Pack your hand sanitiser – the most germ-filled part of an airplane is just a few inches from your seat. When a team of microbiologists inspected airports and planes, they discovered that tray tables harbour more nasties than a toilet bowl. Yes, the place you eat food from might as well be a trash can! With the knowledge of, which hot spots to avoid and a few tweaks to your mid-flight routine, you can touch down at your destination in good health. Germaphobes, this one’s for you. When a research team from the University of Arizona tested the tables, they discovered 60 percent of tray tables contained nasty bacteria, including e-coli and MRSA, which can be fatal once contracted. On the other hand, only 11 percent of samples from the New York subway found traces of the superbug. Rethinking your next flight? Don’t. Travel health expert and author Jane Wilson-Howarth says that, “while tray tables aren’t likely harbouring harmful germs, the key is to make sure your cutlery and any items that touch food are sanitary. Under normal circumstances the only way that ‘dirt’ can get into the body is by way of the mouth so as long as the cutlery and your hands are clean, you are safe”. While thumbing through an airline magazine might seem like a harmless way to pass time, research suggests it’s a sure-fire path to picking up bacteria. The only time those get ‘cleaned’ is when a new publication comes out, which could be as infrequent as once a quarter. The take home? Pack a Kindle, headphones, or magazines to avoid dipping into the dreaded seatback pocket. Your worst nightmare – supplied blankets and pillows aren’t always washed, even if you receive them wrapped in plastic. It comes as no surprise that bathrooms are a haven for germs, but one study pinpoints the worst spot – the lavatory flush button. This area even ranked above toilet seats and stall locks. But the solution is simple, though. Wash your hands with soap and plenty of water after going to the bathroom and give your hands a wipe before eating, too. A lack of humidity in the cabin air can cause you to crave water, but studies suggest airplane fountains are the second biggest hotbed for germs, after tray tables. Researchers found 1,240 colony-forming units per square inch, ranking it far dirtier than bathroom surfaces or seat buckles. Don’t let that deter you from filling up your bottle, though. Catch a flight and not a cold by packing hand and face wipes to arrive at your destination germ-free.