A disgruntled traveler has taken to social media to criticize a fellow passenger for keeping their window shade open during a nighttime flight, igniting a heated debate among other travelers.

Carlos Gil, a Dubai-based influencer, shared a photo online depicting sunlight streaming through the window of the seat in front of him. Gil was clearly frustrated, labeling the decision to leave the blackout shade open on a lengthy flight as “diabolical.”

He explained that he was enduring a 14-hour journey where every other window shade in the economy section was closed, adding to his discontent.

In his post on threads.com, Gil vented: “It’s 4 a.m. back home, we’re on a 14-hour flight, cabin lights are off, everyone is asleep (except me), and the guy in front of me has his window shade WIDE OPEN as if we’re filming a National Geographic documentary.”

The photograph shared by Gil shows the passenger in front of him seemingly asleep, unfazed by the light.

The incident sparked a lively discussion, with Gil posing the question: “Am I crazy for wanting to reach over and close it without saying a word… or is this one of those unspoken airplane rules where touching the shade starts a problem?”

He added: ‘Be honest… do you shut it down or accept you’re not sleeping?’

Gil asked and the opinions poured forth, with many agreeing that it was selfish behaviour to let sunlight enter the cabin when people were clearly trying to sleep. 

Influencer Carlos Gil, who lives in Dubai, shared a photo of a passenger in the seat in front of him with their window shade open on a night flight on a threads.com post – and split opinions on whether it was bad form or not (Stock image)

One person wrote: ‘Seems to me that the attendant should ask him to close it! I think it is inconsiderate of that person.’

Another added: ‘You call the flight attendant. Some airlines require you to keep it down if everyone is sleeping.’

However, plenty suggested that if you’re buying a window seat, you get to control whether the shade is up or down. 

One traveller penned: ‘If it bothers so much, wear an eye mask. I don’t sleep in planes and if I fly overnight Europe bound I usually open it from time to time to try getting a glimpse of Northern Lights. Last 2 times it worked.’

Another chimed in: ‘I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word diabolical. If everyone else is asleep but you…it sounds like a personal problem to me. Shut your eyes and see what happens.’

And one said health reasons were behind her keeping the shade open, writing: ‘I buy a window seat & keep it open the whole time. I have anxiety when flying, but something about the shade open helps. Closed is claustrophobic for me.’ 

Some of the reaction sparked by Carlos Gil’s post – travellers were largely divided on the issue

There is no official protocol on window shades on planes, more an unwritten rule that when the lights go off, the shades go down.

Earlier this week, another furious passenger slammed an airline after being served the ‘worst sandwich’ he’d ever had – and says he is now considering avoiding the carrier entirely.

Oisín Breen was flying from Dublin, Ireland, to Toronto, Canada, with Aer Lingus in December 2025, before catching an onward flight to Jamaica the following day to meet with his fiancé’s family.

Around five hours into the seven-hour flight, the 40-year-old was served a cheese and relish sandwich – a vegetarian option he had selected as part of his second meal.

However, Oisín was left appalled at the standard and quality of what he was served.

Unwritten rule? Is it bad form to keep your window open when the lights are out in the main c

Shocking photos show that the ‘miniature’ sandwich was barely longer than the passenger’s thumb, containing a measly slice of cheese and a smidge of relish.

Oisín, a journalist and poet who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, described the snack as the ‘world’s worst sandwich’.

He explained: ‘Frankly, it would have been better not to feed us, just to ditch the in-flight meal concept entirely.

‘The sandwich was atrocious, probably the worst I’ve ever seen in my life, but equally, it wasn’t really a sandwich. It lacked the basic quality of what it is to be a sandwich.

‘The bread was miniature and dry as hell. The relish was spread on one fifth of one side of the bread. Essentially you got a corner of relish and the cheese was unpalatable and just one miniature slice.

‘So dry bread, a faint mist of relish, and ghastly cheese. Michael O’Leary wouldn’t ever serve such bilge.’

Oisín’s flight had been booked with American Airlines and operated by Aer Lingus. The two carriers have a strong partnership and codeshare agreement, meaning passengers can book flights with one airline and fly on the other.

After complaining to the flight attendant, who agreed that half the meal was ‘missing’, Oisín is now considering avoiding Aer Lingus entirely after his disappointing in-flight dining experience.

He said: ‘My reaction was laughter, then irritation. It was 100% the worst sandwich I’ve ever had.

‘It was atrocious. I complained to the air hostess who, at first, thought I was just moaning on but then she laughed and said “yeah, I’m sorry about that, you can’t help but think where’s the rest of it gone, right?”

‘I’m contemplating never flying with them again, largely because I’d appreciate honesty. If they’re still claiming to be a proper carrier, do the job properly.

‘World’s worst sandwich is a big claim but it’s up there. It was inedible.’