American Airlines passenger reignites plane etiquette debate following argument over window shade

A plane passenger has reignited an age-old etiquette debate after their seatmate refused to lower the shade.

Taking to Reddit, the American Airlines passenger showed a photo of a man sitting in a window seat.

While the other window shades around them were closed, the one next to the man was still partially open, letting bright sunlight stream into the aircraft.

‘Entire cabin dark, FA asks him to lower shade and he says “um no,”‘ the Reddit poster captioned the picture.

‘What’s the etiquette here?’ he asked.

Users were left divided over who was in the right, with some arguing the window seat gets control while others said to always listen to flight staff.

‘Window seat gets window control,’ one user commented.

They continued: ‘Middle gets most of both arm rests. Aisle gets easy exit and ‘extra’ arm/ leg room on the aisle side.’

‘I doubt FA asked him to lower it mid flight. For boarding/departure sure as it helps keep the cabin cool,’ another wrote.

‘A FA will ask on AA if it’s a long haul international flight to allow people to sleep and minimize jet lag. Domestically, no they shouldn’t ask,’ another shared. 

‘However, if for some unknown safety reason a FA asks you to close it, and you don’t comply, that’s a violation of an FAA regulation to comply with crew member instructions. 

‘Etiquette is to follow crew members’ instructions,’ another declared. ‘That’s the only etiquette. Everything else is made up.’

‘I don’t like flying and looking outside helps calm my anxiety,’ suggested someone else. ‘Perhaps he’s similar.’

Taking to Reddit, the American Airlines passenger showed a photo of a man sitting in a window seat (stock image)

Users were divided over who was in the right, with some arguing the window seat gets control while others said to always just listen to flight staff

It is not the first time window shades have caused a rift between passengers. 

In March, the content creator, Umaymah, caused a stir after showing an irritating seat passenger on their day flight – who turned out to be a child.

The Dubai-based content creator posted the eight-second clip to TikTok showing her controversial response.

In the video, Umaymah is sitting in her seat on the airplane with the window shade up and light coming in. 

However, as she sits there a small hand reaches back from behind the seat in front, and deftly shuts the shade – despite it being the window closest to her seat.

From there, a game of window shade tug-of-war ensured, with the young boy reaching back again to shut the shade, only for Umaymah to stop him by putting her hand in the way to stop him.

‘Its my window,’ she captioned the video, outraged.

‘He had HIS OWN WINDOW,’ she added.

Users were divided by her reaction to the child shutting the window shade, some in agreeance that she has jurisdiction over the window while others felt she should be more lenient because her seatmate was only a child.