Do We Have to Worry About Bedbugs on Flights Now?
Bedbugs were just found on an American Airlines flight. Should we be concerned?
Almost exactly one year ago, travelers were preoccupied with one particular bedbug infestation. At the time, it seemed the fastidious bloodsuckers had taken over the city of Paris, adopting hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and even subway seats as their new home. It was a nightmare, sure, but at least it was a confined one, which lived and died within the Parisian boundaries.
But what if bedbugs were able to crawl into planes? Turns out they have. During a recent American Airlines flight from New York City to Detroit, one unlucky passenger found a bedbug casually walking up their leg.
"Bedbugged on [a] flight today," reads the title of the Reddit thread posted by the passenger. They continued in the comments, "Found this bedbug crawling on my leg mid flight (LGA to DTW). I was seated in First Class."
After a reportedly underwhelming American Airlines response and management of the situation—per the thread, the plane didn't get grounded after the incident and proceeded to fly its scheduled routes—one might rightfully wonder if we should collectively panic about bedbugs on planes. Thrillist reached out to American Airlines for comment and this story will be updated if we receive an official response.
You can relax, though. The short answer is no. "Bedbugs can hitch a ride on clothing and luggage, especially in places where travelers sleep," reads an official guide by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "They are rarely found in planes, trains, and motor vehicles."
However, because they can find temporary homes in clothing and luggage, the possibility of them spreading while low is never zero. For this reason, you can take some simple precautions to avoid picking them up while you fly.
Because bedbugs on a plane will likely hide in the crevices between seats, Abell Pest Control advises passengers to cover their seats when they can. "Several companies make covers designed for an airplane or movie seat, and will help keep the bedbugs from crawling out of the seat and into your stuff," read their anti-bedbug guidelines.
Another thing you should keep in mind is that your carry-on and personal belongings will always be exposed to other bags while you're sitting on a plane, and who knows what's hiding in those. If you're worried about bedbug contamination, place your belongings inside a plastic bag and keep it airtight.
Finally, Abell Pest Control suggests resorting to your own pillow and blanket. Sure, it might take up more space than you wanted, but it's better to be bedbug-safe before than sorry.
If, even after taking all these precautions, your skin still crawls at the thought of bedbug-infested planes, luckily for you, there are additional safety measures you can take to ensure a stress- and pest-free travel experience. You can read all about them in our dedicated guide.