What really happens after the passengers disembark?

Airlines hand out millions of pillows, blankets and other comfort items every year, but their fate after passengers get off the plane varies much more than most of us imagine. Some companies send the items to industrial cleaning, others only clean the covers and return them for reuse, and in some cases, especially on short flights, the items are simply refolded and passed on to the next passengers. Everything depends on the airline, the length of the flight, the service department and even the staff’s schedules between flights.

With some companies, such as the German Condor and Lufthansa, the pillows and blankets are collected from the plane after landing and sent for cleaning, although the level of cleanliness is determined by the service department. In tourist class, pillows equipped with thin disposable covers are sometimes used, which are replaced after each flight, while in premium classes, higher quality comfort items are often used, which undergo chemical cleaning and disinfection before returning to the passenger cabin.

At Singapore Airlines, for example, the pillow and blanket covers are sent to be washed and ironed after each long flight, but the pillows themselves remain on the plane, and items such as sleep masks and headphones in economy class are thrown in the trash. Although the companies emphasize a commitment to cleanliness and environmental improvement, in practice there is no uniformity between the procedures and the gaps between different flights can be very large.

Testimony from flight attendants paints a much more complex picture than the procedures listed. Many of them say that on international flights it is customary to wash the items between uses, but on short domestic flights or those where the ground time is particularly short, this is not always possible, and sometimes blankets are simply folded and returned to the shelf. Quite a few crew members say they have seen passengers use the blankets to wipe up liquids, for dessert, to store food, to throw up and even to change diapers. For them, any item that is not covered in plastic is not necessarily clean, and they themselves sometimes avoid using these items. According to their testimony, the first flight of the day is usually the only one where you can be sure that the blankets came straight from the laundry.

From a microbiological point of view, the experts explain that the textiles on which passengers rest can contain bacteria, mold and sometimes even remains of fecal bacteria, although usually in concentrations that do not cause disease. However, bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus)mold and bacteria can remain on the fabric even after many uses, especially when cleaning is not consistent. Experts recommend avoiding attaching the blanket to the face and being careful if there are open wounds or skin sensitivities.

Even when the blankets and pillowcases are sent to be washed regularly, the cleaning process raises other issues. The industrial cleaning agents used in the giant laundries are known to emit a variety of chemicals that can cause skin irritation, breathing problems and in some cases even be considered carcinogenic. In addition, the pillows themselves are often made from cheap synthetic fillers, such as polyester fibers, which emit substances such as ethylene glycol into the air, which can cause skin and eye irritation. Since the companies purchase huge quantities of equipment and store it in large warehouses, the items are also exposed to the accumulation of dust, bacteria and other allergens.

For passengers suffering from allergies, asthma or sensitivity to chemical substances, using airline pillows and blankets can be uncomfortable and sometimes even harmful. That’s why many of the regular passengers, and the flight crew members themselves, prefer to bring a personal blanket or pillow from home. Others choose to rely on the aircraft’s equipment without fear, but they too risk a level of cleanliness that is not always consistent. In the end, how clean the blanket you received really depends on a long list of factors: the type of flight, the airline, the time of day and how lucky you are. Those who prefer certainty should pack their own blanket or pillow.