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The Next Big Upgrade in Air Travel Might Be Your Window Shade
While most cabin refurbishments focus on plush seats and mood lighting, one Florida company believes the next big upgrade lies in something passengers barely notice: the window shade. (aeroxplorer.com) More...
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Ya know what? If I shell out my money for a window seat (and almost all of them cost these days), the very last thing I want is a window shade that can be remotely controlled. Just because Karen a few rows back complains about how bright it is, zip, and my paid for view is gone. This is an utterly ridiculous, profit driven brain-fart that positively beggars the imagination. I am certain that if I were to complain that the shades are down, I would be billed an additional charge for opening mine. Complete nonsense.
Please refrain from suggesting such scenarios. I can already see Ryanair putting it in practice, with each shade equipped with a card reader. Want the shade up? 4.99. Want the shade down? 3.99 (gravity helps). Want it halfway up or down? 9.99 (because it's both up and down). Want the neighbour's shade moved? Start a bid. Want to be left alone? Take another airline.
I think you have just described the future of “window shade aviation” that will shortly take the industry by storm. It’s a very sad commentary on how niggardly the airlines have become, and it speaks even more clearly to the absolute death of the “fun of flying.” The fun has been sucked out of the entire flying experience for about 25-30 years now. Most regrettable.
Nothing more that something else to maintain. The current style of window shades are maintenance free.
Not really true. There's also additional weight. And power requirements. I've seen it on Emirates. Nice, can be controlled by the crew, but why the complication? Normal shades can have prints or stickers for advertising too.
787 Dreamliner already has LCD electronic shades. Are controlled remotely and have a local override control. No moving parts, reduced weight, simple to use. Granted, maybe not suitable to retrofit into older models, but this 'problem' has already been solved.
