A / C Window blinds
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RE Aircraft Windows
I feel very strongly about the window issue, and I have discovered a new breed of traveller. This is the person who requests a window seat, and then keeps the blind shut for the whole flight.
I flew DXB - JNB a few weeks ago, and since I was connecting from MCT through Dubai, I was too late to request a window seat. I then asked for the B seat in the A330, and ended up next to a chap who admitted requesting the window seat. He then kept the blind down the whole flight, from about 20min after takeoff to about 10 min before landing! The flight was in daylight the whole way, 09h00 - 16h00 local times, and as a result of my neighbour's decision re the blind, I missed seeing the tops of a tropical storm in the Mozambique channel!
Why do people ask for a seat by the window if they have no intention of looking out of it?
I flew DXB - JNB a few weeks ago, and since I was connecting from MCT through Dubai, I was too late to request a window seat. I then asked for the B seat in the A330, and ended up next to a chap who admitted requesting the window seat. He then kept the blind down the whole flight, from about 20min after takeoff to about 10 min before landing! The flight was in daylight the whole way, 09h00 - 16h00 local times, and as a result of my neighbour's decision re the blind, I missed seeing the tops of a tropical storm in the Mozambique channel!
Why do people ask for a seat by the window if they have no intention of looking out of it?
Paxing All Over The World
Yes MB, I agree!!!
I had one of these on my last LHR--JFK in Y. I was in the B seat and hoping to see something of the world, or simply daylight.
He pulled the blind down, hunched against the wall and slept most of the way. They seem to request the window to sleep. I only request the window to look out of the bleedin' thing! .
By the way, MB, I see it's your first post - so welcome aboard. We're a fairly well behaved bunch back here but just wait until someone mentions the quality of airline tea ...
I had one of these on my last LHR--JFK in Y. I was in the B seat and hoping to see something of the world, or simply daylight.
He pulled the blind down, hunched against the wall and slept most of the way. They seem to request the window to sleep. I only request the window to look out of the bleedin' thing! .
By the way, MB, I see it's your first post - so welcome aboard. We're a fairly well behaved bunch back here but just wait until someone mentions the quality of airline tea ...
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Aaaarrrrgggghhh ......
I thought that I was alone in wanting to keep the blind up, until I discovered this thread. Should we all travel with a little tube of superglue, and practice the innocent expression whilst saying "I'm sorry Miss but it seems to be stuck!"
But the only thing that I really need is some device or drug that prevents the great quantities of beer that I drink being processed into my rather small bladder at 35,000 feet.
cur
I thought that I was alone in wanting to keep the blind up, until I discovered this thread. Should we all travel with a little tube of superglue, and practice the innocent expression whilst saying "I'm sorry Miss but it seems to be stuck!"
But the only thing that I really need is some device or drug that prevents the great quantities of beer that I drink being processed into my rather small bladder at 35,000 feet.
cur
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Sleepers in the window seat irritate me, too. I guess they select it in order to minimise disturbance, but in a wide-body why not go for a central seat?
So far we seem to be about 9-1 in favour of blinds up. Maybe we can persuade some companies to change their policy!
Does anyone feel that a seatback video screen with an electronic 'view' is an acceptable substitute (it's certainly better than nothing)? I seem to remember reading that Airbus & Boeing have estimated that removing windows in the cabin would save $10M on the cost of an airliner, but that PAX would never wear it.
So far we seem to be about 9-1 in favour of blinds up. Maybe we can persuade some companies to change their policy!
Does anyone feel that a seatback video screen with an electronic 'view' is an acceptable substitute (it's certainly better than nothing)? I seem to remember reading that Airbus & Boeing have estimated that removing windows in the cabin would save $10M on the cost of an airliner, but that PAX would never wear it.
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I don't think that the seatback video feed is an alternative to the Mk I human eyeball looking out of the window.
When I flew EK their A330 had the forward and downward looking cameras, which were really cool on t/o and landing, but at altitude they really did not help much. The plasma/lcd screen does not really get any kind of detail looking forward at FL410, and a downward view does not mean much if you can't put it into context by looking down from a window....
