why do flight attendants ask passengers to close window shades upon take off and landing?

Answer 1

Actually, the ask you to OPEN them during takeoff and landing. Typically they ask you to close them after takeoff on long flights so that passengers that wish to sleep won't be bothered by the light and to reduce interference of the light with the movie screens.

They ask you to open them for takeoff and landing so that the fligh crew will be able to see outside in case of a crash, mostly to avoid opening an emergency exit into a fire.

Answer 2

I just finished a trip last week where the flight attendants did request passengers to close the window shades before leaving the airplane at the gate. At both St Louis and Dallas, outside air temps were in the high 90's, and the idea was that the airplane cabin would remain cooler while waiting for the next flight if the shades were pulled down.

Answer 3

It's the complete opposite.
It is for safety that they ask you to have the shades OPEN during take-off and landing because it is much easier to get air-sick if you can´t see outside.
Also, take-off and landing are the most dangerous manouvers of any aircraft and in case of any accident, firefighters and rescue teams can see inside the plane for fire or anything else.

During flight, you are asked to CLOSE the shades during the night or during a movie, just so that light doesn't bother other passengers. If sunrise will occur during flight, they ask you to close them as well, even while still dark.

Answer 4

The blinds are OPENED during take-off and landing, so that, in the event of an accident, crew and passengers can see whether there is any fire around the aircraft before opening exits. For your interest, look up the Manchester 1985 737 accident on the Air accident investigation branch website. www.aaib.gov.uk

Answer 5

I have never been asked to close the shades. I always sit by a window and love to watch the ground get small on takeoff and see the planes shadow reach the ground when we land.

Answer 6

That's the first I've heard of this. Usually when they show a movie they willhave people close them, but I can't think of any other reason.

Sometimes if they have emergency vehicles on the tarmack for another reason they don't want the passengers on the plane to get alarmed.

Answer 7

I wasn't aware they did. I've flown many times, and I've always liked to look out the window as the plane takes off. I recently flew on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Omaha, and nobody asked me to to pull the blind down on my row's window.

Answer 8

They ask you to close them during the flight so passengers can sleep.

They ask you to open them on landing and take off for safety reasons.

Answer 9

I have only experienced this occasionally in the Middle East when landing in the dark. I thought that it was to make the plane less of a target for someone wishing to shoot at us.

Answer 10

I was never asked to do that on my flights!