Questions and Answers

Hi,

Why is it so that in Europe (or at least most of the European carriers) tells the passengers to have the window shades up for taxi, take off and landing. And they don’t in the US?

Welcome [USER=4652]@Fabian[/USER] – I don’t know but it seems like a good idea to me. The reason I’ve always heard is that it give both passengers & crew visibility to the outside world during the times of the flight that are the most dangerous. If there’s a fire outside it will let folks know not to use the exit(s) nearest that hazard, for example.

[QUOTE=”MidSouth Skier, post: 60786, member: 184″]Welcome [USER=4652]@Fabian[/USER] – I don’t know but it seems like a good idea to me. The reason I’ve always heard is that it give both passengers & crew visibility to the outside world during the times of the flight that are the most dangerous. If there’s a fire outside it will let folks know not to use the exit(s) nearest that hazard, for example.[/QUOTE]

That is 100% accurate. Also, if it’s a night flight, they dim the lights so your eyes are adjusted to the dark, so if an accident occurs, it’ll be easier to find the exit as your eyes are adjusted to the dark

But why isn’t it the same in the US?

I have never done a night flight there, but even at midday the window blinds were down on both of my flights.

I know there are times and places (PHL in August, Miami year round?) where the crew asks you leave the shades down on the ground to help keep the plane cool. Not sure how much that really helps but while the plane is using ground air?