Airlines used to put curtains between first class and coach. Now they often use transparent mesh. One customer wants to know – what’s the purpose of what American Airlines is doing here with something you can see through?
Hey @AmericanAir, what the hell is the purpose of this curtain?? pic.twitter.com/vIStKGWXle
— fent (@hotvoodoofood) June 15, 2025
Putting up something discourages coach passengers from wandering forward to use the first class lavatory. And even a perfunctory curtain reinforces that customers in the forward cabin bought something different. So airlines want a barrier of some kind!
Here’s mesh at the back of business class on American’s new ‘ultra premium’ Boeing 787-9 aircraft that just went into service:
Airlines can’t separate cabins with a door. FAA airworthiness rule 14 CFR 25.813(d) permits curtains so long as they “allow free entry” through the passageway, but 14 CFR 25.813(e) forbids a door in that location. Under 14 CFR 121.310(f)(6) they cannot have a door in any egress path during taxi, take‑off, landing, or an evacuation. The idea is that passengers might fail to recognize the nearest exit if a door is shut, and a door can also slow down evacuation.
One reason for mesh is that post-9/11, flight attendant seats are supposed to have a direct view of their zone. Another is that heavy curtains can weigh 10 pounds or more, while mesh can be less than 3 pounds. Across an entire fleet of aircraft, and every flight over a year, that small difference can mean several million dollars of fuel. Mesh is also cheaper to sew and easier and cheaper to clean (and clean less frequently).
The thick curtains were all removed after 9/11 because it prevented from flight attendants from observing what was happening in premium cabins. For awhile there were no curtains. My understanding is that the see through curtains were designed to “encourage” privacy but give crew the ability to see what is occurring in premium cabins. At least on AA it’s rare that flight attendants actually draw the curtain during flight.
I noticed that these were installed starting after 9/11 and had always assumed that it was so Federal Air Marshals could see through to the next cabin.
This is about 9/11 rules, not weight. I’m not aware of any other full-service airline based outisde the US that has followed the US airlines with this.
I say, bring back them ‘thicc’ curtains, especially if it means we don’t have to see @Mike Hunt.
@1990 – I agree, and you won’t have to drool on your fellow passengers anymore as you gaze at me longingly through the mesh from your middle seat in basic economy.
@Mike Hunt — You do seem like you fly Business Class. Here’s the thing, I’ll be in First, and not ‘recliner’ 737 domestic. No, Flagship on 773 and a321T. Enjoy your 2-2; I’m more of a 1-1 config. One more time on the name, it’s a bit, right?
I presumed it was to make the forward cabin more alluring to Y pax. If you can see people receiving meals and constant service, it sure looks better than the one drink you may be hastily served in MCE/E+/etc.
This story should be at least 22 years old. American started installing these so that Air Marshals would have a full view of the entire plane. It’s not about FA’s having a view. They all have their dedicated areas where they are delegated not to care about passengers.
@ Carl-” CONSTANT SERVICE”. Thank you sir, that is a good one!
I’m sorry but I don’t think 7 lb worth of difference is going to make in fuel burn, that’s just like the time when American eliminated fuel caps and now to be saving half a pound…more like a quarter pound. Now granted if they took all of those and loaded them up in an airplane and flew them from Dallas to either the East Coast West Coast I would say yeah there is a cost savings, otherwise that is just hyperbole! It’s probably the reason why they eliminated blankets off airplanes in Coach besides costs…lol
Re: “Across an entire fleet of aircraft, and every flight over a year, that small difference can mean several million dollars of fuel.”
If the airlines required all passengers and crew to wear mesh clothing, instead of solid, just imagine how much more fuel they could save!!
On a related note, the reason first class passengers board first, is so they can “be seen” by “everyone else” who boards with the regular cattle call…
Agree with Carl. The curtain is also marketing: reminds you that you’re lower class, but being slightly see-through makes you see what you’re missing. (And what you could have next time if you upgrade.)