So I guess, in my book the score is Window seat 1 - Seatback camera 0....
When I flew EK their A330 had the forward and downward looking cameras, which were really cool on t/o and landing, but at altitude they really did not help much. The plasma/lcd screen does not really get any kind of detail looking forward at FL410, and a downward view does not mean much if you can't put it into context by looking down from a window....
So I guess, in my book the score is Window seat 1 - Seatback camera 0....
Paxing All Over The World
I have heard this point - that pax would not stomach the removal of the windows. TOO D@MM RIGHT!!!! 
I think the other reason that people ask for the window is the perceived extra space. I say perceived because you cannot spend all the time, slumped over to the side and draped over the arm rest.
I have not yet been on a machine that displays the external cameras on the seat back screens. Soon, I hope. I find it irritating that the SkyMap systems are only turned on ten or 15 minutes into the flight and usually turned off a few minutes before landing.
I think the other reason that people ask for the window is the perceived extra space. I say perceived because you cannot spend all the time, slumped over to the side and draped over the arm rest.
I have not yet been on a machine that displays the external cameras on the seat back screens. Soon, I hope. I find it irritating that the SkyMap systems are only turned on ten or 15 minutes into the flight and usually turned off a few minutes before landing.
If you can't spread across a couple of seats then the window seat is the best one for sleeping. You can lean agains the wall, unlike every other seat where you have to ensure you don't fall to one side or the other.
As it happens I like to look out while I'm awake, but I also like to keep my sleep/wake cycle to my final destination's timezone.
I'd rather jump across the middle & isle seat pax. on the occasions when I need to and sleep relatively undisturbed or view the scenery when I wish.
As it happens I like to look out while I'm awake, but I also like to keep my sleep/wake cycle to my final destination's timezone.
I'd rather jump across the middle & isle seat pax. on the occasions when I need to and sleep relatively undisturbed or view the scenery when I wish.
Ich bin ein Prooner.
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So it seems the majority of replies are in favour of blinds up, then. Now we ought to petition the carriers to introduce a Blinds up / Blinds down seating system as in the days of yore when it was "Smoking or no smoking, Sir / Madam?"
Whilst the thread meanders towards external cameras, I came back from Dubai to H/Row on an Emirates 777 a couple of years ago, which had two cameras, one looking vertically down, the other in the nose, which displayed in the seat back vid. screen, and the Captain was a Top Wallah, he kept the cameras on right up to the gate at the terminal.
It was a cracking view from the nose camera on final and landing. If there had been a set of controls at my seat, I could have probably lent a hand with the landing! (There again, perhaps not!)
Whilst the thread meanders towards external cameras, I came back from Dubai to H/Row on an Emirates 777 a couple of years ago, which had two cameras, one looking vertically down, the other in the nose, which displayed in the seat back vid. screen, and the Captain was a Top Wallah, he kept the cameras on right up to the gate at the terminal.
It was a cracking view from the nose camera on final and landing. If there had been a set of controls at my seat, I could have probably lent a hand with the landing! (There again, perhaps not!)
I think you guys are being a bit harsh on atco-matic. Maybe he has to sleep. There have been a couple of times I have Done JFK-LHR where I have left the US office 4PM EST to be in the UK office 9AM GMT and its difficult to do 2 days work without sleep between them.
It does appear that the majority here are keen on the blinds open but considering the nature of this site that is only to be expected. I have been in BA business class from SEA-LHR with no one in the compartment intrested in the blinds being open and almost all asleep.
Having said that I did not need to go to work after the SEA-LHR flight so ended up sat on the floor by the main door looking out the window and chatting to the stewardesses as I like looking out too - problem solved.
It does appear that the majority here are keen on the blinds open but considering the nature of this site that is only to be expected. I have been in BA business class from SEA-LHR with no one in the compartment intrested in the blinds being open and almost all asleep.
Having said that I did not need to go to work after the SEA-LHR flight so ended up sat on the floor by the main door looking out the window and chatting to the stewardesses as I like looking out too - problem solved.
Paxing All Over The World
under-ex what a very good excuse fopr chatting to the cabin crew, "The blinds are all down, so I have to sit with you." Good plan.
