Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Insecticide spraying on Australia-arriving aircraft

Urrrgghhh.

The last time this occurred to me here was probably 20 years back. :td:

We landed nicely ahead of sked time.

Door opens, pax all standing in aisles and then chaos reigns supreme as a small army of the non-UA ground staff stream on and everyone is made to sit down again.

Then these contract staffers announce that the cabin needs to be "sprayed".

About 5 minutes goes by as ground staff seem to have no idea what happens next - or by who.

Then they (ground staff) start spraying each loo, and crew bags, and all overheads. Which seems to take forever. Plane is packed nose to tail, in all classes.

Purser barks at FAs over PA to open all overheads to make process quicker.

Then we wait another 5 mins.

Then purser announces she is sorry, but after LAST spray was completed we need to stay seated another 5 mins.

All very weird. No other explanation given to pax.

We were seated in C right near air-bridge door in #7 and saw and heard most of the exchanges. The FAs were totally taken by surprise and knew nothing of this it seemed to me until doors opened.

Curiously, we were on a 747 that day from IAD-SFO (#951) which was quite a surprise as it was supposed to be a 777. We got exit row #15 upstarts, and that was quite a bonus. ;)

Whether that plane went on to SYD, as connex was only a little over 2 hours, I am not sure. Maybe it was not pest certified or whatever as usual aircraft are to here? They lost 2 of my bag pieces even with that long connex time. :mad:

Anyone else on this flight or knows what went on or why?

They're allowed to spray insecticide while passengers are still in the plane?! :eek:

Aren't those fumes supposed to be bad for you? Cuz I start choking and hacking when I spray around the house. I can't imagine how bad it would be when it's in a closed metal tube.

I've gotten a spray treatment on flights from DEL to YYZ, FRA, and CDG. It wasn't intrusive by any means just an FA walking with 2 spray bottles in the air down the aisle. This seems a little more evasive than whatever treatment i got...Either way seems it would have been handled better if everyone was better informed?

I think last time I got sprayed was when I was on Ansett Australia, which is at least 5 years ago.

Just to clarify, Australia has VERY strict quarantine laws that I fully agree with.

In the lonnnnng distant past all planes arriving It'l needed to wait for 2 x Quarantine guys to walk down each aisle of a wide-body with a can of very toxic smelling gunk disgorging into the air, that made many folks coff and splutter.

Not great arrival PR. :td:

In well over a decade this has never occurred to me - on proabably 100 arrivals on many carriers.

AFAIK carriers now do a serious fumigation of aircraft to AQIS specs when in foreign bases, that they plan to send here to avoid the need for this weird arrival ritual.

I think last time I got sprayed was when I was on Ansett Australia, which is at least 5 years ago.

My UA plane was sprayed once last year after landing in SYD - the only time I experienced this.

At least they handed out damp towels for the F and C pax.

Just to clarify, Australia has VERY strict quarantine laws that I fully agree with..
As all really nasty insects on this planet originate from Australia, I never
quite understood that ritual anyway :rolleyes: .

My UA plane was sprayed once last year after landing in SYD - the only time I experienced this.

At least they handed out damp towels for the F and C pax.

Next my family are flying to SYD for vacation (all in F and C).

Shall we be ready to be sprayed? :confused:

Hey Oz, the special treatment was just for you. :)

There was a similar thread about this sometime in the past five years. ;)

Next my family are flying to SYD for vacation (all in F and C).

Shall we be ready to be sprayed? :confused:

I do USA-SYD three to four times a year and I can assume ozstamps does it more frequently than I do. Since his post states the last time for him was twenty years back and my incident was once in 6 years, you can assume the probability will be very low. Anecdotal evidence only, however.

As all really nasty insects on this planet originate from Australia, I never
quite understood that ritual anyway :rolleyes: .

