Originally Posted by
Bitterroot
I agree with Willy: I asked the SQ folks about this, since they have the same policy ("fasten your seat-belts, and ensure that your window shades are up") on take-off and landing. Answer: so passengers won't be disoriented inside a dark cabin if there's an accident, emergency lighting or no. SQ learned the hard way in the typhoon crash at TPE.
They now also insist you keep your shoes on during take-off and landing. Same lesson.
But otherwise, SQ doesn't hassle you if you want your shade up during daylight hours.
...and that you not use your head sets - a lesson learnt from the BA crash.
The window shades must also be up because people are more likely to look out of the window and see an engine burning/something else wrong.