If you've flown on a plane, you may have been reminded to open the window shades during takeoff or landing. This seemingly unimportant routine plays a part in ensuring your safety during an emergency.

Before every flight, you hear that familiar instruction from the crew: “Please raise your window shades for takeoff and landing.” It may seem like a trivial request, especially when all you want is to ...

View of planes through an open airplane window. There are two reasons I like to pull my shade down as soon as I settle into my window seat after boarding a plane. For starters, the cabin is usually ...

That quiet moment before landing, when the cabin lights dim and everyone prepares for touchdown, often comes with one small but firm instruction: “Please keep your window shade open.” It sounds like a ...

Those orders from flight attendants to open the window shades aren't about getting the mood lighting just right—they actually serve an important purpose Raise them, lower them, raise ’em again. A ...