Why do cabin crew ask you to open window shades during takeoff and landing?

Have you ever wondered why flight attendants seem obsessed with your window shade?

How many times have you heard this "Excuse me, could you please open your window shade?"  Is this just another airline power trip, or is something more important happening behind this seemingly trivial request? 

Flight attendants ask passengers to keep window shades open during takeoff and landing for many reasons. Open window shades give everyone onboard better visibility if something goes wrong.

With shades up, both passengers and crew can:

• Spot dangers like fire, water, or debris outside the plane.
• Figure out which side is safer for evacuation.
• See if the aircraft is near dangerous objects like buildings or trees.

These quick visual checks can save lives during an emergency evacuation, which the FAA says should take no more than 90 seconds, even with half the exits blocked.

Another key reason for the open-shade rule involves our eyes. If passengers sit in a dark cabin and suddenly need to evacuate into bright daylight, they might be temporarily blinded. The same goes for nighttime - eyes need time to adjust to darkness.

By keeping shades open during critical flight phases, everyone's eyes stay adjusted to the outside light conditions. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency highlighted in its 2025 safety briefings that this visual adjustment can save precious seconds during emergencies.

Flight attendants serve as additional safety monitors during flights. Open window shades help them:

• Notice unusual events like smoke, fuel leaks, or damage.
• Spot engine problems.
• Check runway conditions and weather.

If communication between pilots and cabin crew breaks down, this visual information becomes even more valuable. Open shades provide early warning of problems that might require immediate action.

The open-shade rule isn't just one airline's quirk - it's part of international aviation safety protocols backed by major authorities, including the FAA

International Civil Aviation Organisation, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Most major airlines follow this practice, especially those certified under the IATA's

Operational Safety Audit standards updated in 2025. Some airlines have even made it part of their official operating procedures, with penalties for non-compliance.