A flight of filth ... (dirty aircraft for SFO-JFK)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
A flight of filth ... (dirty aircraft for SFO-JFK)
MODs: Pls move this if there’s a better home for it under a pre-existing discussion.
I have not flown AA in a while, and have never flown their transcon route in economy.
Yesterday I flew SFO>JFK and I was very much shocked with the condition of their hard product, primarily the filthiness of things.
- Seat had a brown stain right in the middle (I covered my seat with their blanket)
- Seatback monitor was covered with smudge marks.
- Tray table was visibly dirty (brown). I imagine someone either spilled or threw up their coffee and no one ever bothered cleaning as it reeked of stale coffee.
Really. I know planes are not the cleanest places but the amount of visible filth was overwhelming. Walking past first and business during boarding, the hard product looked visibly abused and dirty.
Is this the norm on AA? A very sad state of affairs.
I have not flown AA in a while, and have never flown their transcon route in economy.
Yesterday I flew SFO>JFK and I was very much shocked with the condition of their hard product, primarily the filthiness of things.
- Seat had a brown stain right in the middle (I covered my seat with their blanket)
- Seatback monitor was covered with smudge marks.
- Tray table was visibly dirty (brown). I imagine someone either spilled or threw up their coffee and no one ever bothered cleaning as it reeked of stale coffee.
Really. I know planes are not the cleanest places but the amount of visible filth was overwhelming. Walking past first and business during boarding, the hard product looked visibly abused and dirty.
Is this the norm on AA? A very sad state of affairs.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
Last edited by CodeAdam10; Sep 5, 2019 at 9:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Originally Posted by CodeAdam10
Seat had a brown stain right in the middle (I covered my seat with their blanket)
You're right. At that moment in time I figured folding my blanket will provide better cleanliness then any alternative (middle) non-MCE seat I'll end up in...and that was probably the right call judging this plane's condition since perhaps the new seat probably had it's own issues.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
#11
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, Amex
Posts: 420
I mean, fingerprints on a seatback monitor doesn't exactly come across to me as some vile, filthy experience. Though at the same time should be easy enough to wipe down.
Stained seat cushion etc. though seems pretty... yuck.
Stained seat cushion etc. though seems pretty... yuck.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
I have seen plenty of cleaning crews waiting to come aboard on international flights, but not on domestic flights, wonder if the planes are cleaned once they are in service and then when they are out of service.
maybe AA and other airlines expect either the passengers or the FA to clean the plane?
maybe AA and other airlines expect either the passengers or the FA to clean the plane?
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
IIRC cleaners come on if a flight is over a certain duration, however, I believe the crew can request cleaning services if needed. Even at that with turns of often less than one hour cleaners have 5 minutes to wipe down the bathrooms, sweep up any visit dirt and other cleaning duties. Ultimately it's up to the crew to determine whether an a/c should get additional cleaning. I've not encountered many dirty planes. This may have been a one off.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA Concierge Key, Marriott Titanium Elite, National Executive Elite
Posts: 326
As my most frequently traveled route, I have been on many JFK-SFO flights that have been borderline disgusting. Even in First. One time i flat out denied sitting in the F seat I had due to how dirty it was. I told the FA that I did not pay thousands for this flight to sit in filth. They promptly had a cleaning crew come and solve the problem. Its quite ridiculous to board a plane and see conditions so blatantly ignored, to think they had the nerve to sign off on boarding the plane in that condition.
To the OP, you should have said something to the FA and have them clean your seat, without moving you out of your selected MCE seat. You have every right to have a clean seat when you travel. You know, since AA is going for GreAAt and all...
To the OP, you should have said something to the FA and have them clean your seat, without moving you out of your selected MCE seat. You have every right to have a clean seat when you travel. You know, since AA is going for GreAAt and all...
#15
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
(Unless they changed them, recently.)