Trying again in 2 parts: <BR> <BR>The Blanket Policy That Isn't: Airlines Differ on Cleaning <BR> <BR>By Keith L. Alexander <BR> <BR>Wednesday, July 18, 2001; Page E01 <BR> <BR>Beginning later this month, US Airways will no longer automatically remove the used blankets left behind in passengers' seats and <BR>replace them with cleaned blankets. Instead, the airline has instructed employees to do a visual check of the blanket for any visible <BR>soiling or stains. <BR> <BR>In a memo, US Airways told employees to remove and clean blankets that appear to be soiled. Those that look clean are to be <BR>refolded and placed in the overhead bins for use on the next flight. All blankets will be removed and cleaned or replaced after 30 <BR>days. <BR> <BR>The new policy affects only domestic flights. On international flights, where the blankets tend to be used more often, every used <BR>blanket is replaced daily. <BR> <BR>It's easy to speculate that this is a cost-cutting move, but spokesman David Castelveter said the airline is doing it "to be more <BR>consistent with industry standards." <BR> <BR>Indeed, airline blanket-cleaning policies vary. <BR> <BR>United Airlines' policy is to check its blankets after the last flight of the evening to determine whether they need cleaning. <BR>Otherwise, blankets are cleaned every 14 to 21 days, depending on the size of the plane. <BR> <BR>At American Airlines, blankets are checked for stains after each flight and are typically replaced at least every two days, <BR>spokesman Mark Slitt said. They are replaced after every international flight. <BR> <BR>Continental seems to be a little more aggressive. Its blankets are checked after each flight for food stains, normal soiling or <BR>"worse," spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said. All of the blankets are removed and cleaned every 2 1/2 days. Blankets are cleaned <BR>after each international flight. <BR> <BR>Northwest also replaces its blankets after each segment on international routes. On domestic flights, maintenance workers scan <BR>each blanket after the last flight to see if it needs to be replaced. <BR> <BR>Delta Air Lines, the nation's No. 3 airline, declined to comment. <BR> <BR>But as the airlines rely on workers to closely examine each blanket, some industry observers wonder whether they have time to do <BR>that, as planes become more crowded and airlines concentrate on quick turnarounds to stay on schedule. <BR> <BR>Most planes are on the ground for only about 40 minutes before another group of passengers boards and the plane takes off for its <BR>next destination. During that time, the ground crew is often busy cleaning the plane, collecting trash such as soda cans and <BR>newspapers that were left behind. Examining blankets, some consumer advocates for travelers say, might not be a top priority. <BR> <BR>"That's going to be a challenge," said Paul Hudson, executive director of the Aviation Consumer Action Project. <BR>

<BR>Hudson said his group has done three recent studies of airline cleanliness and found that blankets weren't cleaned thoroughly and <BR>were often left with germs. Hudson said the blankets should be cleaned and packaged "if not after every flight, than at least every <BR>day." <BR> <BR>Denise Braxton of Alexandria saw the policies coming. She's been carrying her own blanket on all of her flights that are 40 <BR>minutes or longer. Braxton said she began doing that about three years ago when she noticed a flight attendant refold a blanket <BR>and replace it in the overhead bin after it was used by a passenger who sneezed throughout the flight -- often into the blanket. <BR> <BR>"I couldn't believe it," she said. "I just sat there thinking the next passenger who gets that blanket is going to get more than just a <BR>warm feeling." <BR> <BR>Delta's Captive Audience: The next time Delta Air Lines serves you a meal or cold sandwich, you might notice a little card <BR>accompanying it. Companies such as Allegra, Sprint and MCI are paying the airline to have their brands marketed on the cards, <BR>which are slightly bigger than a business card. The practice, Delta said, started about 12 years ago but has recently been <BR>expanded. Delta spokesman Russ Williams declined to say how much the airline charges companies. The cards are passed out to <BR>both first-class and coach passenger on all of Delta's North American routes. The cards change each month. American Express is <BR>advertising this month. <BR> <BR>United Paging: Trying to make its paging-alert system more attractive, United Airlines has changed it so travelers have to sign up <BR>only once to get paged for each flight. Before, travelers had to sign up for the service whenever they made a reservation. The <BR>system will automatically alert travelers via e-mail whenever their flight is going to be late or canceled. <BR> <BR>United was criticized last month by travelers after the airline had to cancel more than 400 flights when a hailstorm in Denver <BR>severely damaged 32 of its planes. Travelers said the airline failed to alert them. One reason, United said, was that many of its <BR>fliers hadn't signed up for the paging system. They can do so on the airline's Web site. <BR> <BR> © 2001 The Washington Post Company

elitist capatalist germophobes. try travelling 8 hours on African buses like many in this world.

On my last flight with United when I pulled out the magazine to check the music channels I also pulled out several used Kleenex. I think we have more to worry about than the blankets! How about the pillow covers, and what about putting your head against seat covers? How often are they changed? I think it was a long time ago someone discovered bacteria are invisible to the human eye.

a recent article in the NY Times about travel hints mentioned that the airplane pillow covers are only rarely changed <BR>the article suggested bringing your own pillowcase on board if this is a matter of concern

After a severe eye infection I caught from (I'm sure) a pillow on Air France three years ago,I never, ever use the airline pillows, even though I try to sleep during the flight. I roll up my own sweatshirt or jacket or whatever I have, but I don't use the pillow, and if I use the blanket, I don't bring it anywhere near my face. This infection I had was disgusting - an oozing eye for more than 3 weeks - and I KNOW it was from the airline pillow -there was absolutely no other conceivable reason for it. I had to use antibiotic eyedrops that caused me to be blinded for about 30 minutes at a time to get rid of this thing - the worst travel infection I've ever picked up. Bring your own pillow and blankie - we have, ever since.

An ad for silk pillow covers ($14.95 or thereabouts) got me thinking: <BR>1) make your own silk pillow cover to fit the airplane pillows <BR>2) Remove the pillow's outer covering if you can; in either case, wipe the pillow with anti-bacterial cloths, then fit the silk cover over <BR>3) I figure the blankets on airplanes are no yuckier than those in motels; as long as there is something between it and me (sheets or clothing), I'll survive. I don't pull the blanket up to my chin; that's what sweaters are for.