Dirty Airline Seats

[kazzy3]

We just returned from our trip. We flew Jetblue from Newark to Orlando and round trip. With concerns about flu, swine flu etc. I brought Handi wipe antibacterial wipes to clean the tray tables. Thank God I did. I have a chronic illness and three children. Two tray tables had coffee and food residue and one had coffee and a hair. After seeing that we proceeded to wipe down the arm rests and the seats and the seat back in front of us. Wow. It took 3-4 wipes and they were black! I would highly recommend everyone doing the same for your own protection. It is not just Jetblue, I think, all these airlines want a quick turnaround and overlook a lot. I don't expect a whole lot but at a minimum tray tables and arm rests need to be cleaned. Also, it skeeved me that the people serving beverages and food were the same ones collected trash that other people ate and drank from. I made my kids drink from the can after I cleaned it and no cups or ice that everybody touched. Again not just Jetblue (who I actually love) and I fly about twice a year, this will be part of my routine now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, it skeeved me that the people serving beverages and food were the same ones collected trash that other people ate and drank from.

Given that the typical commercial flight has only three or four Flight Attendants, and that these FAs are required to do everything, what alternative method of serving/collecting would you suggest????? Remember too that the Flight Attendants use gloves when collecting the trash and allow passengers to actually put the trash in the bags themselves and don't overlap the two services.

 

[bavaria]

Eh.

I sit (or more commonly sleep) in an airline seat a few times a week, and I have a compromised immune system. I use the pillows and blankets too quite often too. I'm a rebel that way.

I don't get sick from flying.

Think about all the things in life you touch like shopping cart handles and door handles and such. Being too obsessed about cleanliness and overusing antibacterial products isn't healthy either.

But then again, in my world I travel in developing countries and eat the fruits and veg and can't always wash my hands as much as I would do in other countries. I'm probably more healthy as a result than many of the posters here who like to 'sanitize' everything. If it makes you feel better to do so, fine, but I won't change my habits.

 

[bear_mom]

Also, it skeeved me that the people serving beverages and food were the same ones collected trash that other people ate and drank from. I made my kids drink from the can after I cleaned it and no cups or ice that everybody touched.

I'm sure that Flight Attendants perform the same hygine routine that is required of all food preperation people.

I don't see anything wrong with what they do. They take a clean cup, get some ice out of the ice container and put it into the cup they serve you with. They don't touch the ice with their hands.

Trash pick up is at a seperate time than serving drinks and from what I remember they don't actually touch other peoples trash, they hold the bag out for you to put your own trash in.

Plus, I'm sure they have soap and water available to them. Haven't you ever had to empty the trash while making dinner? Or go to the bathroom while cooking?

Emily

 

[bavaria]

And when I posted an article early this year about how UA was starting a program of deep cleaning seats, I don't think that a single person responded. Of course, that was before all this H1N1 hype.

OP, are you willing to pay the money to have planes take a longer turn time at the gate, and to staff in flight cleaning crew to pick up trash? you do realise that would make tickets most likely 3 or 4 times as much as they are now?

 

[crashbb]

And when I posted an article early this year about how UA was starting a program of deep cleaning seats, I don't think that a single person responded. Of course, that was before all this H1N1 hype.

Ironically, the only times that I've had a problem with seats was on UA flights. Apparently, I am allergic to something that they use to clean their seats on Australia/US flights (maybe on other flights as well).

Discovered this about 30 minutes into a 13 hour flight. Learned the hard way not to wear a short sleeved shirt.

 

[bavaria]

I've told you before that I don't like the AC new pods because they feel too plasticky. Part of the problem is that they don't absorb sleep-induced drool as well as the more fabric seats which results in interrupted sleep.

I'll take a not-quite-lie-flat LH seat any day because it absorbs drool better than an AC seat.

 

[crashbb]

I've told you before that I don't like the AC new pods because they feel too plasticky. Part of the problem is that they don't absorb sleep-induced drool as well as the more fabric seats which results in interrupted sleep.

I'll take a not-quite-lie-flat LH seat any day because it absorbs drool better than an AC seat.

That's what the blanket and/or pillow are for - they are very drool absorbing.

 

[kazzy3]

As I indicated, yes I would wait an extra 10 minutes for a maintenance person to come on the flight to wipe down tables. I waited longer for people who couldn't be bothered to get to the airport on time to get on the plane after being paged numerous times. It does not have to be and should not be a flight attendant. Geez, they wipe tables at the food courts. Yes, I did observe the flight attendants using the same gloves to pick up trash and serve food. Basic hygiene. You must remove your soiled gloves, wash your hands and replace new gloves. Even though it was Jetblue, my flights were by no means cheap. It would not cost anything to designate one flight attendant to serve and one to pick up the waste. They do this in delis, and food courts. Why not on a plane?My observations were emailed to jetblue this morning. Also, why not give wetnaps to the travelers and ask them to wipe after themselves? There are simple, basic ways to improve hygiene that do not cost a lot of money.

