Lets talk about the 787 windows

[Mr H]

I cannot however pay to avoid harsh sunlight streaming in!

Of course you can, just pay for a window seat and you can control the blind.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of course you can, just pay for a window seat and you can control the blind.

Yes, in theory. But just one window open can disrupt the entire cabin. Can’t buy em all!

 

[justinbrett]

Of course you can, just pay for a window seat and you can control the blind.

It sounds like you don’t understand how one open window can affect the light in the entire cabin. It’s not just your immediate neighbours you are bothering.

This is why windows are locked, and if fitted with manual shades, cabin crew direct pax to keep them closed.

 

[jb747]

It sounds like you don’t understand how one open window can affect the light in the entire cabin. It’s not just your immediate neighbours you are bothering.

Understanding doesn’t equal empathy.

 

[Mr H]

This is why windows are locked, and if fitted with manual shades, cabin crew direct pax to keep them closed.

Can they direct you? I was on a TK flight and the cabin crew tried to make everyone put their windows down. I objected and was told to put them down anyway. I asked whether it was a direction and the cabin crew went away to consult and came back and agreed it was not. So my window stayed open.

 

[justinbrett]

Can they direct you? I was on a TK flight and the cabin crew tried to make everyone put their windows down. I objected and was told to put them down anyway. I asked whether it was a direction and the cabin crew went away to consult and came back and agreed it was not. So my window stayed open.

I think maybe you should be flying private.

 

[Mr H]

I think maybe you should be flying private.

I've been saying this to myself for years.

 

[jb747]

Can they direct you? I was on a TK flight and the cabin crew tried to make everyone put their windows down. I objected and was told to put them down anyway. I asked whether it was a direction and the cabin crew went away to consult and came back and agreed it was not. So my window stayed open.

Actually they can. You don't get to choose what instructions you follow. To be honest though, you come across as a horror, entitled, passenger.

 

[Daver6]

I cannot however pay to avoid harsh sunlight streaming in!

How do you manage to survive in a regular office, other public transport, Ubers etc where that terrible sunlight just comes on in? (tongue in cheek comment)

 

[Sprucegoose]

you can control the blind

Would it not be possible for the crew to override this if this control/option was specified in the contract?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How do you manage to survive in a regular office, other public transport, Ubers etc where that terrible sunlight just comes on in? (tongue in cheek comment)

Tongue in cheek or not, I don't see any correlation between the situations you mention and a flight.

But in the office, we lower the blinds to stop glare.

 

[jb747]

But in the office, we lower the blinds to stop glare.

And fire those who intentionally antagonise others?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Actually they can. You don't get to choose what instructions you follow. To be honest though, you come across as a horror, entitled, passenger.

I'm pretty sure passengers are required to follow instructions related to safety, or keeping order in the cabin. Closing a blind is unlikely to fall into that category.

An instruction to raise the blind however is likely to be safety related in relation to takeoff/landing etc

The problem with refusing such a request however is the potential to escalate. Which is then not an issue of crew instructions, but potentially interfering with crew in their duties, etc.

 

[RichardMEL]

But in the office, we lower the blinds to stop glare.

OT, but this reminds me of some people I used to work with in an office.

Open office situation, two desks facing each other over a partition, both sharing a large window. One preferred the blind open, the other preferred it closed. It became a ridiculous "battle" (that went on over years I kid you not!). One would leave, the other would change the blind, the other leaves, blind changed again. You'd think grown cough adults could actually sort themselves out, but it honestly was this "window war" that was crazy. I was on the other end of one of these shared desks, so in aircraft cabin analogy, on the aisle seat, so had no real say either way and did not want to get involved in the stupidity, but frankly I wanted the blind down when the sun was coming in, and didn't mind if it was up at other times.

the pettiness that went on at times was mind blowing though.


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As for obeying crewmember instructions vs. a "request" like closing the window shade (which I think is what @Mr H was getting at above) I'm reminded of certain other, currently very quiet frequent posters, who not too long ago declared the seat belt sign optional during cruise because they felt it didn't apply to them.... but I digress.

 

[RooFlyer]

@Spacetravel I find the emergency card can be used as a manual ‘blind’ and covers most of a 787 window. Just shove the four corners into the panelling (angled off vertical).

I tried that with my Santiago flight mentioned above when I was trying to sleep, but it wouldn’t stay fixed there.

Some 787bwindows, specially earlier builds imo, darken less than others. Some I have been on and the max dark is more a dark green, and sunlight can still shine through to a degree and cast the cabin in a greenish light.

Again, on my Santiago flight I mentioned up thread or in my trip report, that I was trying to get some sleep with the window on full tint of course, but it wasn’t sufficient. I had the sun shining directly onto my face. Had to turn over which had the disadvantage of me being on my painful hip. Yeah yeah, life’s tough and I could always take a private jet (I mean, really?) but these wretched windows are neither fish nor fowl. Don’t keep the light out - certainly not the direct sun through the window, and don’t allow proper view of the outside.

 

[Mr H]

To be honest though, you come across as a horror, entitled, passenger.

Because I want to have daylight in the daytime? Don't you think it's me who is being normal and those who want to sit in darkness who are being abnormal?

 

[MelbFlyer]

I've been on a 787 a handful of times and I don't have an issue with the crew locking the electrochromatic windows as I never have a window seat to begin with - I'm an aisle person.

Even if I did (and the crew didn't lock them), I'd darken it a bit during the day as it's way too bright after a few minutes.

 

[Eastwick20]

I think the key here is that more and more airlines outside of status, charge for a seat selection and the seat selection is advertised and sold as a choice of Window seat / Middle seat / Aisle seat

So the ( possibly legal ) argument is if I have selected a window seat for an extra cost to look out of, but then don't have access to that window because its locked shut then what did I pay for?

Would I not have argument to ask for a refund for the extra amount?

If the crew can decide weather the window is to be closed for the entire flight then surely an airline cant charge extra for that seat option?

The only option with a real tangible benefit to pre pay for would be an aisle in that case.

 

[Dutton]

I travelled on a 13-hour BA 787 flight a week ago which left LHR at 7pm and arrived at SIN at 4.15pm. The cabin was dark the whole time until 1 hour before landing. I don't think the windows were locked as one window was partly open (I was in an aisle seat). My question is: how can your body adjust to Singapore time if you spend most of the Singapore day in darkness? I honestly think that it's part of the crew play (not just on BA) - heat the cabin and keep it dark to keep the service requests down.

 

[Mr H]

I travelled on a 13-hour BA 787 flight a week ago which left LHR at 7pm and arrived at SIN at 4.15pm. The cabin was dark the whole time until 1 hour before landing. I don't think the windows were locked as one window was partly open (I was in an aisle seat). My question is: how can your body adjust to Singapore time if you spend most of the Singapore day in darkness? I honestly think that it's part of the crew play (not just on BA) - heat the cabin and keep it dark to keep the service requests down.

And the good little sheeple go along with it.