If you’ve ever tried to pull down the window shade during takeoff—either to block the glare or to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep—you may have noticed a flight attendant asking you to raise it instead.
Some airlines require it, while others simply encourage it or don’t mention it at all.
The inconsistency can be confusing, especially since takeoff and landing are widely considered the most critical moments of any flight. And unlike seat belts or tray tables, there’s no single global policy governing what passengers should do with their window shades. Instead, the decision is shaped by a mix of international safety recommendations, airline-specific procedures, and, in some cases, crew discretion.
So what’s actually expected of you when the wheels are about to leave or meet the runway? The answer depends on where you’re flying, which airline you’re on, and sometimes even where you’re sitting.
What is the reason for keeping window shades open for takeoff and landing?
There is a logical reason for keeping window shades open during takeoff and landing: safety.
Takeoff and landing are the phases of flight when incidents are most likely to occur, and visibility can make a meaningful difference in how quickly and safely a situation is handled.
On some regional jets like the CRJ-900 commonly operated under the Delta Connection or American Eagle brands, the first-class passenger in seat 1A is usually advised to keep the window shade open since the flight attendants do not have full-size windows in the galley and therefore will need the flier’s window to visually determine if it is safe to open the door. In the event of an emergency, flight attendants are trained to look for debris, fire, or smoke outside before initiating an evacuation.
Keeping all the window shades open makes that faster and easier to do, and it’s why most airlines make sure exit-row windows have the shades open during takeoff and landing, regardless of their policy for regular rows.
According to KLM, “In our flight manuals, flight attendants must ensure that [shades] are open at the emergency exits during take-off. This has to do with being able to check outside conditions in the event of emergencies.”
Passengers may have to help with this safety check, since there could be times when a flight attendant won’t be near an exit door or may not be in a condition to check themselves. So if you’re sitting in an exit row, you could be charged with observing the exterior conditions before opening the door.
Why visibility matters in an emergency
Another benefit is that an open window shade helps passengers’ eyes become better acclimated to the outside light, which is important in the event of an emergency. If it’s bright outside or dark at night, your eyes will already be accustomed to the exterior conditions should there be a need to evacuate. This is also why the cabin lights are usually dimmed for takeoff and landing.
Finally, if the window shades are open, emergency staff on the ground can see if there is fire or smoke inside the cabin during an emergency landing or crash. There have been instances where passengers have noticed unusual events through their windows and notified the crew, such as a passenger on a 2017 flight that alerted the flight staff that fuel was leaking from the wing and possibly prevented an in-flight disaster. Still, the policy plays a meaningful role in helping crews and passengers spot problems early and make faster decisions in an emergency when seconds can make a difference.
Which airlines require window shades to be open during takeoff and landing?
No major U.S. airline officially requires passengers to keep their window shades open during takeoff and landing.
A spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade group that represents more than 300 airlines globally and helps direct industry policy, told Afar that it recommends keeping the window shades open for takeoff and landing as best practice. This is in line with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international air navigation and aviation safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also does not mandate it. Instead, U.S. airlines are free to set their own policies, and most stop short of making it a requirement.
In practice, that means airlines like Delta, American, Alaska, and Southwest typically leave it up to passengers, although flight attendants may still encourage open shades. United Airlines, which was briefly the only U.S. carrier that asked passengers to raise their shades in 2022 (an order it quickly rescinded in order to align with other carriers and provide more clarity for travelers), now also frames it as a recommendation rather than a rule.
In an emailed statement to Afar, United confirmed that they still “encourage, but do not require window shades to be open.” The airline says it promotes greater visibility during takeoff and landing.
If you’ve flown internationally, you may have noticed that open shades are enforced more consistently. Many airlines based in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East treat open window shades as standard operating procedure during takeoff and landing, aligning more closely with international safety recommendations. On carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, it’s common for flight attendants to walk the cabin and ensure that shades are up before departure and again before landing.
That said, regardless of what airline you’re flying, if a crew member specifically asks you to open your shades, it’s best to follow the instructions that are generally tied to safety procedures, even if it’s not consistently enforced across flights.
This article was originally published in 2023 and was updated on April 9, 2026, with additional reporting by Bailey Berg.
