UPDATE: A representative from Delta clarified in an email to BroBible, “We remove blankets and pillowcases after every use and send them offsite to be laundered before sealing and returning them to service.We also inspect pillows after every use, and any item that is soiled, damaged or does not meet our high standard of cleanliness is immediately removed from service and replaced. Customers who would like a replacement item can also ask a flight attendant for a replacement.”
The representative also stated that “Delta has strict cleaning protocols focused on refreshing high-traffic areas of the aircraft, including customer seating and lavatories, between each flight. Each aircraft also receives enhanced cleaning overnight and regularly scheduled deep cleaning.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Many people who fly on planes try to get a little bit of shut-eye, especially if they’re taking a red-eye or a late-night flight. But one traveler is calling into question whether travel amenities—such as pillows and blankets—are clean enough to actually get restful sleep.
Nina (@nina4sher), a frequent traveler, took a flight with Delta Air Lines. She asked her audience in a now-viral TikTok whether the blankets get washed in between uses.
“These airline pillows and blankets are washed between flights…right?” Nina asked. “Trying not to think how many people have used them before me.”
Flight Attendants Weigh In
Her post has more than 290,000 views, with some flight attendants answering her question.
“Flight attendant here: I have no idea and neither do the other flight attendants,” one person said.
Another added, “Flight attendant here- not at all.”
Other viewers recalled their own experiences finding unusual things smeared or inside their travel amenities.
“I’ve gotten blankets out of the plastic wrap that have hairs on it,” one commenter said.
Another commenter added, “No I had a 14 hour flight to Korea and they gave me a blanket covered in sauce lol.” Nina replied, “SAUCE?! That is foul.”
Does The Flight Crew Wash Any Blankets Or Pillows On Planes?
Nina isn’t the only person to question the cleanliness of airline amenities. Reader’s Digest took a closer look at the upkeep of the airplane blankets and pillows.
The publication found that at least some airlines wash their blankets, pillows, and travel amenities in between flights. But it depends on “the flight, the time of day and your seat location in the social hierarchy of the plane (aka, your class),” per Reader’s Digest.
“If your blanket isn’t wrapped in plastic, it’s pretty safe to say it wasn’t washed,” Cecily Anderson, a seasoned flight attendant, told the publication.
HowStuffWorks reported that Delta, the carrier Nina was flying with, regularly reuses blankets and pillows for flights.
Despite this, Jason Tetro, a microbiologist, told Reader’s Digest that using a previously used but unwashed blanket is no cause for concern. “For the most part, the levels that you will encounter most likely won’t make you sick,” Tetro said.
What Horror Stories Are Out There?
Fodor’s Travel reported on a few horror stories in which passengers have reporting finding hair, food, and excrement on travel amenities—even inside sealed plastic containers.
The outlet cited a Reddit user‘s experience. They allegedly found food on their supplied blanket while flying with United. Fodor’s Travel also mentioned a viral interview that comedian Nicole Byer did on Conan. Byer claimed she found “poop” on a blanket during a Delta Air Lines trip.
However, the seats themselves should be more cause for concern among passengers. Seats are reportedly among the dirtiest areas of most planes. Most cleaning crews only work on an aircraft for about 30 to 40 minutes on average, according to the Daily Passport. Many flight crew members advise passengers who are worried about cleanliness to bring their own on-the-go cleaning supplies to make their journeys more comfortable. One flight attendant, for instance, said that passengers should disinfect their space, including seatbelts and trays.
@nina4sher Trying not to think how many people have used them before me😬 #airline #plane #traveling #delta #airplanepillow
BroBible reached out to Nina via TikTok direct message.