Airline Blankets???

[Renato1]

This article suggests blankets are only changed on the first flight of the day, then reused on subsequent flights. I'm glad I never use those blankets on flights (but my wife does).
Here’s How Often Airline Blankets Actually Get Washed

Any ideas if what is discussed is a general practice, or something only done by cheapskate airlines?
Regards,
Renato

 

[dajop]

This seems to hit the "clickbait media" every few months. I mainly use blankets on long haul international, and I can't say I've ever seen anything other than a clean blanket on my flights.

And in any event it poses a question for the experts - are you more likely to catch germs from a used blanket, or the seat you are sitting on, armrest you are touching, tray table you open, in flight entertainment controller you are touching, the person coughing in the row behind you or even worse door handle of the toilet? I am sure with 30 min turnarounds every surface you touch hasn't been wiped between flights. I guess the blanket is more likely to have been used by someone who is sick, that's the main reason.

 

[moa999]

On most airlines the blanket comes in a bag which guarantees the cleanliness.

 

[Renato1]

This seems to hit the "clickbait media" every few months. I mainly use blankets on long haul international, and I can't say I've ever seen anything other than a clean blanket on my flights.

And in any event it poses a question for the experts - are you more likely to catch germs from a used blanket, or the seat you are sitting on, armrest you are touching, tray table you open, in flight entertainment controller you are touching, the person coughing in the row behind you or even worse door handle of the toilet? I am sure with 30 min turnarounds every surface you touch hasn't been wiped between flights. I guess the blanket is more likely to have been used by someone who is sick, that's the main reason.

The links in the first line of the article to other flight germ hazards, is interesting - especially the one about always keeping the overhead air-vent going.

Regards,
Renato

 

[JohnK]

I think most people worry too much about the germs they encounter. Germs are unavoidable unless you stay home.

Also I don't use blankets inflight as I wear a jacket but if I did I'd ensure the blanket was sealed before using.

 

[blackcat20]

On most airlines the blanket comes in a bag which guarantees the cleanliness.

I’ve pulled blankets out of a bag and found hair etc on them. Not convinced they’re that clean.

 

[Renato1]

I’ve pulled blankets out of a bag and found hair etc on them. Not convinced they’re that clean.

Interesting, thanks.
It's pretty easy to heat seal a plastic bag.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I think most people worry too much about the germs they encounter. Germs are unavoidable unless you stay home.

Also I don't use blankets inflight as I wear a jacket but if I did I'd ensure the blanket was sealed before using.

Problem is that there local germs and international germs - and one may not have much resistance to foreign germs.
Regards,
Renato

 

[dajop]

Problem is that there local germs and international germs - and one may not have much resistance to foreign germs.
Regards,
Renato

If that is the concern here, do not travel internationally at all. There are an infinite number of places you could pick up germs from. I would suggest just using the blanket over clothing if you are really concerned about that, and not over bare skin. Unless you are putting the blanket into your mouth, or exposing it to broken skin, I suspect the exposure to germs on the blanket is not significantly greater than most other surfaces on an aircraft.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This article does the rounds every year or so. There was an almost identical story last year. And the year before. Nothing new.

It is USA focused, and it is not uncommon for domestic USA to have to re-use blankets (most of us would be familiar with those old maroon AA blankets that were crumpled and loosely folded on boarding an evening flight).

There are no blankets in economy on 99% of US domestics, nor have I seen any in any class in Europe for a long time. In Asia there are enough blankets to recreate the grand pyramid at Giza (and then some). But they almost always come fresh out of a sealed bag. Sometimes airlines will have multiple blankets in one large bag rather than individually sealed.

Speaking of which... much prefer airlines that roll the blanket and 'seal' it with a paper collar. Much more environmentally friendly.

 

[Renato1]

If that is the concern here, do not travel internationally at all. There are an infinite number of places you could pick up germs from. I would suggest just using the blanket over clothing if you are really concerned about that, and not over bare skin. Unless you are putting the blanket into your mouth, or exposing it to broken skin, I suspect the exposure to germs on the blanket is not significantly greater than most other surfaces on an aircraft.

Might depend on whether some people drool or dribble on their blankets when sleeping.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[JohnK]

Problem is that there local germs and international germs - and one may not have much resistance to foreign germs.

It's pretty much a global community now. In any given week there are probably 2-3 office workers that have returned from some exotic (or not so exotic) location.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Forget the blankets, it's the tray tables you've got to be worried about.

Anyone else clean theirs with an alcohol wipe once seated or is that just me?

 

[Renato1]

It's pretty much a global community now. In any given week there are probably 2-3 office workers that have returned from some exotic (or not so exotic) location.

Not necessarily so John. The effect of germs and resulting sicknesses don't work in the same fashion all around the world.

I remember in Budapest four years ago. It was warm summer, and the locals were fine except for one hop-on-hop bus operator who had a slight sniffle. Result was that we came down with shocking runny noses. I went to the chemist on top of the castle, who said she had sold over a hundred of packets of anti-cold pills that day alone to tourists.

Similarly, back in 2007, remember swine flu? Melbourne was one of, if not the main, epicentre of swine flu in the world. Landing in Hong Kong was hilarious, as the entire airport was wearing face masks to be protected from us, and a third of Hong Kong was wearing masks. We landed in Europe - no swine flu there.
Regards,
Renato

 

[tdimdad]

Anyone else clean theirs with an alcohol wipe once seated or is that just me?

Someone's got to lead the way!
Thanks for prompting. I usually take care of not putting anything on the table that would go into my mouth directly or indirectly. Cutlery stays in their wrapping, in the food tray, on a napkin, whatnot and the same with everything else, too. But actually cleaning the table at the start of the flight sounds like good idea.

 

[eric2011]

Forget the blankets, it's the tray tables you've got to be worried about.

Anyone else clean theirs with an alcohol wipe once seated or is that just me?

Im with you and surfaces around my seat and armrests get a wipe from those hot towels that get delivered

 

[JohnK]

Forget the blankets, it's the tray tables you've got to be worried about.

Anyone else clean theirs with an alcohol wipe once seated or is that just me?

Never ever thought of cleaning the tray table. Or armrest. Or headrest. Or footrest. Or seat. Or IFE screen. Or IFE controller.

But I quadruple check I've locked the door when leaving. OCD is funny....

 

[Renato1]

Forget the blankets, it's the tray tables you've got to be worried about.

Anyone else clean theirs with an alcohol wipe once seated or is that just me?

Could the alcohol wipes be confiscated at security at some airports, because they have fluid in them?

Last year in Denmark, they confiscated a 100gm can of tuna off me, saying that it contained liquid oil on top of the tuna.
Regards,
Renato

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Could the alcohol wipes be confiscated at security at some airports, because they have fluid in them?

A 'travel pack' of wipes (that come in 10-sheet size) would be permitted with no problem.

(The 100g of tuna should have been ok provided it's gross weight was 100g and it was in your sealed plastic bag. If the tuna+liquid was in excess of 100g they would have been in their rights to confiscate, whether or not it was in your sealed bag.)

 

[Renato1]

A 'travel pack' of wipes (that come in 10-sheet size) would be permitted with no problem.

(The 100g of tuna should have been ok provided it's gross weight was 100g and it was in your sealed plastic bag. If the tuna+liquid was in excess of 100g they would have been in their rights to confiscate, whether or not it was in your sealed bag.)

Thanks.
I should have gotten them to open the can to see if there really was any oil on top.
Regards,
Renato