Here's what a flight attendant and a microbiologist have to say about the (kinda gross) truth behind in-flight bedding—and how to protect yourself
What REALLY Happens to Those Airplane Blankets and Pillows?
Updated on May 15, 2025
I never use airplane blankets or pillows. Not because I’m fancy—quite the opposite, actually. I’ve just logged enough miles on budget airlines to know that those “blankets” often feel more exfoliating than snuggly. Instead, I use a giant hoodie that doubles as a blanket, face shield and emotional support cocoon. I might use an airline pillow in a pinch—but only with my hood acting as a barrier between my skin and whatever mysteries that pillow fabric holds.
Mysteries like … how many germs are on this thing? It’s not just the scratchiness I’m worried about. And if you’ve ever hesitated before snuggling up mid-flight, maybe you’ve had the same intrusive thought.
Apparently, I’m overreacting. (Me? Never!) I asked Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Code, and Cecily Anderson, a seasoned flight attendant, to weigh in on my blanket-based anxiety, and plot twist: They both use the airplane pillows and blankets!
“I’m going to be honest, I use them when I fly on a flight long enough that I need to sleep,” Anderson says. “I have yet to come across a visibly dirty blanket or pillow.”
Tetro agrees: “I do use both sometimes—with one exception.”
And look, if anyone would know the true microbial horror story behind airplane bedding, it’s a flight attendant and a microbiologist. So maybe I’ve been living in unnecessary fear. (Or maybe they’re just braver than I am.) Either way, keep reading to find out exactly what might be lurking on those in-flight amenities, how concerned you should actually be and the expert-approved travel tips for staying comfy and germ-free.
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Do airlines wash those blankets and pillows after every flight?
Not necessarily! According to Anderson—who’s worked for pretty much every major U.S. airline—it all depends on the airline, the flight, the time of day and your seat location in the social hierarchy of the plane (aka, your class). And don’t expect a glossy pamphlet explaining cleanliness standards, as airlines aren’t exactly shouting their laundry policies from the overhead bins.
In general, Anderson says most airlines do launder blankets and pillows between international flights. Domestic flights? That’s where things get fuzzier, sometimes literally.
Tetro says that when he asked around, he was told that pillows are new for every flight, while blankets are washed. But “washed” doesn’t necessarily mean frequently washed. Especially if the plane just stops, refuels and boards a new batch of unsuspecting passengers.
“Usually the first flight of the day will have freshly laundered blankets, sealed in plastic bags, but the flights after that don’t get new ones,” Anderson says. “If your blanket isn’t wrapped in plastic, it’s pretty safe to say it wasn’t washed.” She adds that the airline she works for launders pillows too, but doesn’t replace them every flight.
That said, if you’re flying first class, business class or on a fancy-pants international airline, your odds improve. In premium cabins, not only are the blankets laundered more often, they’re also actually soft. Like, “this could be a throw on my couch” soft. It’s cleanliness and comfort—for a mere several thousand dollars more.
What kinds of germs might be on these items?
The list is a little unsettling. Airplane blankets and pillows can harbor a variety of germs, including bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Tetro explains: “The most likely suspects will be Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), which can lead to skin irritation, skin infections and pneumonia in people with the flu. You may also find mold from the air and Pseudomonas, which is an environmental bacterium that can cause wound infections. Other less likely possibilities are fecal coliforms like Escherichia coli (E. coli), mainly due to poor hand hygiene.”
It’s more like iffy hygiene in general, Anderson says. “I’ve seen passengers use blankets to clean up spills, cover their cough, wipe their noses, hold food, throw up in and even to change their baby’s diaper on,” she says.
How worried should you be about these germs? Surprisingly, not that much, Tetro says. “For the most part, the levels that you will encounter most likely won’t make you sick,” he says. “But the fact is that you don’t want to expose yourself unnecessarily to a potential pathogen, so I wouldn’t put the blanket anywhere near your nose or mouth.”
Which types of flights are the worst offenders?
Again, this depends largely on a variety of factors, mostly out of your control, but Anderson says to expect dirtier items on:
- Domestic flights (international flights often have stricter cleaning protocols)
- Flights later in the day
- Flights with a short layover
- Budget flights and/or seats (although many simply won’t offer blankets or pillows*)
- Flights on U.S. airlines
What are the cleanest airlines?
Yep. That last one is a huge bummer. Skytrax does an airline cleanliness survey every year, and in 2024 no U.S. airlines even made the top 20. The cleanest airline in the world is Cathay Pacific Airways. The cleanest airline in North America is Air Canada. Out of all the U.S. airlines, Jet Blue was the cleanest.
*Southwest announced in 2009 that they would no longer be providing pillows and blankets “due to sanitation reasons.”
What are the policies on various airlines?
We could not find any official laundry guidelines, but according to airplane employees on Reddit and various statements made to the media, here’s how often various U.S. airlines wash their pillows and blankets:
- Delta: Provides linen pillows and blankets to all first class and business customers; pillow cases and duvets are washed between each flight. Provides regular blue blankets and pillows to economy customers on longer flights; does not specify how often those are washed.
- American Airlines: Provides blankets and pillows in premium classes, which are cleaned and sealed after each use.
- JetBlue: Provides blankets and pillows to premium passengers, which are laundered between each flight. Allows economy passengers to purchase new blankets and pillows.
- United Airlines: Provides pillows and blankets upon request but does not specify how often they are laundered.
Policies can vary significantly between airlines and even between different classes on the same flight.
How are these items washed, exactly?
“Every airline I’ve worked with contracts out their laundry service to an outside company,” Anderson says. “We gather the used blankets and pillows and put them in a bag, which is then taken off the plane, laundered in a different facility and returned in sealed bags.”
Commercial laundry services wash bedding in very hot water. “Blankets should be washed in 140 degree Fahrenheit water (60 degrees C) and/or sprayed with a disinfectant like bleach or hydrogen peroxide,” Tetro says.
How can you tell if you’re getting a clean blanket or pillow?
“If it comes in a sealed bag, it’s been cleaned,” Anderson says. There are reports on social media of dirty blankets found inside sealed bags, but those are the exception. “If you are given a clearly dirty or used blanket, in or out of a bag, let a flight attendant know immediately,” she says.
So should you use an airplane blanket or pillow if it’s offered?
This is the million dollar question. Both Tetro and Anderson say they do sometimes use the provided blankets and pillows—with one caveat: They put a barrier between them and their skin.
“I have my own scarf and pillow combo that keeps me both relaxed and safe; it’s the Trtl, if you’re wondering,” Tetro says. “And I may put the airline blanket over that, again keeping it away from my nose and mouth.”
“I have a pashmina I always bring, and I’ll wrap it around the pillow or use it as a light blanket,” Anderson says.
At the end of the day, there are far more germy items on airplanes than the pillows and blankets—any “high touch surface” like door handles, arm rests and TVs, Tetro says—and your immune system does a great job of protecting you from most things. Still, for extra peace of mind, consider bringing your own blanket and pillow, and if you’re really concerned about germs on a flight, one of the best precautions you can take is to wear a mask.
RELATED:
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Sources:
- Jason Tetro, microbiologist, author of The Germ Code and The Germ Files, and the host of The Super Awesome Science Show podcast; phone interview, May 6, 2025
- Cecily Anderson, flight attendant with more than 20 years of experience; phone interview, May 8, 2025
- Skytrax: “World’s Cleanest Airlines 2024”
- Atlanta Journal: “Delta’s blankets set it apart, for now”
- Wall Street Journal: “Airplane Blankets, Nasty or Not?”
- How Stuff Works: “How Sanitary Are Airline Blankets and Pillows?”
