A recent viral debate about a hygiene faux pas on a commercial airliner took the discussion to the public discourse debating proper hygiene in tight quarters. A mother remained in the center of the plane. After being asked to give up her seat so another passenger could sit there, she allegedly took out a spray bottle of Lysol, the popular germ-killing disinfectant, and sprayed the passenger. Passengers expressed their disgust with the decision to use disinfectant spray after it was made by the flight crew. Most of the fellows suffered coughing jags afterwards.
Yet the woman’s actions were perceived by most on board as rude. Products like Lysol are incredibly effective at disinfecting surfaces. Its deployment is not advised in highly populated settings, especially within a confined airplane cabin. Passengers raised the alarm about the risk to their health, with some saying this could cause them asthma attacks.
Gary Leff, an aviation expert, highlighted that passengers are entitled to a personal space commensurate with the seat they chose. He acknowledged that there is a line as to what is acceptable behavior. “Within that space, there are all types of behavior that might come under criticism… but it really comes down to the discretion of the individual,” he stated. He suggested that if she had used Lysol wipes instead of spray, it would’ve demonstrated more care. Wipes only affect the user’s direct environment and are not considered liquids.
Lysol wipes are permitted for personal use and are CDC approved for sanitizing common surfaces. It’s no surprise then that many affected passengers took to social media, warning travelers where to spray, encouraging them to choose wipes instead. As one Twitter user noted, she could have used Lysol or Clorox wipes instead. These wipes only impact your individual area, do not register as liquids, and will not irritate other passengers. Yet another Redditor chimed in to say, “They should have sprayed if they boarded first.”
Cleaning crews carry out deep manual cleaning on each plane between flights. They disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including seats and restrooms. For some passengers, it’s not enough and they need to resort to extreme measures. The health impacts on other travelers who might be exposed to aerosol disinfectants being used in these close quarters are deeply concerning.
Delta Air Lines proactively handled this concern by focusing their narrative on their cleaning procedures. Aircraft deep cleaned on a rotating schedule to ensure frequent, thorough cleaning at main hub stations. The team focuses specifically on hard-to-reach spaces onboard, using bespoke tools to execute comprehensive maintenance. This helps give confidence to would-be passengers that cleanliness is a priority for airlines.
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