Lets talk about the 787 windows

[Daver6]

I'm almost at the stage where I try to close the manual blinds even during night time, just to minimise the amount of UV exposure at cruising altitude. does anyone have any info on the performance of UV filtering on the 787's

aside from that, personally I'm not fussed and happy to use eyemasks if I'm sitting in the aisle seat

There's no significant UV light at night. Also airplane glass blocks UV radiation.

 

[jase05]

Was very happy on my recent 787 flights with Thai and Vistara that the window settings weren’t locked. Was day flights so got some stunning views of the Himalayas and the terrain over Pakistan and Iran

 

[RooFlyer]

some stunning views of the Himalayas and the terrain over Pakistan and Iran

Pictures of the office or it didn’t happen

 

[ole nimeton]

As someone that always chooses a window seat so I can see out, crew locking them coughs me to absolute tears. I want to be able to see out when I want to - it’s not often that I get to travel some of the routes the 787 flies and I pay good money/points to do so. Yes, always need to be considerate of people sleeping etc but crew locking the windows closed is absolutely ridiculous and can detract from the whole experience.

 

[jb747]

Don't worry about UV. All of the other radiation will get your first.

One of our Captains did his PhD studies on radiation exposure during flight. It adds up, especially if you make a habit of flying up high.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m firmly in the ‘shades locked/down’ camp. I’ll sleep any time, anywhere. And for the odd time I watch an episode of something I prefer a dark cabin so there’s no glare on the screen.

But just wondering, has anyone asked the crews to unlock the windows, and if so, what’s been the response?

 

[Austman]

Any of the US ones.

Mmmm.

I guess I don't fly on USA airlines enough.

For my dozens of flights in the last 12 months (all non-USA carriers), it's been required to have window blinds open during take-off and landing.

The crew even do it if the pax doesn't pay attention.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yeah the US carriers don't seem to worry too much about the idea of being aware of the outside environment/conditions in an emergency (which is also why they should be open at night) to quickly tell if there's fire or some other hazard to prohibit egress from a particular egress.

In the USA, the focus seems to be - specially during summer - to keep the interior as cool as possible during ground stops by shutting shades. Often requests are made to shut them before getting off.

 

[jase05]

Pictures of the office or it didn’t happen

Himalayas in the distance

Over Pakistan and with Air India giving us an escort for about 3hrs




Over Iran

 

[Princess Fiona]

Mmmm.

I guess I don't fly on USA airlines enough.

For my dozens of flights in the last 12 months (all non-USA carriers), it's been required to have window blinds open during take-off and landing.

The crew even do it if the pax doesn't pay attention.

Yeh not disagreeing with your experience ex USA but definitely inside it the shades are an absolute non issue

 

[RooFlyer]

But just wondering, has anyone asked the crews to unlock the windows, and if so, what’s been the response?

Yes, Qantas flying into Santiago. Andes coming up on the right hand side, which is why I chose to sit there, almost the whole Cabin in the middle of breakfast and I asked the shades to be unlocked so I can get a picture of the mountains. Answer was no, we do that at the top of descent.

Himalayas in the distance

Fantastic, thanks!

 

[Mattg]

What airlines allow blinds to be closed during takeoff and landing?

This is also common in Brazil.

 

[UP4014]

Only time I’ve flown a QF 787 the shades remained unlocked.

But i do prefer them to remain unlocked as I enjoy having the shade cracked enough the let a little light stream in.

 

[justinbrett]

I prefer the automatic windows to the manual kind that can be routinely opened by selfish passengers on an overnight flight, despite being specifically told not to by cabin crew. One window half open lights up the whole cabin.

The fact the 787 windows get locked is likely due to decades of experience with said selfish passengers and knowing they can’t be trusted.

 

[Scarlett]

@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).

Doesn’t help of course when you want to go the other way and lighten the windows when locked to darkest setting…

 

[Mr H]

I will generally want windows open (a) for the view and (b) because it minimises jet lag. If people want to sleep then they can find eye shades in their amenities kits. I have asked twice (once on BA and once on QR) to have windows unlocked with eventual success. It is possible for the crew to unlock individual windows. I avoid 787s where possible because of the window issue - and it is ironic that one of Boeing's selling points for the plane is the bigger windows when they have also installed a mechanism to stop pax benefiting from them.

 

[downtheback]

One person's want to see outside doesn't overule 100 people's need to sleep. No matter whether it's day or night outside, if the flight is longer than ~6-8 hours expect the majority of passengers to want to get at least some sleep.

Can always go to the exit and look out the window which is blocked by the galley curtain....

 

[Mr H]

One person's want to see outside doesn't overule 100 people's need to sleep. No matter whether it's day or night outside, if the flight is longer than ~6-8 hours expect the majority of passengers to want to get at least some sleep.

Can always go to the exit and look out the window which is blocked by the galley curtain....

Ah but it should. The window seat should be able to control the window. And I’ve never understood the people who want to sleep on daytime flights. What do they do at night? I am not convinced they are actually asleep at all, just demonstrating social compliance. And they’ll pay for it by destroying their circadian rhythms. But if they insist on sleeping they will find eye masks helpful.

 

[RichardMEL]

This is where the 787 window (and 350s with the same option) can help - if you have a dark but not opaque setting then it allows one to look out without totally disrupting the cabin.

I've been on some longer day flighrs where the windows have been set to say 50% where the light is muted for those wanting to rest, but still enough to look out. Not for photos of course, but that's a different thing I think.

 

[Mr H]

This is where the 787vwindow (and 350s with the same option) can help - if you have a dark but not opaque setting then it allows one to look out without totally disrupting the cabin.

I've been on some longer day flighrs where the windows have been set to say 50% where the light is muted for those wanting to rest, but still enough to look out. Not for photos of course, but that's a different thing I think.

This does not address the circadian rhythms bit. It’ll still stuff everyone up.