 

[bavaria]

I don't think that you understand the basics of the airline industry. It is not just 'an extra 10 minutes' at the gate; airlines can lose their slots and are penalized for not having on time departures.

If every aircraft took an extra 10 minutes to turn at the gate, then there would have to be mass revisions of schedules, with fewer departures per day, and thus higher prices, not to mention the extra labour involved in additional cleaning.

The goal should be to reduce turn time by controlling the chaos on US domestic flights due to not following boarding calls and having far too much carry on luggage. If the reduced it to what it is in the rest of the world, there would be a few more minutes for cleaning at minimal cost.

But adding 10 minutes to each aircraft just isn't viable.

 

[bavaria]

on Australia/US flights

the AC ...LH seat

ooops... we forgot. We're being show offy again. Next time take a boat to Australia, please.

 

[kazzy3]

As an RN I do understand Infection Control and I would guess that since there is a worldwide flu outbreak that has our government calling it an epidemic that grounding planes for contamination, quarantining staff and passengers and paying for sick calls for staff and then trying to pay overtime to replace sick staff would be a bit costly. Having a maintenance person wipe the tray tables while the baggage is removed and while Flight Attendants perform safety routines shouldn't delay planes unless the airline industry wants it to. But that's just my take. On the news last night there was something about airlines waiving flight cancellation fees when a person is sick. I missed the whole story but obviously they are becoming concerned. I will continue to wash my hands, vaccinate and be vigilant. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[crashbb]

Having a maintenance person wipe the tray tables while the baggage is removed and while Flight Attendants perform safety routines shouldn't delay planes unless the airline industry wants it to. But that's just my take.

It may not add time but it does add an additional salary. The US public has shown that they are not willing pay what it actually costs to fly - they certainly aren't going to pay to hire these additional workers.

 

[Hannathy]

If airline seats bother you then may I suggest you never go to a movie theater? I would be pretty willing to bet the only time those get cleaned is when they re-do the theater! and we all know what goes on in/on movie theater seats........

 

[kazzy3]

You all seem to miss the point I suggested that you wipe the tray table and arm rest where you will be eating and touching. My flight was at 10 am and it was filthy. I take public transportation, go to movies when I can and sadly I find it cleaner and much less expensive. Planes are smaller with recirculating air that hold many people inside for long periods of time where they are using toilets with sparse handwashing facilities and serving food. Deep clean no. Not necessary and not expected. Hair and food particles where you eat and sit not tolerable. I suggest you wipe the tray table. Glad I had the good sense to.

 

[dudspizza]

You all seem to miss the point I suggested that you wipe the tray table and arm rest where you will be eating and touching. My flight was at 10 am and it was filthy. I take public transportation, go to movies when I can and sadly I find it cleaner and much less expensive. Planes are smaller with recirculating air that hold many people inside for long periods of time where they are using toilets with sparse handwashing facilities and serving food. Deep clean no. Not necessary and not expected. Hair and food particles where you eat and sit not tolerable. I suggest you wipe the tray table. Glad I had the good sense to.

A 10am flight does not mean it is the first flight of the morning..... planes travel all times of the day. I once had a 7am flight out of MSP.... found out that the plane we were on was delayed out of Seattle (red eye). So, being on the first flight of the day, doesn't mean you are on a plane that has been cleaned or even sitting on the ground over night.

I can guarantee that all of the posters on this thread get what the OP is trying to say. Alot of the posters fly ALOT and know how the industry works. Sure, when they clean the plane they could do a better job. I honestly think what Bavaria stated is what needs to be done..... don't allow the American flying public to carry on everything they own. Limit their carry on baggage and ask them to take some pride in where they are.

I always make sure I get all of my garbage out of the seat pocket and make sure there isn't anything on the floor. I have boarded a plane and noticed a whole row of seats that is full of crumbs and wrappers from a family with little kids who don't monitor their kids. If we all do our part, all would be a lot cleaner.

I am not one of those that freaks about things. I refuse to let the media put me into a panic about H1N1 or anything else. I, like the OP, work in a field with lots of germs in the air. I wash my hands like normal, but I am not going to wipe down my equipment, my phone, or other stuff out of the fear that I might get sick.

If wiping down the tray tables and seats makes someone more comfortable, so be it.

