A former flight attendant has warned passengers about the hygiene risks of window seats on aircraft, claiming they are rarely cleaned. Cierra Mistt, who shared her concerns on TikTok, said that between flights, cabin cleaners only tidy up and remove rubbish, rather than performing deep cleans.
Mistt advised passengers to use sanitising wipes to clean the window area, noting that like bathroom floors, windows are seldom disinfected. She said: 'If I were you, instead of wiping down the tray tables and seatbelts that they just cleaned, I would use that wipe to clean off the window.'
Her comments sparked debate among viewers, with some confirming the lack of cleaning. One passenger said they had to clean melted chocolate left by a previous occupant, while another noted cleaners often have less than seven minutes to prepare a plane.
However, other travel experts argue that window seats are the best for avoiding illness. A 2018 study cited by Travel & Leisure found that window seats are most isolated, with passengers seated next to only one person and furthest from the aisle, where crew and others frequently pass.
Despite the conflicting advice, passengers are encouraged to take precautions by cleaning their immediate area. Airlines maintain that standard cleaning occurs between flights, with thorough deep cleans conducted regularly to uphold hygiene standards.
