The Boeing 787 is known for its dimmable windows, rather than traditional window shades. There are a variety of reasons I don’t like these, like the crew being able to control them, the dimmers not fully blocking out light, and more. Well, here’s yet another reason not to like these, as flagged by PYOK.
Continue reading: British Airways Boeing 787 Window Dimmers Glitch, Crew Gets Creative
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I always wondered if they carry lightweight emergency blinds. It’s not the first time that I am reading about a malfunction.
Aluminum foil would’ve worked as it completely darkens the window.
British Airways doesn’t care about passengers anymore. They are the worst European carrier I would avoid them at all costs. They’re not going to give you a dime … they are rude and insensitive and their corporate culture is just awful … go fly someone else like Air France who cares about people.
I suspect the passenger has received an offer of Avios which is SOP but they are not happy with the amount and pushing for more due to the redemption of a companion voucher on this flight.
BA/IAG is quite bad but they're far from the worst European airline, that title belongs to Lufthansa Group.
Fringe opinion I know, but I actually really like the 787 dimmable shades (when they work). But as finicky as they seem to be, it's kind of crazy there wasn't any kind of manual backup included on each window. Because when they don't work, it's hell.
Securing a Companion voucher on a popular route like this hard enough already. Passenger should take the win and move on.
If you want to sleep wear an eye mask. Problem solved. No reason to compensate anyone.
I agree with this comment. BA isnt always great, but Lufthansa group are terrible for this. As for Turkish…. I flew JIB-ZRH yesterday. No lounge access available (complicated reasons but they advertise and do have a lounge at JIB). Plus half the seats broken on the plane so no recline. The various forums suggest it’s a lost cause to complain to Turkish (my experience in the past) plus zero apology from the staff. At least BA staff were trying….
Maybe I am a “BA apologist” but I do find something bizarrely unbalanced about the “BA and Heathrow are awful” tirades.
Another Boeing malfunction. No surprises.
The 787 is really a bad, narrow plane. A product of spreadsheets, not passenger engagement
I used to be opposed to the electronic window dimmers until I had a seatmate who was a nasty, militant African American woman who refused to open the shades half way before landing. Opening the shades improves safety because you can see which side of the plane is on fire. The flight attendant told me when I spoke her in the galley that her airline doesn't require it but thinks it is a good idea. (It wasn't BA)
I think it's a requirement on European airlines (from EASA and CAA?)
But apparently not from the FAA.
Seems odd that they don't reach a similar conclusion about whether it matters.
Perhaps it has in crashes in Europe (or even elsewhere in the world) but not yet in one in America.
Especially the Tempur ones - really block out the light.
But what I dislike is the blinds being closed by the crew when I want to read.
Well now Dave, many would agree with you that a flight in an “A350 is such a life changer” …. have you been so blessed?
Well, well, Ben. You cannot possibly be describing the real BA, perhaps you mean AA, DL or UA perhaps? 🙂
Yet the best selling widebody of all time?
Has the A350 beat by about 700 orders and it has never been re-engined nor has it had any upgrade. The 350 has had like 3-4 upgrades at this point and still can’t beat the 787 for value.
Oh yeah such a really bad plane.
Hate for the 787 is incredibly forced and over exaggerated.
I love the dimmable windows allows me to see outside without getting the full rays of the sun
"militant African American"
Thanks for the casual racism and cultural stereotyping. You could have easily relayed your anecdote without this and it wouldn't have diluted the meaning or context.
That's why I prefer the old shades because you know it will work. BA should give compensation because the shade is a basic amenity offered by the airline
You paid them for carriage from Tokyo to London and they got you there in one piece. Let it go.
A small stack of self adhesive window-sized stickers designed for blacking out light would be the most effective solution. As the Dreamliners age (anything mechanical on any plane, really) failures are inevitably going to become more common. Maybe something the airlines should consider investing in.
As opposed to ‘militant European Americans’ of which there are millions!
Oh the irony.
And the relevance of mentioning your seatmate’s skin color is what?
Put your Klan outfit back on and slink back to the white supremacist sites that are likely your natural home.
By your reasoning iamhere, some might well consider that Boeing should pay as they supplied the inferior shades with the airframe.
A negligible amount. There's 130~ passenger windows on the longest 787 variant, assuming each shade weighs a pound to be conservative since they're probably much lighter than that, that's 130lbs extra weight. About 2/3 the weight of one average adult man in the absolute worst possible case scenario.
We had the same thing occur o a flight from London to Portland, OR. ( 9.5 hour flight) we were sitting in premium economy and I was under a spotlight of light and heat for over 2 hours. The sun glare made the entertainment system unreadable as well as books. At least the problem was resolved during the flight but while not working, it was horrid. Repeatedly I asked for someone to do something and was told they would but it took a long time. I plan on taking something to block the window, the next time I fly, in case all “newer” jets come with this “upgrade”.