Well I do not think AQIS (or our vast primary industry sector) agrees at all with that assertion. ;)

http://www.affa.gov.au/content/publications.cfm?Category=Australian%20Quarantine% 20fixand%20Inspection%20Service&ObjectID=91BEA21E-F661-4C28-993E5D87CAB8AF20

I did think today with this pantomime going on spraying overheads, that seeing the plane flies back to USA in a few hours, any bugs up there now will likely end up back in the USA - and not Australia. :D

I've been sprayed in Africa and Central America as recently as a few months ago. I love how they always promise that it's "non-toxic".

I used to travel from Asia to Australia on Ansett Australia about 3-4 times a year and got sprayed every single time. Then Ansett said goodbye and I lost all my miles (having never redeemed any!) Then I switched to Cathay from Asia to Australia, and only flew a few times (cannot remember if I got sprayed).

I've done US-SYD twice over the past two years and did not get sprayed. However, most recently, I forgot that I had a banana in the outer pocket of my backpack and I placed it on the floor at the baggage reclaim. In came this little quarantine dog sniffing at my backpack and I got notated by the official (as I had ticked Nothing to Declare). I think she understood that it was a mistake. This onlooker smiled and laughed.

I went to OZ this year and got sprayed, I think on KE. It rarely happens on international flights. I try to hold my breath so I don't breath in the noxious stuff.

I guess I am showing my age, but in the "old days" I remember flights to/from Europe all being sprayed. Pax always stayed on the plane during it. I have never seen the spray in SYD, I had it 20 years ago in AKL. Last time I had it done.

I forgot that I had a banana in the outer pocket of my backpack and I placed it on the floor at the baggage reclaim.

In came this little quarantine dog sniffing at my backpack and I got notated by the official (as I had ticked Nothing to Declare). I think she understood that it was a mistake.

A wonder they did not book you for smuggling precious goods. :D

Bananas run about $US5 a POUND here right now even in supermarkets.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/economy-slips-on-banana-skin/2006/07/26/1153816251734.html

PRECISELY for this quarantine reason - our crops got wiped out in Cyclone Larry, and they refuse to allow any imports - from anywhere. @:-)

I have only had my planes sprayed on Varig flights, to and from ASU. the AA flight I once took out of ASU was not sprayed which I found interesting as ALL of the Varig flights have always been sprayed.

I've been sprayed on a UA 744, SFO to Sydney, this was about 7 or 8 years ago.

The explanation given was that United had sprayed the plane properly back
in the US, but the AU gov't didn't get the correct paperwork so they had to
assume the plane had not been sprayed.

I think the general rule is that all planes need to be treated for pests before arrival in Australia.

Generally UA cleans/treats their 747s in such a way that the spraying need not take place when passengers are on board. However, perhaps this particular aircraft was behind schedule for its anti-pest treatments so the spraying with pax on board was necessary.

I'm not sure this is 100% accurate but I think I've heard it somewhere before (probably in a prior flyertalk thread).

In well over a decade this has never occurred to me - on proabably 100 arrivals on many carriers.



Maybe this was done for a "Very Special Episode" of Border Security: Australia's Front Line. :p

they refuse to allow any imports - from anywhere.


Especially SQ 744s via LAX. Har Har!

I love how they always promise that it's "non-toxic".

i bet that the bugs would tell you otherwise

A wonder they did not book you for smuggling precious goods. :D

Bananas run about $US5 a POUND here right now even in supermarkets.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/economy-slips-on-banana-skin/2006/07/26/1153816251734.html

PRECISELY for this quarantine reason - our crops got wiped out in Cyclone Larry, and they refuse to allow any imports - from anywhere. @:-)

Are you sure they don't allow imports to create a non-tariff trade barrier? ;)

Bananas run about $US5 a POUND here right now even in supermarkets.

Don't even think of bringing in bananas as the beagles what double as drug dogs will tear your throat out as they try to find the bananas (or even an empty plastic bag that used to have bananas in them).

