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Plane Sheets Personal Airline Seat Covers

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Traveling so much that commercial planes feel like your bedroom? This is a nifty idea that we are just dying to see someone whip out on a flight one of these days. It's the Plane Sheet, made to bring along and cover an individual plane seat during your flight...

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Plane Sheets are sold in washable and disposable varieties. Two of our favorite patterns are pulled out here: colorful stripes and black toile. We'd just love to see someone putting these to use. They mark your seat, "protect" you from the germs on the seat itself, and we're sure they'd really make you stand out on a flight for a few reasons. The washables are 100% Cotton and come in standard and first class sizes. Be forewarned: the black toile is sold out in the first class size!

Comments (41)

That is the stupidest idea ever.

posted by joebelt on 2008-02-22 09:25:47
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Germaphobes take note

posted by IdRatherBeDesigning on 2008-02-22 09:27:58
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Germaphobes have more to worry about the air quality in an airplane than the seat covers frankly.

posted by joebelt on 2008-02-22 09:37:07
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These are absolutely hilarious on so many levels. Is there actually someone out there looking for more things to cart around when they're travelling?

Not just for germaphobes, though. The fashionista with extra room in her case could get several different colorways to go with different outfits.

posted by Dulcibella on 2008-02-22 09:48:39
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I'm not a germaphobe, but I'd use these to help feel comfortable relaxing in the seat. I'm thinking dirt/oil/grime as much as germs...

LOVE the style, but it's so eye catching that it that could be a slight problem, unless (of course) it is a fabulous ATer sitting next to you...

posted by anastasia on 2008-02-22 09:51:30
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I can see it. I fly really long distances (10 hr flights ) for work and one of the better things about business class is the seats are made of "leather" and you can pretend they get wiped down btw flights.

The filth on planes gets to me -- ditto hotel rooms.

posted by Julianna on 2008-02-22 09:52:55
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actually i like those satin pillow cases that are sewn to close over completely (forget the name of the style). You just flip that short side over the back of the seat and you don't have to worry about the fabric damaging your hair on long flights.

posted by Lady J on 2008-02-22 09:53:18
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That fashionista will look great arranging this cover in the aisle while adding another delay to everyone else boarding and trying to get off. Can you imagine waiting for a family of these geniuses to settle in. Brilliant!

posted by DKinNY on 2008-02-22 09:54:00
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it just seems like they would fit one style of airline seat and that's it... the last time i flew a couple months ago, the seats looked nothing like that. and if they're anything like a 1 size fits all stretchy seat cover like for cars or furniture, just seems like a poor flappy fit is inevitable.

posted by jmorey on 2008-02-22 09:54:02
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for anyone who likes to talk to their seatmates, these are a definite conversation starter (not for me, I'd never get any reading done...)

and they come in a disposable version:
http://www.planesheets.com/buy_disposable_planesheets

posted by Pixie on 2008-02-22 10:04:43
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ditto Dulcibella's comment. couldn't have said it better myself.

posted by sammie2 on 2008-02-22 10:14:42
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It would have been nice to have one of these the time the passenger sitting behind me projectile vomited into my hair. I could have used it as a towel.

posted by Aldyth on 2008-02-22 10:19:07
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Obviously the commenters who don't like this idea have never had lice.

posted by st@cy on 2008-02-22 10:33:07
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This is stupid.
And for germ freaks like me, the hard objects are what to worry about, not a grungy seat cover. I wipe down the arm rest and tray table with wipes.

posted by ValHalla on 2008-02-22 10:40:19
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ridiculous

posted by HeatherAB on 2008-02-22 10:44:20
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ValHalla, why dont you worry about the seat covers? The arm rests can easily be cleaned, but the dried sweat and vomit clings to the fabric seat cover, just waiting for us to sit down. Im way more grossed out by things I cant wipe down easily.

posted by SleepyDweller on 2008-02-22 10:58:48
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I'm on the "rediculous" bandwagon. I'm black so I don't have to worry about lice. And I can just see the flights taking even longer to take off because people have to take the time to put slipcovers on their seats...as if we don't have to wait long enough already for everyone to store their overhead baggage and all the other pre-takeoff delays.

