This article from *The Atlantic Daily* explores a notable shift in air travel behavior: the increasing tendency for passengers to close their window shades shortly after boarding. The author, Damon Beres, argues that this trend is largely driven by the ubiquity of in-flight entertainment systems. As soon as phones must be switched to airplane mode, passengers instinctively turn to the seatback screens, closing the shades to reduce glare and create a more theater-like viewing environment. This has replaced older travel habits like reading in-flight magazines or simply observing the world outside.
The piece laments what is lost when the shades are down. Passengers miss out on the fascinating infrastructure of airports, the natural beauty of landscapes, and the unique perspective of seeing the earth from above. The author recalls the childhood wonder of watching takeoffs and recognizing landmarks, an experience he now sees his own children bypassing in favor of the entertainment system. The article also notes a subtle social pressure experienced by those who try to resist, such as using a reading light to read a physical book, which can elicit stares from fellow passengers accustomed to a dark cabin.
The newsletter also includes an excerpt from a related *Atlantic* article titled „The Boeing 747 Begins Its Final Descent,” which mourns the retirement of the iconic jumbo jet. The piece is framed by a visit to an airplane graveyard in Arizona, reflecting on the 747’s legacy as a symbol of American progress, innovation, and the golden age of air travel. The newsletter concludes with its standard features, including today’s news headlines, culture recommendations, and links to further reading. The overall theme is a nostalgic critique of how modern technology has changed the shared experience of flying, often for the worse.
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Forrás: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/06/leave-your-airplane-window-shades-open/687541/.