Does Southwest actually sanitize their planes?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,676
Does Southwest actually sanitize their planes?
The Coronavirus travel advisory on their website says "Each aircraft is tidied between flights and subsequently undergoes a comprehensive program every night that includes cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting the aircraft cabin and lavatories."
I've never known any airline to do more than trash pickup each night. Do they actually sanitize planes each night and how do they do it?
I've never known any airline to do more than trash pickup each night. Do they actually sanitize planes each night and how do they do it?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,158
I suspect any US airlines saying "we sanitize our planes"
really means "we mop the lav and galley floor with a cleaner that contains* sanitizer"
(*when diluted properly by each of 100+ stations employing overnight contractors who may further subcontract the work to the lowest bidder).
Southwest is much better than some, and they have more opportunity timewise since their planes are parked overnight due to no redeye flights.
The ONLY planes getting a true hospital grade sanitation are the airlines flying back from Covid19 evacuation flights overseas. From what I read on airliners.net it takes 12-24 hours and workers have lots of protective equipment.
really means "we mop the lav and galley floor with a cleaner that contains* sanitizer"
(*when diluted properly by each of 100+ stations employing overnight contractors who may further subcontract the work to the lowest bidder).
Southwest is much better than some, and they have more opportunity timewise since their planes are parked overnight due to no redeye flights.
The ONLY planes getting a true hospital grade sanitation are the airlines flying back from Covid19 evacuation flights overseas. From what I read on airliners.net it takes 12-24 hours and workers have lots of protective equipment.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,158
sort of, say, how NYC is "sanitizing their public transit system every 72 hours" Great for first rider every 3 days, if they ride alone with no other passengers.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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As to cleaning... everything I read says it gets spread via "droplets" from people sneezing, etc. Have not seen any reports of extended life on tray table, etc.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
SW does not sanitize their planes between flights...they just stated that.
I flew Alaska today on a connecting flight and was impressed to see them with a spray bottle of something wiping down every table and arm rest between each flight.
I flew Alaska today on a connecting flight and was impressed to see them with a spray bottle of something wiping down every table and arm rest between each flight.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Looks like they do now.
As has been mentioned earlier though, unless they sanitize between flights (which they do not), it's really not going to help all that much.
#10
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Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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What happens if you put 150 people off the street in the just cleaned Operating Room?
Spoiler Alert - no longer very clean - especially once a couple of people cough.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,492
Planes recirculate air through HEPA filters which trap viruses. Cabin air is changed every 3 minutes.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,676
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I'm guessing that airlines will be given instructions on additional cleaning procedures pretty soon.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,492
Flyers 60+ may - irrationally or not - think twice before flying.
WHO - China Joint Mission on COVID -19
WHO - China Joint Mission on COVID -19
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
And that's the problem with Southwest's fast-turn strategy, it doesn't allow for when extra steps are needed between plane uses.
Are we going to hear in the news that Southwest is going to cut back N% of flights because they have to add 10 minutes extra between each flight for sanitizing?