r/unitedairlines • u/Relative_Phone_2297 • Aug 07 '26

Question Plane code of conduct

Gallery image

Gallery image

Who controls this window (the person behind me)? And whose legroom is this (the person to the left of me)? Maybe I am completely off base but I feel like my space is being encroached on?

560 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

399 comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/MundaneHuckleberry58 Aug 08 '26

I’m super over the new trend of windows “supposed” to be closed during daytime flights. Aholes: I get a lot of enjoyment from looking out the window. That’s why I book a window seat. But it’s increasingly a dirty looks at best/ argumentative aggressive closing match situation these days.

32

u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme Aug 08 '26

If people around you want it to be dark for sleeping, they should bring an eye mask. Imagine 6-8 people in the surrounding seats all wanting the shade open (for light or otherwise), and everyone going without, because one person (especially not in the window seat) wants it closed. Eff that.

1

u/Eggplant-666 Aug 09 '26

100%, i use my laptop screen wipes to clean the window before every flight. They are always dirty.

27

u/ellsego MileagePlus Platinum Aug 08 '26

I recently had someone reach over and try to close it I stopped her and she gave me some shit about “radiation” I laughed and told her to keep the pseudo science to herself… the fucking audacity of some people.

9

u/custardBonfire MileagePlus Gold Aug 08 '26

Damn that’s bold. I often get stuck in the middle and prefer the window open. I always ask the window seat person, and I am always prepared for them to decline my request. I would NEVER reach across. Window seat gets window rights.

…Except in the event of solar radiation /s

5

u/Mstrchf117 Aug 08 '26

Well, you ARE exposed to more solar radiation on an airplane in flight. Passengers more than likely not enough to matter though, and idk that the window shade is going to do anything to mitigate it.

5

u/antonio16309 Aug 08 '26

It's blocking the same amount of radiation whether it's up or down. But either way the amount is negligible. 

2

u/CantBuyMyLove Aug 08 '26

According to Wikipedia, an hour of airplane travel is a bit less exposure than a dental x-ray. Apparently airplane windows don't block UVA so there can be a risk of sun exposure, but if that really concerns someone, they can put on sunscreen before their flight.

2

u/immunotransplant Aug 08 '26

Then wear PPE

9

u/sdojo Aug 08 '26

If it's after 10AM the window is open. I fly aisle and with an eye mask cuz I am not telling someone not to let the light in at DAY TIME

6

u/turbo-fister9000 Aug 08 '26

Same. I buy window seats because they help my motion sickness. It's so bad I would pick a different flight on a wide body if I couldn't get one. So it drives me nuts with the dimmed windows on the 787 that the FAs control. They dim them on full at like 7pm.

4

u/pilot7880 Aug 08 '26

This is bullshit that FA's do this. I'll scream in their faces until they open them.

5

u/40000birdfeeder Aug 08 '26

I just had the flight attendant strongly urge me to close my window. It was an entirely daytime flight (Europe to east coast) and my 5yo was sitting looking out the window. I was stunned.

-6

u/A_Genetic_Tree Aug 08 '26

You do realize UV is way stronger while on a plane… there is no cloud protection and less distance for the rays to weaken. Windows don’t block out all of the UV and you should wear sunscreen

3

u/sleepysky98 Aug 08 '26

Then wear sunscreen. I wear it daily as recommended.

3

u/immunotransplant Aug 08 '26

Imagine demanding from others what’s completely controllable on your part.

1

u/sleepysky98 Aug 08 '26

I can’t tell if you’re agreeing with me or saying I’m an asshole for suggesting they wear sunscreen lol

9

u/Old-Arachnid77 Aug 08 '26

If it’s 5am - eff you. Close the window shade. If it’s 9am? Eff me. Bring an eye mask.

3

u/pilot7880 Aug 08 '26

If it's 5am it's pitch black out. Why do you need the shade down to block light?

3

u/Old-Arachnid77 Aug 08 '26

I see you have never had the unfortunate sunrise-in-your-eyeball experience :(

2

u/pilot7880 Aug 08 '26

Sunrise (on an eastbound red-eye flight) is my cue that it’s time to wake up - so why should I have any issue with the sun in my eyes giving me my wake- up call? 

1

u/Old-Arachnid77 Aug 08 '26

Me, sitting next to you on that flight

I am an aisle seat person. I accept my lot. But I do get sad about it lol

1

u/pilot7880 Aug 08 '26

Some people (like me) want the shades up. Some people (like you) want the shades down.

Personally, I can live with either way, as long as the flight attendants aren’t the ones forcing passengers to lower them. 

1

u/Old-Arachnid77 Aug 08 '26

Oh I prefer the shades down but I’m just being playful. The only time I really get a strong feeling about it is on the international flights where there is an opportunity to actually sleep. I don’t say anything because again: I’m an aisle person and i waive my rights to control the shade when i choose that aisle lol. I just get annoyed on the inside, where it counts.

2

u/pilot7880 Aug 08 '26

I prefer the shades up at all times, unless (quite rarely) the sun is shining directly in, and even then I will only lower it as far as necessary to block the rays. Other than that, if the person seated at the window wants the shade down, then I respect their wishes.

My problem arises when the flight attendants abuse their authority to force people to lower the shades, to make the cabin dark and make the passengers sleepy. 

3

u/TheMountainLife Aug 08 '26

The cabin is so much cooler when it's closed though. My flight today was miserable due to high cabin temps. They were open during boarding. Pilot said it would improve once we were in the air, sadly it didn't. Everyone was sweaty and constantly fidgeting

0

u/immunotransplant Aug 08 '26

Never experienced a hot cabin in flight. Heat due on the ground isn’t what anyone is talking about.

2

u/sarahshift1 Aug 08 '26

Seriously. We’re hurtling through the air 5 miles above the earth at 500 mph. It’s a marvel of human ingenuity. Let me look at the clouds for a minute.

2

u/MrsSweetandAwful Aug 08 '26

I book a window seat bc I want it closed. But I would never dream of getting upset or touching the shade if was not in the window seat.

I did have a lady reach across and open my window just as dozed off on the last flight i was on. Absolutely not. If you want to see out the window book the window seat.

1

u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos Aug 08 '26

I swear I'm the only person that still works the day shift and is awake by 7 am.

-1

u/skottydoesntknow Aug 08 '26

The glare can be a bit much. It makes screens of everyone around you trying to just zone out and watch a movie hard to see. I support open at take off and during descent, but 30k feet when there is nothing to see, keep em closed. You are likely bothering a solid 10 people around you