Do you know how many other germs you come in contact with before you even get on the plane and how many more you will encounter after disembarking?? Are there gonna be slipcovers for the waiting area seats next?

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-22 11:06:51
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But does it make the seats more comfortable? If you were going to spend time (not to mention money) on something like this, it should at the very least, make those awful seats in coach more tolerable.

posted by ehy2k on 2008-02-22 11:09:05
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P.S. I forgot to ask will there be slipcovers for the taxicabs for after you leave the plane. And you will need slipcovers for restaurants. Oh oh oh and slip covers for the hotel beds. On second thought, why don't you just stay home and never leave it. I mean, aren't you just protecting your launderable clothes from the germs since you are already wearing a protective barrier??

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-22 11:27:26
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that's about the height of idiocy.

posted by loislane on 2008-02-22 11:36:03
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My issue with these is that you'd have to be so up close and intimate with the grungy seat to just install this thing that it would defeat the purpose.

posted by brittanykate on 2008-02-22 11:40:49
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Exactly orangejuice--my clothes protect me from the seat, and I've honestly never noticed the fabric being that gross on a flight. But when I have to eat on the other surfaces, I do clean them. And you know they never clean the remotes.

posted by ValHalla on 2008-02-22 11:40:59
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this screams douche bag

posted by chusmabilly on 2008-02-22 11:45:46
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Thirding, orangejuice. And you didn't even mention the subway!

And I sincerely doubt a cotton sheet will protect you from germs or lice--it'll just make you feel safer and annoy the 100 people who are waiting to get into their seats while you attach your germaphone-fashionista seat cover. How about just banning people with colds or children from flying? No one likes them anyway.

It's like people forget they have immune systems these days...

posted by inertia on 2008-02-22 11:52:57
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First, how do these hold onto the chair without keeping the tray table on the back from coming down? Second, how much does this interfere with pulling your seat cushion off to use as a flotation device? Third, what happens if there is a fire? Is it flame-retardant like the current seat covers are?

Sorry, I'm an aerospace safety engineer, so these are the questions that immediately pop into my head.

posted by Brian K. on 2008-02-22 12:02:02
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I don't see the protective value of these things.

In the toile pic, you can still see the bottom of the seat. It doesn't cover the entire seat. This is no barrier to any creepy-crawly that wants to get to you. Years' worth of passenger sweat & body detritus will infiltrate the fabric like it's nothing.

Then, the lucky user will get to pack this thing that's probably picked up all the crumbs & grime tucked away in the crevices of the seat and tote it around for the rest of the trip.

If someone out there is really concerned about picking something up from an airline seat, bring yards of shrink wrap and a heat gun. Try to hermetically seal your seat in this plastic encasement before the air marshals whisk you off the plane and into your own personal holding cell. Alternatively, wash your clothes and take a bath post-flight.

and, uh ... black people can't get lice? For real? Sorry, if I missed it, but was that a joke?

posted by FeloniousMonk on 2008-02-22 12:21:32
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You know all those annoyed looks you get from those behind you when boarding the plane as you try to put stuff in the overhead and crawl into your seat ? Multiply that by 100!

posted by anne on 2008-02-22 12:40:41
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love it! But I wouldn't buy one. I usually wear a hoodie with the hood up so I don't have to put my hair on the seat, and I use a Slanket over me, so my arms are protected from the icky arm rests, but are still useful.

posted by theambershow on 2008-02-22 12:42:05
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No, Felonious, that wasn't a joke. We don't. And I didn't mention the subway because I thought that one was just too obvious. LOL.