Duds

 

[jlewisinsyr]

You all seem to miss the point I suggested that you wipe the tray table and arm rest where you will be eating and touching. My flight was at 10 am and it was filthy. I take public transportation, go to movies when I can and sadly I find it cleaner and much less expensive. Planes are smaller with recirculating air that hold many people inside for long periods of time where they are using toilets with sparse handwashing facilities and serving food. Deep clean no. Not necessary and not expected. Hair and food particles where you eat and sit not tolerable. I suggest you wipe the tray table. Glad I had the good sense to.

Actually most air is filtered, it may recirculated, but it is filtered each time, it's probably more clean then even the cleanest home. As for the rest of the plane, eh, seriously, I fly a ton, never consider it, never worry about it. I actually find when I travel I tend to stay healthier then when I'm actually around my office and home.

I'm fine with an individual choosing to wipe down their surroundings, but requiring an airline to do more then they already do, nope, I'd like to keep my flight options as open as they are already (which is less then they were in the past).

 

[dburg30]

And I really feel it would be more then just 10 minutes. I dont know if you could go thru all the rows, put the trays down, and back up, without doing anything in 10 minutes. Plus with planes arriving and leaving constantly, I dont think you'd be able to get away with just one employee doing it. And as others have stated, even if you do add only 10 minutes on to each flight at each gate, by the end of the day you've lost at least an hour at each one of those gates, which would be a minimum of 2 to 3 flights less. So now you have 2 or 3 flights less, plus minimum of 2 extra employees, start doing the math and I think it would be shocking. Plus if you are flying, even if the plane is totally disinfected between flights, it wont matter if people around you, in the airport, on the plane etc are sick. I would guess you'd have a better chance of getting something from the air then your seat.

And I totally agree with bavaria about being 'too sanitized' I feel you are also killing some good germs that live on you if you go overboard with it. I had a co-worker whos hands were absolutely trashed most of the time from constant hand washing. I would much rather have a cold here or there, then to have my hands in the kind of shape his were. makes me shiver just to think of them..

 

[Tara]

As an RN I do understand Infection Control and I would guess that since there is a worldwide flu outbreak that has our government calling it an epidemic that grounding planes for contamination, quarantining staff and passengers and paying for sick calls for staff and then trying to pay overtime to replace sick staff would be a bit costly. Having a maintenance person wipe the tray tables while the baggage is removed and while Flight Attendants perform safety routines shouldn't delay planes unless the airline industry wants it to. But that's just my take. On the news last night there was something about airlines waiving flight cancellation fees when a person is sick. I missed the whole story but obviously they are becoming concerned. I will continue to wash my hands, vaccinate and be vigilant. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Wiping down tray tables would take significantly longer than 10 minutes. Take Southwest - they have 137 seats on each 737. 10 minutes for wiping down trays is 4.4 seconds per tray. Considering their business model is based on very short turn-around times for aircraft, there's no way Southwest could do this between each flight. Perhaps the middle ground is for more airlines to adopt United's practice of cleaning planes...but I for one don't think that's necessary. After all, there are myriad surfaces people are touching before and after flights: check-in kiosks, elevator buttons, escalator rails, xray bins, door handles, armrests in waiting areas, etc. Never mind the countless surfaces we all come in contact with every day. You'd likely slow transmission of the virus a lot more by demanding that grocery stores sanitize shopping carts.

Also, I don't have time to search for the thread here or the news story, but there's a post on this board quoting the story about how that famous "germ-ridden recirculated air" on airplanes is a myth and that for most of the time you are on a plane, the air is just as clean, if not cleaner, than in other indoor spaces people frequent.

 

[safetymom]

Eh.

I sit (or more commonly sleep) in an airline seat a few times a week, and I have a compromised immune system. I use the pillows and blankets too quite often too. I'm a rebel that way.

I don't get sick from flying.

Think about all the things in life you touch like shopping cart handles and door handles and such. Being too obsessed about cleanliness and overusing antibacterial products isn't healthy either.

But then again, in my world I travel in developing countries and eat the fruits and veg and can't always wash my hands as much as I would do in other countries. I'm probably more healthy as a result than many of the posters here who like to 'sanitize' everything. If it makes you feel better to do so, fine, but I won't change my habits.

Once again we agree. I traveled quite a bit for many years and never got sick from flying. I didn't wipe down the tray table, I used the blanket and pillow on the plane. When I got to my hotel room I slept under the comforter, walked in my bare feet on the floor, didn't wipe down the remote or phone.

I did take basic precautions. I do believe the seats and tray tables do need to be cleaned more often but I don't think that most people would be willing to pay more for that service or wait longer at the gate for them to deep clean the plane.