Sherri

With the new no-locking-your-luggage rules, the amount of carry-on luggage we all try to sneak on will go up. (and the bin space available down) Who wants their stuff stolen since the can't lock their bags!!!

goin

Sherri

They can steal my stuff if they want and I'll be happy to go to the mall and get new duds.

Lisa

I agree with Bob Brown on this. Sitting by the window does not mean that you control the window shade. As far as I'm concerned, each passenger controls their individual seat, their tray table, the space under the seat in front of them front of them, the light/air/call button above their seat (and whatever other seat amenities you may have in first/business class), and the arm rest that is not located between two seats. Everything else is shared. Other passengers on the row have just as much right to look out of the window as does the person seated next to it. This situation is just a symptom of the lack of common courtesy that exists today, that makes people feel that they needn't think of anyone but themselves. Airplanes seem to bring out the worst behavior in some people.

OliveOyl

I had a similar situation over Thankssgiving Jaime. We had an early morning flight from Tampa to Phoenix. I normally reserve aisle if I'm by myself so I don't have to climb over people and disturb them during an inevitable trip to the back of the plane, or center and aisle if I'm with my husband, as I was this trip. The person in the window seat brought the shade down before the plane left the ground.

Our flight path from east to west in the early morning hours meant the sun was at our tail, not shining directly onto this person's face disturbing her nap or whatever. It was almost as if she was saying, "I'm too cool to look out the window". I could care less about watching the inflight movie and though I had reading material, it was annoying that she had not considered anyone else in her decision to close the shade. It IS nice to look up from what you are doing and glance out the window for a while, and reassuring when the flight is bumpy. I disagree that you have to lean over the window passenger to see from the window. Yes if you want to look directly down, obviously, but certainly you can see plenty just gazing out and down and I would never consider leaning all over a stranger to see! That's silly.

Our flight was direct. As we continuted west the pilot commented that the city shining off the right wing was Dallas, where we lived for 17 years, where our son still lives, and an area we are tremendously fond of, still. I would have loved to have looked out at the area. Finally I got irritated enough to ask her if she minded lifting the shade a moment, explaining the reason. She was happy to do so...hadn't even thought anyone might be interested in looking out the window explaining she flies that route almost weekly.

It is not that I never or rarely fly, but I don't fly for business and don't fly weekly, so it is enjoyable and helps pass time to be able to look at passing scenery. Jaime, it would have been a treat to see the Rockies. Next time ask. A window is not owned. A seat is, one unshared armrest is, the leg space directly in front of your seat is, but that's it. Common courtesy dictates that you be considerate of something which impacts the enjoyment of EVERYONE in your row.

Rich

I agree you could ask the person next to the window to raise the shade so you can look at whatever, but the person next to window has rights on the shade. If you want the view, get a window seat. It's presumptuous to think that everyone in the isle has the right to tell the person next to window how to regulate the shade. I've never had a flight attendant tell me to lower a shade, and I can't say I've ever seen the incoming light wash out the movie screen. Folks, those windows aren't that big! Sounds like nit-picking to me. Bottom line, you want the view, buy the window seat.

ttt

I try to eat some food that makes me gassy before flying. I usually can make the people around me get up for a brief time which allows me to lift shades and rummage thru their belongings.

OliveOyl

OK Rich, next time I will, and will disrupt you coming and going when my morning coffee goes to work. "Oh sorry, you were sleeping? So sorry, but couldn't wait any longer!" You would prefer that to a considerate approach..."anyone mind if I lower the shade"? Other than the ease of getting out, I'd far prefer the window seat. I've taken the other out of consideration for you all! Fine, I'll jump on the "Me First and Foremost" bandwagon too.

Wondering

Just wondering, if the person at the window does ask about the shade, what are they to do if the one person says open and one says closed?

