Ex-Flight Attendant Reveals the Nastiest Parts of the Cabin

① Unhygienic Cabin Environment

When spending extended hours on an airplane, it can start to feel like your own personal space despite the fatigue. Prolonged travel can cause passengers to relax, leading them to engage in behaviors they might not be aware of. Onboard, all passengers dine together and catch some sleep, but sometimes, seemingly innocent actions can become unhygienic when you’re flying.

Today, we’re here to shed light on some behaviors you might not be aware of when onboard, as revealed by former flight attendants. One flight attendant strongly advises passengers not to eat food that falls onto their seat tray tables. The tray tables attached to your seat are primarily used for dining or placing personal belongings.

Seat tray tables may seem clean at first glance, but in reality, they are not maintained perfectly. Considering the number of passengers using these tables, it’s important to remember that you can’t always be sure what unhygienic actions have occurred, like someone resting their feet on them. That’s why it’s a good idea for passengers to wipe down tray tables with a disinfectant wipe before using them. Given these reasons, it’s best to avoid eating any food that falls onto your tray table.

② Unclean Onboard Water Tanks

Former flight attendants recommend against brushing your teeth on the plane. The water used on airplanes comes from a single water tank, the same water used for making coffee and running the sinks in the lavatories.

While the water in airplane tanks undergoes purification, the plane does not filter it, so it may not always meet the highest hygiene standards. Using bottled water is better if you want to brush your teeth onboard. According to a 2019 Diet Detective and the NY Hunter College’s NYC Food Policy Center study, the water quality in most airlines’ onboard tanks is less than ideal. The structure of these tanks makes it easy for microorganisms to proliferate.

Experts suggest that if you’ve used the lavatory on a flight, you must shower and wash your clothes after landing. Furthermore, it’s advised against not wearing shoes in the lavatory as it could lead to accidental contact with waste.

③ Passenger Responsibilities Upon Boarding

A flight attendant from Miami has shared on their TikTok account the least hygienic spot on board: the seatback pockets. The flight attendant reported frequently witnessing passengers disposing of items like baby diapers and food trash in these pockets during flights. While cleaning staff typically collect trash during cabin cleaning, they rarely wash seatback pockets separately.

The flight attendant stated, “Passengers rarely clean them unless they vomit or mold starts growing. On the other hand, restrooms are regularly sanitized to ensure they are cleaner. A netizen who claimed to work in cabin cleaning supported the flight attendant’s claims, saying, “The flight attendant isn’t wrong, but we often skip them when we’re short on time.”

Indeed, the time window for cabin cleaning is relatively short, especially between landing and takeoff. Typically, large aircraft have around 1 hour and 30 minutes for cleaning, while quick-turn flights may only allow for about 30 minutes for onboard cleaning.

Netizens reacted to this revelation with comments like, “I’ve seen people throw diapers in the seatback pocket,” “I’ve witnessed people toss leftover sunflower seeds and used tissues in there,” and “I never touch those pockets.”

Due to various factors, the onboard environment may not be as clean as passengers imagine. It’s essential to remember this and take personal hygiene precautions when boarding, such as carrying sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer.

The former flight attendant recommended bringing your own blanket instead of the airline-provided one. Additionally, they advised against walking barefoot on the cabin floor since it can be quite dirty. In particular, the flight attendant mentioned that restroom locks, seat armrests, and tray tables are some of the dirtiest spots, so sanitizing wipes before touching them is advisable. It is also recommended to wear a mask when using the restroom for added protection.

By. Seo Sung Min (fv_editor@fastviewkorea.com)