Originally Posted by sipples
If it's a good newspaper I might not mind. Soda cups, pretzels, used Kleenex, and chewing gum are examples of trash I've found aboard AA's planes very routinely.
Southwest does it in 25 (or sometimes less). What's their secret? Why are they beating AA in cabin cleanliness (not to mention several other categories, like profits)? My theory is upthread.
Every time I deplane a Southwest flight (if I'm seated back a few rows) the FAs are already going through the first few rows, rubber gloves donned.
Southwest FAs do not generally scrub planes between flights. But, if needed, yes, I guess they probably would. (See below.)
Mostly the former. I did observe a Southwest FA don rubber gloves to scrub some tomato juice off seats and carpets. It was like watching a professional quarterback throw a perfect pass -- absolutely unbelievable efficiency. They had some sort of cleaning solution, yes. Available right on board.
Will do.
The seatback pockets are supposed to be cleaned out on the overnights. I'll pull out what I see in there that doesn't belong...most of us do at Eagle...but, I am very leary of blindly sticking my hand into a seatback pocket. I can't recall if it was the dirty diaper that had leaked in the pocket or the uncapped insulin needle left behind in the pocket that turned me off to blindly sticking my hands into the seatback pockets....if a previous passenger had dropped chewing gum, or a used kleenex and I can't see it, it may stay there all day. If you find it, just give me a ding and I'll be happy to take it out of your way.
If someone had spilled tomato juice, I probably would have cleaned it prior to the passenger getting off the plane. A little club soda on the seat, maybe, and paper towels to soak up the stuff on the carpet...as for getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing the carpet...well, I won't do it. If my best soaking and wiping isn't good enough...well, call me a bad employee with a bad attitude. I have 25 minutes to deplane 50 people, straighten the plane up, board 50 more, handle bags, do a weight and balance and get the door closed on time. If you have some tips on how I can be more efficient, I'd be happy to hear them.
Kudos to the WN flight attendants who don't mind scrubbing their planes. Are they rubber gloves, or disposable gloves? (Just curious.)
From a WN f/a on flightattendants.org...
Contractually, we are required to "tidy" the aircraft during turns...all turns at both outstations and crew bases. The only exception is after the final flight of the night.
Tidying means picking up newspapers, snack/peanut wrappers and other discards. Further, we cross seatbelts and collect pillows and fold blankets for storage.
And yes, most of us do wear gloves.
At Eagle, we have the same tidying requirements. I will try to slap seatbelts together if time permits, and we fold blankets (cuz, believe me, 99.9% of people that use them, won't!) and straighten the pillows.
My biggest goals are to get the plane boarded safely and efficiently and get you to your destination on time in a comfortable environment. If I missed something, I apologize! I just don't have the time (or inclination, frankly) to be hunting down an errant piece of chewing gum that the inconsiderate passenger left deep in the seatback pocket from the last flight.