Even frequent flyers could be making these mistakes on the plane.
When a TUI flight attendant listed “three things you should never do” on board, some were shocked. German cabin crew member Mrs Miva highlighted the common errors in an informational TikTok video.
In the comments section, people confessed they’d fallen into the pitfalls on many occasions in the past. So have you been guilty of comitting any of these travel sins?
1. Never use deodorant or hairspray
Mrs Miva explained that this “could trigger the smoke detector in the lavatory”, leading to cabin crew fearing there was an emergency on board.
Smoke detectors on aircraft are sensitive devices designed to detect particulate matter in the air, which includes smoke, but they may also be triggered by aerosols from sprays such as strong deodorants, hairsprays, or other aerosol products.
While typically designed to discriminate between smoke and other airborne particles, heavy use of aerosols in a confined space like an airplane lavatory might activate the detector. So to avoid creating any chaos on the plane, it’s advisbale to avoid them altogether.
2. Never fall asleep on the window
Mrs Miva urged: “(Don’t) lean your head against the window. They are very rarely cleaned.”
While high-contact surfaces are often wiped down between flights, deep cleaning is a lot less frequent. This is because planes sometimes travel back-to-back journeys.
Windows can be neglected when cabin crew are giving cabins a quick once-over. So as a result, they can harbour a lot of germs.
If you do like snoozing with your head resting on the window, wipe the area down with an antibacterial product first. This should help to reduce your contact with germs.
3. Never go to the toilet without shoes on
Airplane toilets are typically cleaned regularly, but their cleanliness can vary depending on several factors, such as the airline, the duration of the flight, and how often passengers use the facilities.
On long-haul flights, cabin crew usually clean the lavatories periodically throughout the flight to ensure basic hygiene and restock supplies. However, due to the high volume of use and limited space and water, airplane toilets may not always feel as clean as those on the ground.
For this reason, it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly and be mindful of any suspicious fluid that can be on the floor.
Mrs Miva urged: “(Don’t) go to the lavatory with socks or barefoot. The water on the floor was not used for cleaning.”