Flight attendants know the ins and outs of flying better than anyone. From safety protocols to hidden cabin hazards, their insight comes from advanced experience, and not just training manuals. That’s why when a flight attendant shares what they refuse to do while sitting on a plane, it’s worth paying attention to.
When travelling on a plane, many passengers pre-book their favourite seats in hopes of a more comfortable flight. Most travelers gravitate toward either the window to rest their heads or aisle seats for extra leg room, but according to one flight attendant, there’s a particular seat you might want to reconsider. TikTok creator and ex-flight attendant Cierra Mistt has issued a grave warning about the window seat; here’s why.
Hotspot for germs
Cierra said: “While it is true that cleaners do come on most after passengers are done getting off the plane, they don’t do a deep clean like you might think they do.
“In fact, they only did that during COVID, and the only thing they really deep-cleaned was the tray tables and seatbelts.
“Nowadays, it’s mostly just to tidy up and getting the trash off the floor.”
Suggesting that some airlines give you wipes when you board your flight, she added: “If I were you, instead of wiping down the tray tables and seatbelts that they just cleaned.
“I would use that wipe to clean off the window that you’re next to, because just like the bathroom floor, those things have never been cleaned.”
Taking to the comments of the video, most people warned to always bring cleaning wipes with you to wipe down the window.
One person said: “I can’t believe they get away with not cleaning anything! That is horrible!” Another said: “I always clean the window and the head seat. Sometimes looks greasy.”
A third said: ” I can confirm. They didn’t even clean the melted chocolate off my seat and tray from the last passenger before I sat down. I had to do it myself.”
Someone else added: “You have less than seven minutes to clean a whole plane. Sometimes, only two people are there to clean a plane.”
Also defending airlines, another disputed: “They do a deep clean and search EVERY single night, including disinfecting everything with cleaner.”
According to Aviation Job Search, routine cleaning is carried out between flights, and the aircraft also receives a regular deep clean to maintain high standards of hygiene.
These thorough sessions include scrubbing cabin walls, wiping down overhead bins, and clearing out air vents. Seats and cushions are carefully vacuumed and sanitised to remove any hidden dirt or debris.
Is the window seat actually the safest?
Experts at Travel & Leisure revealed that sitting in a window seat may be the best way to avoid getting sick from fellow passengers. They shared: “A 2018 study said that window seats are best because they’re the most isolated (other than in certain ultra-luxe first-class mini cabins).
“Window-side passengers are seated next to just one passenger, with seats separating them from the people in front and behind. Most importantly, they are furthest from the aisle, where crew and other passengers can frequently pass by.”
Further research also found that passengers seated closer to the aisle are more likely to get up during the flight, increasing their chances of encountering germs as they move around the cabin.
With the evidence weighed, perhaps the window seat is the safest from catching germs, but it is always best to be proactive and wipe down your area before take off.