‘I'm a flight attendant — there's one thing I would never do when sitting on a plane'
Cabin crew understand the realities of air travel better than most passengers. Their knowledge stems from years of hands-on experience rather than just theoretical training, which is why their advice about flying should be taken seriously. When a flight attendant reveals what they personally avoid doing whilst aboard an aircraft, it's definitely worth listening.
Many travellers book their preferred seats well in advance, hoping for a more pleasant journey. Most flyers opt for either window seats to lean against or aisle positions for additional leg room, but one former flight attendant has issued a stark warning about choosing the window spot, reports the Express.
TikTok user and former cabin crew member Cierra Mistt has raised serious concerns about window seats and explained her reasoning.
Breeding ground for bacteria
Cierra explained: "While it is true that cleaners do come on most after passengers are done getting off the plane, they don't do a deep clean like you might think they do.
"In fact, they only did that during Covid, and the only thing they really deep-cleaned was the tray tables and seatbelts. Nowadays, it's mostly just to tidy up and getting the trash off the floor."
Noting that some carriers provide sanitising wipes when passengers board, she continued: "If I were you, instead of wiping down the tray tables and seatbelts that they just cleaned, I would use that wipe to clean off the window that you're next to, because just like the bathroom floor, those things have never been cleaned."
Taking to the comments section of the video, most viewers urged others to always pack cleaning wipes to sanitise the window area.
One viewer remarked: "I can't believe they get away with not cleaning anything! That is horrible!". Another commented: "I always clean the window and the head seat. Sometimes looks greasy."
A third confirmed: " I can verify this. They didn't even remove the melted chocolate from my seat and tray left by the previous passenger before I sat down. I had to sort it myself."
Someone else explained: "You have less than seven minutes to clean a whole plane. Sometimes, only two people are there to clean a plane."
Defending the airlines, another viewer countered: "They do a deep clean and search EVERY single night, including disinfecting everything with cleaner."
According to Aviation Job Search, standard cleaning takes place between flights, whilst aircraft also undergo regular thorough cleaning to uphold high hygiene standards.
These comprehensive sessions involve scrubbing cabin walls, wiping down overhead compartments, and clearing out air vents. Seats and cushions are meticulously hoovered and disinfected to eliminate any concealed grime or debris.
Is the window seat actually the safest?
Specialists at Travel & Leisure disclosed that choosing a window seat might be the most effective method to avoid catching illnesses from other travellers.
They explained: "A 2018 study said that window seats are best because they're the most isolated (other than in certain ultra-luxe first-class mini cabins).
"Window-side passengers are seated next to just one passenger, with seats separating them from the people in front and behind. Most importantly, they are furthest from the aisle, where crew and other passengers can frequently pass by."
Additional studies also discovered that travellers positioned nearer to the aisle are more prone to standing up mid-flight, boosting their likelihood of coming into contact with bacteria whilst moving throughout the aircraft.
Given the research available, it appears the window seat offers the greatest protection against picking up bugs, though it remains wise to take precautions and clean your space before departure.
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My easy-breezy family holiday to Europe's wackiest theme park
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Claiming on travel insurance According to European Commission data, there has been a 13% increase since last week in the total area burnt by wildfires, with more than 290,000 hectacres burnt so far this year in Europe - more than double the figure at the same time last you have travel insurance then most disruption to your trip caused by wildfires should be covered under your standard policy, says Rhys Jones, a travel insurance specialist at GoCompare."Any sort of curtailment or cancellation of your trip as as a result of wildfires - whether that be you can't travel to your destination or you have to come home early - should be covered."Costs imposed due to other emergency measures such as evacuation, relocation or medical expenses should also be included, he adds. 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Around one in four Britons who went on an overseas holiday in the last 12 months did so without travel insurance, according to research published by The Travel Association (ABTA), in May."If you have no insurance but your holiday provider or airline has cancelled bookings, you may still be eligible for a refund from these companies," Jo Rhodes often look out for package holidays which are Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) protected - but this is not a form of travel insurance.The Atol scheme only protects you if the company providing your holiday goes bust. They will help you get home if you're already aboard a flight, or make a claim for a refund if you are yet to travel.The scheme does not allow you to claim compensation for a cancelled trip or flight, or delays, caused by wildfires. 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The body makes clear that if your flight is cancelled, you might have to wait a while but your airline is required to get you to your destination.
