A Gigantic Germ (Part 1)
October 17th 2006 01:49
The commercial aircraft is a gigantic germ. Although my days of sky waitressing are well and truly over (phew!) I am still traumatised by some really gross things I witnessed onboard. If you are a regular traveller, or plan to travel within the next 12 months on an aeroplane, I’d suggest you read no further, unless you harbour a sick pleasure in being surrounded by bacteria.
Let’s begin with the hot towels hosties hand out after boarding. Picture yourself going for a flight. You wait in the horrendously long queue upon arrival to the airport, argue with check-in staff about baggage and seating issues, and then race to get that last minute purchase at duty free. Seemingly against all you odds, you manage to board the aircraft and happily accept the hot towel the hostie presents you with a welcoming smile. While only minutes ago you were flustered, you press the steaming towel to your face and it instantly brings about a state of relaxation and calm…
Next time, instead of pressing that germ-infested towel to your face, take a look around at your fellow passengers. You will observe them using the hot “refresher” towels to rub vigorously under arms and feet, in ears and up noses. These towels are then collected, “cleaned” and recycled to be used on many many more flights. When hosties travel as passengers they decline hot towels. They know that hot towels are handy for cleaning up spills on the galley bench and floor, and their own shoes.
One would like to believe that aircraft cleaners actually follow cleaning standards. Much to my horror, I have seen every surface in the plane’s bathroom- toilet bowl, floor, mirror, basin and tap handles- being wiped over with the same, disgusting cloth. I shudder to think of how many times that grimy cloth has been, and will be, used to clean bathrooms (and maybe tray tables!) I have seen vomit being scraped up with a few paper towels and bare hands.
Just writing about germs on aeroplanes is starting to make me feel nauseous.
Let’s begin with the hot towels hosties hand out after boarding. Picture yourself going for a flight. You wait in the horrendously long queue upon arrival to the airport, argue with check-in staff about baggage and seating issues, and then race to get that last minute purchase at duty free. Seemingly against all you odds, you manage to board the aircraft and happily accept the hot towel the hostie presents you with a welcoming smile. While only minutes ago you were flustered, you press the steaming towel to your face and it instantly brings about a state of relaxation and calm…
Next time, instead of pressing that germ-infested towel to your face, take a look around at your fellow passengers. You will observe them using the hot “refresher” towels to rub vigorously under arms and feet, in ears and up noses. These towels are then collected, “cleaned” and recycled to be used on many many more flights. When hosties travel as passengers they decline hot towels. They know that hot towels are handy for cleaning up spills on the galley bench and floor, and their own shoes.
One would like to believe that aircraft cleaners actually follow cleaning standards. Much to my horror, I have seen every surface in the plane’s bathroom- toilet bowl, floor, mirror, basin and tap handles- being wiped over with the same, disgusting cloth. I shudder to think of how many times that grimy cloth has been, and will be, used to clean bathrooms (and maybe tray tables!) I have seen vomit being scraped up with a few paper towels and bare hands.
Just writing about germs on aeroplanes is starting to make me feel nauseous.
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