Shades Open Policy: Change It?
 

Yes

I'd say no; WN planes get hot enough as it is sitting on the tarmac (at least here in Texas).

HA is another U.S. airline that requires window shades open for takeoff and landing. It makes sense.

If there is a taxi or runway incident, pax and FAs need to look quickly to see if there are flames outside the fuselage and which emergency exits to open or not.

It's a basic safety measure on most carriers worldwide. People are better able to orient themselves in an emergency, can see the surroundings and not exit on a side where there is danger.

Similarly, the same carriers ask passengers to close the shades and turn on the vents before they disembark as that helps to keep the aircraft slightly cooler while it is parked.

Yes Sir.

Whatever folks want.

I get the REMOTE possibility of an unexpected accident upon landing and the remote possibility of having the chance to look outside and make a determination.

I was in Ethiopia in 2000-2001 and we had to close our window shades because of the war with Eritrea. They didn't want pax snapping photos or even seeing military assets on the ground.

​​​​It was odd landing and taking off without being able to see what was happening.

I'm almost always in a window seat. On Southwest I'm often asked to raise the shade for landing, and also often hear a PA announcement to lower them after landing to help control cabin heat. There hasn't really been a pattern, so I suspect Southwest doesn't have an official policy, or if it does that it's a low priority. I'm not sure that this particular news item will trigger any change.

I'm having a hard time believing there is any REAL safety benefit.

There is a benefit. If someone (such as a deadheading Pilot) sees something abnormal on the wings they can alert the flight attendant.

I get the REMOTE possibility of needing an onboard defibrillator. No anecdotal basis is widely known for putting phones in "Airplane Mode" on departure.

Tray tables, seat backs and dangling phone cables impair evacuations. Closed shades harm situational awareness. FAs are tasked with the daunting feat to evacuate an aircraft in 90 seconds or less.The jury is out on this?

So we should require everyone to open their shades AND look out the window?

UA has adopted this policy as of 1 February.

The risks are, of course, minimal. But, the consequences enormous. As with most flight safety rules and policies.

And here is what the next FF complaint will be. Wait for it.

"On my last flight, they made us open the window shades as soon as the pilot said something about final approach. We did not land for another 20 minutes, as normal. How stupid is this?"


EDIT - originally said windows vs window shades.

I think we should require everyone to get out and push to help the plane taxi to and from the gate.

First thing I do when I board is lower the shade in the window and hope that I don't get anyone in my row so it stays closed.

I'm amused at the people who start nervously looking out the window when we hit turbulence, like there's anything that could be done about it.

It actually does help to look out the window during turbulence. I don't freak out in turbulence but when it happens I look out the window so my stomach doesn't get queasy.

Most people don't, until there's an emergency.

In an emergency, I am sure the person 7 rows behind the exit will look out the window, see a hazard, correctly diagnose the hazard, calm tell the people in the exit (who will have heard him because they are acting calm and rational), and everyone will exit out the other side of the plane without their carry ons. In less than 90 seconds.

I stand by my original statement.

I assume you've been in an emergency situation on a plane, where no one is screaming, everyone just sits in their seat until being told what to do, and that person 7 rows back is a hero. Because in every other emergency situation the reports from passengers say how chaotic the situation is, and numerous people want to take their oversized cartons down the slide with them.

Interestingly the WN safety briefings have recently changed. FA's now tell pax to leave their crap behind on the plane in an emergency. Good reminder. I doubt anyone pays attention.

That’s my point.