Traveling safely during the COVID-19 pandemic is possible, but it requires some extra steps to help you enjoy a healthy journey. If you already had a trip scheduled or if you are currently planning a trip, it is important to consider all of the new safety precautions that should be in place to ensure that you have a great, safe trip.
As an agency, we have always encouraged our guests to maximize cleanliness in high traffic and frequent touchpoint areas, like when using public transportation, including airplanes, and walking through the airport to waiting to board your flight. Without knowing the actions of other people (like whether or not they washed their hands after using the restroom), it is important to be self-reliant when it comes to your space being sanitized. This is of the utmost importance while you are on an airplane due to being in this enclosed space with the same people for an extended period of time. According to a Reservations.com study, nearly 20% of passengers have flown sick, and 19% of passengers don’t always wash their hands after using the airplane bathroom. This combination of people can spread germs throughout the plane. Remember it’s not just COVID. It is also flu season and there are other contagious illnesses as well including Norovirus.
Airlines are following enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures to reduce the number of germs on planes. Most U.S. airlines use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles. We still suggest taking additional steps.
How To Thoroughly Disinfect Your Airplane Seat
Sanitize the overhead bin and your seat: After you’ve found your seat but before you even sit down, be sure to have your sanitizing wipes at the ready. If you need to store items or a carry-on in the overhead bin, quickly wipe down the handle of the bin you’ll be using. Be sure not to block others from finding their seats as you disinfect your area. After you’ve swiped the bin handle clean, move on to your seat. Use a new wipe to completely wipe from the headrest to the actual seat itself. If your aircraft is equipped with leather seats, this method will work well. The use of wipes on cloth seats are discouraged because they won’t really work and will just make the seat wet. The next part is the arm rests. Completely wipe down all sides of both armrests if you’ll be using two.
Sanitize your seatbelt: When you’ve finished disinfecting your seat, you can now sit and get started on your seatbelt. The webbing should be wiped down first as that is the first part you’ll need to touch in order to secure yourself into your seat. Once the webbing is done, move on to the buckle. Don’t forget both sides!
Sanitize your tray table: Many people don’t think about the tray table because it is put away and no longer in use at the end of your flight. This is an area that may not necessarily be cleaned by the airplane cleaning crew outside of pandemic circumstances, so it is important to disinfect it yourself. Believe it or not, the tray table is amongst the top germ carriers on an aircraft. To clean it, thoroughly swipe your wipe over the bottom of the table while it is still in its upright position. Then, use your wipe to remove the holster, sanitizing it in the process. Lastly, wipe down the surface and you’re done.
Sanitize your general area: If you’ll be sitting at the window (the best seats, besides the view, for stay farther away from germs), use a wipe to sanitize the plane wall around the window, and especially the part of the wall that you may lean against, the window shade handle, the window shade itself, and the window itself. After you’re seated, you can also wipe down the back of the seat that is in front of you. If you’ll be touching the backseat pocket of that seat, wipe the part of the opening that you’ll touch. We suggest avoid using the pocket if at all possible.
Other tips:
- Lysol or Clorox wipes are two of the products approved by the EPA to kill the coronavirus. The best disinfectant wipes for surfaces on an airplane or any setting are the ones that kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. You can visit the manufacturer’s website to check if the wipes kill germs, or look at the label.
- To make sure an area is properly sanitized, you need to allow the surfaces to dry naturally after you wipe them down.
- Be sure you have a small bag to throw your wipes away after disinfecting the area to keep them from contaminating other surfaces.
- If you can, wear long sleeves to protect your skin and a cap or hoodie to cover your neck and hair.
- If the weather is too hot to wear protective clothing, consider reusable or disposable seat covers.
- Remember, it’s most important to keep your hands clean and avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth, because sitting on germs won’t get you sick.
- Once you arrive at your destination you should shower, wash your hair, and put on a new set of clothes.
Related blog posts:
Buying a Second Seat On A Flight For Social Distancing
COVID-19 Risk Assessment Map
