Flight attendant reveals four filthy plane surfaces passengers should 'never touch'
A former British Airways flight attendant has named the dirtiest parts of an airplane, and has urged passengers to carry either a bottle of hand sanitiser or a packet of anti-bacterial wipes
A former British Airways flight attendant has spilled the beans on the grimiest parts of a plane, singling out four seat components in the cabin as top culprits.
Ex-British Airways crew member Jane Hawkes is spilling industry secrets to help travelers enhance their comfort mid-air — her chief advice: never board without hand sanitiser or anti-bacterial wipes.
She warned passengers: "When travelling on a plane, where possible, avoid touching any areas unless you've sanitised them."
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In the race against germs, a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitiser can be a bargain, starting at just $1.50, available before takeoff in the departures lounge or even prior, for the savvy shopper.
Despite the flurry of activity in cabins as staff hustle during the brief lull between deboarding and welcoming new flyers, scooping up trash, and ticking off safety checks, the Mirror reports that not every nook gets a meticulous clean.
With hygiene hit-or-miss on surfaces we assume are cleaned, Jane advises those jet-setting this summer to arm themselves with hand sanitiser and wipes, guaranteeing a personal oasis of cleanliness amidst a sea of germs.
Jane Hawkes points out the 'worst offending areas' for travelers to beware.
"Aircraft are only ever deep-cleaned if they're taken in for maintenance," Hawkes warned.
She listed what she believes to be the "worst offending areas."
"The worst offending areas are tray tables, armrests, seats, and headrests, so always give them a wipe down before using," she advised.
British Airways' website assures that all key surfaces are cleaned after every flight and all aircraft undergo deep cleaning daily.
"The air on all British Airways flights is fully recycled once every two to three minutes through HEPA filters, which remove microscopic bacteria and virus clusters with over 99% efficiency, equivalent to hospital operating theatre standards," the website said.
Another advantage of carrying antibacterial gel and wipes is that they could help prevent the spread of illnesses, something that is relatively common on a flight due to the close proximity of people.
In Hawkes' account of unhygienic practices on board a flight, she also mentioned travelers who choose to remove their socks and shoes.
"Another 'complete no-no'? Travelers who 'take off their shoes and socks' are breaking every etiquette rule in the book. 'I've seen passengers walk barefoot around the cabin, yuck," she said.
