summer and the winter, flying over Mont Blanc. All stunning views on a clear day.
Joined: Nov 1999
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Came back from EWR on one a couple of weeks ago.
The windows don't "black out" they simply tint. You can see out of them in any event. Rather like sunglasses, it is the glare and brightness that is reduced in a handful of stages. For a window seat dweller they should represent a great improvement since you can always see out of them (even at maximum dimming) and you cannot be asked to close the blind.
The windows don't "black out" they simply tint. You can see out of them in any event. Rather like sunglasses, it is the glare and brightness that is reduced in a handful of stages. For a window seat dweller they should represent a great improvement since you can always see out of them (even at maximum dimming) and you cannot be asked to close the blind.
Thread Starter

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,173
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
gdiphil, passengers do have the option to put it back up as it's not a safety issue. I have been challenged by annoyed cabin crew but I have an evil stare that works well, in a "customer is always right and I am not eight years old" kinda way. If that fails I explain I am anxiously claustrophobic and it relaxes me to see out. That usually works....
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Somewhere over the Rainbow
Covered in an earlier post http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ht-flight.html
Personally the tint is brilliant
Personally the tint is brilliant
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: UK
Skipness. I agree with your comment. Just got back from a trip with Mrs gdi to BKK flying premium economy on EVA. Nice product although I don't like the seats, but she did. However she was very annoyed by the cabin crew wanting the blinds down on the day flight back to LHR. Why the cabin crew want this is beyond me. Needless to say she ignored it when she wanted to look out the window, particularly over Afghanistan with fantastic views of the snowy capped mountains.
Paxing All Over The World


Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
How could anyone equate charging you extra to pre book a window seat and then making you keep the blind shut
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: UK
I have only heard good reports about the 787's windows, from those who want to watch films, those who wish to sleep, and those (like me) who love to see our planet. I presume they makes life a lot easier for the Flight Attendants too, as they are the ones who have to face irritated passengers whatever they decide about the position of the blinds.
It seems to me to be a genuine advance in cabin design, but leaves me with a question...presumably there is a weight saving without all the blinds, but were dimming windows chosen to end the "Battle of the Blinds" or are there other advantages or reasons for the dimming windows?
It seems to me to be a genuine advance in cabin design, but leaves me with a question...presumably there is a weight saving without all the blinds, but were dimming windows chosen to end the "Battle of the Blinds" or are there other advantages or reasons for the dimming windows?
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: UK
I think the larger size is a fortunate consequence of the better strength and stress properties of the hull's construction rather than a design aimed primarily at passenger pleasure.
However but I have the impression that specifying dimming glass WAS primarily to increase pleasure, and if so it is a decision which I applaud!
However but I have the impression that specifying dimming glass WAS primarily to increase pleasure, and if so it is a decision which I applaud!





