Airline Hygiene - Dirtiest Parts of a Plane?

[Mrmaxwell]

Interesting article on germs and their favourite locations on planes and in airport terminals;

Airline Hygiene Exposed

Let's just say I am upping my antibacterial wipe count moving forward!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was thinking - even before opening the link - 'tray tables'!

Similar in an office environment - the phone and computer keyboard are more germ laden than toilets.

I wonder what effect tray covers during meal times have on the germ factor? Do germs seep through the tray cover, or does the cover provide a barrier?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Toilet floor must rate highly. I'm always amazed when i see people wearing just socks coming out of the toilet.

 

[OzEire]

Toilet floor must rate highly. I'm always amazed when i see people wearing just socks coming out of the toilet.

...and where do they put those socked feet next ?!?

 

[Dr Ralph]

...and where do they put those socked feet next ?!?

Do tell?????

 

[eric2011]

On the bulkhead or seat in front of them or the table in the lounge at the next stop-over

 

[dajop]

Toilet floor must rate highly. I'm always amazed when i see people wearing just socks coming out of the toilet.

Would be interesting to work out which is worst. Floors or door handles of the toilet. Feet seems to be bit of an obsession on AFF, but I'm sure not too many people wipe themselves with their feet after a number two visit, so to speak. Granted some of the water on the floor could be undesirable splashes.

But to be honest I'd be more worried about what my hands are touching than my feet. After all I eat with my hands not my feet.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Toilet floor must rate highly. I'm always amazed when i see people wearing just socks coming out of the toilet.

Or even bare feet - OMG!

 

[Denali]

People actually drink out of the water fountains in public? Im side eyeing the heck out of that. No. Just, no.

*sigh* If only I was rich enough to wipe my tray table with money, seems money is kind of clean.

 

[Glider_]

I don't know if it makes any difference but I always use my little hot towel they give me to wipe my hands then wipe down all of the surfaces I'm likely to touch in my seat. A wipe over of the tray table and latch, IFE control, IFE screen if it's touch screen, seat belt buckle and in J all of the little latches for storage compartments.

I know the little towels don't have any antiseptic in them but I guess I think it's better than nothing.

Wait a second, I've never given it a second thought but is using the refresher towel for that a crass thing to do on a plane?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wait a second, I've never given it a second thought but is using the refresher towel for that a crass thing to do on a plane?

Not at all. I do the same thing.

Even for windows sometimes (it's pretty gross when you look out your window and there a big greasy smear on the inside panel!!)

 

[legroom]

Would be interesting to work out which is worst. Floors or door handles of the toilet. Feet seems to be bit of an obsession on AFF, but I'm sure not too many people wipe themselves with their feet after a number two visit, so to speak. Granted some of the water on the floor could be undesirable splashes.

But to be honest I'd be more worried about what my hands are touching than my feet. After all I eat with my hands not my feet.

We all have seen people walking out of public restrooms without a glance at the sink, let alone using soap..... after their 'business'.

Premium lounges included !

So I'd agree with you there.

Always try to use some sort of paper towels to 'handle the door handle' or use my feet to push them open if possible (on the door, not the handle).

 

[juddles]

Forgive me, but I find it amusing that people are concerned re hygiene on the plane, whilst merrily heading to the hotel at their holiday destination, maybe in such exotic places as India or New Zealand.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Forgive me, but I find it amusing that people are concerned re hygiene on the plane, whilst merrily heading to the hotel at their holiday destination

I don't think people are only concerned with the plane, the comments posted are in response to the topic thread/heading/first posting.

 

[coriander]

I don't know if it makes any difference but I always use my little hot towel they give me to wipe my hands then wipe down all of the surfaces I'm likely to touch in my seat. A wipe over of the tray table and latch, IFE control, IFE screen if it's touch screen, seat belt buckle and in J all of the little latches for storage compartments.
I know the little towels don't have any antiseptic in them but I guess I think it's better than nothing.

Don't worry about antiseptic - it's basically useless. For example soap and water is the best for your hands rather than antiseptic.
Your hot towel will do well reducing the bacterial count more effectively than a cold refresher towel. Bear in mind the bacterial count will bounce back within a few minutes, so really all you are aiming to do is reduce gross contamination.

 

[vetrade]

We all have seen people walking out of public restrooms without a glance at the sink, let alone using soap..... after their 'business'.

Yes, and perhaps they have put more thought into it than some would give them credit for!! When I'm travelling, minimising the risk of cross contamination is a priority because a trip can be ruined by gastro etc. so the less I come in contact with the same surfaces as literally hundreds of strangers before me, the more comfortable I feel.
Personally I know that the cleanest thing I'm likely to touch in a rest room is my d*^" ........so for No.1's I will only use a restroom tap if it is sensor (not tap) operated. For other "business" my backpack always has antiseptic wipes (and yes, I am aware of their limitations too - but they have to be better than turning off a tap after you've washed your hands) which is why I'm probably one of the people others might see "walking out of a public restroom without a glance at the sink". I know the greatest risk to me is other people's hygiene, not my own.

Take a look around you at the people you see in an airport (or plane) toilet next time you're there and ask yourself "Do I want to share their germs?". As a rough guess I would say that less than 10% of people I walk past look as if they have hygiene standards equivalent to my own (admittedly this is a very subjective assessment but it illustrates my point).

 

[coriander]

Personally I know that the cleanest thing I'm likely to touch in a rest room is my d*^" . I know the greatest risk to me is other people's hygiene, not my own.

+1.
+1.

Reminds me of one of my friends from Uni (now a Prof in the US) who told me one day: "I was exiting from a restroom and some stranger said "Oi, the school I went to taught me to wash my hands afterwards". To which Peter replied "humph, the school I went to taught me not to p*ss on my fingers!""

I suppose you need to save the antiseptic wipes for use after you've exited the restroom as most have a pull-to-open handle.

 

[Happy Trails]

Note to self: must stop licking the tray table.

 

[kelvedon]

"Oi, the school I went to taught me to wash my hands afterwards". To which Peter replied "humph, the school I went to taught me not to p*ss on my fingers!""

Fresh urine contains less bacteria than your saliva, so think twice before you lick your fingers to wet them and touching your eyes, you'd be safer pi**ing on them.

 

[JohnK]

Paranoia reigns supreme. Doesn't your body build up antibodies to viruses and bacteria?

I have a weak immune system and travel as much as, if not more than, the average person. I do not use wipes or hand sanitiser. I seem to do quite OK. Can't be as bad as reported.

Now if I can somehow stop trusting the ice I come across in my travels I may not get tonsilitis/laryngitis/pharyngitis as often.