And as for spraying, it seems to happen quite reqularly so its nice not to get it. I just breathe through a handkerchief and / or hold my breath for 10 minutes.

I just breathe through a handkerchief and / or hold my breath for 10 minutes.

You can hold your breath for 10 minutes?! :eek:

I think the general rule is that all planes need to be treated for pests before arrival in Australia.

Generally UA cleans/treats their 747s in such a way that the spraying need not take place when passengers are on board. However, perhaps this particular aircraft was behind schedule for its anti-pest treatments so the spraying with pax on board was necessary.

I'm not sure this is 100% accurate but I think I've heard it somewhere before (probably in a prior flyertalk thread).


You are quite correct (although I'm not 100% sure either since I wasn't there :) ).

UA has a disinsection agreement with Australia. As long as the disinsection for that aircraft remains current, they can land without doing top of descent spraying.

Both ex-USA-SYD stations (LAX & SFO) are very good about keeping the 744s current on their disinsection. However, it's possible either the disinsection expired or the Australian government had not processed the updated disinsection documentation.

SFO has the disinsection cans for spraying upon landing into China (and yes, I remember the top of descent spraying on the TWA flights to Europe, too). I'm not sure if SYD uses the same type of cans, though. Also, UA might not have known there was a problem (i.e. if UA's docs are up to date and the Australian government had not updated the renewal, UA might not know about it).

As for the chaos on the ground, this is precisely why it's better to do such spraying at top of descent, where passenger disembarkation time will not be affected.

I have only had my planes sprayed on Varig flights, to and from ASU. the AA flight I once took out of ASU was not sprayed which I found interesting as ALL of the Varig flights have always been sprayed.

My GRU-LIM RG flight in May was sprayed - quite unpleasant.

I think last time I got sprayed was when I was on Ansett Australia, which is at least 5 years ago.

MH still sprays every KUL-SYD flight as of a couple months ago.

MH still sprays every KUL-SYD flight as of a couple months ago.

No so.

I've flown KUL-SYD First Class on MH 747s about 6 times in the past 2-3 years and never has there been spraying.

I think the general rule is that all planes need to be treated for pests before arrival in Australia.

Generally UA cleans/treats their 747s in such a way that the spraying need not take place when passengers are on board. However, perhaps this particular aircraft was behind schedule for its anti-pest treatments so the spraying with pax on board was necessary.

I'm not sure this is 100% accurate but I think I've heard it somewhere before (probably in a prior flyertalk thread).

I was told that they had stopped this nonsense after numerous complaints, at least with respect to planes from the US.

If in fact that is not true I would like to know for certain as I won't be going anywhere that requires noxious chemicals to be sprayed into my airspace.

Which is really a shame as Australia is at the top of my list of places to visit. Can this procedure be avoided by flying via New Zealand?

Which is really a shame as Australia is at the top of my list of places to visit. Can this procedure be avoided by flying via New Zealand?

Doesn't New Zealand have even stricter rules than Australia regarding foreign plant- or animal-borne stuff into its rather sensitive and fragile ecosystem?

Quite frankly I be pissed and would protest quite loudly to this! If I'm going to be subjected to having noxious (ya ya non-toxic my ...) chemicals sprayed into the air and then forced to sit there and breath it for 10 minutes they should notify people BEFORE they get on the plane. As a consumer I should have the right to decide if I want to be subjected to this, not find out as some agent comes walking down the aisle spraying the garbage.

This new spray policy has to do with the increasing number of gate lice. It should not harm a normal, well-behaved pax :p

This thread got me thinking (googling) and I came across this video of a UA plane being treated

http://www.kefir.net/spray/sprayvideo.htm

Doesn't New Zealand have even stricter rules than Australia regarding foreign plant- or animal-borne stuff into its rather sensitive and fragile ecosystem?

