Boarding a plane can be exhilarating, but let’s face it – it’s not always the epitome of cleanliness. Being cooped up in a metal tube alongside countless other people can raise quite a few hygiene concerns, with certain aspects of air travel proving to be less sanitary.
Travel platform eShores has collaborated with two experienced flight attendants to spill the beans on the grimiest parts of an aircraft and share tips on how to dodge them. Flight attendant Kamila Jakubjakova, who has more than three years experience, advises passengers to shun airplane water and opt for their own bottled variety instead.
Despite varying standards among airlines, a Healthline study uncovered potentially harmful microorganisms, including total coliform bacteria, in some aircraft water supplies. Kamila concedes that although onboard water must meet hygiene regulations, the tanks are seldom cleaned due to tight scheduling.
She said: “Bottled water would be my first choice as the water tanks don’t get cleaned often due to time constraints. Although the aircraft water is not the best quality, they still have to follow the hygiene and sanitation standards.”
In addition to your water woes, think twice before snuggling up with airline-provided blankets or pillows. While typically associated with long-haul comfort, experts divulge that these items are hardly ever laundered. They’re merely re-folded for the next traveller, reports the Express.
An anonymous flight attendant even warns that this unsavoury practice isn’t exclusive to economy class, indicating that first-class passengers aren’t immune either. An insider has shared some eye-opening details about hygiene practices onboard flights that might make you think twice about how you travel.
Revealing the not-so-glamorous behind-the-scenes of air travel, they disclosed: “First class mattresses don’t get changed or laundered – a clean sheet is put over it. On short haul flights pillowcases don’t get changed, they’re probably just turned around.”
The source went on to highlight another area for caution: “The third thing to avoid on planes is being barefoot – especially in the bathrooms.” The urge to slip off your shoes for comfort might seem likee the go-to, but it’s wise to have slip-on shoes handy for bathroom visits.
They added: “The toilets are never deep cleaned, just wiped down with an antibacterial wipe and the toilet floors are never cleaned”. To steer clear of carrying bacteria throughout the flight and back into your footwear, keeping your shoes on seems to be the best advice.