Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: TikTok, Travel, Viral, Community, Social Media
Callum Jones
Topics: TikTok, Travel, Viral, Community, Social Media
A passenger caused outrage onboard a long-haul flight after refusing to shut the window blind, despite a fellow guest being blinded by the sun.
The whole conversation regarding travel etiquette is certainly a divisive one online, and a recent warning from one popular budget airline regarding one item of clothing you shouldn't be wearing on a flight, has only increased the noise.
While attire is a huge talking point, another topic being discussed online is regarding the window blind on a flight.
I think the common rule is that those who are positioned by the window are in control of the window blind being up or down.
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Despite that, people have been left outraged by the actions of one passenger who refused to put the blind down for a fellow tourist who was being blinded by the sun.
Kelly Meng, who has gone viral on TikTok, was traveling from Chicago to Tokyo non-stop when she witnessed first-hand what was going on.
"Let me tell you a personal story that just happened to me and it’s actually genuinely crazy," she began the video. "Only two of those seats, the far left and the far right, have access to the windows and on the new planes, it’s not like a traditional shutter, it’s one of those digital dimmers. Where it’s dark but light still gets in because it can’t be 100% opaque."
Meng went on to explain that once the food had been served on the flight, cabin crew dimmed the lights so passengers could have some rest before landing in Japan.
The sun was shining for the entire flight, however, leading to a passenger in the middle row of the aircraft asking a woman sat next to Meng's partner to pull down the blind.
Meng went on to explain though that the window wasn't equipped with the traditional blind, but instead a 'digital dimmer'.
"Not a single other window is not 100% dark. There’s direct sunlight coming in from our window," Meng went on to say.
While the passenger did dim the window, sunlight was still visible - leading to some disgruntled passengers and the flight attendants even stepping in.
Meng explained how the cabin crew told the woman that passengers had been complaining on the other side of the plane and requested the passenger dimmed the window even further.
"I’m not turning it down any lower, it’s at 75%…. It’s basically dark," the passenger said back to crew, Meng explained.
Still stunned recalling the situation, Meng said in the TikTok video: "The lack of self-awareness is insane."
Many flocked to the comments section of the viral video and it's fair to say the internet is divided.
"If you have a window shade preference, book a window seat," one person penned, while a second added: "In my opinion, a short daytime flight = some windows open/ lights on; long hail flight = windows close (at least at some point)."
Meanwhile, a third quipped: "Being considerate is always kind. But at the expense of the view? No. Bring an eye mask."