“Easier to clean”, hilarious! These things willl never get touched by any cleaning crew.
@1990 – Bold of you to flex a First Class seat like you earned it. I suspect the only 1-1 configuration you really understand is you and whatever flight attendant you’re likely “helping” to get there. Then again, it’s hard to imagine someone who types like you do even leaving his basement, much less actually flying anywhere.
@Mike Hunt — I’m not sure any of us truly ‘earn’ it and you’d better believe I enjoy it when I get the chance. And, no, neither voluntarily or involuntarily celibate, nor do I live in a basement. That said, if anyone does, that’s cool, too. You do you, bruh!
@1990 and @Mike Hunt – petty bickering over seats while missles are being launched and people are dying, protests are happening, and innocents are ending up in detention centers. Childish.
C’mon Becky. What are these posters supposed to do? Stand around in a state of cat-like readiness, wring their hands and gibber? I speak from experience. I’ve been doing this every day since about 1983.
@Becky W Cook – You’re right, we should all just sit at home and cry. That should help.
To MrNonrever, and anyone else halfway interested… Many years ago, I had a brilliant idea for a way to save a lot of $$$$$$$$ for the airlines, and did a lot of legwork, but never had the backing to make it work, as it would have required around $5Mil to get it off the ground; oh, well.
So I called Continental Airlines and spoke with one of the guys in their performance engineering group. I posed the following question, “If we were to place an EMPTY six pack of aluminum beverage cans in an overhead compartment and leave them there a year, what would it cost the airline?”
Now, as both a pilot and mechanical engineer, I knew there would be a cost, but how much was unknown at the time.
Some four to six weeks later, the phone in my office rang, and I answered it to find – much to my great surprise – the performance engineer on the other side of the call. He told me that he’d spoken with Boeing, and determined that flying the empty six pack of cans around for one year would cost the airline roughly $22,000.!
So, the the statement, “…I don’t think 7 lb worth of difference is going to make in fuel burn…” was screaming at me to make a correction, as it’s an insanely high number for a curtain, and the dismissive impact on cost is total nonsense.
Anyone wanting to explore and invest in what could be the next big improvement, can contact me on gmail.
@Becky W Cook — Ma’am, this is a Wendy’s… @Mike Hunt and I are just having a little fun. Banter, if you will. As to world events, please do see my comments Gary’s other recent posts about it. I’ll happily discuss geopolitics here, too, if you wish, but I’ve already shared my thoughts elsewhere. So, tell us, dear Becky, what’s your take on the ‘curtains’? Do the curtains match the drapes??
I just figured it was so the poors could see what they were missing out on. Encourage them to part with more money on their next trip.
@John Smith, my assumption has been that First Class boards first not so much to be seen, but so they can feel bad for (or look down on!) each non-First Class customer as they meekly pass through. 🙂
I always like how foreign carriers have thick curtains, and not only draw them but snap them closed. There is no one running into the FC cabin to use the lav.
@Brian — *thicc
@1990 , It’s “do the curtains match the carpet”. I’m a redhead, so I get this a lot.
@Sally Cooper — Ah, I got my idioms mixed up. Thank you for the clarification. Well, do they??
Yes, it’s always been about the safety and SECURITY of the flight. If something weird is going on I want some brave guys like Todd Beamer an American Hero, stopping a possible takeover of the aircraft!
‘LET’S ROLE!’.
I was on DL flight at Newark taxing when the first plane hit the tower, I still have PTSD from that experience!
Fly Safe!
One of the things foreign carriers get right is class segregation. Trying using the first or business class lav from economy while on a Lufthansa or BA flight.
And it’s not about marketing. The unwashed and FFs praying for an upgrade get to fully observe first class as they are whacking me off the head with their carry ons as they are making their way to the back of the plane.
It’s “Let’s roll.” Also, he’s no more a hero than anyone else on that flight. He just had a wife who made millions off his story.