TvlPro

I travel every other week and enjoy the highest status on my preferred carrier.
When I book a window I am planning to work on my laptop and I will shut the shade without asking anyone else.
Usually the airline blocks the seat next to me and I can honestly say that in all my travels I have never had someone look at me as if they wanted the shade open. If it should ever happen, I would probably just trade seats, unless it was a middle seat.
I'm not that difficult to work with, you know.

xxx

I'm clausterphobic, fly a lot, and usually get the window seat. The couple times I haven't and the window person closes the shade, I explain my situation and they are always happy to open the shade.

frequent

I was on a flight to Maui and the couple in front of me had the shade open. It was a a beautiful, sunny day and while the sun did not bother the couple, it was beaming across them into the eyes of a woman in the middle row. After passively-agressively shielding her eyes (melodramatically) and making frustrated noises for two or three minutes, she finally asked if they would put the shade down. The husband did not want to put it down, because he could not read without the extra light (both he and his wife were in their 60s or 70s). The woman being blinded said "But you have an overhead light!" The husband said "It's not enough!" The couple was not rude, just distraught. The husband really wanted to read his book and could not do it if the shade was down. The blinded woman finally got out her sunglasses and tried that for awhile. I can attest that the light was BRIGHT, she ended up holding her hand up to block it, while still wearing sunglasses. She had two children with her, otherwise I suppose she might have asked to move (plane was pretty full).
After a bit, the couple felt so sorry for her that they closed the shade and the husband stopped reading. Eventually the plane changed course and the light changed, so up went the shade and all was well. I had a fun time watching this human drama play out in front of me.

As for binhogs, I can't stand them either. I used to carry on one bag plus a small purse, and not check any bags. I packed LIGHT and it was worth it. However, with the increase of binhogs in the world, I found myself getting more and more nervous before boarding the plane, worrying that I'd have to store my bag 10 rows away from my seat . . . so now I only fly direct, and check my carry-on bag (I still pack light). I love breezing onto the plane with just a small purse. No stress, plenty of leg room. It's worth it.

J Correa

I try not to carry anything on the plane that will not fit under the seat in front of me. It's just easier that way. I am a premier member with United and I am usually one of the first to board so overhead space isn't an issue, but it is really a pain to get the luggage back down when the plane lands and everyone is trying to get their stuff at the same time.

x

I fly a lot and have noticed that the flight attendents are policing the people sitting in the back that put their carryons in the overheads in the front of the plane. Thank goodness. Nothing like getting a bulkhead seat to find out the only place for your overhead is in row 38.

whatawitch

oliveoyl must be a troll. nobody would produly admit to being this judgmental and controlling. the only reason you spoke to this woman was because your level of irritation COMPELLED you to do so. assuming this woman closed the shade becase she thought she was "too cool" - a person you had never laid eyes on before? i can just picture you - sitting there fuming until you couldn't take it anymore.

Flapdoodle

I understant but resent those who request a window seat and then fly the whole way with the shade down, sound asleep. They want to lean against the wall and not be disturbed by someone going to the bathroom, but for claustrophobics, people who need the light, or people who want to catch a glimpse of the view, it's a bad break to be next to one of these guys. Wish they'd take one of those seats at the back of the plane that has no window (e.g., on MD80s).

mls

I think it's a matter of consideration for your fellow passangers. With your ticket, you have "rented" a seat, not the surrounding objects {though I will admit to a certain feeling of propritory when I've booked a window seat}.
It strikes me that we humans are not that far down the evolutionary chain - we all but mark our territory when confronted with new situations.

been in your seat!

He/she was a self centered pig who does so much traveling that it has become boring misery. I aslo enjoy looking out over the mountains and everywhere in fact. The person most likely sensed that you wanted to look out the window and dicided he wanted nothing to do with you. Been in your seat!

jim kane

I once found myself on a very crowded flight from Chicago to Dallas. What I guess was a Texas native had put his cowboy hat in the overhead bins over my seat. I just crammed my carry-on in the bin with it and shut the door. Boy, was he upset! I told him to stuff it, carrying on like a pansy about his hat.

flyer

The window shades are supposed to remain open during take off and landing according to regualtion. I'm not sure if that is always enforced though. When we fly If I don't have a window seat, I'll stand and go look out another window or else the little peep hole in the door. One time, and let me tell you, this really chapped my ass. I got on a plane only to find this guy in my window seat. The attendent told him he could sit there and wanted to move me to an aisle seat @ the back of the plane right next to the crapper! When I insisted that
I sit in my rightfully assigned seat, the guy moved but they made it seem like I was being really unreasonable (a lot of eye rolling, faces etc)

phil

What a bunch of lame twits. Arguing over who owns a WINDOW SHADE. If you want a real view of the rockies,Jaime,go there.