The view from an airplane window. Here's why you should open your window shades during takeoff and landing on an airplane. Per a new report from Paddle Your Own Kanoo, United Airlines has decided that ...

It’s important to keep an open blind. Having the window shade open during takeoff and landing might seem like an unnecessary nuisance. However, there’s an important safety reason for this seemingly ...

Every frequent flyer has encountered the familiar instruction: keep window shades up during takeoff and landing. While it might seem like a minor request, this standard procedure is actually a ...

Air travel is a struggle under the best of circumstances. Legroom seems to shrink with every trip, and the argument about whether it’s rude to recline one’s seat rages on (though some airlines have ...

The person closest to the window in every row gets to control the shade. On overnight flights, or very early morning ones, it’s just the right thing to do to keep your window shade closed so everyone ...

James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary.View full profile James is a ...

Open windows let passengers and crew quickly see hazards outside and help first responders assess conditions. Bright light also helps passengers’ eyes adjust before deplaning. There are two reasons I ...

A midflight window shade request sparks debate over passenger control, crew authority and flight etiquette.