NZ does also have strict quarantine rules. However in hundreds of international flights to NZ, on many airlines, I have yet to get sprayed. I have also yet to be sprayed flying to Australia on dozens of flights.

I have however been sprayed some other places, most recently DEL.

This thread got me thinking (googling) and I came across this video of a UA plane being treated

http://www.kefir.net/spray/sprayvideo.htm

Wow. :(

Amazing link - thanks for posting it. ^

Click on the video - these guys are spraying stuff all over every seat like with a fire hose!

Thank goodness it is "non toxic" ... so I wonder why they have Grade 5 breather masks and full decontamination body suits on when doing the spraying? :mad:

The photo from the 1950s of the FA spraying that can of DDT over the pax is terrifying!

The link will start a four-and-a- half minute video of unedited footage showing how a residual (long-lasting) pesticide is applied to a United Airlines plane in Australia.

All flights going into Australia or New Zealand by any airline have been treated regardless of whether you have been informed by the airline or not.

In addition, United Airlines makes a practice of using 747-400 aircraft which have been treated with the pesticide, to fly domestic and international routes which do NOT require pesticide use.

This means you could possibly be subject to pesticide exposure even if you are not flying to an international destination which requires it.

For the most part, passengers are unaware that they are spending long hours in an enclosed, poorly ventilated environment that has been doused with a toxic chemical. This chemical, permethrin, cannot be applied to planes in this country, which is why United has it done in Australia.

Glen

After consultation with a Travel Buzz moderator, and since this thread is more Australia-practice oriented than UA-specific, moving to the Australia forum.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

For the most part, passengers are unaware that they are spending long hours in an enclosed, poorly ventilated environment that has been doused with a toxic chemical. This chemical, permethrin, cannot be applied to planes in this country, which is why United has it done in Australia. [/I]

Glen

That seems strange given that there are over the counter permethrine treatments available in the USA for treating clothes etc. I believe you can even buy pretreated outdoor clothing. AFAIK it is not harmful to mice except in large doses as in spraying one down with it, so it would appear to be fairly safe for mammals generally.

I wouldn't consider it any more harmful than DEET and that is applied directly to the skin.

I've flown KUL-SYD First Class on MH 747s about 6 times in the past 2-3 years and never has there been spraying.

I lost count the number of times I have flown into Australia on MH/SQ (not in F though) , and as far as I can remember they do spray the cabins each time before landing.

Recently, I was on a CX flight HKG-KUL in C and they also sprayed the cabins before landing in KUL; perhaps the crew thought they were landing in Australia :p

Vis-a-vis Australia, AFIK, there is no exception whatsoever to dissinsection either by 1) "dipping" prior to embarkation or 2) arrival spraying. Airlines don't talk about it.

Having endured both on countless occasions, I think I prefer the spray to the dip, since my exposure is limited to 10 minutes, instead of 10 hours (HNL-SYD).

A simple search of the net will reveal hazards associated with Permethrin exposure. This is the same nerve poison your spraying in your house and yard to kill insects after all.

Simple not-too-effective protection for spraying is wet face cloth over eyes, nose and mouth with airline blanket covering entire body and head. Better protection is an insecticide respirator (they are big, and start at about $30).

you may think this is an urban legend, but I swear that those cans say "not for use on humans, except airline passengers."


Vis-a-vis Australia, AFIK, there is no exception whatsoever to dissinsection either by 1) "dipping" prior to embarkation or 2) arrival spraying. Airlines don't talk about it.

Having endured both on countless occasions, I think I prefer the spray to the dip, since my exposure is limited to 10 minutes, instead of 10 hours (HNL-SYD).

A simple search of the net will reveal hazards associated with Permethrin exposure. This is the same nerve poison your spraying in your house and yard to kill insects after all.

Simple not-too-effective protection for spraying is wet face cloth over eyes, nose and mouth with airline blanket covering entire body and head. Better protection is an insecticide respirator (they are big, and start at about $30).

