Time for Cleaners aboard A380

[oldshoremore2]

We were on Ek017 from DBX to MCR and were seated opposite a toilet. An incontinent old arab dived in on boarding and messed everywhere.
I observed that the Emirates stew cleaned it all up to a reasonable standard.
However the same stew served our drinks & meals.
You wouldn't expect a supermarket cafe waiter to do that now would you?
Given the hordes flying on these things isn't it time they had designated cleaners on board all the time?

[WillDAQ]

You're in a metal tube, 3 miles above the ground traveling near the speed of sound.

Why would the conventions of a supermarket cafe apply?

[TightSlot]

For minor and routine toilet cleans, crew need to wear plastic gloves and be clearly seen to do so for precisely this reason.

If it's as bad as it sounds, we should block the toilet off for the duration for the same reason.

[easyflyer83]

Absolutely. Even on a LCC, the crew don't do any major cleaning in the cabin..........let alone any human waste in the toilet.

[L'aviateur]

Not sure what the nationality of the gentlemen has to do with it (you wouldn't say a European/Black etc, and how do you know he was arab?, Maybe Persian, Asian?) Anyway, just being pedantic.

But i'm sure they have good procedures in place for hygiene.

[pwalhx]

Also how do you know he was incontinent, perhaps the poor chap was ill. Unfortunately I doubt we woudl all be happy to pay to have cleaners on board in case of such an occurence. Equally one could argue should there not be a handy man on board in case there is a mechanical problem with the toilet, it could be never ending.

[UK019]

Oh, come on - you'll be asking that there's someone on board who can land it next .....;)

[surely not]

When I flew back from BKK on the Emirates A380 the Head Bod of Crew showed me around and one of the things he mentioned was that they have dedicated staff to look after the First class shower rooms and that these guys and gals also look after all the other toilets...................

So unless they have changed procedure, they do have dedicated peeps on board already.

[easyflyer83]

That will most likely be a role/position within the crew which is operated by everyone at some point. i.e in the same vain as different door positions.

[oldshoremore2]

Yes he was an arab and yes he was incontinent because his son said so whilst assisting.
If emirates has a designated 'peep' then he/she did not materialise and though you may have been told plastic gloves are adequate for the job, a complete protection suit is necessary if you are to come anywhere near food later on.
In any event, how awful for the stew to have to do this. Does putting them in a large fat tube at great height and speed change the humanities in any way? I think not!

[TightSlot]

Toilet checks, and maintenance cleans are a pretty routine part of the FA job on reputable airlines - top-up supplies, a quick wipe down of surfaces/mirrors/seat with sani-spray are usually all that is required, using plastic gloves and specialist cleaning supplies. Afterwards, we have steri-handwash to use. The more dedicated (like me) might run to mopping up the usual urine puddle on the floor or wiping the bowl upper rim under the seat. I draw the line at faeces, as does everybody else that I know - that's when you lock off the toilet and move on to other duties!

[fernytickles]

and though you may have been told plastic gloves are adequate for the job, a complete protection suit is necessary if you are to come anywhere near food later on.


I have to wonder, in your house, does the person who cleans the bathrooms, or if it has ever been the case, changed nappies, wear such a thing, and do they also prepare food later on?

[SpringHeeledJack]

True enough, but on the aircraft they have all sorts of legislation to protect the customers from becoming ill due to poor hygiene and themselves from having expensive lawsuits to battle, notwithstanding protecting the valuable image of the airline involved.



SHJ