[Semaphor]

> want you upright and alert during takeoff

I’m great at sleeping, so I sometimes fall asleep during taxi and before takeoff. That was never an issue.

[vladvasiliu]

I'm the opposite, basically never sleep on a plane.

But I've seen many people asleep during landing and turbulence, and can't remember a single instance of the attendants even attempting to wake them up. They would go open the windows and taking care not to bother them.

[Semaphor]

I don’t envy you, my wife is the same, so those long flights (Germany <--> South Africa) are pretty hard on her. And yeah, as long as you are visibly belted, they don’t bother you.