spray down before touch down (sin mnl on 3k)
 

just before landing, FA announced that the cabin was to be sprayed with a non toxic substance and they walked up and down the aisle spraying something from an aerosol can.

did not have any distinct smell.

is this disinfecting the passengers?

did not notice it in other routes, just sin mnl.

i am used to being made to step on lysol mats upon landing on domestic routes to agricultural provinces but being sprayed down in the cabin is new.

I found this article:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...ying/27177835/

An excerpt:
In 1995, WHO issued a report stating aircraft disinsection performed properly should be encouraged:

"Although some individuals may experience transient discomfort following aircraft disinsection by aerosol application,
there is no objection to any of the recommended methods of aircraft disinsection from a toxicological perspective."
However, asthma sufferers are among those who should be aware of such transient discomfort.

Airlines do/did this upon landing in Australia. They seem to be spraying for insects.

insect spray
 

once in a while i see flies hitching a ride.

I am not sure if it's a rule for all flights, but this is pretty common in outbound flights from Brazil. It usually happens before takeoff and protests are also usually heard.

Happens often on flights in Africa. My only problem is the stuff SAA uses has a fairly strong but not unpleasant odour. I got a double dosing on my last trip the smell lingered on my clothes and carry-on for days afterwards.

Last time I saw this was on an AF flight from HKG to CDG leaving HKG.

Commonplace when the flight is from a tropical or sub-tropical region, i.e. somewhere with lots of potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes - it's insecticide.

It is common for arriving in some countries, depending on origin of the flight, whether the aircraft has been specially treated (avoiding the need to spray), etc.

LAN did this from IPC to SCL. Reaffirming MSPeconomist, they said it was an insecticide.

Here's a good article on the subject. The insecticide is Permethrin.

http://www.travelstart.co.za/blog/ai...abin-spraying/

In the 60's and on it was a regular thing. I know it was on European flights. New Zealand also did it in the 80's and 90's. It was the norm decades ago.

Not only flies ...

OK - who's got the snake spray?

what health impacts
 

Jokes aside, this has been going on for years (as other FTs suggested).

I first recall experiencing it on a flight to the Seychelles in the 1980s. I am interested to know what if any ill health effects this has for passengers and crew.