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-22 12:48:26
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Having got lice from an airplane, I would be tempted to try it. I would try practically anything to avoid getting lice again.

posted by SFGail on 2008-02-22 12:56:18
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Wow - this is way off topic. Black people can get lice, its just that most tend to use hair products that dont allow for the lice to cling to the hair shaft.

posted by SleepyDweller on 2008-02-22 13:27:08
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wow, i actually thought this was a good idea. i am FAR from being a germaphobe (i walk barefoot to my car and i live in LA), but airplane seats have always grossed me out. they smell like dirty hair and perfume, they're covered in crumbs and have stains on them, i'm sure they're FULL of dead skin and stray hairs...it's not germs that freaks me out, its the nasty stuff i can actually see and smell that makes me shiver.

i bring a little blanket in my well-packed carry-on and i usually end up using it to cover my seat. which, um, takes like 5 seconds to do (to those of you thinking it would "delay" flights more?)

posted by goodnightdean on 2008-02-22 14:30:42
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Hysterical! Thanks for the giggle!

If I ever see one in practice, I hope I get the whole experience and that traveler has a little dog, a large purse and betsey johnson luggage.

posted by I Love Upstate on 2008-02-22 14:41:59
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This was not supposed to be a new topic and I'm sure it doesn't belong on AT but OK, SleepyDweller, maybe anyone can get lice but it's a fact that black people are less susceptible to lice. I have yet to know a black person that has had lice before. I do not however think it has anything to do with "hair products." Do you think all black people use hair products? and if so, do you think we all use the SAME hair products? Many black people use the same hair products as whites. I personally use Garnier shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. It doesn't say on the bottles that it's for a certain race.

It's just like how black people are more susceptible to sickle cell anemia. Some races are just more susceptible to certain things than others. I've never had lice nor has anyone in my family ever had lice. When they did the lice-checks in school, it was always the non-black kids and never the black kids even though we all played and studied right next to each other. I can certainly tell you that as a grade schooler, the last thing on my mind was using hair products.

PSA: ATers, please forgive me for going off topic but I had to address that comment.

posted by orangejuce on 2008-02-22 16:10:15
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chusmabilly...that's the first thing that popped into my head.

if i sat down and the person next to me was pulling one of these over their chair, i would promptly judge.

posted by boomtown! on 2008-02-22 19:09:32
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I think the airlines should provide these and change them out inbetween flights when they're "cleaning" the plane. It's like a condom for your seat.

p-

posted by pb on 2008-02-22 20:59:21
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I am dropping the discussion because it is wildly off topic, but I just want to say that I stand by my last comment.

posted by SleepyDweller on 2008-02-23 11:13:12
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LOL. I'd love one but I just can't do cattle class.

posted by HongKonger on 2008-02-23 23:01:19
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My first thought (like others here) was that this would waste precious time. There is just not enough room on a plane to have people adjusting personal seat covers in pre-flight.


On the lice issue, I just had the chime in. it is not hair products though I guess for those who use special products it could be a factor. It's actually the shape of the hair shaft, it is not as easy to them to attach to.

posted by stillreign on 2008-02-24 01:31:30
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At first I thought--funny but not practical. From 9/11/01 to 12/31/03, I flew over 400 take off and landings for my two jobs back then.

Airplane travel has become a revolting experience all the way around from the near strip search at the airport to getting sick from the lack of fresh air to mix with the re-cirulated air.

That NetMeeting ad where you end up calling a shrink and are curled up in a fetal position summarizes my feelings.

I used to love travel by plane. Now, I do my best to avoid it. I'd never thought about lice until I read this--never having had it as a kid, nor knowing anyone that did.

This made that whole travel experience go from GROSS to ULTRA GROSS in my book.

posted by kaanswfm on 2008-02-24 14:55:54
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My top tip for plane travel is - get amiably drunk before you board - that way, you won't mind the body-search before boarding, you'll probably even ask for their number after....

And, don't eat the food on the plane, and above all, if you're a man wearing lipstick who wants to insert his own chintzy seat cover, then you may just be the least likely "terrorism" suspect on earth.

Not a reason to do it, but quite a funny payoff nonetheless.....

posted by PapaQuebec on 2008-02-24 20:14:01
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