Experience 030. Show Notes. Dirty Thirty. COVID-19 and Cleanliness on Airlines. The Seat 1A Podcast.

Mar 31, 2020

Recorded 20 March 2020

Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam

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We wanted to extend our best wishes to all those in the industry during these incredibly challenging times for the aviation industry. The entire COVID-19 situation has brought about some strange occurrences.

During this time of global self-isolation, we invite out listeners to go back to our previous experiences – since eventually, planes will start flying again.

We had planned to talk about airline cleanliness in an episode – this has provided us the perfect opportunity.

Remember everyone that an airline is a public space, but that we do expect it to be comfortably clean when we board. How do different airlines groom their planes – outsourced to third parties, or does the crew groom the plane?

When a crew groom the plane what happens? What gets cleaned? What was Vinod's bone of contention that he got so often on flights? Deep cleaning is supposed to happen on a certain cycle. First flights out of the day from Canada to the US lead to interesting discoveries. What about premium cabins? How about carpeting on the plane?

Geoff and Vinod review a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) news investigation about the dirtiest surfaces in an airplane. The filthiest location may surprise you and we review the five most filthy locations.

It's not all dirty though. There are airlines that consistently get recognition for their cleanliness.

Airlines do need to deal with different cultural practices where individuals may not be aware of airplane etiquette. And as always - passengers do silly, gross things on flights no matter where in the world. Remember that a plane may be a bit dirtier due to their turnaround time business model.

We share some tips on how to try to stay as clean and sanitary as possible on a flight. There is no need to be paranoid – once again remember it's a public space.

If you have a story about how you are dealing with COVID-19 as a passenger or flight staff, a question, or other experience about airplane cleanliness that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE

• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
• Porter Airlines (PD)
• Porter Airlines temporarily suspending flights to support COVID-19 relief efforts (flyporter.com | 18 March 2020)
• De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 (formerly Bombardier) (dehavilland.com)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Air Canada (AC)
• WestJet (WS)
• Air Transat (TS)
• Sunwing Airlines (WG)
• Menzies Aviation
• British Airways (BA)
• Havana José Martí International Airport (HAV)
• Boeing 777-200 (airliners.net)
• British Airways Flies First Boeing 777 Havana Flight For 20 Years (simpleflying.com | 17 March 2020)
• Aircraft lease (Wikipedia)
• Aircraft boneyard (Wikipedia)
  
  • Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV)
• Boeing 737-600/700 (airliners.net)
• Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
• Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
• Fixed-base operator (FBO) (Wikipedia)
• Seat 1A Experience 028 - The Aircraft Turnaround (show notes and audio)
• Ryanair (FR)
• EasyJet (U2, DS, EC)
• Southwest Airlines (WN)
• People Express Airlines (1980s) (PE - Ceased operations 1987) (Wikipedia) 
• Freddie Laker (Wikipedia)
• What's the dirtiest surface on an airplane? The result may surprise you (cbc.ca | 27 October 2018)
• Cancún International Airport (CUN)
• Seat 1A Experience 006 - Airline found Vinod's passport when it deep cleaned a seat (show notes and audio)
• Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW)
• Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• University of Guelph
• Surprising: The Toilet Isn’t The Dirtiest Part Of An Aircraft (simpleflying.com | 27 February 2020)
• The Far Side "Didn't Wash Hands Alarm" cartoon (pinterest.com)
• SKYTRAX
• EVA Air (BR)
• ANA (NH)
• Japan Airlines (JL)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Hainan Airlines (HU)
• SWISS (LX)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• South African Airways (SA)
• Air New Zealand (NZ)
• Azul (AD)
• Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) (Wikipedia)
• Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
• Passenger Shaming (Instagram)
• Passenger Shaming (Twitter)
• High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters (Wikipedia)
• Boeing 767-200 (airliners.net)
• Seat 1A Experience 023 - Vinod's Air India rant (show notes and audio)

PEOPLE MENTIONED

• Freddie Laker (Wikipedia)

SHOW NOTES

• What's in this experience? [00:00:58]
• How's Geoff faring in Toronto? [00:01:44]
• Vinod's view in Vancouver. [00:02:30]
• What is going to happen? [00:03:20]
• Flights are empty. [00:04:11]
• Rescue flights and other strange occurrences. [00:06:02]
• Some small amount of flights are still occurring. [00:08:12]
• Invitation for listeners to go back to our previous experiences. [00:09:04]
• Dirty 30 - cleanliness of airlines and airplanes. [00:10:01]
• An aircraft is a public space. [00:10:47]
• You expect an aircraft to be comfortably clean when you board. [00:11:53]
• Each airline has their own grooming standard, but most are similar. [00:12:27]
• Outsourced grooming service providers. [00:12:56]
• Crew cleaning and grooming on low cost carriers. [00:13:11]
• Crew cleaning may apply when aircraft is parking overnight. [00:13:59]
• How does a crew cleaning look like? [00:14:17]
• The things that crews would find during cleaning were incredible. [00:15:10]
• Diapers - big bone of contention for Vinod. [00:16:35]
• Children making messes. [00:18:14]
• What would the crew clean in the cabin? [00:18:40]
• Trips back from sun destinations sometimes brought an extra disgusting surprise. [00:19:05]
• If there is an absolute mess, grooming request could be requested. [00:20:55]
• Staff flying standby have responsibilities. [00:21:33]
• What does third party grooming look like? [00:22:29]
• Realities for cleaning may change due to COVID-19. [00:23:14]
• Deep grooming / deep cleaning is supposed to happen on a certain cycle. [00:23:59]
• What about first flights out from Canada to US for the day? [00:24:37]
• Premium cabin cleaning. [00:26:14]
• Carpets on the aircraft. [00:27:09]
• Seat cushion replacements when possible. [00:27:56]
• CBC News investigation of airline cleanliness. [00:28:14]
• What is the most filthy place on the plane? [00:29:47]
• You did not wash your hands. [00:31:28]
• The five filthiest surfaces. [00:32:36]
• The seatbelt. [00:32:42]
• Tray tables. [00:33:33]
• The washroom handle. [00:34:19]
• The seat pocket. [00:34:38]
• The headrest. [00:36:03]
• There are some recognized consistently clean airlines out there as well. [00:37:56]
• Airlines deal with different cultural practices. [00:40:43]
• People do silly, gross things on flights around the world. [00:42:22]
• World's dirtiest airlines - how much is it based on the business model and turnaround time. [00:42:51]
• Passengershaming photo feeds. [00:43:26]
• Tips and Tricks [00:44:04]
• Shoes and socks on flights. [00:44:20]
• Wiping down seat and tray table. [00:45:20]
• Steer clear of the hot zones. [00:45:44]
• Please. Close. The. Lavatory. Door. [00:46:05]
• Put something on floor before putting your children on the floor. [00:46:54]
• Your food is coming from a sterilized place. [00:47:32]
• Generally, aircraft are fine. [00:47:39]
• Vinod reviews his Air India rant, it was built up old dirt. [00:48:28]
• No need being paranoid - remember it's a public space. [00:49:02]
• Drinking on flights as upcoming experience. [00:50:18]
• Show wrap-up. [00:50:35]