I've tried them all, and the only thing that works for me is 20mg of Temazepam. (Sold under different names in different countries.) The brand names offered here are Normison and Euhypnos. In North America it is often sold as Restoril. (http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-r01.html)

I am no medico and this advice is worth precisely what you paid for it - zero - so as always, run it past your own doctor. :)

This tablet leaves me clear headed and alert - unlike some sleeping tablets I've been prescribed that made me feel like I'd just done 8 rounds with Mike Tyson for several hours after I woke up. :D

One such failure was - Mogadon - common name nitrazepam, but maybe it was just me, however this tablet really made me wake up feeling terrible.

Many of my flights are 30-40 and even 50+ hours in planes and airports without a hotel room, to have a decent sleep.

Temazepam and liberal amounts of decent Champagne and Nirvana. Works like a charm. For ME. And has done for decades. 20 mg, and I am out like a light in 20 minutes for 6 or 7 hours+. And yes, I know many advise against drinking alcohol at all on long hauls - so to each his own. I am just reporting what works every time for ME. :p

Others I have travelled with report the same - it helps them sleep fast, sleep WHEN they want, and awake clear headed and alert. In Australia it costs only ~$A20 or so for 100 tablets, but that is like most medications here - heavily government subsided.

Near EVERY flight I make is either 14.5 hours to USA, or 24 hours to Europe (1 stop) so you do need to know what helps you sleep when you live down here. I've often flown from here to Europe via ASIA and THEN on to USA or Africa or South America later on same day. :cool:

I smile reading from some folks in the USA or Europe about to take a teeny-weeny little 8 or 10 hour flight and are working themselves into a nervous state about: "HOW WILL I SLEEP????" ;)

I fly about 150,000 miles a year, so get a lot of 'sleeping on planes' practice.

I also find Temazepam useful for after you ARRIVE. Often it takes a day or two to adjust to local times. If you wake up at 2.30am, bright eyed and clear headed and all ready to rock and roll, you are in deep trouble for the next day or so adjusting to the new time zone. Take 20 mg Temazepam right then, and you'll sleep deeply for another 5 hours and be adjusted perfectly to the new time zone. In my experience.

Glen

Well I am amazed folks do not realise what is sprayed into their cabins BEFORE they sit on the seats for 15 hours! :cool:

Glen

Well I am amazed folks do not realise what is sprayed into their cabins BEFORE they sit on the seats for 15 hours! :cool:

Glen

I've been on a plane that was sprayed upon arrival in SYD this year. Can't remember whether it was a BA plane or a CX plane - but it was definately one or the other. (I'm leaning towards thinking it was CX)

Only this once though out of many flights.

If you are concerned about the disinsection, I encourage you to do a google search on it. While many countries have given up on disinsection because they believe it doesn't do any good and causes risk to passengers, others continue to require it. There are two basic methods, which I will refer to as the 'dip' method and the 'spraypax' method.

The 'dip' method involves treating the entire plane at regular intervals with long-lasting chemicals. If you are worried about being sprayed, I wouldn't be too happy just because your plane isn't sprayed when you go to Australia. It means that your plane has been treated with a high dose of long-lasting chemicals. Probably just as bad for your system as the spray, because those chemicals are leaching into the air during your entire flight -- you just don't know that it's happening.

The 'spraypax' method required flight attendants to spray the cabin just before descent. This method is the one which was applied (late) in the OP's case, probably (as others have suggested) because of an outdated certificate, late paperwork, or perhaps a late change of plane. Some countries, like India, require the 'spraypax' method regardless, and you will get sprayed whether the plane has been 'dipped' or not.

See:

http://www.kefir.net/spray/buzzwormairspray.htm (http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/fal/panels/falp3/ip01e.pdf)

CDC on Spraying (http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=transportation&obj=sprayair.htm)

http://www.icao.int/icao/en/atb/fal/panels/falp3/ip01e.pdf