Passengers have found hair, food, and even excrement in their sealed amenities.
“We wish you a comfortable flight.”
Ah, those kind parting words from the pilot. If only they knew what passengers must endure beyond the cockpit. I seldom use the word “comfortable” in my lifetime of miles, much less in any overnight situation. The noises, LED lights, and cramped seats make the state of calm needed for quality sleep a challenge, and then, when you factor in the hygiene of a plane, it’s pretty much impossible. Thank goodness for (*cough* non-habit-forming) pills. I’d be screwed without them.
But while we’re fully aware that the galley, the bathrooms, and even the seat itself are hardly sanitized to the same standard as a Japanese private hospital, we at least expect our sealed amenities to be free from nasties, right? You should be able to rip open the plastic and wrap that softness over your shoulder, basking in the fresh smell of sh… wait, what?!
Blankets Are Meant to Go Through a Vigorous Industrial Cleaning Process
Let’s start with how airline blankets should be cleaned. Busbud CEO, LP Maurice, who has worked alongside industrial laundry managers, shares insight.
“On a typical long-haul turn, the linen carts roll straight off the aircraft and go to a contractor that washes at 60°C - 90°C with peroxide, dries on high heat, and shrink‑wraps each blanket or pillowcase. When you see a tight plastic envelope on your seat, it usually means that the item came off a wash line earlier that day.”
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Sounds great, but sadly, it is not a consistent operation.
“However, if the preceding flight landed late and the aircraft is turning in 25 minutes, crews will keep any blanket that looks unused. They fold it, place it back on the seat, and hope the next traveler does not notice. I know a line manager who admitted that in one busy hub, only about 20% of economy blankets hit the wash on an average day; the rest were refolded unless visibly stained.”
Sealing the Blanket Sometimes Just Seals in Gunk
You’d think, then, that a sealed blanket is a foolproof way to ensure cleanliness, but that’s not always the case, as frequent flyer and Altezza Travel advisor, Georgia Fowkes, discovered.
“On one flight, I opened a ‘sealed’ blanket and found long hairs tucked inside the folds,” recalls Fowkes. “Then I discovered foundation stains and a faint shampoo smell that was definitely not mine on the pillow.”
Many users in the Reddit community echoed this experience, particularly customers on United Airlines. Pcosupportgirl posted a photo of her United blanket, exclaiming, “Ripped open a freshly sealed blanket bag to find this. It has food remains [and] smells of…body. How the **** do they expect me to believe this is laundered? This is my third long flight where I’ve had this issue with United. I’m convinced they just fold up used blankets and repackage them.” Meanwhile, fellow user the-harrekki unfolded and found food too, except it was regurgitated. “I unwrapped a ‘clean’ blanket only to find out it was soaked in vomit.”
Then the S**t Hits the Fan
The following sections are not for the squeamish, but let’s not turn a blind eye on the truth: excrement is rife on airlines. Comedian Nicole Byer once found poo in her blanket in first class. No joke.
“I was on Delta Airlines [sic], and I found a piece of poop in my blanket. Isn’t that disgusting?” She immediately alerted staff, who took photos of the incriminating turd, and after tweeting the incident, Delta provided a refund and air miles. They offered her more if she agreed not to talk about it, but clearly, Nicole decided it was too good not to share.
Unless You Get What Nicole Got, Don’t Sweat Using Airline Blankets
How clean are blankets on any airline? I consult Wayne, an ex-flight attendant who spent nearly a decade of his career with Emirates.
“Our blankets were always cleaned. I saw them leave for laundry facilities and come back washed, pressed, and sealed in packets. However, it’s the rest of the seat you need to be careful of. There isn’t much time to do a proper clean between flights, and sure, you can switch pillow covers, but the pillows themselves have a ton of saliva, hair wax, sweat, and other fluids soaked in them. No matter how clean the blanket is, you’re going to encounter germs while you sleep.
Microbiologist Jason Tetro tells Reader’s Digest that these germs needn’t keep us awake all red-eye. “For the most part, the levels that you will encounter most likely won’t make you sick. But the fact is that you don’t want to expose yourself unnecessarily to a potential pathogen, so I wouldn’t put the blanket anywhere near your nose or mouth.”
Wayne admits, “Since quitting Emirates, I prefer to wear a hoodie and bring my own pillow when flying, rather than use what’s on my seat.”
If You Can’t Fly on One of the World’s Cleanest Airlines, Cover the C**P Instead
Skytrax revealed the top 20 cleanest airlines for 2025, comprised of East Asian, Middle Eastern, and European airlines. Sadly, no U.S. airlines made the top list, so what’s a jetsetter to do if we can’t afford to splurge on Cathay Pacific?
“Pack a light, compressible sleeping bag liner or a cotton pillowcase,” says LP Maurice. “Slip the liner over the airline blanket and use the pillowcase on the inner pillow. Ask for a sealed set as soon as you board; supplies run out in the last rows.” For an easier alternative, he adds, “You can layer clothing to skip the blanket altogether on short segments, and wipe the headrest wings with an alcohol pad before you settle in.”
I think I’m gonna need a double vodka with my mixed nuts.