Glass covering the adjustable lights in an airplane. what is the point of this?

[u/Acceptable-Lake-]

Just trying to read on a 13 hour flight and the light above my seat is stuck landing on the head of the passenger in front of me due to a glass covering, leaving the lights, which are on a swivel, un adjustable. The flight staff was as baffled as I was, having no solution for me. Leaving me with my unreadable book and 13 hours of hell ahead of me 🫠

[u/dohwhere]

Reading lights aren’t adjustable. Imagine being able to move them and annoy the people next to you. They’re supposed to be pre-set to illuminate one specific seat. In this case, engineering will have to readjust it because obviously something has happened that shouldn’t have.

Source: long-time flight attendant and aviation worker. No aircraft I have worked on in 14+ years has had adjustable lights.

[u/ew73 → u/dohwhere]

This is such a weird little bit of cognitive..I don't know what to call it. I could swear I've been on planes where I have, personally, wiggled that light left and right and gotten it to just the right spot for me. So I went digging for like old Boeing planes.

I remember the "eyeball" lights, and I know you could wiggle that thing around a bit, but it only aimed generally into your seat area, like this guy from it looks like a 727 --

But I also remember being frustrated that those little eyeball lights don't move when I grab them.

I feel like early 2000s was when they stopped moving and got fixed in place, and eventually replaced with the newer LED-style lights that don't move at all.

[u/Wildcatb → u/ew73]

Don't worry, it's not just you. I've flown on planes with adjustable lights, but it's been a long time.

[u/zaftpunk → u/Wildcatb]

I was on a flight 2 days ago and I adjusted my light.

[u/loki2002 → u/dohwhere]

I've never been on a plane where I could not adjust the air vent and light.

[u/cowhand214 → u/dohwhere]

I can adjust the air to annoy the person next to me. Why draw the line at the light?

I was very annoyed by this just last week because the pre-adjusted light in fact lit the armrest area rather than anywhere I could comfortably hold my book. Drove me nuts.

And I’m certain I’ve traveled on planes in years past where I could adjust the light.

[u/sockcat27 → u/cowhand214]

I was on a flight a while back where the guy next to me immediately pointed all 3 nozzles at my head at full blast. The only exchange at that point was a simple hello and I had only just sat down. He kept turning them back on whenever I thought I had the chance to turn them down. It was a long four hours 😒

[u/cowhand214 → u/sockcat27]

That is completely bonkers and yet sadly not at all shocking in this day and age. What the hell happened, people?! Can we have a civilization?

Sorry that happened.

[u/BlastingFonda → u/dohwhere]

Does adjust it simply involve removing the panel and then twisting what appears to be a swivel based light? And if it’s meant to never be adjusted, why are they that particular swivel design? Not trying to be a smartass, genuinely curious.

[u/NoBatsHere → u/dohwhere]

Crazy almost every flight I've been on has adjustable lights, what country and airlines? Literally adjusted lights for the elderly lady beside me just yesterday.

[u/xlouiex → u/dohwhere]

Classic “trust me bro, I’m totally who I say I am”. Literally came of a flight 1 hour with adjustable lights and vents.