A Hygiene Issue
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Belfast
On topic, I do see the OP's point, up to a point - but how long a flight would be operated by such a plane? Surely just wipe your hands with the sanitiser kindly offered by the CC and get over it?
I've nothing to get over. I'll say again that I had every faith in the cabin crew's efforts to maintain good hygiene. The concerns I outlined were those expressed to me by them. I was on the plane for less than an hour but remember the length of time they and the flight crew have to spend on the aircraft in the course of one shift is probably the same as a holiday flight to the Canaries or even longer.
I've nothing to get over. I'll say again that I had every faith in the cabin crew's efforts to maintain good hygiene. The concerns I outlined were those expressed to me by them. I was on the plane for less than an hour but remember the length of time they and the flight crew have to spend on the aircraft in the course of one shift is probably the same as a holiday flight to the Canaries or even longer.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Europe
frequentflyer2, apart from asking if it is legal or not, I do not see an expressed concern in your first pot.
The reader might infer a concern, but it is not put in words.
A few people here, myself included, used time and energy to find and or explain the answer to your question about legality.
A simple "thank you for that" would have been nice, but you obviously donīt feel the need.
So be it, nobody forced us to answer you, but it seems a shame that such a simple courtesy is not part of your repertoire.
You say you have nothing to get over.
Thatīs good, because there IS nothing to get over.
An aircraft is one of the bacteriologically filthiest structures in the moder,n world. Everything said by posters above is true.
Washing your hands after having used the lavatory is the norm, itīs what we were all raised to do and with good reason.
It does however have ZERO impact on an aircraft because as soon as you touch the doorhandle, all those bacteria are right there again.
Then thereīs the tray tables, sea belts, overhead locker doors, seat cusions and pockets; anything and everything you touch on that aircraft is grossly unhygienic.
Itīs a flying petri dish filled with unimaginable horrors.
As aircrew, our immune systems have mainly grown used to this; we spend our working lives thriving among the dirt, sustained by the odd & infrequent dash of antibac gel.
As hinted at by others here; filthiest of the filthiest are the cockpits, and several studies have demonstrated that pilot sickness can be markedly reduced by proper cockpit cleaning.
The issue is not on managers' radar.
As for cabin crew health, nobody seems to care either, unless it is to beat us about the head with it if we happen to get a cold over Xmas
Thank you for your concern though, it's nice that you at least care.
The reader might infer a concern, but it is not put in words.
A few people here, myself included, used time and energy to find and or explain the answer to your question about legality.
A simple "thank you for that" would have been nice, but you obviously donīt feel the need.
So be it, nobody forced us to answer you, but it seems a shame that such a simple courtesy is not part of your repertoire.
You say you have nothing to get over.
Thatīs good, because there IS nothing to get over.
An aircraft is one of the bacteriologically filthiest structures in the moder,n world. Everything said by posters above is true.
Washing your hands after having used the lavatory is the norm, itīs what we were all raised to do and with good reason.
It does however have ZERO impact on an aircraft because as soon as you touch the doorhandle, all those bacteria are right there again.
Then thereīs the tray tables, sea belts, overhead locker doors, seat cusions and pockets; anything and everything you touch on that aircraft is grossly unhygienic.
Itīs a flying petri dish filled with unimaginable horrors.
As aircrew, our immune systems have mainly grown used to this; we spend our working lives thriving among the dirt, sustained by the odd & infrequent dash of antibac gel.
As hinted at by others here; filthiest of the filthiest are the cockpits, and several studies have demonstrated that pilot sickness can be markedly reduced by proper cockpit cleaning.
The issue is not on managers' radar.
As for cabin crew health, nobody seems to care either, unless it is to beat us about the head with it if we happen to get a cold over Xmas
Thank you for your concern though, it's nice that you at least care.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
From: UK
Ooow! My remark about Howard Hughes was mainly in jest - I did not intend to raise his avatar here...
I doubt very much that an aircraft is actually one of the bacteriologically filthiest structures on the planet...if they were there would be a massive and demonstrable health hazard and that is clearly not the case, else crews in their thousands and pax in their hundreds of thousands would be dropping like flies. Lets keep a hold of reality here and not go completely OTT. The reason we need operating bogs is so people can take "physiological breaks". It isn't reasonable to expect people to be locked up for hours without that facility (even short haul gets delays). Water in the basin is a far easier and less contentious issue as there are several alternatives.
If you are so twitched as to get steamed up over seat belts, door handles and locker catches you're in biiig trouble wherever you go in life, absolutely everywhere. Except perhaps the hermetically sealed penthouse on top of the Las Vegas Novotel...
I doubt very much that an aircraft is actually one of the bacteriologically filthiest structures on the planet...if they were there would be a massive and demonstrable health hazard and that is clearly not the case, else crews in their thousands and pax in their hundreds of thousands would be dropping like flies. Lets keep a hold of reality here and not go completely OTT. The reason we need operating bogs is so people can take "physiological breaks". It isn't reasonable to expect people to be locked up for hours without that facility (even short haul gets delays). Water in the basin is a far easier and less contentious issue as there are several alternatives.
If you are so twitched as to get steamed up over seat belts, door handles and locker catches you're in biiig trouble wherever you go in life, absolutely everywhere. Except perhaps the hermetically sealed penthouse on top of the Las Vegas Novotel...
Eight Gun Fighter
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Western Approaches
Well, we had very efficient and meticulous cleaning teams. I never once ran into a situation worthy of complaint. Never met a U/S lav, toilet or sink. Never met an unclean seat cover or table tray or dirty carpet. Seatcovers were changed on an as needed basis and also in zone changes on a regular sked. Cabin mtce can be done to a high standard, it just needs the committment to do so and good staff.
