I doubt that they actually boil the water in the galley. I believe they just have a tap that delivers hot water. The only thing that will kill all the creepy crawlies is water at 212 degrees for a period of time. Doubt you'll see this on any aircraft.
Having said that, I've drank a lot of airline coffee and tea in my life and don't believe I've ever suffered as a result. But I've also consumed more than my fair share of adult beverages in B/E which probably killed any weird bacteria in my system. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You can also just go to a camping store and they have some pillows that fit into a bag that is .75 x .25 x .25 (all in feet) big. Pretty darn comfortable too. And you know where that has been! (ok, probably in the closet full of dust, but that's beside the point).

I always enjoy how in the office, where everyone knows each other, you will never catch a guy leaving the lav without washing his hands. Yet at the ballpark, where most people in the bathroom are not in the company of people they know, it is commonplace for people to rush out without washing. These are the same people, so it just goes to show that many in the workplace are washing for the theater of it.

Remember on Seinfeld, when Poppy did not wash his hands after using the toilet, only to then make dinner for Jerry.

And Andymo99, remember what Poppy did to Jerry's sofa?

I use airline pillows......for lumbar support. Nobody has mentioned the head rest.
My head has not touched the seat of a plane for over five years. Always use a towel or cloth napkin to place between my head and the seat.

Airline seats/pillows/lav's, hotel bedspreads, public restrooms... guess all are areas to perhaps not dwell on or scrutinize too closely http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

As posted by Cholula
"Airline seats/pillows/lav's, hotel bedspreads, public restrooms... guess all are areas to perhaps not dwell on or scrutinize too close"

Have to agree with Cholula: If we all looked too closely, we would require medication for OCD.
My attitude is to take reasonable precautions. BMOP now seems reasonable. Falling asleep on the top of a hotel bedspread does not seem reasonable. Brushing my teeth from the tap in the lav, even when I am given one of those nifty little amentiy kits, does not seem reasonable. When I really want a cup of tea on-board, I'm going to take my chances and drink the tea. --Tea, c'est la vie--

Cleanliness of Pillows and blankets
 

In a reputable weekly publication*, an article appeared this week referring to a study that found the airlines handling of blankets and pillow coverings was appauling at best. Most of the coach blankets appeared to be recycled after each flight and send out for wash/cleaning every 2-21 days depending on airlines (Delta declined to provide data), and even when taken out of a plastic covering, often had only been superficially cleaned. According to the article, tests showed random blankets and pillow covers often soiled, including with fecal material, and culturing out multiple nasty bugs of both viral, bacterial and fungal nature.

Given what people may do under the cover, as well as all of us on occaision stepping on or seing others stepping on blankets when going to-and-from their seat (carrying back on their soles whatever the non-specific fluid around the toilet is), and even when considering the source of this information, it does raise a point I have never seen discussed anywhere else.

I for one will pay more attention to this in the future.

* National Enquire!!!, 5/25/03 :0

** (Please do not ask how I came to read that !!)

I don't know about cleanliness, but I was surprised to see JetBlue blankets on my Delta flight from SEA-ATL on Sunday. The little tags on at least some of the blankets said JetBlue (in the same font/style as the JetBlue logo).

Here we go again with the B.M.O.P. in TravelBuzz!, but on a slightly different angle...

-----------------------

In addition to selling food, perhaps Delta could make money selling laundry services:

“Yes, you may use this pillow free of charge, but these pillows are fluffier and actually clean. They cost $3.00 per use, except for Platinum Medallions and First and Business Class passengers, who may use them for $1.00...”

How many upgrade points could I use instead? I hear that they give you an upgrade point based upon each previous rental. If you paid a dollar for a pillow last time, you got .3 points. So if you paid $3 you got a whole point.... Luckily that is based upon segments and not a complete flight rental. remember that a segment is a landing and takeoff and the flight number must change!

Perhaps bringing your own pillow is the better way to handle this. Remember though, the pillow must not put you over the luggage limt, must fit in the sizewise at the gate and must be stowed during takeoffs and landing. Plastic pillows must not be inflated prior to takeoff for security and safety reasons.

ooh, that fowl,smelly pillow on DL domestic again! Go to a good linens shop and buy your own baby pillow and put that nasty thing at your back or under your feet....under no circumstances put that thing close to your head......

B/E does change their pillow covers (I think) but I still choose to bring my own...

I always bring my own pillow on overnight trips - will use it on the plane for 3+hour flights. It is big and fluffy and takes up close to no space when in the carry-on.

When truly a Newbie some months ago I started a thread with some information about this same topic not knowing about this seemingly old thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum21/HTML/010489.html

Interesting subject..much like the one on the AMR board a couple months ago. Delta does change the covers, but not after every flight. Cost and time issues. Usually I see them changed in overnight stations where they have the supplies. I have also seen them changed quite regularly after long hauls. Would I ever use one? Don't think so!

Delta pillows?
 

Does Delta still have pillows and blankets on board? Also, how bad is traffic congention at ATL Hartsfield?

We have been AA fliers and are now switching, when we can, to DL or UA