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Hello everyone! I am a flight attendant working for American Airlines. Today, I'm going to reveal some lesser-known facts about international flights to give you a whole new perspective on the flying experience.
First, let me briefly introduce myself. As a flight attendant, I am on a mission to ensure the safety and comfort of our passengers during the flight. However, in my past work, I have witnessed some strange unhygienic phenomena that are jaw-dropping.
Let's start with the small table on the plane. Perhaps you never thought that this small table board is not suitable for food. Some passengers will put junk such as diapers on the small table after the previous passenger disembarks, which makes the small table a disgusting "surprise".
What's even more incredible is that I've personally seen travelers cut their nails and "create" a strange "flower" on a small table board after cutting their nails. He claimed it was a traditional art inspired by Indian tribes that prevented me from cleaning up this "masterpiece."
Someone once broke the news on Reddit that he touched a patch of moisture during takeoff and was later told that it was a sign of vomiting from the previous passenger. This is not uncommon on short-haul flights, as cleaning staff usually have only 20 minutes to clean up.
There was also an embarrassing experience where a passenger was on a long-haul flight for more than a dozen hours and couldn't hold back tears just after getting off the plane. He was surrounded by the smelly feet of three passengers next to him who had taken off their shoes, which almost drove him crazy and even triggered his fear of flying.
He described that whenever a passenger in the neighboring seat lifted his foot, a suffocating smell rushed in his direction, and dust in the air also churned in this foul-smelling atmosphere, and within a minute, he heard the sound of passengers gagging from behind.
Taking off shoes on airplanes is not uncommon among passengers, and many believe that this reduces foot swelling caused by long flights. However, some passengers seem to be too relaxed and even take off their wet panties in public, which is indeed embarrassing.
I once witnessed a passenger take out his wet underwear before takeoff, leaving me wondering when he took them off. Perhaps he was trying to maintain a neat image when landing. In addition, some people will find that there is an unknown liquid left under the small table, and the slightly white liquid has a bitter almond-like smell, which is really unbearable.
The hygienic issue of drinking water on board aircraft is equally worrying. The drinking water on the plane and the toilet tank are shared, which means you can't know exactly where the water you're drinking comes from. When you sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee, you may be missing out on a chance to wash your hands. However, don't worry too much, not every cup of coffee is not clean, but this detail deserves our attention.
As early as 2004, EPA testing reports found that 15% of aircraft water samples had fecal E. coli bacteria. Although airlines have since stepped up measures in tank cleaning and testing, data as of 2023 shows that at least 22% of commercial aircraft in the United States have developed E. coli problems at some test.
This may also explain why many passengers find the coffee on the plane more pungent, and some even claim to like the unique taste. So, as an experienced flight attendant, I recommend choosing bottled water during the flight instead of using the water on the plane to brew coffee, which is a smart choice.
According to our company's regulations, we must clean up the cabin garbage before the plane lands. Regrettably, however, some passengers still have irresponsible garbage disposal habits, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of our flight attendants' work. Perhaps, we need to constantly remind passengers not to create garbage, or simply choose a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
In general, the sanitary situation on international flights is indeed worrying. Although airlines do their best to clean and disinfect, it is difficult to achieve complete and thorough cleaning in the limited time between flight segments.
It is hoped that through these revelations, everyone can pay close attention to the hygiene of international flights, so as to promote airlines to further strengthen hygiene management. Every passenger should have the right to experience cleanliness and pleasure during the flight, not just the destination of the flight.
Therefore, when you fly internationally, consider the following points to ensure that your flying experience is more comfortable and secure:
First, choose bottled water as your drink and avoid making coffee or tea with water from the plane. This reduces potential hygiene risks.
Secondly, keep it tidy on the plane and try to avoid creating excess garbage. This helps to reduce the workload of flight attendants and also benefits the environment.
Finally, if you need to take off your shoes to relieve discomfort on your feet, you can choose to take them off when appropriate. Of course, this is also a kind of respect and etiquette for the passengers in the neighboring seats.
All in all, although there are some unsanitary problems in international flights, each of us can contribute to creating a cleaner and more enjoyable flying environment through our own actions. Airlines also need to continue their efforts in hygiene management to ensure the health and comfort of passengers. Let's work together to make every flight a wonderful journey!
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