Flight Attendant Warns: Never Eat Off an Airplane Tray Table, and the Reason Will Gross You Out

If you’ve ever balanced a bag of pretzels on that little tray table at 30,000 feet, you might want to sit down for this one. A flight attendant named Janae went viral after sharing why she never eats off airplane tray tables, and the answer isn’t about crumbs. She says parents change babies’dirty diapers on those tray tables, the exact surface where passengers eat and set their belongings. Janae said she covers a tray table with a trash bag as a barrier if she has to use one at all, and she refuses to handle dirty diapers without gloves.

Her warning got backup from other flight attendants who flagged window shades, carpets, overhead bins, and bathroom faucets as some of the dirtiest spots on a plane. Janae also noted that Lysol wipes only work if the surface stays wet for a full 10 minutes, which rarely happens during a flight. A nursing professor added that travelers should be cautious about what they touch in airplane restrooms to avoid picking up stomach bugs.

The takeaway is pretty simple. Pack disinfecting wipes, keep your food in its wrapper, and wash or sanitize your hands often. A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your trip healthy. So we want to know, will you still eat off an airplane tray table after hearing this? Sound off in the comments.