Why do flight attendants insist on opening window shades before takeoff and landing

Every frequent flyer has encountered the familiar instruction: keep window shades up during takeoff and landing. While it might seem like a minor request, this standard procedure is actually a critical component of airline safety protocols. Many travelers may assume it is for passenger comfort or convenience, but the rationale is rooted deeply in safety regulations developed through decades of aviation research, accident investigations, and international aviation authority guidelines. As of 2025, with global passenger numbers rebounding after pandemic-era lows, airline safety measures are under more scrutiny than ever. Understanding why cabin crew enforce this rule reveals the extensive behind-the-scenes planning dedicated to minimizing risks and ensuring rapid emergency response if necessary.


The real reason window shades stay up during flights

One of the primary reasons flight attendants ask passengers to keep window shades open is to ensure maximum visibility in the event of an emergency. During takeoff and landing—the two phases where 90% of aircraft accidents occur, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2025 Safety Report—crew members must be able to quickly assess external conditions.

Open window shades allow both passengers and flight crew to:

• Spot hazards such as fire, debris, or water outside the aircraft.
• Determine which side of the plane is safer to evacuate toward.
• Identify if the plane is near dangerous obstacles like buildings, trees, or vehicles.

Quick visual assessment can critically impact decision-making during the few seconds available in an evacuation, which, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 2025 guidelines, should be completed within 90 seconds, even if half the exits are blocked.


Adjustment to natural light

Another important reason for open window shades is to help passengers' and crew members' eyes adjust to outside light conditions. Whether it is broad daylight or nighttime darkness, adapting quickly to the surrounding environment can be crucial.

For example:

• If passengers are accustomed to a dark cabin and an emergency landing requires evacuation into bright sunlight, their vision could be momentarily impaired.
• Conversely, landing at night requires the cabin lights to match external darkness, and open shades assist in maintaining consistent light exposure.

This quick adjustment increases situational awareness, enhances mobility, and reduces disorientation—all critical in emergencies. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) emphasized in its 2025 passenger safety briefings that visual adaptation can save vital seconds during evacuations.


Cabin crew situational awareness

Flight attendants are responsible for maintaining vigilance throughout the flight, but especially during critical phases like takeoff and landing. Open window shades allow them to:

• Spot unusual events outside the aircraft, such as smoke, leaking fuel, or structural damage.
• Observe if an engine fire or other mechanical issue develops.
• Monitor runway conditions and external weather, supplementing cockpit information.

In rare events where communication between the cockpit and cabin crew is compromised, flight attendants’ ability to visually assess the situation becomes even more important. Open shades act as additional "eyes" on the situation, providing early warning of problems that may require immediate action.


Why keeping window shades open is a global flight safety rule

Keeping window shades open is not merely a suggestion—it is part of international aviation safety protocols mandated or strongly recommended by regulatory authorities, including:

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
• Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

While not every country enforces this rule identically, most major airlines, especially those certified under IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) standards as updated in 2025, require open shades during these critical flight phases.

Some airlines go beyond recommendations and codify it in their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Failure to comply with safety instructions, including window shade policies, can even be treated as a violation of civil aviation regulations, subject to warnings or fines.


Passenger role in emergency preparedness

Passengers themselves play a vital role in the overall safety network of a flight. Keeping window shades up allows passengers to:

• Recognize visible external threats early.
• Assist fellow travelers in identifying safe escape routes.
• Maintain a heightened level of alertness during high-risk periods.

Training materials for flight attendants, such as those released by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) in 2025, stress that prepared passengers can dramatically improve survival rates in evacuations. A key part of that preparedness is being visually aware of the outside environment.


Psychological comfort and transparency

Though secondary to safety, maintaining transparency by keeping window shades open can also help reduce passenger anxiety. Studies conducted by the Aviation Psychology Association in 2025 indicated that passengers who could observe the horizon and runway during takeoff and landing reported:

• Lower levels of motion sickness.
• Reduced fear of the unknown.
• Increased sense of trust and situational control.

While not the main reason for the policy, this psychological benefit supports overall cabin calmness and can help prevent panic during unexpected situations.


Variations in airline policies

Not all airlines handle window shade policies identically. Some key differences as of 2025 include:

• Budget carriers (like Ryanair and Southwest Airlines) universally enforce the open-shade rule, with prominent announcements.
• Luxury airlines (like Emirates and Singapore Airlines) incorporate subtle reminders from crew without making formal announcements unless required.
• Private jets often do not enforce this rule unless landing or takeoff involves adverse weather conditions.

Nonetheless, on all major commercial airlines, compliance during takeoff and landing remains standard practice and is usually monitored by flight attendants as part of the cabin secure checks before these critical phases.