Flight attendant reveals the one thing they would ‘never ever’ do on a plane

You clamber along the aeroplane aisle to your seat between the sleeping woman at the window and the man whose leg room requirements will undoubtedly become a shared concern soon after take-off.

But you slot in, buckle up and enjoy the turbulence provided by the child in the seat behind.

Next you create your personal zone of tranquillity. Book, iPad, free magazine, all slipped into the flap in the seat in front, your bag stowed underneath… now only seven hours to go.

It’s not just the captain on autopilot. You do the same every flight. And, according to one air stewardess, you’ve been doing something very wrong the whole time.

The cabin crew member explained that during short haul flights, planes don’t get cleaned as thoroughly as one would hope (File image)

The flight attended took to Reddit to warn passengers that no mater how excited they may be to jet off for a spot of sun, they should think about risking a bout of holiday sickness brought on my close contact with the seat in front on the flight.

The advice includes avoiding touching the plane seat at all costs, and even storing belongings like phones, books, tablets and snacks in the seat pocket in front of you. 

The attendant said passengers should ‘never, ever, ever, ever use or put anything’ in the plane’s seat pocket.

Posting to a forum on the social media site titled ‘Flight attendants of Reddit, what are some disturbing secrets that passengers should know?’, the user named HausofDarling revealed the reason is purely based on hygiene.  

They said: ‘I ALWAYS recommend you never, ever, ever, EVER use or put anything in the seat pocket. 

‘They are cleared of rubbish but are never “cleaned”. I have pulled out and seen all sorts been pulled out from there. Dirty tissues, sick bags, knickers, socks, peoples feet, gum, half sucked sweets, apple cores… and then next flight you go and put your phone/laptop/iPad in there.’ 

They continued said: ‘If you’re flying short haul, definitely bring antibac wipes or sanitiser. A lot of airlines will have the crew ‘turnaround’ the plane meaning they pick up your rubbish, fold your seatbelt over, file your magazines in the seat pocket and then welcome new passengers on board. 

‘I have lost count of the amount of times I have had to tell people how disgusting it is to change their baby on the tray table or in a seat.’

Site users were disgusted by the revelations, with one replying: ‘I came in here expecting to hear about how nasty and disgusting it is on an airplane. Was not disappointed. Nasty seats, nasty blankets, nasty pillows, nasty water, nasty tables…..nasty nasty nasty!’

Other Redditors also advised flyers not to touch or eat from other parts of the plane – including never eating food that has been dropped on a tray table or using the plane’s pillows (File image)

While a second cabin crew member added: ‘We almost never clean the pockets in the seat backings. Reach in there at your own risk…’ 

Meanwhile, other users gave additional advice on what travelers should and shouldn’t do on planes. 

One user wrote: ‘Wife is cabin crew – Do not eat food dropped on a tray table – they are never cleaned and the number of people who change nappies on them is crazy!’

While another said: ‘My stepmom is a flight attendant. Never ever ever ever use the pillows.’