Faecal matter on plane tray tables, unwashed blankets... and 80 million bacteria on suitcases: The dirty secrets of air travel revealed

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You may eat from the tray table on an aeroplane, but would you still do so if you knew the person sat there before had changed their baby's nappy on it?

And would you even think about just how dirty your luggage is?

Research has discovered that not only so planes harbour bacteria in unexpected places, the source of illnesses on holiday can be traced directly back to our suitcases.

Travelling can bring you into contact with millions of germs, not just on planes, but also from your luggage

Most people eat from the tray table on a plane - however some use them in more creative ways

Luggage comes into contact with up to 80 million bacteria before it even reaches the hotel room, according to research conducted by experts on behalf of Aqaint sanitiser. 

With an average of four baggage handlers, two taxi drivers, a hotel porter and one member of airline staff handling any one piece of luggage, and the average person carrying over 10 million bacteria on their hands (in comparison to just 33,000 found on public surfaces), luggage alone can come into contact with more germs than travellers would expect.

It's not just luggage that exposes travellers to high levels of germs and bacteria, but sometimes the flight itself.

A cabin crew member claimed tray tables aren't given thorough cleans between each flight

During research, an anonymous cabin crew member was interviewed, claiming: 'Cleaners don't have time to thoroughly clean planes between journeys, as they are under pressure constantly to provide a quick turn-around. 

'I have seen passengers change their baby's nappy on the tray table, cut their fingernails on board and even urinate in the seats. The carpets are filthy and the toilet floors are worse.' 

They added: 'I would always encourage passengers to sanitise their tray tables and other surfaces before take off, use a sanitising spray on their hands after using the loo and never walk barefoot around the cabin.'

Bola Lafe, founder of Aquaint, said: 'Sickness and ill-health can put a dampener or even ruin well-deserved holidays abroad that have been planned for months or even years, and aeroplanes, airports, cruise ships and hotels can all be breeding grounds for bacteria.' 

Additionally, research conducted in the US by The Today Show found that bacteria causing cold viruses, influenza, MRSA, E-coli and listeria have all been discovered on planes and in airports.

At an unnamed airport in America, investigators found the boxes used at security to be widely filthy – and in one case, home to small traces of fecal matter, perhaps left by the dirtied sole of a shoe.

The worst offenders when it came to on-board hygiene were discovered to be the fold-down tray tables that travellers use for eating in-flight meals.

These were found to be rife with high levels of bacteria – perhaps the result of airlines failing to wipe the tables properly between flights.

Luggage comes into contact with up to 80 million bacteria before it even reaches the hotel room, according to the latest statistics

Even worse were the plane’s seat belts – touched over the years by thousands of hands, but rarely cleaned or replaced. 

The researchers uncovered the presence of human ‘bacteroides’ – germs which can cause real damage to health.

‘These are bacteria that live in our gut and our intestines,’ Dr Robert Glatter of New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital told Today.

‘These are dangerous bacteria that cause serious infections.’

As your suitcase makes its own journey to the hotel room, it picks up millions of bacteria along the way

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY ON A PLANE 

1. Planes can harbour all kinds of hidden bacteria, so before you sit down and make yourself comfortable for your flight, it's always worth cleaning the area. As well as spritzing the drop-down tray table, spray the armrests and seatbelt fastenings. Although the cabins are cleaned by airlines, 2014 findings by the Auburn University in Alabama, USA, revealed that disease-causing bacteria can survive for up to a week inside plane cabins, on surfaces such as tray tables, seat pockets, armrests and window shaders.

Drinking water can help your body stay alert and ready to fight harmful bacteria

2. Drink lots of water - wellness manager and nutritionist at Grace Belgravia, Katie Greenall, says, 'It is tough to get the balance right, you want to remain hydrated but don't want to drink so much that you are constantly queuing for the loo. A good indication of adequate hydration is having smooth, hydrated lips. I would advise between one and two cups of water per hour.' Always ask the air stewardess for more if you need it or buy bottles in the airport, after security, to take onto the flight. Avoid fizzy water which is thought to interfere with digestion and could make you more uncomfortable.

3. Always make sure that you sanitise your hands before and after visiting the loo, especially if hot running water and soap is unavailable. Public toilets on planes, in airports, on cruise ships and in hotels are shared by many people, and it’s always best to err on the side of caution. A study by Aquaint in 2014 found that faecal matter is present on a staggering 26 per cent of hands in the UK.

4. Do not walk around barefoot on planes, as carpets do not get cleaned regularly and can be teaming with bacteria.

5. Use a nose spray - There's nothing worse than a dry nose on a long haul flight. At between 30,000 and 35,000 ft humidity is well below the 15 per cent required to keep nasal passages moist. A dry nose and throat disrupts the body's natural drainage system which moves viruses and bacteria down to the stomach to be flushed away. Using nasal sprays from brands such as Otrivine and Sterimar can help keep things flowing and important mucus membranes moist.

It's a good idea to bring your own blanket as you can guarantee it will be clean

6. Bring your own blankets - That blanket you are snuggling up to has probably been rubbed up against, wiped and sat on by a number of passengers already. Flight attendant Sara Keagle says that in her airline's economy class, freshly washed blankets and pillows are only supplied to the first flights of the day. After that, they are folded up and then reused. It's a practice that's common across many airlines. Don't chance it, bring your own. 

7. Don’t forget your luggage! A suitcase will be handled by many people when travelling abroad, not to mention carted over many different floors and pavements. Before you place your case on your hotel bed to unpack, give the handles, wheels and base a wipe down with some sanitiser sprayed on a tissue or cloth.

8. For long delays in airports, it’s great to keep yourself feeling fresh. Sanitised water can be sprayed directly on to skin to freshen it up, and it’s kind to even the most sensitive and delicate skin.