Aircraft Cleanliness (CO 737-800/900)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,657
Aircraft Cleanliness (CO 737-800/900)
Is this just me, or has anyone noticed that the planes are not being cleaned (between flights) as well as it used to?. This applies to CO 737-800/900, not UA aircraft.
I'm finding that the cleanliness of the lavs (at first use) and my seat pocket + corner console to contain mystery + questionable items + sticky substances.
Flew first class on 4 flights. All 4 aircrafts were not well turned around well in my opinion, compared to the previous 4 times. I'm basing this on flying on average twice a month for the last 3-4 years, on CO 737-800/900
Has there been a change in procedure? What ever it is, I don't like it.
I'm finding that the cleanliness of the lavs (at first use) and my seat pocket + corner console to contain mystery + questionable items + sticky substances.
Flew first class on 4 flights. All 4 aircrafts were not well turned around well in my opinion, compared to the previous 4 times. I'm basing this on flying on average twice a month for the last 3-4 years, on CO 737-800/900
Has there been a change in procedure? What ever it is, I don't like it.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: DL SM Plat, B6 TrueBlue, UA MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 10,008
Another "change we don't like" courtesy of Jeff $miser?
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,034
No change in procedure that I know of, or have seen. The typical cleaning is/has always been: cross belts, pick up trash, sweep floor, clean lavs. If there is time: quickly look in the pocket for trash and straighten the magazines.
Sometimes in hubs they will pull out the trays and give them a wipe. Mexico does an awesome job of cleaning the planes. The joke is that the reason we fly down there is to get our planes cleaned (a compliment to them since they do such a thorough job).
Where do you regularly fly from? If your home city is one where there are always quick turn-arounds (AUS, SAT etc), you will probably never get a really clean plane. Sometimes there is only 35 mins scheduled to turn the plane around (if late, even less), that means we're supposed to be boarding when we pull up to the gate right on time. In these cases you may not even see the belts crossed, just trash picked up and floor quickly swept.
There is a method to the madness however and the planes are scheduled for various levels of cleaning depending on the ground time. If it's going to sit at the hub for a couple of hours, that may be the only opportunity for a good cleaning, which will be scheduled with the vendor. During the various maintenance checks, the planes get an even more thorough cleaning of course. From shampooing the carpet to R&R'ing it. Same w/the seat coverings.
Sometimes in hubs they will pull out the trays and give them a wipe. Mexico does an awesome job of cleaning the planes. The joke is that the reason we fly down there is to get our planes cleaned (a compliment to them since they do such a thorough job).
Where do you regularly fly from? If your home city is one where there are always quick turn-arounds (AUS, SAT etc), you will probably never get a really clean plane. Sometimes there is only 35 mins scheduled to turn the plane around (if late, even less), that means we're supposed to be boarding when we pull up to the gate right on time. In these cases you may not even see the belts crossed, just trash picked up and floor quickly swept.
There is a method to the madness however and the planes are scheduled for various levels of cleaning depending on the ground time. If it's going to sit at the hub for a couple of hours, that may be the only opportunity for a good cleaning, which will be scheduled with the vendor. During the various maintenance checks, the planes get an even more thorough cleaning of course. From shampooing the carpet to R&R'ing it. Same w/the seat coverings.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: 1K MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, AA Exec. Plat
Posts: 403
As gross as it seems, I'd rather have a quicker turn-a-round than a spotless plain.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
I've been flying a lot recently and haven't noticed any unusual lack of cleanliness. The 735s are starting to really show their age though.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
I flew every week last month and didn't notice any difference. Most flights were 737-800/900. All were clean. I am always hoping for a magazine left in the seatback pocket but never find one. Hemisphere gets uninteresting by the third segment of the month.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,234
Why is it you can (briefly) clean a whole 738 or 739 during a quick turn around, but an RJ45 toward the end of the day feels like you're sitting in an ashtray? I dare any of you to stick your hand in the seat pocket in front of you without looking first.....
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
Because those are not flown by Continental. That's the whole point - I still find CO planes to be generally the cleanest overall in N. America.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Hertz Gold 1 Presidence Circle
Posts: 662
No change in procedure that I know of, or have seen. The typical cleaning is/has always been: cross belts, pick up trash, sweep floor, clean lavs. If there is time: quickly look in the pocket for trash and straighten the magazines.
Sometimes in hubs they will pull out the trays and give them a wipe. Mexico does an awesome job of cleaning the planes. The joke is that the reason we fly down there is to get our planes cleaned (a compliment to them since they do such a thorough job).
Where do you regularly fly from? If your home city is one where there are always quick turn-arounds (AUS, SAT etc), you will probably never get a really clean plane. Sometimes there is only 35 mins scheduled to turn the plane around (if late, even less), that means we're supposed to be boarding when we pull up to the gate right on time. In these cases you may not even see the belts crossed, just trash picked up and floor quickly swept.
There is a method to the madness however and the planes are scheduled for various levels of cleaning depending on the ground time. If it's going to sit at the hub for a couple of hours, that may be the only opportunity for a good cleaning, which will be scheduled with the vendor. During the various maintenance checks, the planes get an even more thorough cleaning of course. From shampooing the carpet to R&R'ing it. Same w/the seat coverings.
Sometimes in hubs they will pull out the trays and give them a wipe. Mexico does an awesome job of cleaning the planes. The joke is that the reason we fly down there is to get our planes cleaned (a compliment to them since they do such a thorough job).
Where do you regularly fly from? If your home city is one where there are always quick turn-arounds (AUS, SAT etc), you will probably never get a really clean plane. Sometimes there is only 35 mins scheduled to turn the plane around (if late, even less), that means we're supposed to be boarding when we pull up to the gate right on time. In these cases you may not even see the belts crossed, just trash picked up and floor quickly swept.
There is a method to the madness however and the planes are scheduled for various levels of cleaning depending on the ground time. If it's going to sit at the hub for a couple of hours, that may be the only opportunity for a good cleaning, which will be scheduled with the vendor. During the various maintenance checks, the planes get an even more thorough cleaning of course. From shampooing the carpet to R&R'ing it. Same w/the seat coverings.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,034
As far as lavs go, once the first PAX uses it, all bets are off. So unless you are the very first one in there, you really can't blame it on the cleaners or CO's regimen. FA's are supposed to 'tidy' them periodically, but we can't and won't go in and clean up after every use. Remember, these are public bathrooms. Not only that, they are tiny, ergonomically disastrous bathrooms. Some 'water' is gonna hit the floor (always wear shoes).
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: USA
Programs: MYOB
Posts: 1,288
As far as lavs go, once the first PAX uses it, all bets are off. So unless you are the very first one in there, you really can't blame it on the cleaners or CO's regimen. FA's are supposed to 'tidy' them periodically, but we can't and won't go in and clean up after every use. Remember, these are public bathrooms. Not only that, they are tiny, ergonomically disastrous bathrooms. Some 'water' is gonna hit the floor (always wear shoes).
"Miss Daisy, I got to make water"
#15
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
On a related note -- any one know what CO (and/or UA) is doing to clean/prevent those nasty Bed Bugs?
New York City folks have in the past seen subway/bus seats and benches with these crawling critters. *shudders*
New York City folks have in the past seen subway/bus seats and benches with these crawling critters. *shudders*