Traveling by plane often means spending hours in a confined space with many other people, and some inadvertent habits can cause inconvenience or health hazards to oneself and fellow passengers. Flight attendants, who spend long hours in the aircraft cabin, have witnessed several unhygienic habits during air travel.
“Travel and Leisure” magazine recently asked four flight attendants to reveal the most unhygienic habits of passengers that bother them the most, and they also provided the correct practices that travelers should adopt. Making small changes as a passenger can help you become more hygienic and considerate towards others.
Here are the five most unhygienic habits revealed by flight attendants:
From tray tables to entertainment screens, there are many high-touch surfaces around your seat. Flight attendant Aura Martinez suggests quickly cleaning your seating area after boarding. She said, “Wiping down tray tables, armrests, entertainment screens, and seat belt buckles takes less than a minute but can make a significant improvement.”
Solution: Carry disposable sanitizing wipes to clean tray tables, armrests, entertainment screens, and seat belt buckles.
It’s not just your seat that needs refreshing. Your phone comes into contact with many surfaces during travel: from airport security bins to tray tables, and seatback pockets. These individually packaged cleaning wipes are a must-have for traveling.
Martinez pointed out one of the most serious hygiene misconceptions she observed, which is passengers touching high-touch surfaces like tray tables, seat belt buckles, overhead compartments, and lavatory door handles without cleaning their hands and then immediately touching their faces, eating snacks, or handling personal items.
Flight attendant Ally Case shares the same view. “During the flight, people constantly touch seat belts, overhead compartments, tray tables, and lavatory doors,” she said. “Quickly washing hands before meals, spraying hand sanitizer, or using disinfectant wipes can provide good protection.”
Solution: Carry travel-sized hand sanitizer that meets TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulations.
“Brush your teeth before boarding the plane,” flight attendant Christa Treat said, “After all, in a narrow space, you’re only about 20 centimeters (8 inches) away from strangers.”
If you can’t brush your teeth before boarding, Treat offers an alternative solution: “At least have some chewing gum or mints ready.”
If you’re out of time to brush your teeth, consider Treat’s second suggestion: carry a breath freshening product. These Listerine fresh breath strips dissolve instantly, whether you’re dining, having coffee, or taking a nap during the flight, giving you an easy way to freshen your breath. The compact packaging can even be slipped directly into your pocket, providing a convenient emergency option for times when brushing your teeth isn’t possible.
“The biggest hygiene misconception I’ve seen during flights is passengers walking barefoot or only wearing socks into the lavatory,” flight attendant Sherry Peters stated. “Every time I see this, I find it particularly unbearable. You don’t know what’s on the floor, and it’s often wet.”
As for those socks worn in the lavatory, she doesn’t want to see passengers wearing them again: “I always hope that passengers will wash those socks directly or simply throw them away once they get home.”
It’s acceptable to take off your shoes and relax during a long journey, but avoid walking around the aircraft cabin in just socks. Peters recommends carrying a pair of lightweight indoor slippers; these slippers are easy to put on and take off, making them very practical whether you want to move your legs around or visit the lavatory. The rubber soles separate your feet from the aircraft floor, and the compact design allows for easy storage after landing.
Airplane lavatories are small spaces where odors linger, and it is definitely not a place where etiquette can be overlooked. Peters hopes that passengers develop a habit of using the lavatory in a way that will be quietly appreciated by those waiting outside.
She suggests that every passenger should bring a bottle of “Poo-Pourri” (a special pre-toilet deodorizing spray) into the lavatory. It is always a hit no matter where it is used.