Watch Out! Discovering the Most Unsanitary Areas of the Airplane Cabin

As the busy holiday travel season approaches, many will take to the skies to reunite with loved ones and enjoy warm getaways as well as winter retreats. Amid the concerns over high ticket costs and possible flight delays or cancellations, travelers might also ponder the dirtiest spots on planes—and how to stay healthy while flying.

A recent article from the Washington Post highlighted the most contaminated areas on airplanes through germ-detection tests, which was not entirely surprising but still quite alarming.

A flight attendant, wishing to remain anonymous due to her ongoing employment with a major U.S. airline, confided to Dinogo that she has encountered plenty of revolting sights during her career, including numerous passengers making their way to the restroom in just their socks. She warns that if the bathroom floor is wet, it's likely urine.

For travelers keen on steering clear of the dirtiest spots on a plane and protecting themselves, here’s what you should be aware of.

What are the most unsanitary spots on an airplane?

The restroom (particularly the various handles)

While the Washington Post study identified the sink handle as the main source of germs, the U.S. flight attendant we interviewed warned about the door handle as well, noting that “many people skip handwashing.” From her vantage point in the jump seat, she observes how swiftly passengers leave the lavatory.

For those who wash their hands after using the restroom, a 2019 Airline Water Study by the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center revealed that the water used by airlines for coffee, tea, and lavatory sinks might be unhealthy—complicating the handwashing situation on flights. Still, it’s likely better to not skip this step entirely, as noted in a Dinogo report on the study. Passengers can also take an extra measure by applying hand sanitizer after washing and drying their hands upon returning to their seats.

The seat-back screens, tray tables, and storage pockets

On aircraft equipped with screens embedded in the seat backs, passengers should assume these aren’t cleaned by the crew after each flight. Numerous hands touch the buttons, causing grime and germs to accumulate. The flight attendant we interviewed mentioned that many passengers wipe down the screens, which she appreciates, as they are “super duper dirty.”

Another frequently touched area on the plane that often doesn’t get a thorough cleaning (or any cleaning at all!) between flights is the tray table. The flight attendant noted that these are generally not wiped down regularly “unless we’ve reported that someone has vomited or there’s been a significant spill.” For those particularly concerned about cleanliness, consider using one of these airplane tray table covers that come with built-in pockets.

Regarding the seat-back pockets: These are meant to be emptied of trash between flights, but if the cleaning crew runs short on time, this area is likely to be neglected. The findings from the Washington Post indicate that the seat-back pocket harbors fewer germs than the tray table, making it essential to wipe down your tray table with a sanitizing cloth.

The seats and seatbelts

In perhaps the most disgusting scenario imaginable (aside from the passenger who was so ill with diarrhea on a recent Delta flight that the plane had to turn back), our flight attendant source recalls an incident where a passenger, told he couldn’t get up to use the lavatory as the plane began its descent, decided to relieve himself right in his seat.

After landing, when the man exited the plane, all that was done was to wipe down the seat, according to the flight attendant. No further cleaning procedures were implemented due to the lack of time, which is often the case between flights. Although the seating areas can be among the dirtiest places on an aircraft, they don’t always receive special attention, as Dinogo reported earlier this summer.

How airlines are maintaining cleanliness on their planes

Airlines claim they are doing their part to keep their aircraft clean and safe for travelers. For example, JetBlue’s latest aircraft, the Airbus A321LR, features upgraded lavatories with antimicrobial surfaces (using therapeutic substances to combat infections) and touchless amenities like the lavatory sink, toilet flush, and waste disposal. Passengers will still have to handle the door, which is where sanitizing wipes come into play.

In the meantime, Delta Air Lines has significantly enhanced its cleaning protocols since 2020, when it established a global cleanliness division. As of 2021, the airline appointed a chief health officer, Dr. Henry Ting. “In 2020, Delta became the first U.S. airline to permanently install Purell hand sanitizer dispensers near boarding doors and lavatories on most Delta aircraft,” a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines shared with Dinogo.

A spokesperson for United Airlines states that their aircraft undergo cleaning and disinfection throughout the day, with more thorough cleans conducted overnight. According to the spokesperson, “We have maintained our antimicrobial coating program, which keeps aircraft disinfected even between cleanings, and we provide single-use sanitizing wipes to customers during boarding.”

Tips for staying hygienic and healthy while flying

Despite—or perhaps alongside—the airlines’ efforts, what can passengers do to further shield themselves from germs? Infectious disease experts suggest several actions travelers can take to reduce their chances of falling ill from viruses and bacteria on various surfaces.

Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are essential for keeping our hands and surfaces clean, says Dr. Joshua Rosenberg, an infectious disease and critical care physician at the Brooklyn Hospital Center. He notes, “Using an antiseptic wipe that eliminates viruses and bacteria on high-touch areas of the plane may be beneficial.”

However, Rosenberg acknowledges that there are no scientific studies specifically on the effectiveness of wipes on airplanes. “We can draw conclusions from research on high-touch surfaces in the healthcare sector,” explains Rosenberg, who also encourages the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, emphasizing that “proper hand hygiene, such as washing hands before eating, touching your face, and, of course, after using the restroom, is the most significant measure a traveler can take to avoid getting sick.”

As most bacteria that reach your face on airplanes originate from your hands, wearing a mask can help prevent face touching. According to Rosenberg, masks act as a “physical barrier to touching our face, particularly at the nose and mouth, which are key entry points for viruses.”

Echoing Rosenberg, Dr. William Shaffner, a professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene for travelers, noting that “viruses in our surroundings typically reach us through our hands.”

In addition to maintaining good hand hygiene and wearing a mask, Rosenberg suggests other healthy flying practices, such as avoiding alcohol, staying hydrated, and ensuring you’re not sleep-deprived, as these factors can all compromise your immune system.

Shaffner argues that the main health risk during air travel (and on any public transport) is not the germs on surfaces but airborne respiratory viruses. He explains to Dinogo that these viruses spread primarily through droplets when you're close to someone, and occasionally via airborne transmission at greater distances.

While mandatory masking on flights is now a thing of the past, many travelers are once again donning masks (some never stopped) as COVID cases rise in certain areas and the desire to avoid the common cold influences their choices.