The expert has shared some of the dirtiest parts of a plane, and has warned passengers to avoid drinking the water on board
The excitement of jetting off can quickly go when faced with the grimier realities of flying. Being trapped in a metal tube with countless others is far from a dream.
And travel experts at eShores – with help from two flight attendants – have revealed that certain aspects of the in-flight experience are filthier than you might expect. Kamila Jakubjakova, an attendant with more than three years experience, urges passengers to avoid plane water.
She suggests flyers should bring their own bottles instead. Even though standards vary among carriers, research by Healthline noted microorganisms, including coliform bacteria, often lurk in onboard water supplies.
Despite sticking to sanitation rules, Kamila warns: “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.”
Flyers should also ponder bringing their own blankets or neck pillows since those supplied, even on long-haul flights, might not be washed between uses – simply re-folded for the next passenger. Confirming this, an incognito flight attendant admitted that such shortcuts happen regularly, not even sparing the luxury of first-class cabins, reports Surrey Live..
A source has shared some rather unsavoury airline hygiene practices that could have travel passengers rethinking their in-flight comfort. They said: “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.”
Additionally, the source strongly suggests keeping your shoes on, especially when heading to the loo. Despite the temptation to kick off your shoes and unwind, it’s smarter to wear something easy to slip on for bathroom breaks.
The source added that “the toilets are never deep cleaned, just wiped down with an antibacterial wipe and the toilet floors are never cleaned”. So, to keep those pesky germs at bay and out of your space, it’s best to keep your footwear on.