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Usually, the only things you want to bring home from a vacation are a tan, good memories, and some souvenirs.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Whether you’re coming back with a ripe batch of food poisoning or a few new scars, not every vacation keepsake is going to be one for the scrapbooks.
One traveler recently shared a discovery they made on a flight from Boston to Seattle. If it is what they think it is, both they and the rest of the flight are about to have a big problem.
What Did This Traveler Find On Their Flight?
In a post made to Reddit, user One-Bodybuilder-2269 issues a warning to Delta passengers.
“Bed bugs on DL384 (BOS -> SEA),” the title of the post reads.
In the body of the post, the user wrote, “Just started my 6 hr trip from Boston to Seattle and 20 mins in I see this huge mature bed bug crawl across my leg!”
“I was in window seat at the front. Flight was DL384. Aircraft tail number is N532DN,” he added. “Consider this aircraft infested!!!”
In the comments, the Redditor elaborated on the reaction of the staff.
“They were concerned and tried to reassure. Said not to worry. ‘If it was bed bugs they usually come in more than one and you only found one,’” the user wrote. “Then came back and suggested that it could have been a tick. Offered to move seats. Showed the head attendant (I think she said captain) and they called ground operations.”
What Happened Next?
In subsequent updates, the Redditor says that Delta appeared to be taking the problem seriously.
“Head attendant just came by (20mins after discovery) and ran through a list of questions from ground operations,” they wrote. “I’d say that Delta is serious about it’s discovery and considering what action to take regarding the plane.”
The Redditor also stated that they inspected the seats around them for other signs of bed bugs. None could be found.
“I am hopeful he was just a hitchhiker from previous passenger or seating at the terminal,” the user stated. In another comment, they described their seat as “basically immaculate,” further adding to the idea that the bug was a hitchhiker from elsewhere.
How Common Are Bedbugs On Airplanes?
There’s no solid data to indicate that bedbugs are a major problem on airplanes.
That said, there have been notable incidents of bedbugs being found on flights. For example, flyers on Turkish Airlines in 2024 reported issues with bedbugs on their flights, only to allegedly be rebuffed by staff. Other flyers have also reported incidents of bedbugs being found on flights.
While one steam cleaner specializing in airplanes told Fortune that bedbugs on planes are “more common on planes than people like to admit,” it’s unclear just how likely you are to find the creatures on your average flight.
What Should I Do If My Flight Has Bedbugs?
If you believe that your flight has had bedbugs, there are a few things that you should do.
First, you should inform the airline staff about the issue. While there’s little they can do in the air, they can make preparations for extra precautions to be taken after landing. For example, they may thoroughly inspect the plane or clean it more deeply than usual.
Second, once you’ve exited the plane, you should change as soon as possible and keep your previous clothing in a sealed plastic bag. Once you’re home, you should wash and dry any clothes that have been affected (or potentially affected) in high heat. Any unpacking that must be done to make this happen should occur outside.
Finally, you should keep your luggage itself outside and thoroughly inspect it. If you believe that bedbugs may be hiding in the luggage, you should clean it with hot, soapy water. You may also want to consider using a high-heat steamer.
Bedbugs aren’t the end of the world—but they can be a major issue, especially if they aren’t handled quickly.
BroBible reached out to Delta via media contact form and One-Bodybuilder-2269 via Reddit chat.