There are many features on a plane that may need people wondering what exactly they’re for — for instance, the curtain dividers that flight attendants close right before take-off
These dividers ultimately close off the rows in front of you or behind you — depending in your viewpoint.
In case you’ve ever wondered the aim of those dividers, you’re not the just one. Seems, they’re for greater than just privacy.
“Curtain dividers are designed for privacy and to separate different classes of service — like economy and business or firstclass,” Maddi Bourgerie, travel expert at RVshare, told Thrillist. “They assist create a way of space and exclusivity for passengers in premium cabins.”
Nevertheless, these curtains don’t really lend a lot privacy or separation. A TikTok recently went viral joking about it.
“I wish I knew what was happening in firstclass,” the text on the video sarcastically read. The video flips to an especially short curtain divider that doesn’t hide or cover any a part of firstclass. “Darn this curtain divider.”
The curtain completely defeats the aim of privacy or separation. Reportedly, it is a results of years of evolving plane redesigns, conforming to recent standards of safety.
The curtains were likely once full-length and provided privacy and separation, but as a result of changing rules and safety necessities, they aren’t the identical anymore.
“Back within the ‘Golden Years’ of travel, the mid-’50s saw an introduction of multi-configured cabins, aka firstclass and coach, and a solution to divide the cabins and create a way of privacy was with curtains,” Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going, explained to Thrillist.
But after the phobia attacks on 9/11, every part modified safety-wise — including the privacy curtains.
“Traditional, thicker curtains were used, but over time and following 9/11, the skinny, almost mosquito netting we regularly see today has that physical barrier between classes yet still allows the crew to keep up visibility into all cabins for safety reasons.”
Even in the event that they don’t offer the identical amount of privacy as they once did, some fliers wish to see a separation as a type of divider between the classes of the plane.
“They could be a pleasant thing to see for some travelers who want a little bit peace from other passengers,” Bourgerie explained. “We’ve all seen the viral videos that spread like wildfire of the unruly passengers and chaotic flights.”
