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Home » American Airlines » What Is This Suspicious Blotch Around My First Class Window?
American Airlines

What Is This Suspicious Blotch Around My First Class Window?

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 20, 2023November 13, 2023 17 Comments

Earlier today I published a review of my brief American Eagle flight from Pittsburgh to New York. One thing I neglected to mention was a suspicious blotch around the window. What could it have been? Was it really what I think it was?

Unidentified Substance On My Airplane Window…Could It Be?

As I settled into my seat and looked out the window, I noticed a yellowish blotch smeared around the window. It looked like…well, you know.

I wasn’t about to smell it, but it was disgusting to look at and it made me wonder when the aircraft was last cleaned. What could this thing have been? I’m not sure I want to know…

an airplane window with a view of the ocean

a window with a blue sky and clouds

a close up of a window

a close up of a metal bar

a close up of a window

a window with a cloudy sky

Too Many Dirty Airplanes…

I mostly fly United Airlines, but I’ve also flown American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue this year within the United States and I have noticed on all of them that the planes are often simply not as clean as they should be.

The daily “deep clean” from the pandemic era is over (even that, I suspect, was a bit of an exaggeration compared to actual practice) and carriers once again seems to be cutting corners when it comes to cleaning aircraft.

This is not only unprofessional and disgusting, but it leads to questions like if the feces is not scraped off the window (or whatever that substance is above), what other corners are being cut?

Deep cleaning certainly takes time, but I’ve seen too many dirty airplanes this year…there is no excuse.

CONCLUSION

I really hope whatever was on my window on American Airlines was not what it looked like. But the nasty glop of who knows what is an important reminder that airlines need to do a better job of keeping their aircraft clean.

What do you think that nasty stuff is on my window?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Maryland Reply
    October 20, 2023 at 4:44 pm

    Oh my. Er, it doesn’t look like feces, but I won’t speculate. Some things are better left as a mystery. And always wash your hands.

  2. Soodie Reply
    October 20, 2023 at 6:13 pm

    Is it still SAFE to fly???

  3. derek Reply
    October 20, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    Possibilities include:

    Dried up coffee that someone spit out while laughing

    caramel candy that someone rubbed off their fingers

    Smashed up bug juice

    Transferred hot chocolate and other debris and stains from a rag used on the tray table then window surrounds or from a drink stirrer that someone shook towards the window

    • Matthew Reply
      October 23, 2023 at 4:42 am

      just looks like boogers to me

  4. Pat Reply
    October 20, 2023 at 9:27 pm

    So did you mention this to the flight crew?

    • Tony N. Reply
      October 21, 2023 at 3:11 pm

      If you mention it to the flight attendant she/he will say, well, do you want to give up your seat? And we’ll have to take you off the flight. Goodbye.

  5. SMR Reply
    October 20, 2023 at 11:27 pm

    Looks like a regular window. I don’t think they have first class for windows. Jeez

    • Christian Reply
      October 21, 2023 at 12:03 am

      Lol

  6. Jesda Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 5:51 am

    Probably a booger. Don’t lick it you drama queen.

  7. Noneya business Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 9:46 am

    I bet if we started fining airlines for flying 150+ people in a flying disease vector millions per infraction they’d suddenly care about cleanliness. As it stands, no profit in putting any time or effort into maintaining the aircraft interior. Welcome to capitalism.

  8. AlohafromKOA Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 2:20 pm

    Slimy hand goo from a rug rat.
    I always bring disposable gloves and Clorox wipes.
    And I resent having to do this.

  9. Tony N. Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 3:07 pm

    I ALWAYS, from now on, bring my own DISINFECTANT WIPES and use them to wipe down all the surfaces around me and also on my seat surfaces. And I will start to wear an N95 mask since it’s the beginning of FLU season. And I got my flu vaccine and maybe will get the new COVID vaccine.
    NO, it’s not safe to fly, in a health-related way.
    (that seems like it is dried mucus- snot from someone’s nose, or dried egg, or yellow feces from a baby’s soiled diaper).

  10. Ric Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 4:08 pm

    No AIrline ever said: We have stopped the pandemic daily deep clean.
    But they all have.
    Which is why I still wipe down everything.
    Not just for Covid but flu and other touchable organisms

  11. Jojo Bah Reply
    October 21, 2023 at 4:19 pm

    Let me guess. You took pictures, wrote up this article Dec tou farm feel better, then deplaned without saying a word to any employee. Yep sounds about right. Cycle repeats. Now you know what it’s dirty..

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 22, 2023 at 7:52 pm

      I did point it out. Any other questions?

  12. Jeff Reply
    October 22, 2023 at 2:18 am

    Someone was eating pizza they brought onboard and had sauce on their fingers when they they were putting the shade up and down or they were opening a can of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni and it splattered. That’s what I say. LOL! Or maybe it came from a baby or young child.

  13. Tony N. Reply
    October 22, 2023 at 5:31 pm

    If you see something, like this, don’t say anything. Clean it up with your disinfectant wipes.

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