Window blinds open for take-off and landing?
 

Just like to know why? No big issue, but curious.. Wouldn't nervous pax prefer not to see the world whizzing by?

I presume some safety issue is involved......please tell

Window blinds open for take-off and landing?
 

It's better being able to see outside in case of something happening, it's a lot easier to tell if there's fire/smoke/debris if there's not a panel in the way.

My understanding is that it's so your eyes can adapt to the light - in the event of an evacuation, you don't want people exiting the airplane from a dark cabin into bright daylight and being temporarily blinded while their eyes adapt.

Primarily for the crew to see outside. The adjusting to light levels is often quoted, but after being dazzled by bright light it takes more than ten minutes for your vision to return to normal. So, it's for safety reasons. Mainly so the FAs can see outside and for those further away, so the pax can alert the crew to anything abnormal.

Quite a few case where pax have reported seeing something 'weird' to one of the crew.

For the crew, we can see quite a bit and it helps us to orientate ourselves as to where we are/how high we are. It'll also be one of the places we look out of in an evacuation before opening the door (viewing ports are on the door but if a window is immediately next to it, can provide a clearer view depending on the aircraft type)

it only makes sense after a crash. it is so that you don't try to exit into any flames. also allows firefighters to see into the aircraft.

I understand now
 

Thank you folks. All very sensible. I'm glad I didn't moan when instructed to do it.

I anyway know that moaning to my own cabin crew (different airline) is a waste of time, unless its about the passengers or our management or our aircraft or crew meals or.....lots really :))

If it is a safety issue (I'm not arguing here) why is it that this isn't applied with US carriers? I have never seen this applied flying within the US.

My speculation is that it could be because there isn't any regulation regarding this issue set by the board which governs safety in US civil aviation.

Recently when traveling through Miami and Dallas on AA all the window shades, including those at the over wing exits were closed for boarding, presumably to assist in keeping the aircraft cool. There was no instruction to open the window shades before takeoff, including the over wing exit shades which I would have thought would be the minimum as the person opening these has to ensure they are safe to open. But then again there was no overwing briefing on any flight we took when seated at the overwing so I guess different authorities have different standards. Personally I would prefer worlds best/safest even if a little inconvenient/annoying