Flight attendants have been dishing out the inside scoop on the grimiest parts of an aircraft, and for those who swear by the window seat, it’s time to listen up.
While many passengers have their preferred spot on a plane, whether it’s the extra legroom of an aisle seat or the views from a window seat, a seasoned flight attendant issued a stark warning about the latter choice. According to her, if you’re nestling next to the window, you might just be sitting in the most unhygienic place on board.
Cher, a US-based flight attendant with five years under her belt, took to TikTok recently to reveal some of the “filthiest” areas on a plane that travellers might want to steer clear of on their next holiday.
Contrary to what many might think, the top contender for the dirtiest spot isn’t found in the lavatory. Instead, Cher points to the window shutters as the prime culprits.
She disclosed: “Number one, I’ve never seen the window shades get wiped down once in my career. If you think about how many people are touching those, and they never get wiped off? They’re filthy.”
But the window shades aren’t the only offenders. Cher highlighted several other spots she deems “filthy”, including, unsurprisingly, the bathroom.
She recounted witnessing “multiple people” vomit in the sink, advising that anything dropped in there should be written off, as she’s rarely seen the sinks cleaned. Moreover, she claimed in her entire career, she’s only observed the toilet seats being cleaned on one occasion.
The flight attendant also advised against removing shoes and socks during a flight, citing the uncleanliness of the carpet. She recounted instances of people “vomiting on the carpet” and reminded passengers to consider how many others have walked barefoot on the same surface.
Cher concluded her video by explaining the “filthy” areas of an aircraft are precisely why she discourages in-flight skincare routines, as they involve touching numerous germ-infested surfaces before applying products to the face.
Viewers of the video were shocked by Cher’s revelations, with several hygiene-conscious individuals expressing fear about boarding a plane without thoroughly sanitising every surface they might touch.
One viewer commented: “TikTok makes me never want to fly again.”
Another added: “And people look at me crazy when I wipe everything down with a sanitiser wipe. This is why I travel with wipes and spray sanitiser.”
Several viewers questioned why planes aren’t cleaned more thoroughly. In response, Cher explained that due to the quick turnaround between flights, there simply isn’t enough time for a comprehensive clean.
She said: “[The cleaners] vacuum and get the trash and wipe the mirrors in the bathroom, pretty much surface level which is all they have time for because that’s how the industry is set up. Not their fault at all.”
