Posts Tagged planesheets

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in travel gear, along comes a new way to part with your hard-earned money—like Planesheets.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Planesheets sells washable or disposable covers for airline seats.  The company’s premise is that the seat covers, which come in colors and patterns ranging from pink chenille to leopard print, allow users to “personalize their travel space while keeping at bay germs, crumbs and spills from previous passengers.”

The company’s website claims that because of higher use, airline seats are becoming less sanitary and less comfortable.

Wow.  I’m having trouble figuring out where to start on this one.

I fly a lot.  And first, I’d feel completely stupid trying to cover up an airline seat with one of these.  Boarding is difficult enough, with other passengers trying to get through to their seats or jostling down the aisle and (one of my pet peeves) bumping me with their bulging carry-ons.

Planesheets may appeal to germaphobes, but I’m not convinced there’s much benefit there.  Assuming you are wearing clothes while flying, there’s already a barrier between you and the seat surface.

Now, some airlines have become lax in their cabin cleaning.  They’re trying not only to cut expenses, but to turn planes quickly and get them out on time. 

You may find weird things stuffed in seatback compartments.  But I have yet to encounter an airline seat I would hesitate to sit in.  If there was an issue, I’d let a flight attendant know.

So, let’s examine Planesheets’ other assertion—that airline seats are  becoming less comfortable.

Somehow, I don’t see how using a cover would make a seat any more comfortable.  And it doesn’t appear that the makers of Planesheets go quite so far as to make that claim.  But the company does claim it will turn your seat into a “cozy, happy place.”

Most airline seats aren’t known for their extreme comfort, anyway, unless you’re flying business or first class on a wideboy such as the 777.  If sitting on your own seat cover somehow makes you cozy and happy, then Planesheets may be for you.

The washable Planesheets sell for $29.99 each and are available directly from the manufacturer.  The disposable versions, available only in dark blue, are $12.99.

So just to be thorough, let’s look at one other possible benefit.

Do Planesheets make a fashion statement?  I suppose with the available bright and bold patterns, like Candyland or Zany Zebra, you could be the envy of everyone else on the plane.

Or not.