There’s a lot of reasons people don’t really like flying. For a lot of people, it’s a matter of fear. No matter how many times they hear it’s the safest way to travel, it only takes one report about a freak aircraft failure to decide that it isn’t worth the risk.
But for others, it’s the ordeal of flying that makes it such a tiring experience. Between the hassle of getting through security and the cramped conditions and the ear popping, you certainly won’t hear anyone call it the most comfortable way to go.
But with all these little challenges facing your journey, you may not have noticed something that’s always in the captain’s final message.
Sure, we’ve all heard the part about getting your items safely out of the overhead compartments, but why do we have to put the window blinds back up? It’s not like it’s hard to do, but it just seems like a strange request, right?
Well, read on and you’ll find out the special reason why you need to do that.
1. Some of the rules before takeoff are pretty well-known.
Even though it’s unclear as to whether your electronic devices have any effect on the plane’s computers, the FAA isn’t going to let you use them until they can be absolutely certain that they don’t.
And when you’re about to go 30,000 feet into the air, you want it to go as smoothly as possible
2. But why do we have to make sure the window blinds are up?
Sure, the view can often be pretty amazing, but if it’s so important, why can’t you find any FAA regulations about it?
3. That’s because it’s more for the flight crew’s benefit.
It makes it easier for them to see if there’s anything wrong with the plane prior to takeoff or landing, since these are the mostly times for any crashes to happen. So the crew will want to stay as vigilant as possible and keep the shades up.
Plus, even though you’ll never see this guy on the wing, sometimes there are problems obvious enough for a passenger to spot and alert the flight crew about. For example, if the plane is on fire or leaking fuel, a passenger with a view of the wing will be able to spot those issues pretty quickly.
4. Also, if there’s a need to evacuate the plane,
keeping the windows up will allow the flight crew to plan out the best way to get everyone off the plane safely.
With all the blinds up, they can quickly see if there’s any dangers or large objects blocking a particular exit. I’m sure we can all appreciate the need to think quickly in such an emergency and this really helps in doing that.
But of course, there’s another thing they always tell you to do.
5. Once you hit cruising altitude, you can keep the blinds open or closed at your leisure.
But if someone’s really reclining their seat against you, you might recall another message from the captain. The one about ensuring your seat is in an upright position before you leave.
6. It turns out there’s a couple of reasons why they ask you to bring your seat back up before landing.
Sure, there’s the fact that it’s easier for passengers behind you to leave the plane when it’s up, but there’s a less obvious reason too.
7. It’s all about making the landing easier.
An upright seat will reduce impact felt during landing. You may feel a slight jostle from this position, but a landing from a reclined position may slam your face into the seat in front of you.
There’s enough to worry about during flight without having that to deal with that.
8. So remember, when a flight attendant tells you to adjust your tray, your window or your seat,
there’s a good reason for it. You’ll help make your trip safer and more pleasurable in the long run.
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