Window Blinds
As a passenger, I have always been keen to have the window blinds raised for take off and landing. Basically if there is any sign of trouble I would want to be amongst the first to know and in the case of an evacuation, I would want to be as fully aware of my surroundings as possible. I believe this is a regulatory requirement in the EU anyway.
Can anyone tell me therefore why in some parts of the world, keeping window blinds down is either ok or sometimes even encouraged, for example in the tropics in order to keep the sun from warming the cabin. Surely the same safety principle applies or should apply.
There doesn't even seem to be consistency amongst airlines with one transatlantic carrier insisting on blinds up for that sector but insisting they were down for another flight in a hot country. I was definitely frowned upon for my insistence on raising the blind.
Can anyone shed any light on this situation? (if you'll pardon the pun)