this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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In life we all have unwritten rules like how far behind someone you stand while you are in line or the "nod of recognition" you give someone if you make eye contact while they are walking toward you.

There are lots of these about airplanes, famously about 3-deep-seats.

But I'm curious about the unwritten rule for the window.

To me, if you are in the window seat, unless someone specifically needs the window to be open for motion sickness or something, you are responsible for closing the window once the plane is at cruising altitude so people can sleep if they need to. If you dont do that, I find it a little grating.

Curious what other folks think.

top 34 comments
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[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 1 points 6 hours ago

I only keep the window screen closed when it is light outside but the cabin has been dimmed. If the cabin lights are on, the window screen is up.

[–] pabens@infosec.pub 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Maybe the person in the aisle wants to look out the window too but couldnt get a window seat.

[–] remon@ani.social 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I'd never close the window for any reason ... that's my window. I chose that seat so I can look out of it.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 14 hours ago

was gonna comment but then figured someone would say the obvious. If you want to control the window you buy the window seat ticket.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah fuck all those people trying to sleep.

[–] remon@ani.social 3 points 21 hours ago

Indeed. Not my problem they didn't bring a sleepmask.

[–] disregardable@lemmy.zip 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I choose the window seat because I like to look out the window. I don't shut it unless I'm asked to.

[–] EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago

Same. Or if I know ima sleep

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It never occurred to me that someone in a middle or aisle seat would request the window seat person to close the window shade.

Looking out the window is the only fun part of flying these days.

[–] njordomir@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

Seriously, the window seat makes flying fun. I remember flying over a huge pit mine in Canada one time and searching satellite maps for hours later to find it and figure out what I was looking at. Flying over Greenland on Iceland Air can be jaw dropping amazement for hours at a time. Istanbul with scattered clouds was like a fantasy novel city. Even flying at night the lights tell some cool stories. I do close the window on transatlantic flights when they dim the lights for mandatory naptime. :-P

I'm a nerd for urban planning, land use, railroads, history, etc, so I find something cool to look at even if I'm flying over the biggest cornfield in Kansas

0p3n w!nd0w g@ng 4 lyfe!

[–] Today@lemmy.world 35 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Window seat chooses open or closed.

[–] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 26 points 1 day ago (3 children)

And middle seat gets both armrests. Aisle gets the legroom and gets to take a piss without stepping over someone. It is the way.

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Related and maybe unpopular: nobody should recline their seat. They should just take that feature out of planes entirely.

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think all the seats should come pre reclined

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 day ago

Bunk beds in planes. Just go all the way. I'd be so keen to spend the whole flight napping. Not sure about the safety aspects though

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 1 points 20 hours ago

100%. I paid for this space, and now you want to drop back into it, and make it difficult to use my tray table? Gimme $50.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Disagree, we need more reclination and more space between the seats to accommodate that.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

But there isn’t more space between the seats

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

A couple of days ago I had 2 beers at the airport and a window seat. I had to fucking hold it for almost 4 hours. But I'm not the kind of asshole who makes two people get up twice.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 7 points 1 day ago

What a legend. But next time go take a piss, I'd prefer 20 seconds of mild inconvenience over sitting next to a piss soaked guy who couldn't hold it.

[–] TheAsianDonKnots@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago

His name was Robert Paulson.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago

29 assholes agree.

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago

It's your window, you can do with it what you want.

If you want to control the window shade, pick the window seat.

If you want darkness or quiet so you can sleep on your flight, bring a sleep mask or earplugs.

[–] unmagical@lemmy.ml 20 points 1 day ago
  1. Shades should be open during take off and landing to allow passenger's eyes to adjust to external light levels which can expedite emergency evacuations (pretty sure this is written somewhere).
  2. In flight, shades should be subject to the exclusive control of the person sitting directly adjacent to them--if you want to sleep, bring an eye mask.
[–] aramis87@fedia.io 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

People should be responsible for their own comfort. Bring your own sleep mask, ear plugs, neck pillow, blanket, or whatever else you need to be comfortable.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

...for a 40 minute flight.

[–] eightpix@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do not lick the window.

Do not hit the window.

Do not draw on the window with permanent markers.

Dry erase are fine.

Do not moon, flash, or full monty the ground crew. Baggage gets lost that way. Fueling hoses are misconnected that way.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do not draw on the window with permanent markers.

If it's a sharpie, you can get rid of the mark with hand sanitizer.

[–] eightpix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

That's an old teacher trick. A better one is using a dry erase marker to remove permanent marker. Not perfect, but works in a pinch.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Ask for another airplane if you see William Shatner (the original Captain Kirk), or John Lithgow in the window seat.

Summary video.

Bring an eye mask if the light will keep you awake.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

we all have unwritten rules like how far behind someone you stand while you are in line

Do not stand behind someone who's going to fire off the bazooka.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 5 points 1 day ago

I've partially closed one before when I was by the window to help block some of the light but still allow me to look out. It was also a half-filled plane and I had the whole row. If someone beside me was sleeping or reading and it was too bright I would have closed it fully.

Just be aware of your surroundings and others. Too many people are so deep into their own stuff they don't see others around them or what might help them.