Why do the airplane window shades need to be up?

You're familiar with it: children asking their mom why the seats can't be reclined and the tray tables need to be stowed during takeoff. That curiosity is always endearing. But did you know all this already? Or do you find yourself wondering about certain things on every flight?

Why the flight attendant greets everyone at boarding

I never really thought about it, because it's quite normal to be greeted warmly when you enter somewhere. And when you step onto a plane, it's courteous to be welcomed. But the cabin crew mainly stands by the door to assess whether you are fit to fly. For instance, to check if you haven't had too much wine at the airport.

Why not use the toilet during refueling

At some point, I realized you can use the toilet on the plane once you've landed. It’s also possible during boarding. You always have to ask, though. Because if refueling is happening, it's not allowed. If something goes wrong during refueling and everyone needs to evacuate quickly, you might be forgotten.

Why the window shades need to be up

No, the airplane window shades don’t need to be up during takeoff and landing because the flight attendant thinks it looks nice. They need to be up so that in case of an accident, rescue teams can see inside. This allows them to quickly assess the situation in the aircraft. The cabin crew can also look outside to see if there are any obstacles. Additionally, your eyes will be adjusted to the outside light, should you need to evacuate the aircraft.

Why not wear yoga leggings

Are you following the latest trend and boarding the plane in your leggings? It's better not to. Should a fire break out, you could have a problem. The synthetic material of yoga leggings ignites quickly and can stick to your skin. It's safer to wear something made of cotton or another natural fabric.

Why keep your shoes on during the flight

This is also very important in case something goes wrong. Hopefully, you'll never experience it! But in an evacuation, you might have to leave the aircraft in an area where the ground is hot or very cold. There might also be glass on the floor of the plane. It's not pleasant to walk on it in socks or bare feet.

Why the flight attendant sits on their hands

What a great tip! During takeoff and landing, the cabin crew sits on their hands. When you sit on your hands, you can't do much else but focus. You can't fidget with your watch or pick at your nails. All you can do is mentally review the emergency plan. And perhaps more importantly, the entire posture helps protect you from physical injury during an emergency landing.

Why the seat must be upright during takeoff and landing

This also relates to safety. If you're slouched with a loose seatbelt, you're not as securely fastened and are more likely to sustain back, neck, or abdominal injuries. The seat is also locked when upright and cannot move. Your head has less freedom of movement, reducing the chance of injury. The person behind you also can't hit their head against your seat. Lastly, everyone has more space to quickly exit the plane if something happens. That's why your tray table must also be stowed.

Do you have any other important, fun, or funny facts? I'm curious!