The seatbelt is actually the scariest thing of all—beware of many uncleaned areas in the cabin!

By Rita

Have you ever thought that the little tray table you use to eat on the plane was just used by the previous passengers to change their baby’s diaper? Many bacteria hide in places you’d never expect,according to a research report covered by the UK’s Daily Mail,where travelers can get a glimpse of the true state of cabin hygiene.

▲ Tray table (Photo / Dagchi / Illustration)

In fact, before reaching the hotel, your suitcase has already come into contact with 80 million bacteria. How did they get there? If you consider that an average suitcase is handled by four porters, two taxi drivers, a hotel doorman, and one flight attendant, you might begin to understand—and that number is far beyond what most travelers imagine.

Aside from suitcases, flying itself also exposes travelers to high concentrations of bacteria. One American study confirmed that pathogens causing colds, flu, E. coli, and more are commonly found on airplanes and at airports.

“Between flights, there’s not enough time for cleaners to do a proper job,” an anonymous crew member said in the study report. “I’ve seen passengers clipping their nails in their seats, even urinating. The carpets and bathroom floors are the worst.”Crew members recommend that passengers disinfect their tray tables before the flight, wash their hands after using the restroom, and avoid walking barefoot in the cabin.

▲ Seatbelt (Photo / Dagchi / Illustration)

Other hotspots include the plastic bins frequently used at security checks, which are teeming with bacteria—especially in the crevices. Can you imagine how many people have taken off their shoes and placed them inside?The scariest of all is the seatbelt—touched by tens of thousands of people, yet never cleaned or replaced.

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